Larissa Judson and Haskell Palmer novel Chapter 349

Finley pushed the thoughts aside. If his mother hadn’t found him collapsed outside the east wing villa last night, he might have died there. He touched the bruise on his forehead and winced. “It’s nothing. I bumped it.”

“You bumped it? But why would you…” Honora trailed off, her eyes widening with realization. Her concern morphed into self-blame. “Finley, was it the poison? Was the pain so unbearable that you had to hurt yourself to get through it?”

Finley’s silence was his answer.

“Oh, Finley, this is all my fault,” she said, her voice cracking as tears welled in her eyes. “If it weren’t for me, Larissa would have cured you yesterday, and you wouldn’t have had to suffer for another day.”

Leopold, listening to her fake sentiment, was disgusted. He couldn’t believe he had ever found her pitiful.

Moved by her worry, Finley momentarily forgot the agonizing pain of the previous night. He patted her head gently. “It’s okay. It was only one more night. Today, Larissa is going to wake Leopold and cure me. You don’t have to be upset.”

“I know… but Larissa despises us. Why would she suddenly agree to help you?” Honora asked, a hint of suspicion in her voice.

“You don’t need to worry about that.” Finley didn’t want to tarnish Honora with their family’s dirty tactics. “I’m going to handle Leopold’s discharge papers. You can pack his things. We’ll take him home as soon as I’m done.”

“Okay,” Honora replied meekly.

As soon as Finley left the room, her expression shifted to one of scornful amusement. She began packing Leopold’s belongings.

Thatch’s face flushed with anger. “Your brother was just confused! He was sent away by your grandfather as a child and felt resentful when he returned. It was a mistake! He’s still your brother, the child your mother risked everything to find. Are you just going to let him die?”

The self-serving justification in his father’s voice was exhausting. Haskell said flatly, “I’ve had Crispin look into it.”

Thatch relaxed slightly. “That’s more like it. As soon as you find out where he is, tell me…”

“I didn’t say I was investigating his whereabouts,” Haskell interrupted. “I’m investigating whether he is actually my brother.”

Thatch froze, a flicker of panic in his eyes before he composed himself. “What nonsense are you talking about? Draven is your brother! Do you want to disappoint your mother’s spirit with such words?”