A Caged Songbird's Escape: Into the Arms of a Predator novel Chapter 673

Tanya didn't know if she was imagining things, but his tone lacked its usual arrogant drawl.

She couldn't pinpoint exactly what was different.

But the question struck her only vulnerable nerve. Without pausing to think, she snapped back coldly, "What does it matter to you? Addicted to eavesdropping?"

She didn't want Elissa knowing too much about the Foster family's toxicity, but if someone had to know, she would prefer it to be Elissa.

At least Elissa was the one person in the world who would never mock her for it.

Vistapeak City was massive. Unless someone went out of their way, there was almost zero chance of running into each other.

For five years after their breakup, this woman had walked away cleanly, vanishing without a trace.

Since their unexpected reunion last year, she had handled every single encounter flawlessly, chatting and laughing with total ease.

Whether it was toward him or anyone else.

Rex Wilkinson sometimes had a dark urge to see her lose control, no matter the reason.

Preferably, because of him.

But right now, feeling her rare surge of raw emotion, Rex felt no satisfaction at all. He clearly wanted to comfort her, but the words that tumbled out were defensive. "How is it none of my business? We're still exes, aren't we?"

"Since you know we're exes," Tanya looked down at the large hand gripping her wrist, "can you let go of me now?"

Her makeup was as flawless as ever, and those beautiful, detached eyes stared straight into Rex's.

As Rex breathed, he caught the faint, sophisticated scent of her perfume. It was elegant and feminine.

An expensive, alluring scent, but one that demanded distance.

It wasn't like before. Over the years, whenever Rex woke up in the dead of night, he would always remember the soft scent of gardenias he used to inhale when he buried his face in the crook of her neck.

Back then, he had teased her about what perfume she wore, and she had laughed, asking how a broke college student could ever afford perfume.

One year after they broke up, driven by some stubborn obsession, Rex had bought almost every designer women's fragrance on the market, but he never found that specific scent that haunted his soul.

Whatever he was thinking, Rex didn't let go. Instead, his grip tightened, his voice dropping an octave. "Exes don't let go either."

Asher Fielding looked exhausted from travel, clearly having just rushed back into town. He ignored Rex completely, his eyes locked solely on Tanya. "Is Silas okay? The second I heard, I caught the first flight back. Is there anything I can do to help?"

Rex frowned sharply. Tanya took the momentary distraction to yank her wrist free, completely ignoring how Asher had found out about the hospitalization.

The difference in how she treated them was blindingly obvious.

"I'm fine, and he's stable. Elissa already arranged everything, so you don't need to worry."

The 'he' naturally referred to Silas.

Asher breathed a heavy sigh of relief and lifted a fruit basket. "Then I'll go in and check on them?"

"Okay."

Tanya didn't stop him.

The Fielding and Foster families had both lived on Blackwood Lane for decades. Their parents were old friends. Even if she weren't in the picture, Asher would still visit the Foster family.

It wasn't her place to interfere.