A Widow's Poison, A Wife's Rebellion novel Chapter 311

Starla's words fell into the car like stones into a still pond. Herbert's gaze immediately darkened, a storm of emotions swirling in their depths. Just as she was about to swing her other leg out of the car, his grip on her wrist tightened.

Starla froze.

“It wasn't your fault,” he said, his voice low and firm. “Don't ever belittle yourself.”

She turned back to look at him, a sudden sting in her eyes. Not her fault? For all her years with the Yelchin family, every voice, every action had screamed the opposite—that she was wrong. Everything she did was wrong. And now, Herbert was telling her it wasn't her fault.

Herbert noticed the red marks his fingers had left on her wrist, his expression softening. He gently began to rub the spot. His voice was a deep, soothing timbre. “Life's too long to spend punishing yourself for one bad choice.”

Starla felt a lump form in her throat. Punishing herself?

“I’m not…”

“Just thinking that way is a punishment,” Herbert interrupted, his insight sharp.

Starla’s throat felt tight.

Herbert reached out and gently ruffled her hair. “Go get some rest. Your brother has already texted me twice asking why you aren't home yet.”

He had done his own digging. There had been an incident years ago where the Yelchin family had driven a woman to her death over a property demolition dispute. The woman’s surname was Lansbury. The Yelchin family's power back then was absolute; they had managed to bury the story so thoroughly that even the Farley family archives held no mention of it.

Starla had her own plans, and Herbert knew better than to interfere. He also knew that if he told Yardley the truth, the Yelchin family would be wiped off the map overnight.

Yardley didn't press further. His next message was a simple request: [Keep an eye on her when she deals with them.]

Herbert replied: [I will.]

Yardley's protective instincts were on high alert, even with Garret by her side. He was surrounding her with a fortress of support, but he didn't realize that the Starla he had found was not the same woman she was before. Back then, she had been truly alone, with nothing but Fairfax. She had been, as Darleen had so cruelly taunted, nothing in the face of the Yelchin family's power, no matter how hard she worked to build her own success.