A Widow's Poison, A Wife's Rebellion novel Chapter 949

Hearing the raw mockery in Starla's voice, Herbert massaged his throbbing temples and shot an anxious glance at Yardley.

"Is there a line you two won't cross?" Starla demanded.

"I swear, it is not what you think," Herbert insisted defensively.

"Then enlighten me. What exactly are you and Yardley negotiating with General Licht?" she fired back. "His terms are crystal clear. He wants me. And yet, the two of you are sitting at the table with him. Which means you're entertaining the idea of handing me over!"

"I would never give you to him!"

"Right," Starla scoffed, a single, icy syllable that radiated absolute disbelief.

"Where are you? I can—"

"Stop the attacks on Amos," Starla cut him off flawlessly. "Unless you want me to despise you even more than I already do."

"Because if you insist on pushing this," she paused, her tone dropping into something dangerously calm. "Then we're officially enemies."

"You—"

"In Yoran Country, I let myself be trapped by you. But don't forget what I'm capable of. I was ready to burn everything to the ground in Marina City, and I'll do it again."

What had trapped her in Yoran Country? It had been her misplaced faith in Herbert's supposed love, and her loyalty to the Hoggart family. Because they were her family, she hadn't treated them with the same ruthlessness she used against the Yelchins.

But if they wanted a war, she would give them one.

Herbert took a sharp breath. "You think the Hoggart family is as fragile as the Yelchins?"

"An ant trying to topple a mountain. I know," Starla countered breezily, entirely unfazed by the thinly veiled threat.

"But don't forget," she continued, "when you're busy trying to steal from someone else, there are plenty of people out there who would love to mount your heads on a spike."

She was calling to protect Amos. And protecting Amos meant protecting Fairfax's legacy. To threaten mutual destruction with the Hoggart family over this... if it wasn't for Fairfax, then what was it?

"No. It's not for him," Starla replied coldly.

"Then for what?" Herbert demanded.

"For myself."

It was the absolute truth. She hadn't done any of this for Fairfax. Even knowing his death was tied to her, she had no intention of crusading in his name.

"Because right now, you are the ones trying to sell me out!"

"I already told you, we never planned on actually handing you over to that old bastard!"

"But he demanded me, and you used that demand to open negotiations with him!" Starla shouted. How much clearer did it need to be before he finally admitted it?