A Caged Songbird's Escape: Into the Arms of a Predator novel Chapter 376

376 /392

His tone was level, but the resolve in it was unmistakable.

For the first time, Tanya looked at him with a glimmer of respect. He was finally acting like a man. If only Rowan could stand up to his family like that, she thought with a pang, then Elissa's baby could have a father.

Elissa had no idea what Tanya was thinking. All she wanted was to be free of the Atwater family drama. "I don't care if you disown each other or not," she cut in sharply. "Just leave me out of it."

Her eyes met Frank's. "I told you from the beginning that I don't need you to do anything for me. Please, make that clear to your mother as well."

With that, she slammed the door shut.

"You know," Tanya said into the silence, "if it wasn't for that whole mess with Marcia, he wouldn't be so bad."

"What do you mean?" Elissa asked, her throat dry. She went to the counter and poured herself a glass of cool water. Just as she brought it to her lips, a furious argument erupted from outside the door, followed by a loud thud, and then silence.

Tanya jumped, clutching her chest. "I just mean, he's better than someone like Rowan, who comes with a family full of enemies."

Elissa drank half the water in one go, her voice calm. "You're a lawyer, Tanya. You know better than anyone that there are no ‘what ifs' in this world."

Time didn't flow backward. All you could do was keep moving forward, whether you wanted to or not. There were no second chances.

Tanya sighed. "You're right. I guess I was just feeling idealistic for a moment."

The doorbell rang.

Elissa didn't have to look to know who it was. But she knew this conversation needed to happen. She set down her glass and opened the door. Frank stood there, his suit immaculate. "Is your mother gone?"