Larissa Judson and Haskell Palmer novel Chapter 11

Honora quickly pushed Leopold away and turned, her voice choked with emotion. “Dad, Mom, I know this is difficult for you. I don’t want to be the cause of your pain. If only one of us can stay, let it be my sister. I’ll leave.”

If it weren’t for the marriage to Haskell, Vivica wouldn’t have wanted this daughter back in the first place. A life of luxury was right in front of her, and she was still making a scene? Vivica didn’t believe for a second that her biological daughter would actually give up the status of a Judson heiress.

Fine. No more pleasantries.

“Leopold is right,” Vivica said, her voice turning sharp. “You’re my daughter, and I didn’t want to hurt your feelings, but look at you. You’re arrogant, ungrateful, and you have no idea what’s good for you. Let me be blunt. Compared to you, Honora is far superior. We will not abandon a daughter we’ve raised for twenty years just because you share our blood.”

Vivica laid her cards on the table. “If you want to return to the Judson family and live a comfortable life as an heiress, then you will swallow your pride and accept that Honora will continue to live here as a daughter of this house.”

Her final words were an ultimatum. “Otherwise, we will have no choice but to give up on you.”

Before Larissa could respond, Sapphira’s pained voice came from the doorway.

“Paxton, Vivica, are you truly so foolish that you would cast aside your own daughter?”

Larissa turned in surprise to see Sapphira and Neville walking back in.

Approaching her, Sapphira’s eyes were filled with heartache. “I was so worried about you, I had to come back and check. I never imagined…”

Leopold scowled at his aunt. “Aunt Sapphira, it’s not that we don’t want her. She’s the one who insists on leaving!”

Just then, a deep, elderly voice boomed from the entrance.

“Has my precious granddaughter been brought home?”

An old man leaning on a cane walked in, escorted by the butler, Jett.

Larissa turned to see him. This must be Kiernan, her Grandpa. He looked to be around eighty, with white hair, but his eyes were sharp and his steps were steady.

Seeing him, Paxton’s stern demeanor vanished. He hurried to help, but Kiernan waved him off. “I don’t need help from a fool like you! Abandoning your own daughter to raise the child of your enemy! I’m starting to wonder if she’s your illegitimate daughter!”