A Widow's Poison, A Wife's Rebellion novel Chapter 431

Herbert, the Hoggart Group, Starla… The intersection of these three names shattered Fairfax’s previous assumptions in an instant. Adding to that, Xenia and Darleen had told him that Starla was involved with a man from Yoran Country, which completely overturned his theory about her relationship with Herbert.

“Herbert introduced you to someone at the Hoggart Group, didn't he?”

This was no longer just a suspicion; it was a conviction. He was certain someone at the Hoggart Group had taken an interest in Starla, and since Herbert had been working with them for years, he must have been the one to orchestrate the connection.

“Incredible,” Fairfax thought bitterly. “What a great friend Herbert turned out to be.”

The Hoggart Group's recent attacks on the Yelchin Group suddenly made perfect sense.

Starla glanced at him sideways. “Your imagination is running wild.”

“You trust him that much? You listen to everything he says? He could sell you out, and you wouldn’t even know it.”

“He’d sell me out?” Starla countered. “And what about you?”

“What about me?” Fairfax shot back.

“Your family wants me dead.”

Fairfax was speechless.

Starla felt no need to explain anything to him anymore. He didn't trust her, so why bother? She yanked her hand from his grip and was about to head upstairs again when Darleen rushed down, her face etched with worry.

“Xenia has a high fever! She needs to go to the hospital.”

Fairfax and Darleen stood at the bottom of the staircase, unable to believe what they had just heard.

“What did she mean by that?” Darleen turned to Fairfax, her voice trembling with rage. “Is she saying Brinley was wrong to get treatment for her depression? You see? I told you she was vicious!”

But as Darleen raged, Fairfax’s mind snagged on Starla’s mention of Brinley’s depression. He remembered what Caden had told him—that Brinley hadn’t had a single episode in days. He had yelled at Caden over the phone, but now he couldn't help but wonder. Why? How was it that under Starla’s intense pressure, Brinley’s depression had suddenly vanished?

Seeing the look on Fairfax's face, Darleen grew even more agitated. “I don’t know what those useless police are doing! They still haven’t found any evidence that she murdered my poor grandchild!”

At the thought, a fresh wave of anger washed over her. If they could just prove Starla killed the baby, she’d be arrested, and they could all finally breathe again. But so far, nothing.

“I don’t know how she does it,” Darleen muttered, fuming. “It has to be Herbert. He must be pulling strings behind the scenes to make sure nothing sticks. I can’t believe him! Even after knowing she’s involved with someone from Yoran Country, he’s still protecting her and hurting Xenia like this.”