A Widow's Poison, A Wife's Rebellion novel Chapter 17

Darleen was fuming. She should have dealt with this parentless nobody long ago. She’d held back, not wanting to strain her relationship with her son over some worthless woman, but now the entire family was in chaos because of her.

In that moment, Darleen wanted nothing more than to see Starla dead.

Brinley’s face was a mask of agony. “Mom, it hurts so much,” she wept. “Is this happening because I don’t have a husband to protect me anymore?” Her voice was choked with a raw, heartbreaking vulnerability.

Darleen froze. The mention of Faraday made her own heart ache with a familiar grief. Her gaze softened with pity.

Tears streamed down Brinley’s face. “That must be it. Without Faraday, there’s no one left to stand up for me. I have nothing left, Mom.”

Darleen pulled her into a fierce embrace. “Don’t say such things, you foolish girl. You have me. I will always protect you. And you have your children, don’t you ever forget that.”

Hearing the despair in Brinley’s voice, Darleen gently soothed her, her resolve hardening. That venomous woman… she would drive Starla out of the Yelchin family. And then, she would make sure she paid the ultimate price.

…

Starla had just returned to her room when Fairfax followed her in.

“Why are you following me?” she snapped, turning to face him. “I will never apologize to Brinley. If you want an apology, it will be the same way I just gave it.” Her words were sharp and unyielding.

Fairfax stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her from behind. “Then don’t apologize.” Starla’s heart skipped a beat. Before she could react, he continued, “But how could you hit her? She just gave birth.”

Just like that, her heart plunged back into the abyss.

“You’d better keep her away from me from now on,” she said, her voice like ice. “Because if I see her, I will hit her. Every single time.”

She had told them those slaps were just a down payment. Compared to the two children she had lost, a few slaps were merely the beginning.

Fairfax’s arms tightened around her. “Starla.”

He couldn't stand her gaze and snapped into the phone, “If she’s agitated, call a psychiatrist. If her incision tore open, call a surgeon. What good am I?”

“But you…”

Before Darleen could argue, Fairfax hung up.

Hearing his sharp retort, a flicker of surprise crossed Starla’s cold eyes.

Fairfax stepped forward again, pulling her back into his arms. “Starla, can we please stop fighting?”

His voice was low and coaxing, but it felt less like affection and more like a plea for her to be quiet, to be good, to make his life easier. It was a plea for peace, not for her.

Starla pushed herself out of his embrace, the look she gave him colder than ever before.