A Widow's Poison, A Wife's Rebellion novel Chapter 325

Xenia couldn't fathom why Herbert was protecting her so fiercely. He must have been the one who interfered with the police investigation into the baby's death. How else could she have avoided arrest after committing such a heinous act? How else would she have the time to come here and torment them?

The hatred in Xenia’s heart was a burning coal. Darleen felt the same. But one of them dared not object, and the other could not.

“Honestly,” Starla lamented with a sigh, “it’s so exhausting to have to use force just to come home.”

Her words were like salt in their wounds. She commanded others to threaten their lives and then had the audacity to complain about being tired? What could possibly be tiring her?

Starla waved a dismissive hand. “Let them go.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Garret nodded to the servant, who released her hold.

The moment she was free, Darleen gasped for air, feeling life flood back into her body. For a terrifying moment, she had truly believed she was going to die.

This damn Starla… was she insane? If they weren't divorced, then Darleen was still her mother-in-law. How could she treat her mother-in-law this way? It was monstrous.

As her breath returned, so did her fury.

“How could you do this to me!” she rasped, her throat aching.

Starla simply shot her a cold glare.

“Mom, don’t say anything!” Xenia warned, her hand throbbing from where it had been stepped on. The people Herbert had sent were formidable; she hadn’t stood a chance against them.

Darleen was about to explode, but Xenia’s plea stopped her.

“Let’s go check on Brinley,” Xenia urged, pulling her mother toward the stairs. “Come on, let’s go.”

Brinley had been discharged, though the baby remained in the hospital. She had wanted to stay by her child’s side, but the doctors had forbidden it. The baby’s immune system was too fragile for any outside contact, not even a brief glance.

...

Upstairs, Darleen and Xenia took refuge in Brinley’s room. As soon as the door was closed, Darleen stepped onto the balcony to call Fairfax.

Brinley hadn't heard the commotion downstairs, but she immediately noticed the swelling on Xenia’s face and the angry red mark on the back of her hand. In the Yelchin estate, who would dare to lay a hand on her?

“What happened to your face?” Brinley asked, her voice filled with concern.

Xenia’s emotions were still raw, but she managed to keep them in check for Brinley’s sake.

“Who else?” she said, her voice tight with anger. “Starla. She’s completely lost her mind.”

And now she was moving back in, even as she and Fairfax were in the middle of a divorce. They had begged her to show up for holidays and family gatherings in the past, and she had always refused. Now, she was forcing her way back in.