A Widow's Poison, A Wife's Rebellion novel Chapter 253

The air in Luwood Mountain was already thick with tension when Darleen stormed in. Starla had just learned that Fairfax knew about her miscarriage but still refused to believe Brinley was involved.

"Where is the child?" Darleen demanded, her voice shaking with rage.

In a gesture of pure defiance, Starla stood up and kicked her chair over. It clattered to the floor with a loud bang, causing Darleen's heart to seize with fury.

"You! Who do you think you're making a scene for?"

"For you," Starla replied, her voice dangerously calm.

"You…" Darleen was so enraged she could barely speak.

Fairfax, sitting nearby, remained silent, his expression grim.

Darleen turned on him. "Are you just going to let her—"

"What?" Starla cut her off, her voice like ice. "Am I supposed to just stand here and take your abuse without a word?"

Darleen’s face turned a mottled shade of red and white as she glared at Starla. But Starla met her gaze with a cold smirk. "If I recall correctly, I've never tolerated your attitude."

It was true. Even back at the main Yelchin estate, she had always pushed back against Darleen's passive-aggressive digs. The only difference was that back then, Darleen would play the victim in front of Fairfax, avoiding direct confrontation. But Starla had no intention of playing by those rules.

Darleen’s chest heaved with suppressed fury. She just wanted to get the baby back for Brinley. "I don't have time for this! Where is the child?!"

"A toxic woman like you deserves to have no family!" Darleen screamed, her words turning cruel and personal. "Maybe they all died as cosmic punishment for your wickedness! Your own baby was cursed to death by your black heart! You're nothing but—"

“CRACK!”

The sharp, clean sound of a slap echoed through the room. The force of the blow broke Starla's grip on her wrist, and Darleen, caught off balance, stumbled and fell to the floor.

For a moment, there was a stunned silence.

Darleen clutched her stinging cheek, looking up at Starla in utter disbelief.

"You… you hit me? Starla, have you lost your mind? I am your mother-in-law!"