A Widow's Poison, A Wife's Rebellion novel Chapter 30

The public outcry in Marina City grew more frenzied by the hour. Reporters swarmed the hospital where Brinley was staying, and paparazzi tried to sneak photos. Darleen quickly stationed bodyguards outside the room.

Brinley stared at the vile comments online, a sick sense of déjà vu washing over her. Six months ago, when Faraday died, the public’s attention had been just as intense, but then it had been filled with sympathy and condolences. Now, it was nothing but filth.

Her eyes filled with tears. “Mom, I want to find Faraday,” she cried, her voice breaking. “I need him. He’ll protect me. I have to find him.”

Darleen’s head was pounding. Seeing Brinley on the verge of another breakdown, terrified she would tear her stitches again, she had no choice but to call a doctor to sedate her.

Even as she calmed down, Brinley continued to murmur Faraday’s name, a sound that broke Darleen’s heart.

Her phone rang. It was Harriet.

“What in the world is going on with your family?” Harriet’s voice was sharp and accusatory. “Is that Starla girl trying to walk all over my daughter?”

Darleen’s face fell. “This was an accident. We’re handling it.”

“Are you handling it well?” Harriet shot back. “Honestly, I don’t know why you ever let Fairfax marry such a woman.” Her tone was thick with disdain for Starla.

Darleen sighed. As if she’d had any say in the matter. She had never been able to control her headstrong son.

“Brinley just gave birth to twins for your family,” Harriet continued, her voice rising. “What has that Starla girl ever contributed? You people need to get her under control.”

The idea that a common orphan could share the title of a Yelchin daughter-in-law with her daughter was offensive. With Faraday gone, she had fully intended for Brinley and Fairfax to get together. But this Starla girl was stubbornly refusing to get out of the way. Harriet had been planning how to get rid of her, and now the girl had the audacity to bully Brinley first. The nerve!

“She and Fairfax are in the middle of a divorce,” Darleen explained. “I think that’s why she’s acting so erratically.”

“She’s divorcing Fairfax?” A hint of satisfaction crept into Harriet’s voice.

Darleen didn’t notice. “Yes,” she said, feeling somewhat responsible for the mess.

“Even if she’s fighting with Fairfax, that’s no reason to hurt my Brinley,” Harriet huffed. “She just gave birth; she’s incredibly weak right now. Whatever is going on, you need to resolve this quickly.”

“Yes, you’re right,” Darleen agreed. The situation did need to be handled. But that damn Starla! If she was already divorcing Fairfax, why was she causing all this trouble?

Brinley was probably sitting in her hospital bed, confident that the Yelchin family and her mother would make this all go away. Starla was going to enjoy showing her what powerlessness felt like. And she would let Fairfax and Harriet see for themselves that there were things in this world that even they couldn't control.

“Yes, Miss,” Garret replied.

“Tomorrow,” Starla said, her voice dropping to a cool, deliberate tone, “release the story about her hitting me with her car two years ago. The one that caused my miscarriage.”

Today, it was the marriage certificate. Tomorrow, it would be: ‘Brinley Covets Brother-in-Law While Husband is Still Alive, Deliberately Runs Over Sister-in-Law, Causing Miscarriage.’

What kind of reputation would that earn her?

This time, Starla was going to rip away her protection, one piece at a time.

“It will be done,” Garret said, and left.

Alone again, Starla answered another call. It was from her art gallery. After a brief conversation, she said, “Yes, I’ll be there this afternoon.”