A Widow's Poison, A Wife's Rebellion novel Chapter 241

Just as Starla had predicted, Darleen was indeed still dazed from sleep. The last few days had been exhausting. First, she had to manage everything around Brinley giving birth, and then Starla had caused one problem after another, leaving her sleepless for nights on end.

Tonight, she had finally drifted off, only to be woken by a call from the police station. Starla’s sharp retort jolted her fully awake.

“You don’t have to go!” she snarled into the phone before hanging up abruptly.

She scrambled out of bed, her heart pounding with rage. She had no idea how Fairfax had managed to get himself arrested, much less why she was the one being called to bail him out. But whatever the reason, she was certain Starla was at the root of it.

Thinking of Starla, she muttered a curse under her breath. “What a jinx.”

She was furious. When would this torment ever end? It was driving her mad.

...

When Darleen arrived at the police station and got Fairfax released, she peppered him with questions about what had happened. But once in the car, Fairfax remained silent, which only fueled her frustration.

“Couldn’t Gabriel have handled this? He could have just called a lawyer!” she fumed. Why did she have to be dragged into it? Was the situation that serious?

She glanced at Fairfax again, but he was staring out the window, lost in thought. He didn't answer a single one of her questions.

After dropping her off at the family estate, Fairfax turned to leave for Luwood Mountain.

“Don’t let this issue with the child end up like the last media scandal!” Darleen called out, stopping him.

The way he had handled the previous public relations crisis had been a huge disappointment. If he took the same approach with the child, would they ever get her back alive?

When Fairfax didn’t respond, she added, “Sometimes, you can’t be too lenient with a woman.”

Darleen answered. “Xenia, what's wrong?”

“Mom, Brinley is having another episode! She keeps calling for Faraday and asking for the baby!”

Darleen felt her head was about to explode. Brinley’s obsession with Faraday had already been draining enough. Now, with the missing child added to the mix…

…

As Fairfax was nearing Luwood Mountain, his phone rang. It was Darleen.

"Brinley was already fragile, and now the stress over the baby is making her relapse constantly!" she said, her voice strained. "I don't care what you have to do, but you will force the baby's location out of that woman today!"