Larissa Judson and Haskell Palmer novel Chapter 227

Honora’s subtle suggestion was all Finley needed. His expression turned serious.

“The engagement party is just around the corner. It seems we’ll have to make good use of this information.”

Seeing he had taken the hint, a satisfied smile crept onto Honora’s face. She thought, “Go ahead and be smug, Larissa. Your engagement party will be the stage for your public humiliation.”

She glanced at Leopold, lying peacefully in the hospital bed. It seemed that before his accident, he had managed to do one thing right.

Finley’s gaze fell on the purse sitting next to the lunch box.

“Honora, Leopold gave you that bag, didn’t he?” he asked casually.

Honora paused, then nodded. “Yes, it was my birthday present from him this year. Why?”

Finley smiled. “No reason. I was just thinking that if you get tired of it, I’ll buy you the latest model.”

Honora beamed. “I’d love that. Thank you in advance, Finley.”

…

After leaving the room, Finley walked to the stairwell where his assistant was waiting.

“Has the thief been discharged?”

“His check-up today went well. He should be out soon.”

“Good. Tell him to get to work tonight as soon as he’s out. I want him to steal my sister’s purse. Understood?”

“Understood.”

Finley couldn't shake the feeling that his adopted sister was far more calculating than he had ever imagined. Her comment just now felt deliberate, as if she were trying to use him to go after Larissa.

Before, he would have never questioned her motives. But now, thinking back on everything, a sense of unease settled over him. He tried to tell himself that Larissa had just been pushing him too hard lately, making him paranoid, but Honora’s recent behavior was undeniably strange.

He had to get to the bottom of it, to either confirm his suspicions or dispel them, so he could go back to trusting and caring for her without reservation.

Then came Haskell’s cold reply.

“I don’t want to hear it. You can spend the rest of your life regretting it.”

Larissa snorted with laughter. Haskell’s timing was impeccable.

There was a long silence from Honora’s end. Larissa imagined her scrambling to find the right words after being so bluntly shut down.

“Haskell, I love you,” Honora finally said. “The only reason I didn’t stay by your side after your accident was because if you couldn’t become the Palmer heir, our marriage would lose its value—but that value was for my adoptive parents, not for me.”

Larissa scoffed. Honora was already shifting the blame.

“I want to marry you for you, not for your status. Even if you aren’t the Palmer heir, I’ll still love you.”

Her delivery was, as always, pitifully endearing.

Unfortunately for her, Haskell didn't seem to think so.