A Caged Songbird's Escape: Into the Arms of a Predator novel Chapter 448

But not wanting to scare her, he had wiped it away casually, slinging an arm around her shoulder. "What are you just standing there for? Waiting for your big brother to walk you home?"

The memory rushed through her, warm and sharp. The heat from his hand on her shoulder now seemed to seep through her dress, spreading through her entire body. Elissa found herself looking up at the man beside her, the boy she remembered now a tall, imposing figure. She had always thought he had changed. But maybe… maybe he hadn't.

His words were for Elissa, but the warning was for everyone in the room, not just Maya. He was making it clear: Elissa was his. It was the first time Rowan had ever publicly defended a woman, and the display had a powerful, chilling effect. He was the undisputed master of Vistapeak City, and no one wanted to make an enemy of him, not even the Wilkinsons.

Tristan's initial anger had been slowly dissolving as he watched Rowan protect Elissa. The scene reminded him of himself and Suzanne in their younger years.

But Maya had never been so humiliated. Even though she was infatuated with him, she couldn't hold back her fury. "Mr. Murphy, are you determined to show our family no respect at all?" To so blatantly encourage Elissa to strike her? This was Cresthaven, not Vistapeak City, where his word was law.

Rowan laughed, but his dark eyes were cold. "Are you certain that you can speak for the Wilkinson family?"

"I… perhaps I can't!" Maya conceded, but she had another card to play. She grabbed Marcia and pulled her forward. "But she can! She is the one and only Miss Vera Wilkinson!"

From a distance, Rex and Jesse, who had been enjoying the drama, exchanged looks of disbelief. What was going on? Marcia was Vera? The realization hit them like a physical blow, bringing none of the joy they had imagined would come with finding their long-lost sister.

Maya was indignant. "Yes! Are we supposed to let Vera be hauled off by the police for questioning? No one in this family would stand for that."

Hearing this, Marcia felt the sting in her cheeks fade, replaced by a wave of pure satisfaction. All Elissa could do was slap her. From this day forward, she could do whatever she wanted, and Elissa would just have to take it.