A Caged Songbird's Escape: Into the Arms of a Predator novel Chapter 656

Rowan stared into her eyes, completely unable to form the word no.

After a moment, he reached out, gently pinched her cheek, and finally surrendered. "Fine. We'll go to the study first."

"Okay!"

Elissa wasn't surprised he agreed.

Lately, he had been granting her every single wish.

He was terrified that if she got even slightly upset, it would affect the baby.

She clung to Rowan's arm as they walked toward the elevator and remarked casually, "You know, with all the rest I've had lately, the baby is doing perfectly fine. If I ask for something you really don't want to do, you're allowed to say no."

"Besides, I've never been that unreasonable anyway."

Hearing this, Rowan glanced at her. "Do you think I yield to your every whim just because of the child?"

"Huh?"

Elissa was caught off guard. "Then what is it?"

Rowan reached over and lightly flicked her forehead, feigning annoyance. "Figure it out yourself."

"Oh."

Elissa replied, and then it suddenly clicked.

It was because of her.

From the very beginning, his greatest fear hadn't been losing the baby—it had been the physical toll a miscarriage would take on her body.

Realizing this, she felt a profound wave of emotion, followed by a very faint thought. "Then you..."

"I'm also incredibly excited for our baby."

As if seeing right through her thoughts, Rowan smoothly cut in, his words clear and absolute. "But nothing compares to your health and safety."

Elissa couldn't help but smile, admitting openly, "How did you know I was going to ask that?"

Rowan's eyes crinkled at the corners as he boasted flawlessly, "Because no one knows you better than I do."

And it was probably the absolute truth.

During the years her personality was being forged, he had been the closest person to her. How could he not know her inside and out?

Elissa's gaze landed on a shot of her from behind, wearing a pale yellow dress. Confusion flashed across her delicate face.

Behind her, the man's steady, gentle voice spoke up. "That was the day of your middle school registration."

He had loved her...

He had loved her much earlier than she had ever loved him.

Elissa froze, her heart feeling so overwhelmingly full it might burst. A rush of warmth spread upward from her chest, stinging her eyes.

She forced her eyes wide open, desperately trying to blink back the tears. "I want to go play in the snow!"

Rowan caught the choke in her voice but didn't call her out on it. "Done looking already?"

"I'll look next time."

Elissa sniffled, looking up at him. "Can I come in here whenever I want from now on?"

Rowan gently rubbed the back of her head. "This is your home."

And home, naturally, was a place where she could do whatever her heart desired.