A Widow's Poison, A Wife's Rebellion novel Chapter 616

A moment later, Starla smoothly slipped her hand back onto Herbert's arm. Kael didn't seem the least bit bothered by the subtle rejection.

*Righteous-looking scum,* Fairfax thought venomously.

Then again, it made sense that Kael wouldn't react. Being a married man, he couldn't afford to be openly possessive of Starla in a room full of high-society sharks.

Down on the main floor, Kael introduced Starla and Herbert to a circle of elite investors. Several local magnates recognized Starla as Fairfax's wife, and seeing her escorted by Herbert raised quite a few eyebrows. Especially since some of them had just seen Fairfax walk in minutes earlier.

Whispers began to circulate among the wealthy socialites.

"If she's good enough to catch Mr. Farley's eye, she clearly has merit. What on earth was Mrs. Yelchin thinking by treating her like dirt?" murmured one woman, well aware of the widely known rumors regarding Darleen's cruelty toward her daughter-in-law.

Tess Larkin, who had recently suffered through Darleen's foul moods after Xenia's disastrous attempt to court Herbert, scoffed openly.

"What else?" Tess laughed dryly. "She preferred that tramp Harriet's daughter, Brinley."

The mention of Harriet Seabrook soured the expressions of the other women. Harriet had terrorized their social circles in her youth, ruthlessly seducing men—married or not—to climb the ladder.

"Keep your voice down," another woman hissed. "You know what Fairfax's temper is like!"

If Fairfax caught wind of them trashing his family, there would be hell to pay.

...

"Extremely," Gabriel confirmed. In the past, no one would have dared to try strong-arming Fairfax like that.

Considering the absolute havoc Starla was wreaking on the company, Gabriel chose his next words carefully. "You really need to finalize the divorce with Ms. Lansbury as soon as possible. The fallout is becoming unmanageable."

He had seen Starla and Kael smiling at each other earlier. It was painfully obvious that she had the backing of not only Herbert, but the sheer might of the Hoggart Group. Dragging out the marriage was corporate suicide.

But the moment the word 'finalize' hit the air, a terrifying frost settled over Fairfax's eyes.

The image of Starla smiling at Kael flashed violently in his mind.