A Widow's Poison, A Wife's Rebellion novel Chapter 510

Brinley fell silent, her heart sinking at the maid's cold tone.

"Besides," the maid taunted, "isn't this how the workers were treated at your family's estate? Why can't you handle it now?"

Brinley froze. The Seabrook family's workers? It was true, the living conditions for many of their staff had been poor. But they weren't given just one piece of bread a day. They at least got three meals, with some vegetables.

She stared at the single, dry piece of bread on the plate. It looked completely cold. A wave of uncontrollable fury rose in her chest. This was deliberate.

But what could she do? What power did she have?

"Not eating?" the maid asked, her voice turning even colder.

Just as the maid reached to take the plate away, Brinley snatched the bread.

"I'll eat it!" she said, her voice tight with rage. How could she not eat? She needed the strength. She hadn't eaten properly in two days. At this point, she would cherish even half a piece of bread.

She grabbed the bread and began to tear at it with her teeth. All she could think about was finishing it, taking a hot shower, and sleeping in a warm bed. She had fantasized about the warmth of her room all afternoon while freezing in the pet enclosures. The thought of not getting any food if she didn't work had been the only thing that kept her going.

Again and again, she had told herself: just get back to the room. Once I'm back in my room, I'll be warm.

Hearing Garret's words, Brinley felt a terrible premonition. She quickly ran to her room. Inside, she found Sally huddled on her small bed, shivering violently. The heating was off in their entire wing of the house, even in the hallways.

Brinley's breath hitched. "It's this cold in here?"

"I already asked," Sally chattered. "The heating's been cut off. The hot water, too."

No heating. No hot water. In the dead of winter. Brinley had once thought Starla's methods were childish. Were they still childish now? If this was her idea of a childish prank, it was one that made it difficult to even survive.