A Widow's Poison, A Wife's Rebellion novel Chapter 10

But he had only taken a single step when a heavy weight crashed against his leg. He looked down to see Brinley, who had been sobbing moments before, sprawled on the floor, having fallen from her wheelchair. She was unconscious.

Fairfax’s feet felt like they were encased in lead. He was frozen, his desperate urge to run to Starla warring with the scene before him.

Someone screamed. “Oh my God, she’s bleeding! There’s so much blood!”

The last thing Starla saw before her vision blurred and faded was Fairfax scooping Brinley into his arms. Then, darkness consumed her.

…

When she regained consciousness, it was the next morning. Tanya was by her side, looking exhausted.

“You’re finally awake. Thank God. What a nightmare.”

Starla’s lips were dry. Tanya quickly held a cup of water for her.

“Fairfax stopped by earlier. Stayed for about ten minutes.”

Ten minutes. The number landed like a stone in Starla’s stomach.

“He told you to tell me not to sue Brinley, didn’t he?”

“You heard him?” Tanya asked, surprised.

That was indeed the message. The man’s wife was still unconscious, and he was already pleading Brinley’s case. The audacity was staggering.

Starla stared at the IV drip in the back of her hand. “No. I just guessed.”

After the last six months, it was painfully predictable. He hadn't just tried to stop her last night; he had been frantic.

“Forget him,” Tanya said, her voice tight. “Drink some soup. You lost a lot of blood last night…” Her voice cracked with emotion, even though she was just an observer. Yet when Fairfax had come by, he’d seemed more annoyed than worried, probably assuming Starla just had a bad flu. So attentive to his sister-in-law, yet completely ignorant of his own wife’s condition.

“And he still left before I even woke up,” Starla said with a bitter laugh.

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