A Caged Songbird's Escape: Into the Arms of a Predator novel Chapter 400

Elissa frowned and glanced at Rowan. His expression had turned cold. "Since when are you the one making decisions for the Murphy Group?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous.

Paige lifted her chin. "When you mix business with pleasure to this extent, how can the Murphy Group remain in your hands?"

Seeing her arrive, Marcia breathed a sigh of relief. Let's see how the little bitch gets out of this one. With the situation escalated to this point, no matter who from the project team spoke up, Elissa's reputation would be ruined.

Elissa suddenly smiled, a cold, challenging look in her eyes. "You have no evidence, yet you're so certain I didn't develop this drug myself?" Trying to convict her with words alone.

Tempted by Paige's offer, Xavier jumped in again. "Ms. Drummond, don't blame me for being honest. It's obvious to anyone with eyes that you don't have the ability to do this…"

"Xavier!" Zachary Jones exploded. "You have to speak with a conscience!"

"Let him talk," Rowan said, his voice like ice.

Xavier, who had never spoken directly to Rowan before, felt a cold sweat break out on his back. But he was in too deep to turn back now. "Every person in the lab who questioned your abilities ended up getting fired," he said, his voice trembling but determined. "James and Raymond are proof! We all thought the same thing they did—you're too young, with too little formal training. Even with talent, it's impossible for you to have developed a drug this effective!"

"We're past that point! It's better to clear the air and convince everyone!" Paige, afraid he would shut down the conversation, glared at Elissa. "Tell us. How many years have you studied? What little have you managed to learn?"

A chilling silence fell over the room. The pressure around Rowan dropped, his icy gaze fixing on Paige. Just as he was about to speak, the woman beside him smiled and opened her mouth.

"Twelve years of study, four years of practice. Sixteen years in total." Elissa's voice was calm, a hint of a smile playing on her lips as her gaze swept over Paige and Marcia, delivering the final, devastating blow. "Sixteen years. Is that enough for you?"