A Widow's Poison, A Wife's Rebellion novel Chapter 396

Fairfax stared at Starla, then at the steaming soup in the spoon before him. He didn't open his mouth.

Seeing his refusal, the smile on Starla's face grew wider, colder. "What's wrong?"

Fairfax's gaze shifted from the soup back to her face.

"Your own mother prepared this. I've been sitting right here since I came downstairs, under her watchful eye. I couldn't have done anything to it," Starla said, her voice dripping with false sweetness. "Even if you don't trust me, surely you trust your own mother?"

The words 'own mother' were delivered with a gentle emphasis that sent a chill down Fairfax's spine.

As Starla coaxed him to eat, Darleen's composure began to crumble, her panic becoming more and more obvious. Fairfax noticed. He glanced at his mother, who subtly shook her head, her eyes wide with terror. That single gesture confirmed his worst fears, and his face turned to stone.

He looked back at Starla, at the knowing smile in her eyes, and understood. She knew everything. And knowing, she was forcing him to take the bait.

"Are you sure you want me to eat this?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous.

"Your mother was up at five this morning washing vegetables. We can't let her hard work go to waste, can we?" As she spoke, the warmth vanished from her eyes, replaced by ice.

Fairfax stared at her in silence.

"Open your mouth!" Starla's voice hardened. "What, your life is precious, but mine is—"

"Enough!" Darleen finally exploded. She knew Starla knew. She was going to feed the poison to her son, to all of them. What a cruel, vicious woman!

In a fit of rage, Darleen swept her arm across the table, sending dishes crashing to the floor. The atmosphere in the dining room snapped, thick with tension.

Fairfax's face was a thunderous mask as he looked from his mother to Starla.

"Who's the venomous one?" Starla pressed, giving no ground.

"If you hadn't pushed me, I never would have done this!" Darleen shrieked, her heart pounding. "It's all your fault! You should get out of this house!"

She couldn't believe Starla's people were so thorough. She had crept out to the greenhouse in the dead of night, yet somehow they knew everything. Suddenly, Darleen realized Starla wasn't just formidable; she was terrifying in a way that made one's blood run cold.

"Pushed you to do what?" Starla retorted calmly. "I'm only holding you to the same standards you taught me. As the mistress of the Yelchin family, I'm simply enforcing the rules you established."

The words struck Darleen dumb. She could only glare at Starla, her face contorted with impotent rage.