A Caged Songbird's Escape: Into the Arms of a Predator novel Chapter 458

The initial accusations had been aimed squarely at Elissa.

Upstairs, Elissa had just rung the doorbell when Jacqueline opened it.

"Mrs. Blaine, I'm so sorry," Elissa said, feeling guilty. "I dragged you and the professor into this…"

"Oh, you silly child." Jacqueline's heart ached seeing her looking paler than usual. Hearing her apology only made it worse. She pulled her inside. "Listen to yourself. What do you mean you dragged us into this? It's those other people who are jumping to conclusions. What does that have to do with you? If your professor heard you say that, he'd scold you for sure."

Elissa's heart warmed. "I won't say it again."

She changed into slippers and, not wanting to disturb them for too long, sat on the sofa and prepared them a cup of calming tea. "Are you comfortable here? If not, you can stay at my place."

"We're fine, perfectly comfortable," Aaron said, glancing at her. He took the tea, sipped it, then set it down and held out his hand.

Elissa knew what he wanted and said guiltily, "I'm fine, really…"

Aaron's tone sharpened. "Give it to me."

"..."

Resigned, Elissa placed her wrist in his left hand. Immediately, the fingers of his right hand rested on the inside of her wrist, taking her pulse.

The moment he felt it, Aaron's brow furrowed as if the sky were falling. He looked like he wanted to yell but forced himself to hold it in.

"What foolishness is this? Is it Frank's?"

"..." Elissa knew she couldn't hide it. "No, it's Rowan's," she said honestly.

Elissa sat on the sofa for a while. Seeing that it was already past midnight, she finally got up and went into the bathroom to take a shower.

She had just lathered her hair with shampoo when her phone, which she'd left on the sink, started ringing. At this late hour, her mind immediately went to the drug crisis. She turned off the water, walked over, and swiped to answer without even picking it up.

Steam obscured the caller ID, but the man's voice was one she knew all too well.

"Open the door."

Just two words, but she instantly recognized it was Rowan.

Her brain took a second to catch up. "What door?"

"I gave my apartment to your professor," the man's voice drawled casually. "If you don't let me in, am I supposed to sleep on the street?"