A Widow's Poison, A Wife's Rebellion novel Chapter 104

As Darian entered, the secretary respectfully closed the door behind him. He walked over to Fairfax's desk, holding a file. After sitting down opposite him, he slid the folder across the desk. "My old man asked me to bring this over. Take a look."

"Hah. Your old man is a cunning one," Fairfax remarked dryly.

"He’s just banking on our friendship, hoping I can pull some strings for him."

Fairfax’s expression immediately soured. Nepotism was the one thing he couldn't stand at Yelchin Group. His friends all knew his rules, so before Fairfax could say anything, Darian added, "Don't feel like you have to do me any favors. Handle it however you see fit. I just need my father to know I came."

"That direct? Aren't you afraid he'll have your hide?"

"Hasn't he been trying for years?" Darian shrugged. "I don't mind one more time. That's his problem—instead of focusing on improving production, he's always resorting to these underhanded tricks."

Fairfax lit a cigarette and tossed the pack to Darian, who caught it. Seeing how agitated his friend was, Darian ventured, "What's wrong? Having a tough time winning your wife back?"

There was a rare note of teasing in his voice.

Among their circle of friends, the consensus was that Fairfax had married Starla because she had no family or background, making her easy to control and obedient. But that docile little bunny, once provoked, had revealed some surprisingly sharp teeth.

The teasing only frayed Fairfax's nerves further. "What do you make of Herbert's attitude toward her?" he asked, his voice tight.

Darian’s easygoing demeanor vanished. He'd heard that Herbert had flown back from the next city over that morning just to rescue Starla from Petal Villa. That kind of behavior was... more than a little strange. Plus, Herbert's methods were no softer than Fairfax's. With Herbert now taking such a stance on Starla, Fairfax had truly hit a wall.

Seeing Darian’s silence, Fairfax's gaze turned colder. "What? You think there's something to it too?"

"Do you want the truth, Fairfax?"

"You think my efforts were superficial?"

"I didn't say that," Darian backtracked, seeing the dangerous look in Fairfax's eyes. "But she's accepting Herbert's help now, isn't she?"

He knew that Herbert had stationed bodyguards outside Starla's hospital room. While he felt it was inappropriate, given that she was still married to Fairfax, the fact that Herbert ignored that detail was the biggest threat of all.

Fairfax’s face grew darker with every word.

"Caden told me what happened at Petal Villa this morning," Darian pressed. "Why weren't you the one to take her to the hospital?"

The question was a painfully precise blow. Fairfax had been right there in Marina City, but he'd left because of Brinley, while Herbert had rushed back from another city to save Starla from Harriet's wrath.