A Widow's Poison, A Wife's Rebellion novel Chapter 531

Fairfax finally stormed out, furious. Of course, he wasn't going to sign the agreement that easily. This was just the beginning. No one from the Yelchin family ever gave in without a fight.

...

That afternoon, Darleen confronted Starla. "I never liked you, but he always defended you! How can you do this to him now? Starla, are you heartless?"

Starla remained silent. A heart? Hadn't she given enough of her heart already? Hadn't she endured enough for Fairfax?

She shot Darleen a frosty glare. "If I were truly heartless, do you think things would have only gotten this far now?"

If she were heartless, she would have torn the entire Yelchin family apart long ago. If Faraday hadn't died, if Fairfax and Brinley hadn't had those six months together, perhaps she would still have a heart. After all, without those tragedies, their relationship had been strong.

But it was a shame. In the end, the very person she had trusted most, the one for whom she had endured so much in the Yelchin family, was the one who crushed her heart completely. And now Darleen was accusing her of being heartless?

How could she not have had a heart? It was because she had one—so full and trusting—that it could be shattered and trampled upon. What was left of it now? It was precisely because it was gone that the Yelchin family was facing its current reckoning.

Darleen’s breath hitched as she absorbed the iciness in Starla’s tone. "I was the one who treated you poorly, the one who had a problem with you! Take it all out on me. I'll give you everything I have, just leave the rest of the family alone!"

"But that's exactly what I'm doing, isn't it?" Starla retorted mockingly before Darleen could even finish.

After all, she’d never approved of Starla. If she could use Brinley to drive Starla out of the family, it would be a dream come true.

So much had happened recently that Darleen had almost forgotten her past machinations. But now, with the truth about Brinley and Felix exposed, Starla’s reminder made her feel sick to her stomach. She had actually entertained such a disgusting thought.

Thank God Fairfax and Brinley never got together. If they had, wouldn't Brinley have corrupted both of her sons?

"You did everything you could to push them together," Starla continued, her voice cutting. "How many times did you call Fairfax away from our home, using some excuse for Brinley? Our marriage is broken. And because it is, I have no reservations about what I do to this family. So, if you really want to know why I'm being so ruthless, doesn't it all trace back to you?"