A Widow's Poison, A Wife's Rebellion novel Chapter 96

Brinley, however, loved Fairfax. She truly did.

“But the public opinion is completely against me right now,” she said, the words catching in her throat. She had never imagined Starla would resort to using the media, dragging their names through the mud with no regard for her own reputation.

At the mention of public opinion, Harriet’s fury reignited. The powerful, successful image she had cultivated in Marina City for years had been destroyed.

She wanted to kill Starla right now. But she couldn’t. Not while Quest was in Fairfax’s hands.

Overwhelmed with frustration, Harriet dismissed Brinley, sending her back to her own room.

...

A short while later, Clyde arrived.

“Ma’am, you…” He knew Harriet had been beaten at Petal Villa, but he was shocked to see how severe her injuries were.

But with Quest in trouble, Harriet had no time to dwell on her own pain.

“Go and negotiate with Fairfax,” she ordered Clyde. “Find out what it will take for him to let Quest go.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Clyde said, nodding. To think that their relationship with the Yelchin family, which should have been one of kinship, had crumbled so completely overnight.

...

In Starla’s room, a maid from Herbert’s household had delivered a meal, arriving at the same time as Molly from Petal Villa.

Tanya looked from one to the other. “Which one are you eating?”

Starla scoffed. “After all the scorn I’ve endured eating the Yelchins’ food for the past few years? Do I really have so little pride that I’d eat it now?”

Tanya nodded. “Fair point.” She decisively picked up the container Herbert’s maid had brought.

Throughout Starla’s time with the Yelchin family, Darleen had treated her with nothing but contempt, as if Starla had only married Fairfax for his family’s meals.

Just as Tanya was about to feed Starla a shrimp, Fairfax walked in. His eyes immediately fell on the food, and he recognized the container as one he had seen in Herbert’s office. A chill instantly filled the room.

Starla felt the shift in the room, too.

“Tanya, you should go,” she said.

“But I…”

“Just go,” Starla insisted, cutting her off.

Tanya could see they had things to discuss, so she nodded and left the room.

Once they were alone, Fairfax’s voice was low. “Do you want to eat first, or have some soup?”

“I don’t think anything from the Yelchin family agrees with me,” Starla replied, her voice dripping with ice. “After all, a bowl of your soup is what landed me in the hospital this morning.”

Fairfax froze.