A Caged Songbird's Escape: Into the Arms of a Predator novel Chapter 55

Elissa paused, caught off guard for a moment.

She pushed down the whirlwind of questions swirling inside her, turned to Rowan, and spoke in a voice clear but distant. “I’ll head out now. And…

thank you, Mr. Murphy.”

“Miss…”

lan started to say something, but Rowan’s icy, mocking tone cut him off. “Enough. Don’t embarrass yourself.”

Elissa’s fingers unconsciously brushed over her palm, but she didn’t falter as she walked away.

Only when the black Maybach had disappeared into the night did lan mutter under his breath, “Talk about an unexpected third wheel…”

“What was that?”

Rowan’s voice was cool as he stubbed out his cigarette and slid into the car, his figure seeming even more solitary against the biting winter wind.

lan climbed into the passenger seat. “Nothing, really. Just–Miss Elissa’s far too forgiving when it comes to Frank.”

“Every time she sees you, it’s obvious she’s still angry with you.”

“But why isn’t she angry with Frank? He humiliated her, barely ever comes back to the family estate with her, and leaves her to face the

consequences alone…”

For some reason, the air inside the car felt noticeably heavier.

lan shivered, goosebumps rising on the back of his neck.

Evan, at the wheel, seemed oblivious and kept chatting away. “Well, that’s because she loves him, doesn’t she? When a woman’s in love, there’s nothing she won’t forgive. She’ll keep lowering her boundaries, again and again.”

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lan frowned. “I don’t buy it. That’s not like Elissa.”

“Believe it or not, that’s how it is.”

Evan glanced at Rowan in the rearview mirror. “Sir, what do you think-?”

“When did you get so chatty?”

Rowan’s face, all sharp lines and shadow beneath the streetlights, was cold as ice. His voice was equally frosty.

The two in front instantly fell silent.

We weren’t even saying anything that bad.

Why does he always seem angry?

The drive from Murphy Manor to Greenwood Manor was uneventful, the roads clear but slick with rain. Ridge drove with extra caution, keeping the speed down.

Inside the car, the heater hummed, filling the space with warmth and

quiet.

It was a long while before Elissa finally felt her frozen limbs begin to

thaw.

She glanced over at Frank, about to speak, when he asked, “Are you upset?”

“No,” Elissa replied honestly.

She wasn’t angry–she’d grown used to being stood up by now.

Mostly, she just felt disappointment. Yet, what surprised her was that after Frank messaged her on WhatsApp to say he couldn’t make it, he’d unexpectedly shown up anyway.

She hadn’t seen that coming. The surprise far outweighed any letdown.

Frank looked straight at her, studying the way her eyes were lowered, her expression unreadable. “Then what is it? You haven’t said a word since you got in the car.”

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You haven’t spoken to me, either.

Elissa answered plainly, “I just didn’t expect you to come. I was surprised, that’s all.”

“I figured the Murphys might punish you,” Frank said, his tone as gentle and steady as ever. “I couldn’t stop worrying, so I came to pick you up myself.”

Elissa was momentarily stunned, almost disoriented.

If she hadn’t found those photos in his study, she might have almost believed that Frank cared about her, even just a little.

When she didn’t respond, Frank smiled and teased, “What? In your eyes, I’m that indifferent to whether you live or die?”

He was joking.

But that was exactly how Elissa felt.

Of course, she would never admit it. Instead, she flashed a faint smile, the dimples on her cheeks barely visible, creating an illusion of obedience.

“No, I just don’t want to keep you from your work.”

“It’s fine. The meeting was pushed to eight–thirty at the last minute.”

Frank glanced at his watch. “There’s not enough time to drive you home. Would you mind waiting in my office for a bit?”

“I can head back on my own-

“It won’t be long, alright?”

“1

Elissa didn’t protest further. “Alright.”

She followed Frank into the Atwater Group office building. Though it was late, the lights inside were as bright as day.

In the conference room, the project team was waiting for Frank, so Elissa made her way down the hall to the executive office on her own.

She hadn’t slept well the night before, and as she curled up on the office

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sofa with a throw pillow, she soon drifted off.

One by one, the lights in the building went dark, until only the top floor and a few scattered offices remained aglow.