A Caged Songbird's Escape: Into the Arms of a Predator novel Chapter 309

“If you have time to worry about me, maybe you should worry about yourself instead.”

With that, Elissa ignored her and turned toward the open elevator. “Professor, let’s go.”

Without another word, the group stepped into the elevator, not sparing Marcia a single glance.

Marcia watched Elissa’s calm, unbothered face, her jaw clenched so tightly she could almost hear her teeth crack. Hatred blazed in her eyes.

That conniving witch.

Let’s see how smug she is once her clinical trial fails and everything falls apart. What will she have left to gloat about then?

At the thought, a slow, triumphant smile crept over Marcia’s lips.

After all, her own project wouldn’t fail.

All her data—every promising result—came from Elissa’s sleepless nights in the lab. Elissa had done the work, but Marcia got to reap the rewards.

Inside the elevator, Aaron scowled and muttered, “Where’s Frank Atwater these days? Can’t even keep his own sister-in-law in check.”

The mention of Frank caught Elissa off guard. Although he had moved into the apartment below hers, she realized she hadn’t seen him in quite a while.

If the professor hadn’t brought him up, she might have forgotten about him altogether.

Tanya Foster, who had been annoyed with Marcia for ages, chimed in with a double-edged remark: “Mr. Blaine, you know, there are so many people nowadays who walk their dogs without a leash. No sense of public decency at all.”

The celebration dinner, though technically just a party, was lavish by any standard. Murphy Group had rented out an entire floor of the banquet hall, with security stationed at the elevators.

Chatting and laughing, the four of them entered the hall.

Inside, the lights glittered and the place buzzed with conversation. The room was packed with the city’s elite; aside from their colleagues from the research department, everyone here was a notable figure in Vistapeak City.

Most of them had business ties to Murphy Group, so of course, they wouldn’t miss the chance to show support and offer congratulations.

As the group entered, a crowd immediately gathered around them.

“Mr. Blaine, such a pleasure—I've heard so much about you.”

With a steady, resonant voice, Rowan introduced Elissa to the room: “She’s the lead researcher behind Murphy Group’s new cancer therapy. This is Elissa Drummond.”

A stunned silence swept the hall—then a wave of astonishment.

She’s so young!

But coming from Rowan himself, there could be no doubt.

A few CEOs from rival pharmaceutical companies couldn’t help but comment, “The new generation is truly remarkable. She can’t be more than what, mid-twenties? She’s already achieved more than many researchers do in a lifetime.”

“You’re right about that.”

Someone from Murphy Group’s research team spoke up, pride in their voice. “Our Ms. Drummond is incredible. She practically lives in the lab. She’s dedicated everything to this project.”

At first, even they couldn’t quite accept Elissa.

Who wouldn’t be skeptical? Someone so young, parachuted in as the head of the Traditional Medicine Unit, with barely any experience compared to the rest of them.