Larissa Judson and Haskell Palmer novel Chapter 359

Seeing Sapphira’s five brothers ready to forcibly sever his fingers, Paxton knew he was out of options. After telling Vivica to call their family doctor, he picked up the dull knife, positioned it over his pinky, and through gritted teeth, brought it down hard.

“Hiss…”

The blade was so blunt that the first cut barely broke the skin, slicing only into the top layer of flesh. Even so, the shock of pain made him gasp, and he nearly blacked out as the knife slipped from his trembling hand.

Vivica couldn't bear to watch. With tears in her eyes, she shook her head. “Paxton, stop…”

Gloria sneered. “If he won’t do it, then you can do it for him. You’re husband and wife. You can share in this hardship together.”

Vivica’s words caught in her throat. She stared at the blunt knife in her husband’s hand, unable to imagine that kind of pain. She loved her husband, yes, and couldn’t stand to see him suffer, but she didn’t have the courage to take his place.

Finley started to step forward, to offer himself, but then he remembered his own crippled leg. If he lost a finger as well, he would be truly broken. He hesitated, then stopped.

Suddenly, an idea struck Vivica. She turned her pleading gaze to Honora, who had been standing silently beside Finley.

“Honora, what if you did it for your dad? Just one finger?”

Honora’s body went rigid. If not for the mask she wore, everyone would have seen the venomous look on her face.

“What if? What the hell does she mean, what if?” Honora thought furiously. “Does this old woman have any idea what she’s saying? She wants me to cut off my finger for Paxton!”

Larissa let out a short, derisive laugh but said nothing. It was pathetic, really. All it took was the threat of one finger for the whole family to start turning on each other.

“Honora, your father and I raised you for so many years. Isn’t it time you repaid him? It’s just one finger. It won’t affect your life…”

“She’s insane!” Honora screamed internally. “How could one finger not affect me? For a young, beautiful girl, it would change everything! But for a middle-aged man like Paxton, it’s practically nothing!”

Honora debated her next move. She could play the martyr, a tactic that had served her well in the past, but she worried that if she actually offered, Paxton might just agree. Then there would be no turning back.

She forced her lips to move. “Mom, I…”

Before she could finish, Finley cut in. “Honora has been through enough. She’s already disfigured from the poison. How can you ask her to endure this too, Mom?”