A Widow's Poison, A Wife's Rebellion novel Chapter 554

“I don’t need any more of this health stuff,” Starla said, eyeing the bags of vitamins and remedies Herbert had brought. Her body had recovered well over the past few weeks; she felt she had even gained a few pounds.

“Your brother specifically asked me to take good care of you,” Herbert replied.

Starla looked at him, unconvinced. Was it really just because of her brother? The care he had shown her lately seemed to extend far beyond the bounds of a favor for a friend. He wasn't just looking after her for Yardley Hoggart.

She met Herbert’s gaze.

“I want you to be healthy, too,” he said, his voice low and laced with a carefully concealed, deep-seated emotion. Within that suppressed tone, there was a hint of regret.

“When did you first start thinking about it?” Herbert asked suddenly.

The unexpected question caught Starla off guard. She wasn’t sure what he was referring to and looked at him blankly. “Huh?”

“When did you first start thinking about divorcing Fairfax?”

Starla paused, considering the question. When had it started?

“After Faraday died.”

In the month following Faraday’s death, Fairfax had barely returned to Petal Villa. And on the rare occasions he did, he was almost immediately summoned away by Darleen to tend to Brinley. It was then that the idea of divorce had first taken root.

Initially, after Faraday’s passing, she had still considered herself part of the Yelchin family. She would go to the estate to help with family affairs, but the experience was far from pleasant. Brinley would find subtle and not-so-subtle ways to be physically close to Fairfax, repeatedly calling him by Faraday's name in Starla’s presence. They were a united front in everything they did, always managing to exclude her.

Every time she set foot in the estate, she felt like an outsider. At first, she tried to convince herself they were just grieving and that their behavior was a product of their sorrow. She made an effort to fit in, but Brinley’s intentions soon became unmistakably clear.

That inner voice spurred her on, making her actions more and more drastic.

“From the very beginning, all my fights with him were aimed at getting a divorce.”

Yes, that had always been her goal. But Fairfax never believed her. He just thought she was being unreasonable and throwing tantrums. The first time the word ‘divorce’ left her lips, she had already decided she was done with him.

“Then I should have helped you sooner,” Herbert said softly.

Starla was taken aback. Him, help her get a divorce?

She simply smiled.