Chapter 1824:


    “So what if I’m a woman? Any child I have will carry Wade blood,” La snapped. “But if your wife is ever unfaithful, your children won’t be Wade blood at all.”


    Violette’s expression darkened instantly. She shoved La hard enough to send her to the floor. “What exactly are you implying? Do you think I would ever be unfaithful to Jaxen?”


    Laughed coldly from where she had fallen. “Do you think being devoted to Jaxen will save you? Only one person walks out of here. You’re just dead weight.”


    Violette’s face went pale, but she held herself together. “You’re talking about your own family. Only a Wade survives — but my family has the Martels behind us. None of us are going to die here.”


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    “We’ll see whether the Martels protect you,” La said. She scrambled to her feet and threw herself at the gate, gripping the bars. “Hurley, please — save me! I’m the one who can carry the Wade bloodline forward!”


    “Get out of the way!” Jaxen shouldered her aside and turned to Hurley with a desperate, imploring look. “Choose me. We’re both men — you understand how these things work. The family legacy rests with me.”


    Hurley nced at him with a t expression. “I don’t subscribe to those outdated ideas.”


    Jaxen went pale. La burst outughing.


    “Did you hear that? Hurley loves Bonnie — why would he care about your antiquated thinking? You’re pathetic,” she taunted.


    Rage overwhelmed Jaxen entirely. He lunged at her, wrapping his hands around her throat.


    “Pathetic? Let’s see who’s left standing when this is over!” he shouted.


    La’s vision began to dim, her lungs burning as the air was cut off. Even as darkness closed in at the edges, something deep and instinctive surged through her. With everyst fragment of strength she had, she drove her knee hard into his groin.


    Jaxen’s grip copsed. He crumpled, gasping, face contorted with pain, veins standing out along his neck and temples.


    “Try carrying on the family name now,” La rasped, moving to press the advantage — but arms closed around her from behind and held her back.


    “La, stop! You can’t do this to your own brother!” Marsha cried, holding her daughter tightly.


    La stilled, chest heaving, grief and fury battling inside her. “Mom — we’re both your children. How can you take his side?”


    “La, please. Let your brother have this one chance. As long as he survives, the family has a future. The Wade legacy rests with Jaxen,” Marsha begged.


    “What about me? Am I not your daughter? I carry Wade blood just as he does — any child of mine would belong to this family just as much as his would!”


    “It isn’t the same,” Marsha said, her voice cooling. “A daughter cannot take the ce of a son in this family. Let him live.”


    La was consumed by equal parts fury and terror, tears streaming down her face as she struggled with everything she had.


    “No!” she cried. “Why should I be the one to die? Why should I give up my life for Jaxen? Let me go — if we’re going to decide this, let it be fair. Let the better one survive!”


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