Larissa's Game of Thrones (Larissa) novel Chapter 184

Haskell immediately grasped her intention. “You want Leopold to hear things he normally wouldn’t, all while appearing to be in a coma.”

“Exactly,” Larissa confirmed. “I want him to know just how the precious adopted sister he adores, the one he was willing to hurt his own flesh and blood for, has been stabbing him in the back.” To say she felt no resentment at being abandoned by her own family would be a lie. But she would never grovel for their affection. She would make them regret it, and she would never forgive them.

“We really are two of a kind,” she remarked, “both betrayed by our own families.”

Haskell, however, had already made his peace with it. “I have you. That’s all I need.”

“Aren’t you afraid I’ll betray you?” Larissa joked.

“You won’t,” Haskell said with absolute certainty.

Larissa laughed. “You’re right, I won’t stab you in the back. But I will…” She drew out the word, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “…bully you! To your face!”

She moved toward him and playfully caressed his handsome face. “This face is just too good-looking,” she declared. “I’m going to have to kiss it senseless someday.”

A look of fond amusement filled Haskell’s eyes. “No need to wait for someday. You can do it right now.”

Larissa considered this. “You have a point. After a near-death experience, I deserve to be a little reckless!”

She leaned in, about to kiss him, when the door opened.

“Sir, your father and Draven are here,” Crispin announced, then froze, noticing the intimate atmosphere. He looked instantly awkward.

With Crispin’s help, Haskell settled onto the bed before turning his gaze to Draven. “Did you take care of what I told you to do yesterday?”

Draven nodded eagerly. “Yes, it’s done. I’ve brought back everyone who resigned.”

A faint, humorless smile touched Haskell’s lips. “Next time, don’t act on your own unless I give you an order. Understood?”

“Understood,” Draven replied meekly, before cautiously adding, “It’s a blessing you survived the accident without any life-threatening injuries.”

Haskell’s smile widened, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Yes, I wonder how I managed to be so lucky. Otherwise, you and Dad would have gotten your wish, wouldn’t you?”