A Widow's Poison, A Wife's Rebellion novel Chapter 421

Brinley’s stomach clenched. Darleen’s terse reply confirmed her fears.

“Did the Farley elders refuse to see you? What about Xenia? Did she see Herbert?”

Whether the Farleys knew about Starla or not was secondary. The main objective was to inform Herbert that the woman he was protecting was a cheating liar.

No man, especially one like Herbert, could tolerate being deceived by a woman he had taken under his wing, especially not so early in their… arrangement. The news should have been enough to make him want to destroy her.

So Darleen's failure wasn't a huge disappointment; the real key was Xenia's mission.

At the mention of Xenia, Darleen’s expression darkened further. She remained silent.

“Hasn’t Xenia come back yet?” Brinley pressed.

“Oh, she’s back,” Darleen said bitterly. “She’s probably outside washing the curtains and carpets.”

“What? Why is she doing chores?” Brinley was stunned. A sense of unease crept over her.

If Herbert knew Starla was involved with a man from Yoran Country, the game should have been over. Why was Xenia back home, washing the curtains like a servant?

“What happened? Shouldn’t Herbert be settling scores with Starla? Why are you two still letting her push you around?” Brinley’s voice rose with frustration. “After something like that, don’t tell me Herbert is still protecting her!”

That was impossible. Any man with a shred of pride would never stand for it.

Darleen’s own anger flared as she thought of Xenia’s injury. “Herbert almost killed Xenia today because of it! And even so, that vicious woman is still making her wash things in the cold. I hope she drops dead!”

Brinley swallowed the sharp retort on the tip of her tongue. Wasted was exactly what it was. Was she wrong? They had been handed a weapon, and they had somehow managed to turn it on themselves. She should have gone herself!

Darleen glared at Brinley’s sullen silence, then changed the subject abruptly. “Tell me, did Starla’s miscarriage have anything to do with you?”

Brinley’s breath hitched. “Mom, you…”

“That car accident—was it deliberate?” Darleen pressed, her eyes boring into Brinley. “And the day you gave birth… did you really push her?”

None of them in the Yelchin family believed Starla when she said those things. But now… now Darleen was starting to think she was telling the truth.

It was becoming clear. Starla’s revenge wasn’t just about the slights and insults she had endured. It was for the two children she had lost.