Larissa Judson and Haskell Palmer novel Chapter 590

“How could I know the rest of you weren’t the same kind of monsters?” Larissa voiced Sire’s signs. “Why would I send my savior’s son into a viper’s nest?”

Haskell let out a bitter laugh. It all made sense now.

Ever since Trudy had told him his brother had been rescued, Haskell had been plagued by a question. If the rescuer had truly been sent by his mother in an emergency, why had so much time passed without any attempt to return his brother to the Palmer family?

Now he understood. Sire didn’t trust a single one of them.

And he couldn't blame him. After all, his own grandfather, the patriarch of the family, was the one who had made the decision to send his grandson away in the first place. It was perfectly understandable that Sire wouldn't trust any of them, that he wouldn't dare let Rigby return to a family that had cast him out. If his identity were revealed, Rigby could be signing his own death warrant.

Haskell met Sire’s gaze, his voice low and steady. “Sire, my name is Haskell. I am Romilly Carlton’s son. And I am Rigby’s older brother.”

At the mention of his mother’s name, some of the tension seemed to drain from Sire, and he calmed slightly.

“Believe me, Sire, I would never harm my own brother,” Haskell said, his tone still gentle. “For my mother’s sake, will you just hear me out? Let me tell you what’s happened over the last three years.”

Seeing that Haskell genuinely had no intention of using force against Rigby, Sire didn't protest. He just grunted twice, signaling for him to continue.

Taking that as a sign that Sire was lowering his guard, Haskell began his story, recounting everything.

Sire’s gaze shifted from Haskell’s face down to his motionless legs, his expression softening with sympathy. He began to sign again.

“I saw it on the news,” Larissa translated. “They said your legs were crippled by kidnappers when you went to save your adopted daughter. If even you are in so much danger within the Palmer family, I would never consider letting Rigby return to a place that eats people alive.”

He signed one last, definitive sentence.

“Therefore, you cannot take Rigby.”