Larissa Judson and Haskell Palmer novel Chapter 370

With that, Paxton shot his wife, Vivica, a pointed look. A simple scolding wasn't going to be enough to earn Larissa’s forgiveness.

Vivica met her husband’s gaze and instantly understood his silent message.

The situation was dire for their family. But now that Leopold was awake, claiming they had all been deceived, a path forward appeared. If they could blame everything on Honora, perhaps Larissa would forgive them. And if Larissa forgave them, surely Kiernan wouldn't be so ruthless. They might still have a chance at the Judson family fortune after all.

Having pieced it all together, Vivica turned to Honora, her face a mask of profound anguish. “Honora, we raised you like our own daughter, yet you were plotting against our real daughter behind our backs! If it weren't for you, we never would have become so estranged from her!”

She then turned her tearful eyes to Larissa. “Larissa, my poor girl, you heard her. We were all deceived by Honora. We had no idea you hated her so much, that you wanted her out of this family because she had hired someone to harm you! If we had known, your father and I would never have let her stay a moment longer!”

A cold, mocking smile touched Larissa's lips. “After all that,” she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm, “it still comes down to this: the only reason you're willing to cast her aside is because she tried to harm me. And the only reason you were so easily deceived is that you always favored her. You were so blinded by your love for her that you despised your own daughter, refusing to even acknowledge my existence!”

Vivica frantically waved her hands in denial. “No, Larissa, that's not it! We were truly just fooled by her. We thought she was sweet and kind, and that throwing her out would be cruel. We never knew she was so vicious!

Your father has already made her kneel here. Whatever you want to do to her to vent your anger, you have our blessing! This time, we absolutely will not protect her.”

Finley’s eyes widened. So that red dot hadn't been a mosquito bite after all—it was from Honora's injections.

Vivica grabbed Leopold's arm, her breath catching in her throat as she stared at the red mark on his elbow.

Leopold’s voice burned with indignation. “And she’s been in contact with her biological father this whole time, sending him the allowance we gave her every month! And when she was poisoned, she hired someone to try and kill Larissa!”