Larissa Judson and Haskell Palmer novel Chapter 276

Vivica and Finley’s faces were grim.

Honora had been one of the first and most severely poisoned. Now, watching as everyone else was treated while her own fate remained uncertain, she was consumed by anxiety. Why wasn’t Finley begging for her?

“I only have a limited number of leeches,” Larissa explained calmly after finishing with the pills. “We’ll have to wait until the venom has been drawn from the first two before I can move on to the rest of you. But I’ve suppressed the poison in your systems. Your lives are not in danger.”

“Thank you, thank you, that’s fine…” The five patients were just grateful to be alive; they wouldn’t dare rush her.

Once the leeches had finished their work on the first two victims, Larissa transferred them to the next two.

As the minutes ticked by and six of the victims showed clear signs of recovery, Honora’s condition worsened. The pain and fear became too much, and she coughed up a mouthful of blood.

“Honora!” Finley rushed to her side, his face a mask of terror.

Larissa merely glanced over before turning her attention back to her work.

One of the guests couldn’t stand it anymore. “Ms. Judson, maybe you should go check on Honora. She looks like she’s dying. No matter what happened between you two in the past, you can’t just let her die.”

Larissa moved the leeches to the final victim, then looked up at the young man who had spoken.

“You’re so kind,” she said, her voice deceptively sweet. “I’m sure you’d be willing to trade your life for hers, wouldn’t you?”

Honora’s breathing grew ragged. “Finley… I feel… so sick. Am I… am I going to die?”

“Honora, don’t worry,” Finley said, his voice tight with desperation. “I won’t let you die.”

He turned back to Larissa, his pride finally breaking. “What will it take for you to save Honora? Name your price.”

Larissa considered this for a moment. She found a chair and sat down, looking for all the world like she was settling in for a good story. “Alright, Honora, how about this? In front of everyone here, I just have one question for you. Before I was brought back to the Judson family, that fugitive who broke into my home and tried to assault me and film it… did you hire him? If you tell the truth, I’ll save your miserable life.”

For Larissa, watching Honora’s social standing crumble, seeing her lose everything she had ever wanted, was far more satisfying than simply letting her die. Death would be letting her off too easy.