A Widow's Poison, A Wife's Rebellion novel Chapter 163

Behind the wall just outside the door, Brinley overheard Fairfax's words, and a satisfied smile touched her lips. So, he had finally grown tired of the drama.

Starla, she thought, a little conflict can be spice in a marriage, but you never knew when to quit. A man like Fairfax, born to rule, didn't have endless patience for one woman's games.

Content with what she'd heard, Brinley gave a subtle look to the nurse behind her, who immediately wheeled her away.

Inside the room, Gabriel was stunned. He heard Fairfax say Starla should stay locked up, that she needed a lesson, that she should suffer. A lesson? Suffer? Seriously?

"Sir, when Mrs. Yelchin gets out, she'll be even more furious," Gabriel ventured, trying to warn him. Starla's temper had been volatile enough lately. If Fairfax didn't get her out immediately, there was no telling what she would do upon her release.

"You're wrong," Fairfax said calmly. "Out here, she'll stay angry. In there, she'll have time to cool down."

Gabriel's mouth twitched. Cool down? In a place like that? Was that really a good idea? The woman was already trying to divorce him, burning down houses, and allegedly using poison. Her conflicts with Brinley and his mother had been vicious. And now he thought a jail cell would bring her to her senses?

As Gabriel remained silent, Fairfax closed his eyes. "Without me, what is she? Nothing," he scoffed. His mind was filled with the image of Starla's smiling face, spooning broth into his mouth.

"Sir... did she really poison you?" Gabriel asked quietly.

"No."

Gabriel was speechless. No? Then why let her cool down in jail?

Gabriel understood immediately. He meant Xenia and his mother. This was Fairfax's way of showing Starla who truly held the power to protect her. He wanted to prove that as long as the Yelchin family held firm, Herbert was powerless to save her from imprisonment.

"Then... how long do you plan to keep her there, sir?" Gabriel asked.

How long? The question brought a fresh wave of coldness to Fairfax's eyes.

"Until she wants to see me." Once Herbert failed to rescue her, her request to see him would be her surrender. Or so he thought.

"Understood, sir." Gabriel's head throbbed. He had a terrible feeling things were about to spiral even further out of control.