A Widow's Poison, A Wife's Rebellion novel Chapter 524

Yardley had already called her and told her Fairfax was acting like a rabid dog, trying to pull Kael down with him. He had no idea what the Hoggart Group truly meant to her, or that Yardley was her brother. He thought he was just attacking an associate of hers while fighting her.

So now, this sudden appeal to their 'shared history' was nothing more than a pathetic tactic born from his powerlessness.

Hearing her lay out his exact strategy, Fairfax's expression darkened. "You know everything?"

"Fairfax, after all this time, do you really think I don't know exactly who you are?" she said, her voice dripping with scorn. They had lived together for too long for her to be fooled.

He abruptly changed the subject. "Were you involved in what happened with Brinley and Felix?"

Starla's face remained impassive. Before she could answer, he pressed on. "Did you meet with Dr. Kramer privately?"

She raised an eyebrow. "Dr. Kramer? Who's that?"

"Brinley's psychiatrist!"

Starla almost laughed. Brinley's psychiatrist, and his first instinct was to ask if she'd met with him. Of course. It was just like Fairfax to automatically assume the best of Brinley.

"Hah! Fine. Assume I bribed him," she said with a dismissive shrug. There was nothing more to say.

She yanked her arm free. "By the way, do you want to sign the divorce papers here, or should I have them sent to the Yelchin Group?"

The sight of her smile sent a chill down his spine, setting his teeth on edge. In the past few days, they had all learned that her smile was a prelude to something truly terrible. He thought of Xenia, Darleen, and Brinley, forced to do hard labor at the manor, without heat or hot water. Their lives were becoming unbearable.

"What am I planning?" she echoed mockingly. "Whatever it takes to make you hand over everything of your own accord."

With that parting shot, she turned and walked into the building.

Fairfax watched her go, his hands clenching into fists, his entire body trembling with impotent rage.

The moment Starla reached her office, she called Garret and gave him new instructions. Immediately, Darleen, Xenia, and Brinley were assigned a host of new chores—all of them outdoors, in the freezing snow.