A Caged Songbird's Escape: Into the Arms of a Predator novel Chapter 599

Normally, even though Laurel basically called the shots on matters big and small in the Wilkinson family with Old Mr. Wilkinson's backing, she had never openly defied Tristan.

She had always been a filial daughter.

Today's remark was perhaps the first time she had ever shown him disrespect.

Being treated like this by his children consecutively, Tristan's ego took a hit. Taking the voice recorder, he snapped sharply, "Is there some curse in Vistapeak City that turned all of you into this?"

Hearing this, Suzanne's expression grew even colder. "You should listen to the recording first."

It wasn't the first time Tristan had defended Maya like this, but this time, Suzanne had little patience.

She only wanted to bring her daughter—who had suffered so much out in the world—home as soon as possible.

Tristan's expression softened slightly, and he finally said no more, beginning to listen to the recording.

The recording captured Laurel's interrogation of the staff during her last trip back to Cresthaven.

With every sentence Tristan heard, his expression grew more complicated.

Before he could finish, Laurel's phone buzzed.

She stepped aside to answer. "Any news?"

"Yes, but it's not good news."

After receiving the component analysis report from Laurel, Serena had immediately mobilized all available resources.

She found out the origin of the poison and the whereabouts of the antidote.

"Speak," Laurel said.

After briefly explaining the poison's origin, Serena said, "There is only one dose of the antidote, and Maya bought it at a high price."

"What about the formula?"

"...There isn't one." Serena explained crisply. "The person who developed the poison passed away last year. His family thought he had committed too many sins, so they threw the formulas for both the poison and the antidote into the incinerator with him."

"Unexpectedly, his former assistant secretly kept one finished dose, which he sold to Maya for millions of dollars ten days ago."

Laurel completely didn't expect this outcome.

By the time she hung up, her face was terrifyingly dark.

She completely ignored Tristan's reaction to the recording, her high heels clicking rapidly as she headed upstairs!

Every step against the floor made an inexplicably unsettling sound.

The moment she slammed the door open, Maya jumped!

"Laurel, what's the rush?"

Her tone even carried obvious provocation.

She had already seen Tristan down on the balcony.

When Tristan first brought her home, he said it was only temporary, that they would send her away after her birthday.

The Wilkinson family thought they would help however they could. Let alone a temporary stay, transferring an empty apartment to her name and hiring someone to raise her wouldn't have been a problem.

They'd consider it doing a good deed for future generations.

Unexpectedly, on her birthday, Tristan proposed adopting her.

From then on, to the outside world, she would be the third daughter of the Wilkinson family.

Aside from Tristan, how could anyone else in the family agree?

Maya didn't want to leave either. She collapsed on the floor, refusing to get up, and pitifully begged and pleaded with everyone in the family.

Old Mrs. Wilkinson's heart softened, unable to watch any longer, and finally relented.

Laurel looked at her coldly, her voice flat. "You just want me to beg, right?"

"I want you to get on your knees and beg," Maya smiled.

"Bang—"

The door was violently shoved open, slamming hard against the wall and bouncing back.

Rex stepped in front of Laurel. Behind his gold-rimmed glasses, his eyes were freezing cold. He gritted his teeth, "You want Laurel to beg you? Do you think you're worthy? After leeching off the Wilkinson family all these years, do you really think you're a big shot?"