A Widow's Poison, A Wife's Rebellion novel Chapter 759

When they arrived at the castle, Elmer wasn't home yet.

The head butler stood at the massive entryway, leading a perfectly aligned double row of maids. As Starla and Yardley stepped out of the car, the staff bowed in unison.

"Welcome home, sir. Welcome home, ma'am."

Starla tensed, clearly unaccustomed to the overwhelming display of subordination. She instinctively glanced at Yardley.

He held his half-finished cigar in one hand and smoothly caught her hand in his other. "You'll need to get used to this," he said mildly.

In that moment, his protective, paternal energy was in full force.

She had visited the estate once before, and the butler had orchestrated the exact same grandiose welcome. It was a level of extreme wealth she still found jarring.

"Father has a meeting with the royal family tonight. We'll eat without him," Yardley said.

Starla nodded. "Okay."

When they sat down at the sprawling dining table, she noticed the spread was entirely Marina City cuisine.

"I figured you might feel a little homesick, so I had a chef flown in to prepare this for you," Yardley explained as he took his seat.

"Thank you."

The quiet validation warmed her chest, easing away the initial discomfort of the grand entrance. Back in Marina City, everyone had acted like marrying into the Yelchin family was the ultimate blessing she could ever achieve.

But stepping into the Hoggart world, she quickly realized that the Yelchins' wealth was utterly insignificant in comparison.

"Try it. See if it's right," Yardley encouraged.

Immediately, a maid stepped forward and placed a delicate serving onto Starla's plate.

She took a bite and her eyes lit up. "It's really good. It tastes exactly like home."

The lingering awkwardness faded entirely. It was obvious the Hoggart family had gone out of their way to ensure her transition was seamless.

They chatted casually over dinner, the conversation flowing easily until the topic naturally shifted to Fairfax.

"He definitely ran to the Cyrus Sea," Yardley said.

Starla didn't know how to respond, especially under Yardley's dangerously perceptive gaze.

If she said the wrong thing and inadvertently made him suspicious of Herbert, it could spark a disaster. She hadn't figured out the truth about that phone call yet, and she preferred to keep things quiet until she did.

"Starla," he prompted.

"I'll trust your judgment on it," she finally deflected, handing the reins entirely to him.

Yardley looked momentarily surprised. Then, a low, genuine laugh escaped his chest. "Trust my judgment? Are you sure?"

"I'm sure."

"Good. Then starting tomorrow, you're training with Reba."

Starla's eyes widened. "Reba?"

His personal assassin? She had seen what that woman was capable of. Why on earth did she need to train with Reba?