A Caged Songbird's Escape: Into the Arms of a Predator novel Chapter 317

Elissa’s expression remained calm as she silenced her still-ringing phone with a swift flick of her thumb, ending the call before setting it aside without a second glance.

She turned to Tanya Foster. “Come on, eat up.”

Tanya hesitated. “If you don’t answer… Won’t they get even angrier?”

She remembered all too well the Murphy family’s old tricks—how they used to bully Elissa. The thought left her uneasy. “They’re not exactly known for letting things go.”

Elissa had tried to stand up for herself when she first moved back into the old woman’s house. It was pointless. The old witch seemed to have some deep, personal vendetta against her; the more Elissa resisted, the harsher her methods became.

Pouring more grain coffee into Tanya’s mug, Elissa flashed a bright, reassuring smile. “Relax. Right now, they’re not going to make any rash moves.”

“Why not?” Tanya asked, her brow furrowing. “Sure, they threw a little celebration last night, but the medication hasn’t even hit the shelves yet…”

Elissa’s phone erupted again, vibrating relentlessly with call after call, as if the person on the other end was determined to break through her silence.

“I need to head out soon,” Elissa said, ignoring the calls as she spoke. She hesitated, recalling Tanya’s history with Rex, but decided not to hide anything. “I’m going to treat Rex’s mother.”

Tanya blinked in surprise. “You can fix her legs?”

She remembered, back when she and Rex dated at university, that his mother was already wheelchair-bound. A condition that old wasn’t easy to heal.

“I can,” Elissa replied quietly, nodding. “It’ll just take some time. And…”

She trailed off, doubt flickering across her face.

Tanya’s eyes darted to Elissa’s hand, her mind working fast. “Wait, don’t tell me Mr. Murphy’s still traumatized from last time—too scared for another round?”

Glancing at the clock, Elissa cut her off with a bright smile. “Ms. Foster, it’s almost nine.”

“Nine already?!” Tanya jolted upright, wolfed down the rest of her breakfast, and scrambled to the sofa to scoop her files into her bag. “I’m out of here!”

“Drive safe! If you lose your job, I’ll take care of you!” Elissa called after her.

Only when the door shut behind Tanya did Elissa quietly pick up her phone again, watching as it lit up with yet another call. She smiled—a thin, determined line—and let it ring out once more.

Whoever was on the other end, she seemed more than happy to let them stew in their own frustration.