A Widow's Poison, A Wife's Rebellion novel Chapter 28

The phone immediately rang again. Since it was Tanya’s number, Starla wouldn’t block it, but she wouldn’t answer either. It rang, again and again, as Starla’s face remained a mask of ice.

Garret approached her. “Miss.”

“What’s the status?”

“The divorce agreement has been delivered. Currently, Marina City is vilifying both Brinley and her mother.”

A slow, satisfied smile spread across Starla’s lips. So Harriet was being dragged through the mud, too? Perfect. For years, Harriet had carefully cultivated her image as a powerful, independent woman. Now, her own daughter had ripped a hole in that facade, and all the whispers and unspoken truths were erupting into a storm of condemnation.

“Good,” Starla said. “They deserve it.”

They had acted so recklessly because they thought they could crush her. Now, it was time for them to pay for their arrogance.

“Fairfax and Brinley are attempting to suppress the story, but we have countermeasures in place,” Garret reported. “The publicity will not die down.”

Starla nodded, pleased. Her brother’s people were thorough; they had an answer for every move the enemy made.

“From now on, all communication with Fairfax will be handled by my lawyers.”

“Yes, Miss.”

After a half-hour of silence, Tanya called again. This time, Starla answered. Tanya’s voice came through immediately. “Honey, you work fast!”

This was what it meant to have powerful backing. Before, when Starla was alone, the entire Yelchin family had treated her like a plaything, and Brinley had openly tried to walk all over her. Now, suddenly, she had grown thorns, and she was using them to pierce every single one of them.

“You should see the news today. Brinley is being absolutely destroyed online.”

“This is only the beginning,” Starla replied calmly.

“They must be plotting how to get back at you,” Tanya said. “You’ve blocked the entire Yelchin family’s numbers, right?”

She called Petal Villa, their home, only to be told by a maid that Starla hadn't been back. Darleen was livid. “Damn it! Not at the hospital, not at home. How can she be out having fun at a time like this?”

Frantic and unable to reach her, Darleen finally borrowed a caregiver’s phone and tried again. This time, Starla answered.

Darleen unleashed her fury instantly. “Starla, do you think you can just turn this family upside down? Who gave you permission to publicize your relationship with Fairfax? Did I approve this?”

When they got married, they had agreed to keep it a secret. And now she was using this despicable tactic just to hurt Brinley?

“Let me tell you, if anything happens to Brinley because of this, I will not spare you! I’ll make you wish you were dead!” Darleen screamed.

To expose the marriage now, when Brinley had just given birth? It was tantamount to nailing Brinley to a cross with the word ‘homewrecker’ on it.

“Divorce! You must divorce Fairfax!” she shrieked into the phone.