A Widow's Poison, A Wife's Rebellion novel Chapter 318

Gabriel hesitated on the other end. “Well…”

“You’re overestimating her,” Fairfax said, dismissing the idea out of hand. It wasn't that he looked down on Starla, but the thought of a girl who grew up in an orphanage having ties to a global conglomerate like the Hoggart Group was simply preposterous.

“Yes, sir,” Gabriel replied meekly.

Fairfax hung up, the smoke from his cigarette curling around him. He replayed Herbert's cutting words in his mind. Now he understood. Herbert must have known about that incident all along. That's why he’d been so quick to encourage the divorce.

Despite his skepticism of Gabriel’s words, a seed of doubt had been planted. He dialed Starla’s number. It rang and rang, unanswered. He tried a second time, then a third, his agitation growing with each failed attempt.

...

His frustration was mirrored by the tense atmosphere in Brinley’s hospital room.

Darleen had gone to the auction that morning promising to buy Brinley a magnificent blue diamond as a reward for giving birth. Brinley had coveted a blue diamond for years; it was a rare and priceless treasure. After all the recent trauma, that promise had been the one bright spot on her horizon.

But Darleen had returned empty-handed. Not only was there no blue diamond, there wasn't even a red one. Brinley's carefully constructed composure began to crack.

With her own mother on the verge of solving her troubles in Yoran Country, Brinley felt less inclined to placate her mother-in-law.

“So what you’re saying is, all my suffering was for nothing?” she asked, her voice laced with bitterness.

She let the sentence hang, the implication clear. She was leveraging the impending return of her own powerful mother, Harriet.

As expected, the mention of Harriet’s name was enough to deflate Darleen’s anger. Harriet was not a woman to be trifled with.

Under Xenia’s warning gaze and Brinley’s strategic pressure, Darleen’s tone softened. “You can rest assured, you gave our family twins. I would never neglect you.”

But what could she possibly offer as a reward now? That damn Starla had snatched up the two best items at the auction. And to do it with Herbert's money, right in front of Fairfax. It was a complete humiliation.

“Who bought the blue diamond?” Brinley asked, her voice cold.