A Widow's Poison, A Wife's Rebellion novel Chapter 217

At the hospital, Darleen was at her wits' end. She had merely tried to tell Brinley to accept that Faraday was gone for good, and it had triggered a full-blown depressive episode.

To make matters worse, Darleen had just received news that Harriet had made a powerful connection with a high-ranking official in Yoran Country. There was a chance this massive scandal could actually be resolved. This information prompted a swift and dramatic shift in Darleen’s attitude toward Brinley. While she still didn’t approve of her relationship with Fairfax, she no longer dared to treat her with the same contempt she reserved for Starla.

Now, with Brinley in hysterics over Faraday and the baby's health failing, Darleen felt overwhelmed. She desperately needed Fairfax by her side, a pillar of strength to lean on.

When Starla didn't respond, Darleen pressed, "I'm asking you a question! Will you be happy if that child dies?"

Starla scoffed. "What does the child's life or death have to do with me? What are you trying to imply? What, I'm supposed to have some kind of maternal breakdown over it? The rules in your family are truly something else."

Starla didn't hold back, firing back at Darleen's manipulative tone.

On the other end of the line, Darleen’s breathing hitched.

"Go ahead and ask any other prominent family in Marina City," Starla continued, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Ask them if they'd marry their daughter to your younger son knowing she'd be expected to love his brother's child as her own, to grieve more than the actual mother. See who's willing to marry into your family. It was just my rotten luck, my blindness. And my lack of a family to back me up. You think you can just dictate my emotions."

"His brother's child is in trouble, so I have to worry and fret. I married Fairfax to be his wife, not a servant to the entire Yelchin clan. Am I supposed to take care of all of you?"

Starla fell silent. There it was. The real reason they felt they could treat her however they pleased.

"Right," Starla said coolly. "Brinley has a family, so you coddle her. As if her family will stay powerful forever."

Starla often wondered about that. As the matriarch of Marina City's most powerful family, Darleen shouldn't have to bow to anyone. Yet she was a master at playing favorites, sucking up to the powerful and trampling on the weak. She was especially terrified of offending Harriet.

Darleen's breath grew ragged. "And why wouldn't they? Did you see this latest crisis and think Brinley's mother was finished? Well, let me tell you, Starla, you're wrong. She's going to overcome this, and soon. You should stop trying to compete with Brinley. If I were you, I'd have the decency to leave the Yelchin family immediately!"