A Widow's Poison, A Wife's Rebellion novel Chapter 402

Darleen had to have known. She had managed this family for decades; she knew exactly what kind of person everyone was. To be blunt, her affection for Brinley was never because Brinley was a demure daughter-in-law. It was about mutual benefit.

Benefit. Of course. For the sake of her own interests, she had once turned a blind eye to a matter of life and death. Now, faced with the lives of her own grandchildren, she had remained just as indifferent, tacitly approving of Brinley's scheme.

"That alone is more than enough reason for me to hate you, isn't it?" Starla's voice was cold.

Without thinking, Darleen blurted out, "No, that can't be the reason."

She and Xenia had discussed it upstairs. It was impossible. If Starla hated her for things that happened in the past, she wouldn't have waited until now to seek revenge. There had to be another reason.

Starla just smiled at her, saying nothing more.

But Darleen saw it clearly—the amusement in her eyes was slowly being replaced by a murderous glint. The pressure in the room became unbearable. Darleen felt a surge of panic, as if at any moment Starla might snatch the fruit knife from the table and plunge it into her. She couldn't stay a second longer.

Darleen shot up from her seat and hurried upstairs. Xenia scrambled after her. Once they were back in the room with the door shut, Darleen's heart was still pounding in her chest.

Seeing her mother's rattled state, Xenia asked, "Why did you leave? She didn't even say what the real reason was."

"Couldn't you see? She's never going to tell us!" Darleen seethed, struggling to calm her racing heart.

"Maybe that's because there isn't another reason?"

"No, there is. I'm sure of it!" Darleen insisted. Downstairs, even though Starla hadn't said it, the change in her eyes confirmed it. This time, she was here for the entire Yelchin family.

Xenia, who hadn't caught the subtle shift, looked puzzled. "Are you sure?"

Darleen nodded firmly. "Positive."

"Has that bitch lost her mind?" Xenia fumed. "How dare she use Herbert! When she leaves Marina City for Yoran Country, Herbert is going to take it out on us! And how did she manage it? Stringing Herbert along while she has another man waiting in the wings!"

"We really underestimated her." Darleen's jaw was tight. Starla had always seemed so docile, so harmless. And now it turned out she had connections in Yoran Country.

"When did she even meet someone from Yoran Country? Did Fairfax know anything about this?" Xenia wondered.

"Fairfax? He doesn't know anything!" Darleen scoffed. "Starla is quite the actress. I bet Herbert is completely in the dark, too!"

The thought that Herbert was being deceived sparked an idea in Darleen's mind. Her angry eyes suddenly lit up. She and Xenia looked at each other, and in that instant, they shared the same thought.

Darleen's breathing quickened. "Call Brinley's family driver to come get you. You need to go tell Herbert everything!"