A Widow's Poison, A Wife's Rebellion novel Chapter 233

With Brinley’s child missing, all the blame was now being heaped on Starla. Tanya was deeply unsettled. She was still on the phone with Starla at eleven o’clock at night, desperate for an update.

“Fairfax said that if he doesn’t see the child by dawn, he’s calling the police himself,” Starla told her calmly.

“Is he out of his mind?” Tanya exploded on the other end of the line.

After all the years they had spent together, was there truly no foundation of trust left between them? Apparently not. Fairfax’s reaction was proof enough. If he had even a shred of faith in Starla, he wouldn’t be acting this way.

When Starla remained silent, Tanya pressed, “So, do you have a plan to deal with this?”

“I’m waiting.”

“For what?”

“For him to call the police.”

Tanya was speechless. Waiting for Fairfax to call the police? In Marina City, the consequences of that would be catastrophic for Starla. But then she remembered—Starla had Yardley now. The power dynamics had shifted. The repercussions she once couldn’t have borne were no longer an issue.

Tanya drew a sharp breath. “Do you think he’ll actually do it?”

“I’m as curious as you are,” Starla replied, though her tone was flat. “But he said he would.”

Her unnerving calm prompted a heavy sigh from Tanya. “How did the two of you end up like this?”

Trust Brinley? Impossible. Starla would sooner trust a stranger on the street. That was why she had other plans in place, just in case Fairfax really did make that call.

They spoke for a few more minutes before hanging up. The moment the line went dead, her phone rang again.

It was Yardley. His voice was a warm, gentle contrast to the evening’s tension. “Settle everything and come back to Yoran Country before Dad’s birthday banquet.”

“I know.” Even without his reminder, Starla was acutely aware of the deadline.

“Good,” Yardley said, then added, “By the way, Brinley's mother has cozied up to a man named Arthur.”

Arthur was a minor state official. Lately, Garret had been regularly briefing Starla on the complex networks of power back in Yoran Country, following Yardley's instructions to lay the groundwork for her return. She recognized the name. Arthur was ambitious and looking to climb the political ladder. He had recently approached her brother, promising substantial rewards in exchange for Yardley’s support in securing a promotion.