A Caged Songbird's Escape: Into the Arms of a Predator novel Chapter 436

Silence fell over the breakfast table. Maya reluctantly fell silent, unable to believe that even Laurel, who normally avoided social drama, was taking Elissa’s side.

Rex let out a sudden laugh, stoking the fire. "Did you hear that, Dad? Laurel told your precious daughter to shut up. Aren’t you going to say something?"

Tristan shot him a scowl. "You shut up, too." Who in the family hadn’t been on the receiving end of Laurel’s lectures? She had even managed to force Old Mr. Wilkinson to quit a decades-long smoking habit. Whenever he was caught sneaking a cigarette, he got an earful just like everyone else.

Rex snorted. "You all just play favorites."

Jesse chuckled. "Well, if you hadn't been so rebellious, you might be the one with the most authority in this house right now."

When Rex had insisted on studying medicine, their grandfather wanted him to become a military doctor. But Rex refused to be under the old man’s thumb and fled to Vistapeak City overnight, teaming up with that troublemaker from the Murphy family.

"Yeah, right," Rex scoffed. "Laurel would have strangled me by now."

Laurel shot him a look. "Say one more word, and I’ll have you enlisted in the army today."

Rex immediately went quiet.

Elissa couldn’t help but smile. Maya aside, the Wilkinson family had a genuinely warm and lively dynamic. She found herself wondering what it would be like to have siblings, thinking that even their bickering seemed like a form of happiness.

Old Mrs. Wilkinson, at a loss with them, rubbed the back of her head. "Enough, enough. All this arguing is giving me a headache."

"No acupuncture?" Suzanne asked, surprised.

From around the corner, Maya watched as her family members became devoted followers of Elissa, one by one. A cold smile touched her lips.

Just wait until Marcia walks through that door, she thought. Let’s see who the Wilkinsons choose then: their long-lost daughter, or a mere doctor.

She felt no guilt. After all, Vera had wronged her first. From the moment she was born, Vera had stolen the love and attention that should have been hers.