Larissa Judson and Haskell Palmer novel Chapter 36

The question clearly caught Vivica off guard.

“Why? What other reason could there be?” she finally stammered. “Larissa, I raised Honora for twenty years. So what if she isn’t my biological child? I would have feelings for a dog after that long, let alone a living person.”

Not to mention a daughter she had meticulously groomed to be so outstanding, beautiful, and considerate. Just looking at Honora brought her joy.

“I know it’s not fair to you, as my real daughter,” Vivica continued. “But life isn’t fair. I suppose you just have bad luck.”

Larissa nodded in solemn agreement. “You’re right. It is bad luck. To be saddled with a moron like you for a birth mother.”

Though stung again, Vivica softened her tone. “Larissa, I am your mother. I never wanted to give up on you. If you come back, I’ll give you the very best of everything I can.”

The words made Larissa want to laugh. “You won’t even get rid of an adopted daughter. How could you possibly give me your best?”

“Larissa…”

“Get out. Listening to you pollutes the air,” Larissa cut her off.

Seeing she was getting nowhere, Vivica’s anger flared again. “Why did I give birth to such a disobedient child!”

“You’re not leaving?”

Larissa turned, grabbed a broom from the corner, and brandished it at her. “Are you going or not?”

Vivica covered her nose and dodged. “Larissa, you’re delusional! Do you really think Sapphira likes you?”

Larissa had lost all patience. She dropped the broom and blew a handful of powder into Vivica’s face.

“Cough, cough…”

…

“She refused ten million dollars?”

Paxton paused in the middle of pouring coffee, his expression one of shock.

A country girl who had never seen money before? She turned down ten million?

Vivica rubbed her raw throat. “Not only that, she threatened to destroy our family and ruin our sons’ careers!”

Paxton slammed the coffee pot down on the table. “She actually said that?”

“Yes,” Vivica confirmed. “That wretched girl seems to know that we knew about her all these years and did nothing. She holds a deep grudge against us.”