Larissa Judson and Haskell Palmer novel Chapter 619

“Finley, did they treat you okay in there? Oh, you look like you’ve lost weight,” Vivica fretted, reaching out to touch his grimy face.

Finley slapped her hand away. “I’m fine. I told you to go home. What are you still doing here?”

“You think I wanted to stay?” Vivica said, her voice thick with self-pity. “You wouldn’t come with me, and if I went back alone, your father would just blame me.”

“It’s always me or Dad! Don’t you have a life of your own?” Finley snapped.

“No, I don’t!” she cried, her voice cracking. “Other than you, Leopold, and your father, I have nothing! I gave up everything to stay home and take care of you and your brother. You didn’t seem to mind it when you were children. Why is it a problem now?”

“I’m just so tired, Mom,” Finley said, rubbing his temples. “Can you please just leave me alone? If you’re so bored, go bother Leopold.”

“Leopold is just as annoyed with me as you are! Now that you’re both grown, you don’t need me anymore, is that it?”

Tears streamed down her face. “What’s the point of me even being alive?”

“Don’t say that! All I’m asking is that you find something for yourself to do, stop focusing all your energy on me. How does that translate to having no reason to live? I just can’t deal with this right now!”

“Fine! I won’t say another word! But you are coming back with me today. You’re not staying here,” Vivica said, wiping her tears with a newfound resolve.

“Try and make me,” Finley retorted, turning and striding off in the direction of Spire Village.

Vivica stomped her foot in frustration but had no choice but to follow him.

Soon, they were both covered in filth. The barrage finally stopped, and the villagers spat in their direction before turning and walking away.

Vivica pulled a wipe from her purse and furiously scrubbed at her face. “Look at them, Finley! A bunch of savages! And to think your sister, Larissa, came from a place like this. No wonder she’s so impossible! I can’t stand it here another minute. Let’s go home!”

Finley’s jaw was set, his eyes fixed on the path ahead. “I’m not leaving. If you want to go, go.”

Seeing that he was still determined to stay, even after this humiliation, Vivica finally gave up. “…Fine! I don’t care anymore! If you want to torture yourself, be my guest!”

She spun around and stormed off. She returned to the motel in town, showered, and then hailed the cleanest-looking taxi she could find to take her back to Regal City.

On the way, she composed another text, this time to her other son: [Leopold, you and Finley have disappointed me more than you can imagine. Your sister, Larissa, has brought us to ruin, yet instead of blaming her, you both blame me. I feel like such a failure.]