A Caged Songbird's Escape: Into the Arms of a Predator novel Chapter 537

A tight knot formed in Elissa's chest. Perhaps the wind had been too loud on his end, because Rowan clearly hadn't heard what she was about to say. "What did you just say, Nine?"

Elissa took a deep breath, forcing down the sudden, bitter sting in her throat. "Nothing. Have you... made it to your hotel?"

The man on the other end of the line seemed to step indoors. The howling wind was instantly cut off, replaced by the quiet, rhythmic thud of his confident footsteps.

Before they hung up, Elissa asked, "If I need to reach you, should I just call this number?"

"Yes." Rowan's voice was a low, warm hum. "Can you go to sleep now?"

She wasn't entirely sure she could.

But she didn't want to make him worry while he was half a world away, so she murmured an agreement. "I'm going to sleep now."

Right before the line disconnected, she added softly, "You should... get some rest too."

Given the time difference, it was evening where he was.

Rowan paused, sounding as if he wanted to say something more, but ultimately settled for, "I will."

As the screen went dark, Elissa stared at her phone for a long moment, then let out a self-deprecating laugh.

She had clearly been watching too many soap operas.

Hearing a single female voice in the background and immediately letting her mind spin out of control was ridiculous.

He treated her flawlessly.

She needed to give him her unconditional trust.

As the rational thoughts settled in, her exhaustion returned in full force. Curling tightly into the heavy blankets, she finally drifted into a deep, uninterrupted sleep.

Staying up late didn't stop her internal clock from waking her up right on schedule.

For the next two days, she maintained her regular shifts at the medical clinic.

On the second morning, she had just sat down at her desk and hadn't even called her first patient when a voice note popped up from Tanya.

It was a dramatic, wailing recording: *"Babe, do you miss me? I miss you so much I'm dying over here!"*

After living together for so long, Tanya was suffering severe withdrawal after just a few days apart.

Elissa laughed out loud. Too lazy to type, she recorded a quick reply: *"Then come sleep over at Rivercross tonight."*

Janice had recovered nicely, and wanting to give the young couple some privacy, she hadn't moved up to the second floor.

With Rowan gone, the entire floor was completely empty at night.

Having Tanya around would be nice.

Tanya immediately shot back: *"Where am I supposed to sleep? Right between you two?"*

*"...Rowan is out of town on a business trip."*

*"Say less! I'm off today. What time do you get off work? I'll come to the clinic, and we can take your car together."*

Elissa smiled softly. *"Around two, probably. But I need to stop at the hospital for an OB/GYN appointment first."*

*"Perfect! I'll come with you! Rowan hasn't even been to one of your appointments yet, so I get to be the first!"*

Elissa chuckled, sent back an 'OK' sticker, and finally called her first patient.

By the time she looked at her phone again, it was almost two in the afternoon. Tanya had already been waiting in the lobby for half an hour.

The two grabbed a quick lunch at a nearby café before heading straight to the hospital.

Sitting in the passenger seat, Tanya glanced at the GPS and blinked in surprise. "You're going to a Murphy Group hospital? Does that mean you've already told Rowan about the baby?"

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