A Widow's Poison, A Wife's Rebellion novel Chapter 497

“Yes. Your mother said not to overthink things. Just focus on surviving,” Sally confirmed.

“My mother said that?”

“She did.”

To hear those words, a sentiment of pure desperation, coming from her powerful, always-in-control mother, finally made the gravity of her situation sink in. Brinley at last accepted the cold, hard fact: Starla had her pinned down in the mud, and there was no easy way out.

The fiery rage that had consumed Brinley finally sputtered out, leaving a quiet emptiness in its wake. She sat on her bed for a long time, lost in thought.

Sally, seeing her calm down, didn't offer any words of comfort. This was a time for survival, not for emotional coddling. They were on their own now.

Just as Sally was about to turn and leave for her own work, Brinley spoke. “Do you think… do you think my mother can solve her problems in Yoran Country?”

With Starla causing so much chaos, she hadn't had a chance to properly check in with her mother. In truth, she couldn't; Harriet never allowed her to ask about her business affairs. To her, her mother had always been invincible, capable of overcoming any obstacle. It was just a matter of time.

But for the first time, a seed of doubt had been planted.

“Until she returns, it’s hard to say,” Sally answered carefully. “But you know your mother. What storm hasn’t she weathered before?”

Brinley clung to that thought. “You’re right. My mother has seen it all.”

This was just another storm, perhaps a bit more difficult, but nothing Harriet couldn’t handle.

The thought brought a sliver of relief, but it was quickly replaced by a fresh wave of resentment as she recalled Darleen’s new attitude. Her mother had only been gone for a few days, and already Darleen was treating her like this. Just wait until Harriet returned. She would make them all pay—everyone who had wronged her. Especially Starla! She would grind her into the dirt, a thousand times worse than this.

Each word was bitten off, as if she wanted to tear Starla apart with her teeth.

Hearing that tone, a slow smile spread across Starla’s face. “Took you long enough to figure it out, didn’t it?”

Harriet’s breath caught. “So it really was you?”

“I used to think you were quite clever, Harriet,” Starla said, her voice dripping with amusement. “But it seems I overestimated you.”

“Starla,” Harriet snarled, “how dare you!”

Starla’s casual admission sent Harriet into a blind rage. No one knew the hell she had been through these past weeks in Yoran Country.