A Widow's Poison, A Wife's Rebellion novel Chapter 251

Back at the hospital, Sally quietly delivered the news to Brinley. Her face instantly turned ghost-white.

"What did you say? The baby is… is…" Brinley’s voice caught in a choked sob, unable to finish the sentence.

Seeing her on the verge of losing control, Sally quickly put a finger to her lips, gesturing for her to be quiet.

"How could this…" Brinley whispered frantically, tears already forming in her eyes as she struggled to keep her voice down.

Sally sighed. "The little one was never strong."

At that, the tears spilled over, streaming down Brinley's cheeks. From the moment she had decided to use her child in her scheme, she had known this was a likely outcome. The baby had been fragile from birth. But hearing that she was truly gone still sent a sharp pang of grief through her heart. She was, after all, the child's mother.

"Now that she's gone, you just have to insist that Starla is responsible for her death," Sally instructed, her voice low and firm.

Brinley's heart ached, but the calculating part of her mind took over. Their initial plan was simply to frame Starla for kidnapping to force Fairfax into a divorce. But things had escalated. Now, with the child dead—and at a time when Fairfax was convinced Starla had her—the consequences would be devastating. They could ensure Starla was locked away for good.

Brinley wiped away her tears, her expression hardening. "Get this information to Fairfax," she ordered.

"Of course," Sally replied.

"And make sure it's done cleanly. It would be best if Fairfax's own men were the ones to 'discover' where she is."

"Understood." Sally nodded. To make the murder charge stick, there could be no trace connecting them to the discovery.

Just then, Darleen bustled in, believing that Harriet had resolved her troubles in Yoran and reverting to her doting mother-in-law persona. She carried a thermos of soup.

"Brinley, darling, look what I had the kitchen make for… oh, my dear, why are you crying?"

Seeing Brinley's tear-stained face, Darleen rushed to her bedside, dabbing at her cheeks with a handkerchief.

Not long ago, such a gesture would have moved Brinley, making her believe Darleen was a better mother than her own. But now, she saw it for the performance it was. Still, maintaining this facade of affection was useful, so she played along, lowering her eyes and weeping softly.

Sally spoke up. "She's heartbroken over the children, Madam. One in intensive care, the other still missing. It's too much to bear."

Then, with practiced ease, she added, "Madam, your daughter-in-law, Starla, is so cruel. How could she do this to such a tiny baby? She's never had children of her own, but that's no excuse for such heartlessness."