A Caged Songbird's Escape: Into the Arms of a Predator novel Chapter 531

Elissa was stunned. She hadn't expected him to publicly sever his ties with Paige Jensen so suddenly.

Before she could even process it, Rowan had wrapped his arm around her waist and escorted her out of Atwater Manor.

Inside the manor, the crowd was left utterly shell-shocked. It took a long moment for anyone to find their voice.

"What does that mean? Rowan is the eldest son of the Murphy family. If he has no biological relation to the matriarch... does that mean Paige Jensen was just a mistress?" Mrs. Walters blurted out, her eyes wide with disbelief as she pieced the puzzle together.

If that were true, Rowan allowing her to host the funeral was already an incredible act of grace.

Carmela's head was still spinning. Hearing the gossip, she immediately snapped, "Who knows if he's telling the truth? That man will spin any lie to get what he wants!"

One of the other socialites scoffed. "No one makes up something like that. Mr. Murphy has been at the helm of the family for years without tearing off the old mistress's mask. He doesn't seem nearly as cold-blooded as the rumors suggest."

Mrs. Walters nodded in agreement. "Exactly. Just look at how fiercely he protects Elissa. You know a man like that is one of the good ones!"

In a world saturated with wealth and superficiality, it was incredibly rare to see a man defend his partner with such devotion.

Listening to the women sing Rowan's praises, Carmela was so furious she couldn't speak.

Beneath her anger, however, lay a deep, suffocating panic.

Was Elissa really going to marry into the Murphy family?

Carmela had crossed the girl far too many times. If Elissa truly became Mrs. Murphy, she would make Carmela's life a living hell.

And these women around her? They would undoubtedly flock to Elissa's side, eager to gain her favor.

But Carmela's panic was nothing compared to Frank's. Standing on the staircase, his fingers gripped the railing so tightly they trembled.

It all made sense now.

No wonder Elissa had so casually announced she had a boyfriend.

He had assumed she was just blinded by a fleeting romance. But the truth was, there was absolutely nothing standing between her and Rowan!

Rowan had absolutely no connection to the people who had ruined her family.

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