A Widow's Poison A Wife's Rebellion novel Chapter 685

It wasn't that Xenia was inherently evil.

It was just that Starla had been so utterly ruthless lately. Could anyone blame them for seizing the opportunity to be just as brutal in return?

They had warned her. They had told her to always leave a way out for herself. But did she listen? No. She had spent the last few months acting like she was untouchable, happily grinding them into the dirt. So when she was finally ripped from her pedestal, they were going to enjoy watching her lose everything.

"Herbert only protected her because he couldn't afford to cross Kael Shipley," Darleen explained, her tone dripping with patronizing certainty. "A massive chunk of Herbert's investments in Yoran Country rely entirely on the Hoggart Group. But you have to ask yourself: when push comes to shove, who is more important to Kael? A cheap mistress, or his own wife?"

"His wife, obviously," Xenia answered without hesitation. "Women on the side are just toys."

"Exactly. So, when Mrs. Shipley starts tearing Starla apart, if Herbert dares to step in and protect her, he'll be directly offending Mrs. Shipley. And by extension, offending Kael!"

Realization dawned on Xenia's face, her eyes lighting up. "So if he helps Starla, he tanks his own business empire?"

"You got it! The second Mrs. Shipley locks onto her target, Starla and Kael are finished. There is no world in which Herbert throws away his fortune to defend her."

"That makes so much sense!" Xenia nodded vigorously.

A wave of profound relief washed over her. It wouldn't be long now. Herbert's protection had an expiration date of three days.

The thought of Starla stripped of all her power, left with absolutely nothing, filled both mother and daughter with a euphoric sense of anticipation.

That night, Darleen and Xenia slept more soundly than they had in months.

***

Elsewhere in the city, Fairfax sat across from Herbert Farley, the atmosphere between them heavy with unspoken tension. Ever since he realized the true nature of Herbert's relationship with Starla, the mere sight of the man made Fairfax's chest physically ache.

Herbert leaned back in his leather chair, lazily swirling the dark red wine in his glass. "I have to admit, I didn't expect you to hold out this long."

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