Larissa Judson and Haskell Palmer novel Chapter 244

Haskell put his phone on speaker and set it on the nightstand. He picked up a small ring box, opening it gently to reveal a pair of wedding bands.

The design was elegantly simple, free of any ornate decorations. The surface of each ring was engraved with delicate, flowing lines, like blades of grass, giving them a look that was both fresh and sophisticated.

From the moment he had first seen Larissa and heard she had agreed to the marriage alliance, Haskell had been planning their engagement and their future wedding. He looked forward to each new day, bringing him one step closer to marrying her.

After a long moment, Haskell closed the box and set it back on the table, turning his thoughts to Draven’s actions that night.

Meeting with Finley and Honora was understandable. Draven was still smarting from his humiliation at Larissa’s hands and wanted to team up against her.

But why visit Torrin? Was he planning to have Torrin reveal his past relationship with Larissa at the party to embarrass him?

It was just a past relationship. Even if it came out, what did it matter? Draven wouldn’t resort to such a mild tactic.

Haskell had a good idea of the real plan. It was as crude as it was predictable: drug Larissa and Torrin, then have them discovered in a compromising position by all the guests.

That way, he would get his revenge on Larissa and humiliate Haskell by making him a cuckold at his own engagement party.

“Beep, beep.”

His phone rang. Seeing it was Larissa, he answered immediately.

“Haskell, just a heads-up about something,” her cheerful voice came through the line.

A faint smile touched Haskell’s lips. “What is it?”

“Things might get a little bloody at our engagement party tomorrow.”

After hanging up, a deep, unreadable light flickered in Haskell’s dark eyes. Anyone who dared to ruin his engagement party would pay the price.

…

Larissa tossed her phone aside and lay back on the bed, playfully tickling Sage with her finger.

“Tomorrow, you three need to be very good at hide-and-seek, alright?”

Sage bobbed its head, then slithered over to Shadow and Snowy, tapping them with its tail until they, too, reluctantly nodded. It then returned to Larissa, wrapping itself around her finger as if asking for praise.

Larissa chuckled, stroking its cool head with her other hand. “My Sage is the cutest. Alright, go get some rest. I’ve got a big battle to fight tomorrow, too.”

Sage immediately unwound itself from her finger, curled up between Shadow and Snowy, and went to sleep.