A Widow's Poison, A Wife's Rebellion novel Chapter 675

If there had been any other way, Fairfax wouldn't have even entertained such a thought. He had exhausted every possible avenue, especially trying to find leverage with the Hoggart Group.

It was all useless. Starla didn't just have Herbert backing her now; she had Kael Shipley from the Hoggart Group in her corner too.

"You're insane. You are absolutely insane!" Annika shrieked, totally losing her mind on the other end of the line.

She vividly remembered Starla's outrageous demand. She wanted the entirety of the Yelchin Group. The fact that Fairfax was actually considering this as a solution was unfathomable.

"It's bad enough you've let a woman defeat you like this, but now you're going to completely surrender to her?! I just... I can't believe this!"

Annika sounded as if she might pass out from sheer rage. What kind of cursed luck was this? How had things devolved so spectacularly?

"Your grandfather never should have given control of the company to your father!" she screamed, thoroughly unhinged by the prospect of handing over the family legacy to Starla. It would mean the total ruin of the Yelchins. They would be reduced to nothing.

"You have to be joking," she gasped, unable to accept reality. "This can't be real."

"What do you think?" Fairfax asked, his voice chillingly calm amidst her hysteria.

"You... you..."

"Do you have a better solution?" he challenged. A better way to get Starla to accept the divorce and walk away?

"You're going to be the death of me!" Annika snapped, slamming the phone down. She couldn't speak to him for another second. If she did, she truly would lose her mind. Or rather, she already had.

...

Back at the estate.

Darleen blanched. "What are you saying? You're going to torture us for the exact number of years you spent in that orphanage?"

"That's not a bad idea, actually."

The color drained entirely from Darleen's face. The past few days had nearly driven her to madness; surviving years of this psychological torture was impossible.

"I'm an old woman! Am I supposed to endure your wrath for the rest of my life?"

Starla laughed aloud, thoroughly enjoying the terror mixing with anger in the older woman's eyes. It was incredibly cathartic. Seeing Darleen's face bruised and swollen from the family beatings was immensely satisfying. "That's exactly what you deserve."

Stifled by the situation, Darleen choked out, "The orphanage treated you well! Why hold onto so much resentment?"