A Widow's Poison, A Wife's Rebellion novel Chapter 386

Garret addressed her coolly. “Ms. Yelchin, our lady said the Yelchin family does not support idle people.”

Darleen, who had followed Xenia out, heard his words perfectly. Her face instantly soured. Those were the exact words she used to throw at Starla every time Fairfax brought her to the estate. To hear this Yoran Country servant say them to her own daughter ignited a fresh wave of fury within her.

Xenia’s expression was just as thunderous. “What do you mean, ‘idle people’?”

Did that wretched woman really think this was her house now? This was the Yelchin family home. Whether Xenia was idle or not was none of her business. What right did she have to say such a thing?

“From now on,” Garret continued calmly, “if you want anything, you must earn it through labor.”

Xenia was speechless. So was Darleen. They had to work for a meal in their own home? They were the real Yelchins. What right did Starla have to demand such a thing?

“You want us to work for food made by our own cooks with our own ingredients? What kind of logic is that?” Darleen snapped.

The word ‘logic’ sounded utterly ironic coming from her, a woman who had never cared for it. Now, faced with Starla’s own brand of unreasonableness, she found it unbearable.

“Where… are our servants?” Xenia asked, a dawning horror on her face. She hadn’t seen any of their usual staff since they returned.

Xenia’s question made Darleen realize it too. None of their household staff were anywhere to be seen. She turned to Garret, her voice dangerously low. “Where are our people?”

“To cut costs, they have all been dismissed.”

Cut costs… The phrase was like a hammer blow to Darleen and Xenia’s already splitting headaches. This wasn't about cutting costs. It was about tormenting them, and they both knew it. Yet, knowing Starla’s intentions didn't give them any power to stop her.

“You called him earlier,” Xenia reminded her. “Did he answer?”

They both knew the Yelchin Group was in serious trouble. Otherwise, Fairfax, knowing Starla was causing chaos, would have been home hours ago.

The reminder of Fairfax’s unresponsiveness only fueled Darleen’s frustration.

At a nod from Garret, one of the servants placed two rags and a bucket in front of them. The message was clear.

This was work their maids had always done. Darleen and Xenia had spent their lives looking down on such menial tasks. And now Starla expected them to do it? The woman was truly a master of humiliation!