A Caged Songbird's Escape: Into the Arms of a Predator novel Chapter 301

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As soon as Marcia Carson slid into the car, she realized her back was drenched in cold sweat.

She wasn’t afraid of that old bat.

But deep down, she was terrified of the Murphy family—the family that represented power and wealth in Vistapeak City.

She had to get her hands on whatever Elissa Drummond possessed, no matter what.

Even as she drove down the winding road from the estate, Marcia had to pull over, hands still trembling, to send a text.

When she finally returned to the Atwater residence, Carmela took one look at her disheveled state and snapped, “Where’d you rush off to in such a hurry?”

Marcia ruffled Hickey Atwater’s hair and muttered, “The Murphys.”

“What did they say to you?”

Carmela shot her a sharp glare. “You look like you’ve been through hell. Tell me you didn’t do something stupid to get on the Murphys’ bad side?”

If they’d really crossed the Murphys, the Atwater family would be in serious trouble.

“Who did you piss off?”

Just thinking about it made Marcia’s blood boil. “That old woman from the Murphys—she threw something at my face the moment I walked in.”

The woman was completely unhinged.

How Elissa survived under her thumb all these years was beyond comprehension.

Seeing that there was no real feud, Carmela’s tone cooled as she leaned back, arms crossed. “You think the Murphys are so easy to cozy up to? I’ve warned you before—don’t go looking for trouble and end up worse off.”

Marcia gave a cold little laugh. “Mom, you say that as if getting close to the Murphys wouldn’t benefit the Atwaters, too.”

She had a point, and Carmela knew it.

Carmela just sighed, her voice tight. “Of course, it’d be great for us if you succeeded. But remember—if this blows up in your face, don’t expect the Atwaters to shield you.”

If she failed, Marcia’s fate would be grim indeed.

—

Lately, Elissa had been pouring all her energy into research, often working late into the night. As a result, she’d been seeing fewer patients at the clinic.

So when she did show up for consultations, even though she arrived early and started calling names right away, the number of patients seeking extra slots had multiplied several times over.