Larissa Judson and Haskell Palmer novel Chapter 934

"I brought its food, too," Haskell said, holding out a container of freeze-dried spiders he had grabbed from the room.

Larissa took it and placed a few on her palm. Sage shot Haskell a glare before gobbling them down in one bite.

Sapphira watched the scene unfold with a contented smile, while Neville looked at his wife with a pang of heartache.

After spending about an hour at the Judson estate, Larissa and Haskell finally left.

Watching his wife stand at the villa's entrance, gazing wistfully after their car, Neville wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "Don't be sad," he comforted her. "It's not like Larissa is gone for good."

"Larissa is married. That's a happy occasion. Why would I be sad?" Sapphira replied.

And it was true, she wasn't sad. It was just that the feeling of gaining a daughter only to have her start her own family so soon was something Sapphira was still getting used to. And now, with Paxton's family gone and even Kiernan Judson living in the countryside, the vast estate felt particularly quiet with just the two of them. That's why she'd thought of getting pets—to liven the place up a bit. She didn't understand why Larissa had advised her to wait, but she trusted her daughter had her reasons.

With a yawn, Sapphira said, "Neville, I'm a bit tired. I'm going to bed."

"...Alright."

After his wife went to her room, Neville suddenly realized something. Over the past week, Sapphira had been sleeping more than usual and eating more too. Neville wasn't a particularly perceptive man, but his wife's behavior had been noticeably different. It made him start to wonder.

Could it be…

Xylee didn't bother with pleasantries. "Yes, there is something I want to discuss with you both. I just didn't realize you'd be back so late. Your grandfather has already gone to bed."

"Go on, Aunt Xylee. What is it?" Haskell said, his expression calm.

Xylee looked at him gravely. "Now that you two are married, will your future children take the Palmer name or the Judson name?" She then turned her stern gaze to Larissa. "After all, the Judson family's situation is common knowledge now. Their entire fortune has fallen to you. Given your current relationship with Finley and Leopold, it's unlikely you'll be handing the family assets back to their children, right?"

Larissa understood Xylee's point perfectly. If the Judson fortune went to her and Haskell's child, but the child carried the Palmer name, it would essentially mean the Judson assets were being absorbed by the Palmer family.

For an ordinary couple, a child's surname wouldn't be such a major issue; they would almost always take the father's name. But the Palmers and the Judsons were both powerful dynasties. The heir's surname was a matter of immense importance. If her and Haskell's child wasn't a Palmer, they might not be able to inherit the Palmer family's fortune. Wealthy families in this situation often arranged for the wife to have two children—one to carry the father's name, the other to carry the mother's.