A Caged Songbird's Escape: Into the Arms of a Predator novel Chapter 402

Not only that, but she had been developing breakthrough remedies for years. Many in the audience had used the formulas from the Serenity Center; some even kept them stocked in their homes.

Marcia and Paige were caught completely off guard.

Elissa… a student of medicine for that long? And with Aaron Blaine as her master?

Paige felt the world tilt, nearly fainting on the spot. Butler Murphy steadied her just in time. Marcia’s face drained of all color.

It was over. Utterly and completely over.

But Marcia refused to admit defeat. She clenched her jaw, her voice a low hiss as she glared at Elissa. “If you’re really that skilled, why didn’t you reveal it sooner?”

“That’s a question for Matriarch Paige, isn’t it?” Elissa retorted, seizing the opportunity she’d been waiting for. She turned her gaze to the older woman. “Grandmother, everyone says that after the Murphy family adopted me, you treated me so well…”

“That’s enough,” Rowan interjected, his voice calm but firm. He shot a look at the host.

The host quickly stepped in. “Ms. Drummond, we still have some time. Perhaps you could tell us about your original inspiration for developing this drug.”

Elissa’s words were cut off. She stared at Rowan for a long moment, her clear eyes unblinking, before a slow, ironic smile spread across her lips.

Good thing she’d never expected him to take her side. Just because he had provided for her for nine years didn’t mean he would stand against his own grandmother for her sake. Paige, no matter what she had done, was still his family. He would never allow Elissa to strip away her dignity in front of so many people.

*Smack!*

Another slap cut her off mid-sentence.

Paige took a deep, shuddering breath as Butler Murphy handed her a glass of water and her blood pressure medication. After swallowing the pills, she kicked Marcia again. “You said you envied Elissa, didn’t you?” she sneered. “Well, the ground you’re kneeling on is where she knelt for years. So you can just stay here and kneel until you’ve had your fill!”

Marcia crumpled to the ground but scrambled back up, ignoring her throbbing face to clutch at Paige’s dress. “Matriarch, please, give me one more chance! I swear I’ll make sure she’s utterly destroyed!”

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