Larissa Judson and Haskell Palmer novel Chapter 9

Leopold was speechless, a flicker of guilt crossing his face. But just as quickly, Honora’s sobs grew louder.

“I’m sorry. It’s all my fault. It’s my fault I have a mother like that. Sister, if you hate me, you can hit me, you can yell at me, but please don’t blame Leopold…”

With that, she pulled her hand from Leopold’s grasp and, biting her lip with a look of grim resolve, took a few small steps toward Larissa.

“Honora!” Leopold panicked, rushing to follow her.

When she reached Larissa, Honora made a show of falling to her knees, but Leopold caught her just in time.

“Honora, what are you doing? I told you, it’s not your fault! It’s your mother’s fault!”

Watching the scene unfold, Larissa burst out laughing again and began to applaud sarcastically.

“Clap. Clap. Clap.”

“This is good. Really good. Are you two putting on a melodrama for me?”

Seeing how impervious she was, Leopold’s fleeting guilt vanished. He helped Honora up and stared coldly at Larissa. “Why are you so unreasonable? Honora has sincerely apologized to you, and still you mock her!”

“I’m not just mocking her; I’m mocking all of you,” Larissa retorted. “She has a conniving mother who switched us so she could have a better life, stealing twenty years from me. And now that I’m back, you, my supposed parents and brother, are protecting her right in front of me. I must have the worst luck in the world to end up with a family like you.”

Leopold’s expression grew even darker.

The atmosphere turned frigid.

“Dad, Mom, Leopold, I don’t want to leave you,” Honora whispered, her voice choked with tears. Her sorrowful expression was heartbreaking.

Leopold held her hand tightly. “Honora, don’t worry. You’re not going anywhere! As long as I’m alive, I will never let you leave the Judson family! You will always be my sister, a daughter of this house!”

Larissa raised an eyebrow. “So if she’s not leaving, does that mean I am?”

Vivica’s patience had reached its limit, but she managed one last attempt at persuasion. “Larissa, you’ve just come back. You don’t know Honora yet. She is kind and considerate. Once you get to know her, you’ll grow to accept her. Her staying here won’t threaten your position. After all, you are our biological daughter.”