In this chapter, Larissa openly confronts Leopold with biting sarcasm, rejecting his smug attitude and making it clear she will not tolerate his behavior. She then follows Sapphira to sit beside her husband Neville, deliberately leaving a gap between herself and Leopold, signaling her disapproval and distancing herself from him. Leopold is left speechless and simmering with anger at the public humiliation.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Paxton tries to intervene and discipline Larissa, but she sharply reminds him that he is not her father and has no authority over her. Vivica attempts to apologize and reconcile, urging Larissa to join her brother, but Larissa dismisses her coldly. Leopold finally loses his temper, demanding respect for their parents, but Larissa mocks his sudden change and questions the sincerity of their apology.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kiernan arrives and commands silence, seeking to resolve the family conflict. He asks Larissa directly if she truly wants to recognize Neville and Sapphira as her parents, emphasizing the significance of her choice in front of the entire Judson family. Paxton warns her that choosing Neville and Sapphira would make her like an outsider, while Sapphira passionately declares Larissa as her own daughter despite the adoption.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Despite the tension and pressure, Larissa firmly and confidently tells Kiernan she is certain of her decision to accept Neville and Sapphira as her parents, rejecting her biological parents\u2019 claim. The chapter ends with a clear declaration of Larissa\u2019s loyalty and the family\u2019s fractured dynamics laid bare.<\/p>\n
Chapter 21\u00a0<\/p>\n
Larissa shot Leopold a withering glance. \u201cWipe that smile off your face,\u201d she said bluntly. \u201cIt\u2019s a pathetic look on you. If you can\u2019t manage a real one, save it for your precious little sister. Don\u2019t nauseate me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Without waiting for a reply, she followed Sapphira to the two empty seats next to Neville. Sapphira sat beside her husband, and Larissa sat beside Sapphira, leaving a pointed gap.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Leopold was speechless.\u00a0<\/p>\n
To be publicly humiliated like that left him seething, the forced smile on his face threatening to crack. It took him a long moment to swallow his rage and take his seat.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Paxton\u2019s voice was sharp. \u201cLarissa, that\u2019s enough.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Larissa didn\u2019t even bother to look at him. \u201cUncle Paxton, I\u2019m not your daughter. It\u2019s hardly your place to discipline me, is it?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The title \u201cUncle Paxton\u201d made the color drain from his face.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vivica forced a strained smile. \u201cLarissa, your father and I know we were wrong. We want to apologize. Please, don\u2019t be angry with us. Come sit with your brother.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you deaf, Aunt Vivica?\u201d Larissa retorted without a shred of courtesy.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Leopold finally snapped. \u201cLarissa! They are our parents! Show some respect!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Larissa let out a sharp, mocking laugh. \u201cDone with the act already? Showing your true colors so soon? And you claim you\u2019re sorry? Is this your idea of an apology?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just then, Kiernan\u2019s powerful voice boomed through the room. \u201cWhat is all this shouting?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Leopold immediately reined in his temper. \u201cGrandpa, we weren\u2019t shouting. I was just concerned that my sister is new to our world and doesn\u2019t yet understand the rules. I was trying to guide her.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you understood the rules,\u201d Larissa shot back, \u201cyou wouldn\u2019t be trying to discipline me over my own parents. What does that say about their authority?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you using Neville and Sapphira against me?\u201d Leopold stared at her, incredulous.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sapphira stepped in, her voice firm. \u201cLarissa is right. She is my daughter now, and Neville and I will be the ones to guide her. It is not your place to lecture our child.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kiernan sat down at the head of the table. \u201cLarissa is back, and I want to settle this matter once and for all, right here.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He turned his stern gaze on Larissa. \u201cI will ask you one last time. Are you certain you want to recognize Neville and Sapphira as your parents? Everyone in the Judson family is here, except for your Aunt Josette. Think carefully.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
In an instant, every eye in the room was fixed on her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLarissa, darling, your grandpa is asking you a question. This isn\u2019t the time for games,\u201d Vivica said, her voice tight with anxiety.\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/2\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:19\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 21\u00a0<\/p>\n
Leopold was still fuming and refused to say anything conciliatory.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Paxton\u2019s tone was a clear warning. \u201cThink very carefully. We are your biological parents. Everything we have will one day go to you and your brothers. Honora is the adopted one; she can\u2019t change the fact that you\u2019re our real daughter. But with Neville and Sapphira, you\u2019ll be just like her\u2013an outsider, an adopted child living under their roof. This is your last chance.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cPaxton!\u201d Sapphira exclaimed, her voice trembling with indignation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI have never thought of Larissa as just an adopted daughter! From the moment she first called me \u2018Mom,\u2019 she became my own child!\u201d She finished, then nervously avoided looking at Larissa, her palms sweating.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She was afraid. Afraid that at the last second, the girl would have a change of heart and choose her birth parents after all.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Neville gently placed his hand over hers. \u201cSapphira, calm down,\u201d he murmured. \u201cWe have to trust Larissa\u2019s choice.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ignoring Paxton and Vivica completely, Larissa looked directly at Kiernan. Her voice was unwavering. \u201cI\u2019m certain, Grandpa.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/2\u00a0<\/p>\n
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\u2019s breathtaking cold.<\/p>\n
Wings of Broken Time by Alina Das 21 Wings of Broken Time by Alina Das 21 Summary In this chapter, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[89],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-30540","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-throne-of-thorns-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30540","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30540"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30540\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30540"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30540"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30540"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}