Wings of Broken Time by Alina Das 71

Wings of Broken Time by Alina Das 71 Summary

Valeria confronts her father, Thatch, angrily about Haskell’s disrespectful and arrogant behavior despite his physical disability. She is frustrated that Haskell no longer shows any respect, especially towards their father, and feels hurt by the family tensions. Thatch tends to her injuries with care but remains bitter about Haskell’s favored status with their father, Zoltan, who has yet to choose an heir after three years of Haskell’s return.

Thatch reveals his deep resentment and determination to prevent any cure for Haskell’s condition, having personally ensured that no doctor could help him. He regrets failing to protect Valeria from Haskell’s cruelty and is focused on maintaining their family’s power. Draven, another sibling, has investigated the Judson family’s so-called “true heiress,” Larissa, discovering she is a simple village herbalist and not officially recognized by Paxton’s family, which reassures Thatch that her status could weaken Haskell’s position if he marries her.

Valeria mocks the Judsons for pushing Haskell towards Larissa and suggests that Draven could marry Honora, another family member, to humiliate Haskell and improve their own standing. Draven seriously considers this plan, seeing it as a way to undermine Haskell’s pride and elevate himself within the family hierarchy.

Meanwhile, in a tense moment within Zoltan Palmer’s study, Haskell plays chess with his father. Their interaction is loaded with unspoken conflict as Zoltan questions Haskell about the Judson family situation, highlighting the ongoing power struggles and alliances within the family.

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“Dad, you saw him with your own eyes!” Valeria burst out, her voice trembling with anger as she sank heavily onto the worn sofa. She pressed her hands to her swollen cheeks, her frustration palpable. “He doesn’t even show you the slightest respect anymore! His legs may be useless, but what right does that give him to act so arrogantly?”

Draven moved quietly to her side, retrieving a cold pack from the freezer. With gentle care, he pressed it against her bruised face, hoping to ease some of her pain.

Thatch’s tone was sharp, laced with bitterness. “His arrogance comes from one simple fact—Zoltan still favors him over the rest of us.” He shook his head slowly. “Just like I said, your brother has been back for three whole years, and not once has Zoltan sat down to play chess with him.”

In the Palmer household, everyone knew that Zoltan Palmer, the family’s formidable patriarch, cherished chess above all else. An invitation to play was more than a game—it was the highest form of approval he could grant.

Draven’s eyes flashed with a burning resentment. “Don’t worry, Dad. Zoltan will see my value in time. The fact that he hasn’t named an heir yet means he’s uncertain. He’s just clinging to the hope that Haskell’s legs might be healed.”

Valeria’s voice wavered, tinged with fear. “But what if they actually can be fixed?”

Thatch’s expression hardened into something cold and unyielding. “Even if that happens, I won’t let it come to pass.”

He was the one who had handpicked every doctor to examine Haskell. If a cure existed, Thatch had the means to ensure it never reached his brother.

Looking at Valeria, his voice softened, regret creeping in. “I’m sorry, Valeria. I failed to defend you today, and you ended up hurt again.”

Her tone shifted, almost coaxing. “It’s not about my feelings, Dad. The real issue is that he doesn’t respect you anymore! He actually said that your place in this family is all because of him!”

At that, Thatch’s hands clenched tightly into fists. “Just like his mother,” he thought bitterly. “One despised her husband, and the other looks down on her own father.”

They had no one to blame but themselves for his cruelty. If he had arranged for that woman’s death, he wouldn’t hesitate to do the same to her son.

“Draven, have you investigated this so-called ‘true heiress’ of the Judson family?” Thatch’s face was grim as he asked.

“I have,” Draven replied steadily. “Her name is Larissa. She’s a village herbalist from some remote, backwater place. I also heard that Paxton’s family refused to acknowledge her officially because they considered her uncivilized. Instead, she’s been registered under Neville and Sapphira’s names.”

Thatch visibly relaxed, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “Good. As long as she’s a nobody, that’s all that matters. If Haskell marries her, his standing in the family will collapse. That will be our opening to secure our own positions.”

—

“Hmph. The Judsons are clearly just pushing him off with some country girl because they don’t want Honora marrying a cripple,” Valeria said with a sneer, her eyes flashing with disdain. “I don’t see what he has to be so arrogant about!”

A mischievous spark lit up her gaze. “Bro, can you imagine how furious Haskell would be if you married Honora? He’d become the laughingstock of all Regal City!”

Draven paused, considering the idea seriously. “You’re right. If I were the one to marry Honora, I’d completely destroy what’s left of his pride.”

A slow smile spread across his face as he began to plot. Winning Honora’s heart wouldn’t just humiliate Haskell; it would raise his own status within the family, tipping the scales in their favor.

—

Inside the private study of Zoltan Palmer, the family patriarch, the air was thick with tension.

Haskell moved his knight forward on the chessboard with deliberate precision. Across from him, Zoltan looked up, his gaze sharp and calculating. “I assume your father has filled you in on the situation with the Judson family?”

Without lifting his eyes from the board, Haskell replied, “He has.”

Conclusion

The chapter delicately unravels the tangled web of family loyalty, resentment, and ambition that binds the Palmers. Valeria’s raw frustration and Thatch’s cold resolve paint a vivid picture of a family fractured by unspoken grievances and silent battles for power. The emotional undercurrent reveals how respect and approval, symbolized by the simple act of a chess game, carry profound weight in their lives. Each character wrestles with their own desires and fears, highlighting the painful sacrifices made in pursuit of recognition and control.

Amidst the tension and scheming, the hope for change flickers faintly but remains overshadowed by bitterness and mistrust. The looming threat of betrayal and the desire to outmaneuver one another underscore the precarious balance within the family. Yet, beneath the surface of rivalry and strategy, there is an undeniable yearning for connection and validation, making their struggles deeply human and poignant. This chapter leaves us poised on the edge of shifting alliances and unspoken truths, capturing the emotional complexity of a family bound by blood but divided by ambition.

What to Expect in Next Chapter?

The next chapter promises to delve deeper into the simmering tensions within the Palmer family, where alliances and rivalries intertwine with personal ambitions. As Draven contemplates a bold move to win Honora’s heart, the stakes are raised not just in matters of the heart but in the battle for power and respect. The emotional undercurrents between siblings and the looming presence of their father, Zoltan, add layers of complexity to their struggles.

Expect the fragile balance of loyalty and resentment to be tested further, with characters forced to confront their desires and fears. The chess game between Haskell and Zoltan serves as a metaphor for the intricate maneuvers ahead, hinting at strategic plays that could alter family dynamics irrevocably. Questions about true allegiance and the cost of ambition will keep readers on edge, eager to see who will emerge victorious in this high-stakes game.

Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.

The Throne of Thorns Novel Chapter 71

Wings of Broken Time by Alina Das 71