A Widow's Poison, A Wife's Rebellion novel Chapter 638

Darleen hadn't even processed the horrifying revelation that she had murdered Starla's mother. Now, dragged back into the reality of Faraday's death, she lost her grip on sanity completely.

She attacked Brinley like a feral animal, clawing and hitting her, as if the physical violence could somehow numb her agonizing grief.

"If my Faraday were still alive, none of this would be happening! None of it!" Darleen wailed.

It wouldn't have mattered if Starla had Herbert Farley backing her. If Faraday were alive, Starla's revenge would have been aimed squarely at Fairfax. She never could have brought the entire Yelchin empire to its knees. The total collapse of their legacy was the most agonizing part of all this.

So what if she killed Starla's mother? If Faraday were here, it wouldn't matter if she had wiped out Starla's entire bloodline! Starla would have only been able to fight Fairfax—she wouldn't have possessed the power to sink the whole family. They were only drowning now because Fairfax was her husband, and he had been caught in the crossfire.

"Get off me!" Brinley screamed, her own fury reigniting.

Yes, she mourned Faraday. Yes, she was consumed with regret. But that didn't mean she was going to stand there and let Darleen beat her to death.

Brinley shoved violently. Caught off guard, Darleen tumbled backward and hit the hard ground with a sharp shriek of pain.

Seeing her mother on the freezing pavement, Xenia's restraint snapped. "You psychotic bitch!" she screamed. "You deserve to die! What did she say that was wrong?!"

Xenia lunged, grabbing Brinley by the hair and dragging her into a brawl.

For weeks, Xenia had stayed out of the physical fights between Darleen and Brinley. She had been too exhausted. A pampered socialite her entire life, Xenia couldn't handle the agonizing physical labor. She had surrendered completely to Starla's regime, desperate only to finish her chores and sleep. She hadn't had the energy for the family drama.

But seeing Brinley throw her mother to the ground pushed her over the edge.

Upstairs, Starla sat comfortably in a plush velvet armchair, cradling a steaming cup of coffee. She watched the brutal fight unfold on the security monitor with morbid fascination.

Fairfax sat on the sofa beside her. The man who now knew everything remained impossibly still, his expression unreadable. Starla didn't know exactly what he had said to Darleen outside, or what documents he had thrown at her, but ever since he walked into the room, he hadn't spoken a single word.

He lounged on the sofa with his usual aristocratic nonchalance, a cigarette burning between his fingers, one arm draped over the backrest. He looked like the untouchable billionaire he had always been, save for the profound, suffocating sorrow pooling in his eyes.

Watching Xenia yank Brinley by the scalp, Starla clicked her tongue. "Quite the show downstairs. Just the kind of chaotic drama your mother used to love."

She shot a sideways glance at Fairfax. When he offered absolutely no reaction, she raised a brow. "What? Not heartbroken to see her like that?"