A Caged Songbird's Escape: Into the Arms of a Predator novel Chapter 16

Chapter 16

When he stood before her, the sharpness in his eyes softened, replaced by a tangle of

unreadable emotions.

“You’re back,” he said quietly.

Elissa took a small step back, her voice gentle as always. “Have you eaten? Edna made

dinner…”

“Elissa.”

He cut her off, carefully choosing his words, his tone clouded and uncertain. “What’s going on online isn’t what it looks like. I can explain.”

“Okay.”

Elissa nodded without hesitation, her voice calm. “I believe you.”

Frank froze.

He’d always known Elissa was easygoing, but this time, he’d prepared himself for anything.

Before he came home, his so–called friends had warned him he was done for.

No matter how mild–tempered a woman might be, no wife would tolerate her husband cheating.

Yet Elissa was unmoved.

No tears. No arguments.

It was strange.

A sense of unease swept over Frank. Her effortless trust didn’t feel right.

He frowned, and a word crept into his mind.

-Indifference.

Elissa didn’t care whether he had cheated or not.

Didn’t care if he’d kissed another woman.

Her face betrayed nothing, just as it always did. She slipped on a jacket. “I’m going to the hospital to see Grandma,”

“Elissa…”

Frank couldn’t shake the feeling that something precious was slipping further and further

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Chapter 16

from him.

Almost involuntarily, he reached out and caught her slender wrist, probing gently, “You’re not the least bit angry?”

Elissa paused, a little surprised.

For a moment, she wondered if being Mrs. Frank Atwater was really all it was cracked up

to be.

She’d thought her reaction would be a relief for Frank.

But he wasn’t satisfied.

He wanted her to be angry.

Frank waited anxiously for her answer, but she only looked at him coolly.

She spoke slowly, “If I got angry, would you really cut ties with your sister–in–law?”

By the time she got to the hospital, Mrs. Atwater was already asleep.

As she passed by the study on the second floor, she noticed light leaking out from under the door.

Muffled voices, tense and low. Marcia was crying.

Elissa looked away, pretending not to notice. She went to her room and took a long, hot shower.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, she began to dry her hair. Suddenly, the mattress dipped behind her, and a large hand gently took the hair dryer from her grasp.

Elissa froze, uncertain what to do.

To outsiders, she and Frank were the perfect couple–polite, harmonious, never so much. as a raised voice.

But no one knew the truth: there had hardly ever been any intimacy between them.

Frank always kept his distance.

She’d been slow to realize, never quite understanding the difference between being busy and being absent.

She’d thought Frank was simply overwhelmed with work, too busy to pay attention to his new wife–so busy he spent most nights in the study.

Now, Frank’s fingers moved deftly through her hair, drying it for her.

Elissa stood abruptly, sidestepping his touch, and turned to face him. The words slipped out before she could stop them. “Is there something you want to tell me?”

She couldn’t help how blunt she sounded.

Frank’s behavior tonight was so out of character.

“Elissa…”

Frank switched off the hair dryer. He hesitated, then finally spoke. “I need you to help clarify things online.”

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