A Caged Songbird's Escape: Into the Arms of a Predator novel Chapter 422

A dull ache pinched Elissa's heart, and for a long moment, she couldn't speak. She truly never imagined Rowan would want a child this badly. In fact, she had worried that if he found out she was pregnant with his baby, he might not even want it to be born.

She never anticipated he would be this devastated—so devastated that it made her ache right along with him.

"If you change your mind, it's not too late," Laurel reminded her.

Elissa's gaze was fixed on the pristine white sheets. After a long silence, she slowly looked up. "But later… will he ever forgive me?"

Laurel was taken aback by the question. Having personally arranged for the investigation into Elissa's past, she understood exactly what Elissa was asking: after Elissa avenged her parents, would Rowan, Paige Jensen's own grandson, ever forgive her?

If the answer was no, then her regret right now would be meaningless. Worse, it would only create more trouble down the line.

Laurel knew about the friction between Rowan and his grandmother, but that didn't mean he would stand idly by while Paige Jensen was targeted. Blood is thicker than water. If it were that easy to sever family ties, so many people wouldn't be trapped in the pain of their upbringing.

Putting herself in his shoes, Laurel couldn't find an answer. She also knew Elissa had already found her own. "As long as you've thought it through," she said softly.

Elissa let out a deep breath. "I have."

Some things, you had to think through, whether you wanted to or not. She wasn't the real Elissa, so she didn't share that deep-seated hatred for the Murphy family. But she owed a debt of gratitude; her adoptive parents had treated her with genuine love. All she wanted was to bring them justice so they could rest in peace. It was the only way she could repay them for saving her life.

This only confirmed Elissa's suspicion that it wasn't Orion Stone. If he wanted her dead, he wouldn't have hired someone so likely to talk. Not unless he was eager for a return trip to prison right after getting out.

Laurel had business to attend to and didn't stay long. Just as she left, Frank walked in, his handsome face sporting a new bruise.

Elissa looked up, startled, and instinctively said, "Rowan's always been like that. Don't take it to heart…"

She didn't even realize that while her words seemed to chide Rowan, they were actually defending him, placing her on his side.

Frank's expression faltered. He remembered all the times he had defended others in front of her. He never knew how much it could sting.