A Widow's Poison, A Wife's Rebellion novel Chapter 449

Felix had warned her that the child was useful to them, so Brinley was frantic. She knew his temper. If the boy died, Felix’s rage would be uncontrollable, and her standing in both the Yelchin and Seabrook families would be ruined. She couldn’t let the child die before their plan came to fruition. She had to get to the hospital. Now!

But Starla simply rose from her chair and turned to walk upstairs, ignoring her completely.

“Starla!” Brinley shouted after her.

Starla paused on the stairs and looked back down. “Your mask. How long do you plan on wearing it?”

Brinley froze.

Upstairs, Darleen, who had been bent over Xenia, also went still. She looked through the railing at Brinley and Starla downstairs, but the next moment, Xenia began to convulse slightly from the fever.

“Xenia! Xenia!” she cried in terror.

Starla's question was a direct hit. Brinley finally understood. This wasn’t just about torment; it was about forcing a confession. But she couldn't confess. She couldn't admit to those things.

“By the way,” Starla continued, her voice laced with chilling curiosity, “why haven’t you had a breakdown? In a situation like this, you should be going completely insane, shouldn’t you?”

Brinley felt like she was the one being driven insane. Starla was deliberately pushing her to the edge. She trembled uncontrollably, whether from anger or from the raw fear Starla's directness inspired.

Seeing her silence, Starla let out a derisive snort and continued up the stairs.

Darleen stared, stunned.

“A worthless life is a resilient one,” Starla finished, yanking her ankle free.

The words hit Darleen like a physical blow. They were so familiar. She remembered saying them herself, outside Starla’s bedroom door, three days after she had lost her baby. One of the maids from Petal Villa, seeing Starla’s high fever, had wanted to call Fairfax to take her to the hospital. Darleen had stopped her. Standing right outside Starla's door, she had said, “Why go to the hospital? A worthless life is a resilient one.”

Starla had been delirious with fever back then. How could she possibly have heard?

A small, cruel smile played on Starla’s lips. “Do you want to call me harsh? Or are you perhaps remembering that those words sound very familiar?”