A Widow's Poison, A Wife's Rebellion novel Chapter 139

Darleen’s lips pressed into a thin, hard line as she glared at Starla, her eyes burning with hatred. She remembered now. No matter how much she had tormented Starla over the years, the girl had never allowed her to lay a hand on her. Starla would endure her verbal abuse, but the moment Darleen tried to get physical, she transformed. That was probably why she’d always disliked her—beneath that seemingly weak exterior was an unbreakable, defiant spirit.

Starla flung Darleen’s hand away and glanced at Fairfax. He had started towards her the moment Darleen had raised her hand, but he’d stopped when Starla had caught her wrist and spoken those cutting words.

A sneer formed on Starla’s lips. “You slap your son, and then you want to slap me. What a vicious mother you are.”

“You… shut your mouth!” Darleen roared.

“You’ve tried to hit me many times over the years,” Starla continued, her voice level. “When did I ever let you touch me?”

Darleen was speechless.

Hearing Starla say “many times” made Fairfax’s heart twist painfully. He had never known. He had no idea the extent of his mother’s cruelty toward her. He knew they’d taken her gifts, a profound humiliation, but he never imagined there had been physical altercations as well. No wonder she was so determined to divorce him.

In that moment, Fairfax realized that even without Herbert in the picture, Starla would have eventually left him. His family had been relentlessly hostile. When they lived together, they’d verbally abused her and repeatedly tried to strike her. After they moved out, they’d stolen everything he had ever given her.

Fairfax closed his eyes, a wave of regret washing over him. He strode forward, grabbed Starla’s wrist, and pushed her back into the car.

As he rounded the hood to get in, Darleen blocked his path.

“She used to be obedient,” Fairfax stated calmly.

With that final, devastating pronouncement, he got into the car and drove away, leaving a stunned Darleen in his wake. Though the fire was never lit, the confrontation was too much for her. The moment the car disappeared, she collapsed, and the estate erupted in panic.

“Ma’am! Ma’am!”

“Quick, call an ambulance!”