A Caged Songbird's Escape: Into the Arms of a Predator novel Chapter 335

They actually went to all this trouble to develop a drug like this—and even threw a celebration banquet for it.

What an embarrassment. Absolutely mortifying.

When Marcia had headhunted him from Serenity Traditional Medicine Center, she’d given her word—their project would be a surefire success, something that would leave the entire pharmaceutical industry in awe.

Now…

Well, it would probably make headlines, all right.

BREAKING NEWS: After burning through millions, this company finally manages to develop a cancer drug that’s been on the market for years.

Marcia blinked in disbelief. “You’ve double-checked the data that came back?”

Hadn’t Elissa boasted about some miracle cancer drug with zero side effects?

How could the results… be practically identical to the generic drugs already out there?

William was practically pounding the desk. “Of course I checked! I checked it three times myself!”

“That’s impossible…”

“Ms. Carson, are you sure you haven’t been conned?”

The moment William said this, Marcia’s expression shifted. Realization dawned.

Well, well.

Elissa hadn’t just fooled the Wilkinson family.

She’d duped Murphy Group—and Rowan, too!

After Murphy Group poured in all that money, this wretch hadn’t delivered a thing.

William noticed Marcia suddenly start to smile and frowned in confusion. “What are you so happy about? Have you figured out how you’re going to explain this to Murphy Manor? Don’t drag me into it…”

William, after all, knew exactly who her backer was—the formidable matriarch of the Murphy family.

Marcia merely smiled. “Relax. The old lady at Murphy Manor will be thrilled.”

After all, that woman’s ultimate goal was always to keep Elissa under her thumb for life.

Now, with Elissa on the verge of burning her bridges with both the Wilkinson family and Rowan, what did it matter if she had some unsavory relationship with Rowan? Business was business—once they saw through her, not only would they stop protecting her, they’d probably want her gone for good.

Many people with chronic illnesses rarely visit the doctor and often miss their body’s warning signs. With this platform, they could easily record their health status, and the system would respond instantly.

But from a business perspective, the project was a money pit—time-consuming, costly, and unlikely to turn a profit.

Elissa could think of only one way to make it sustainable: a subscription model.

She set her files aside and tucked her hair behind her ear. “So, how do you plan to price it?”

Set the price too high, and the older demographic would balk.

Worse, many people with chronic illnesses were already at the end of their financial rope.

Jesse caught her concern. “There won’t be a fee. We’re planning to make the platform free.”

Elissa was surprised. “Free?”

“Yep.”

Jesse smiled. “My grandfather always said, ‘If you’re struggling, look after yourself; if you’re thriving, help the world.’ This project was his idea. He asked me to get it off the ground as soon as possible.”