A Caged Songbird's Escape: Into the Arms of a Predator novel Chapter 98

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s about Marcia’s son, and your relationship with Frank…” Cliff hesitated, clearly worried for her. “People are saying some nasty things right now. I’m afraid if you show up, it’ll just put you in a bad mood. Why not take a break and come back when things have settled down?”

Elissa hadn’t expected this to be the reason. She left the apartment as usual, pressing the elevator button. “Cliff, if I don’t show up, it’ll just make me look guilty.”

“Besides, I already let everyone know I’d be available for appointments today. If I don’t go, are you going to see my patients for me?”

“Well, that’s the thing-” Cliff sounded overwhelmed. “Your patients… they all have these complicated conditions. I can’t guarantee I’d be any help…”

“Exactly. I can’t just let my patients down, can I?”

Elissa smiled. “If people want to talk, that’s their problem, not mine. I haven’t done anything wrong. You know what they say–if your conscience is clear, you have nothing to fear.”

Hearing her laugh, Cliff sounded a bit relieved. “Is that really how you feel?”

“How else could I feel?” Elissa replied, exasperated but calm.

She’d learned a long time ago not to let other people’s mistakes weigh her down. If she let every punishment from Matriarch Paige Murphy break her, she’d never have survived this long.

If one person accused her, that was their problem. If a crowd joined in, well, that just meant they were all crazy together.

She hung up, just about to step out the door, when Tanya Foster burst out of the bedroom. “Okay–one good news, one bad news. Which do you want first?”

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“Good news,” Elissa answered without hesitation.

“The divorce papers are real!” Tanya grinned, but her expression quickly sobered. “Bad news is, you can’t get a replacement copy. I asked

around–looks like your ex–mother–in–law pulled some strings at City

Hall.”

“As long as the divorce is official, that’s all that matters.”

The bad news didn’t surprise Elissa. So long as she was legally single, that was good enough for her. The rest would sort itself out. Carmela Atwater probably wouldn’t cause too much trouble–she’d just want Elissa to cooperate until Frank got remarried. Then all the loose ends would be tied up.

“But you really should get the papers in hand as soon as possible,” Tanya fretted. “Otherwise, if the Atwater family changes their mind and pulls a few tricks, it wouldn’t be impossible for your divorce to magically turn back into a marriage.”

Elissa licked her lips. “I’d love to, but Carmela’s not going to hand them over without a fight.”

“Why not try leveraging Rowan’s influence?” Tanya suggested,

remembering how close Elissa had been with Rowan lately. “He’s the only one in Vistapeak City who can really put the Atwaters in their place. If he steps in, it’ll be a piece of cake…”

“I’ll think about it,” Elissa said. If she asked Rowan for help, who knew how much he’d mock her for it. She could practically hear his lazy drawl already: ‘Didn’t you used to be madly in love? Now you’re jumping through hoops for a divorce?‘

She eyed Tanya’s dark circles and changed the subject. “Pulled another all–nighter?”

“Yeah.” Tanya looked pitiful. “You have to hurry up and get rich, so you can support me. If I keep going like this, I’m going to work myself into an early grave.”

Elissa laughed. “I could support you right now, you know.”

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She had more than enough saved up for the both of them to live

comfortably for life–as long as Tanya didn’t start gambling or getting into trouble.

Hearing that, Tanya’s eyes brightened. “Now that’s motivation. I think I can hang in there a little longer!”

With a smile, Elissa told her to have some breakfast before heading to bed, then grabbed her keys and drove to the clinic.

She hadn’t even made it through the door before she heard a commotion

inside.

A female patient had her hands clamped around the arm of a young nurse, refusing to let go. “What nonsense were you spouting just now? Where are your manners, girl?”

“Auntie, I wasn’t saying anything that wasn’t already being talked about!” the nurse protested in a small voice. “Everyone in the clinic’s heard about it. I’m not the only one, so why are you picking on me?”