A Widow's Poison, A Wife's Rebellion novel Chapter 688

Fairfax remained utterly silent.

"You... you are truly..." Annika stammered, so consumed by rage she literally couldn't find the words to insult him anymore. The sheer stress of the situation was driving her insane.

Without a word, Fairfax ended the call.

In the front seat, Gabriel glanced at him through the rearview mirror. "Sir, we've arrived."

They were at the intersection leading to the estate. Knowing what awaited him inside the manor, a massive headache instantly began throbbing behind Fairfax's eyes.

***

Over the next few days, Darleen and Xenia were in surprisingly high spirits. Fairfax continued his routine of leaving before dawn and returning late into the night. By the time he left, Starla wasn't awake. By the time he returned, she was already asleep. The two of them were essentially ghosts to one another.

Tanya Mercer continued her daily visits.

On the third day, Tanya sat across from Starla. "Didn't you say it would be over soon?"

"It is," Starla replied calmly. "I received word. Harley and Annika finally broke. They ordered Fairfax to hand the Yelchin Group over to me."

"Seriously?" Tanya's eyes widened in shock.

Given how much the family empire meant to the older generation, the fact that Annika—the ultimate matriarch—had agreed to surrender it was staggering. It felt almost entirely unbelievable.

"She couldn't handle the pressure," Starla said, taking a sip of her tea. "She's spent her entire life wrapped in luxury. Sleeping rough in Hansville City for a few days broke her."

"That makes sense," Tanya nodded.

Meanwhile, in the manor, the buoyant mood Darleen and Xenia had been enjoying was beginning to curdle into anxious impatience.

"Why hasn't Mrs. Shipley arrived in Marina City yet?" Xenia complained, tossing her broom onto the floor in frustration.

According to their timeline, she should have touched down today. What kind of wife could tolerate her husband blatantly parading a mistress around town? Especially a mistress who was actively destroying prominent families using her husband's influence! Mrs. Shipley's own reputation was at risk. There was no way she could just sit back and let Starla run wild.

But she was taking too damn long. It had been three days, and Starla was still parading around untouched.

"What are you panicking for?" Darleen asked dismissively. "If Kael really views Starla as his precious little pet, don't you think he and his wife are having a massive blowout argument right now?"

Xenia paused. "I guess..."

"Let them fight!" Darleen smiled viciously. "The harder they fight, the more brutal Mrs. Shipley's revenge on Starla will be!"