A Widow's Poison, A Wife's Rebellion novel Chapter 897

Herbert had sworn up and down that the woman wasn't the love of his life, but from where Fairfax was sitting, that looked like a blatant lie! If she wasn't, what the hell was he doing?

Herbert's grip tightened on the phone. Hearing Fairfax bring *that woman* up again sent a dark, lethal shadow over his face.

"Fairfax Yelchin, everything is a mess right now solely because of you!" Herbert snapped.

Fairfax let out a dark chuckle. "Oh, so this is my fault?"

"Do yourself a favor and cut all contact with her from now on. Don't interfere with her judgment," Herbert warned.

"Do you know what you sound like right now?"

Herbert stayed silent.

"You sound exactly like me before everything went to hell," Fairfax taunted. "The truth is, the reason she hates you right now is entirely on you. No one else."

Fairfax remembered how, when his own marriage to Starla was imploding, he had blamed everyone around him. He had especially blamed Herbert. But during his time isolated at the Cyrus Sea, the reality had set in: there was no one else to blame. It was his fault. His alone.

"You are not taking Starla to the Black Sea. Drop it," Fairfax demanded.

"You think you can stop me?" Herbert mocked.

"Try me and find out."

Fairfax ended the call abruptly. Herbert listened to the dead dial tone, his face darkening like a thundercloud. His patience with Fairfax Yelchin had officially run out.

***

Back at the Hoggart estate.

Seymour received Fairfax's strict orders: he was to personally intercept Starla and bring her to the Black Sea. She was going to the Black Sea, yes—but absolutely not with Herbert Farley.

Fairfax didn't know exactly what twisted game Herbert was playing, but whatever his master plan was, Fairfax was going to tear it apart.

Standing outside Starla's door, Seymour frowned. "Boss, Ms. Lansbury isn't going to just walk out of here with me."

Since his boss no longer cared about playing nice, Seymour didn't need to worry about being gentle with the extraction. But a split second later, Fairfax realized exactly what Seymour's tone implied.

"Wait. Hold on!" Fairfax ordered sharply.

"Having second thoughts, boss?"

Seymour knew his boss well. He knew how obsessively protective Fairfax was of Starla, even if his actions in Marina City had been completely unhinged. But this time around, Fairfax had been the one to personally order the hit that ended Brinley's life. It was his way of finally closing the door on the chaotic mess of their past.

"Let me call her first," Fairfax muttered.

He knew exactly how stubborn she was. But even knowing that, he wanted to offer her a modicum of respect. It felt like a desperate attempt to compensate for all the pain he had caused her in Marina City.

Hanging up with Seymour, Fairfax dialed Starla's number.

Inside her room, Starla was busy plotting her escape from Yoran Country. Between all the insane drama of the past two days, her resolve to get the hell out of there had only hardened.

When her phone lit up with Fairfax's caller ID, she didn't even blink. She hit decline.