A Widow's Poison, A Wife's Rebellion novel Chapter 178

"Then search every restaurant, every cafe, every building around Ridge Road!" he ordered.

The thought of Herbert meeting Starla for lunch while actively avoiding him sent Fairfax into a rage. He slammed his fist on the steering wheel one last time.

Starla… fine. Just fine. He pictured her face as she'd fed him the broth yesterday, her hand steady, not a flicker of hesitation in her eyes.

Just then, his phone buzzed. It was a call from the office. Starla's constant drama had been a major distraction, preventing him from focusing on work.

"What is it?" he answered curtly.

"Mr. Yelchin, you need to come to the office immediately. There's a problem with the Palatial project."

"What kind of problem?" Fairfax demanded. The Palatial project was one of Yelchin Group's most important ventures this year, and it was already well underway. How could there suddenly be an issue?

"It looks like it's been sabotaged. I can't explain over the phone. You need to see this for yourself."

The urgency in the man's voice made it clear this was serious. Fairfax ended the call, his temple throbbing. He punched the steering wheel again before starting the car and heading towards the office. He was going to find out who had the nerve to mess with the Yelchin Group.

...

Meanwhile, Herbert had arrived at Cosmos Summit. Starla, dressed in a comfortable, oversized rose-colored knit sweater that highlighted her slender frame, greeted him as he entered.

"Mr. Farley," she said politely, rising to her feet.

Herbert handed his coat to a nearby attendant. "Thank you," he said, then turned his attention back to her. He walked over, unfastening his cuffs as he went. He disliked feeling constrained, and his movements were fluid and natural, as if he were in his own home. Every gesture exuded an air of refined elegance.

Yardley? Her brother hadn't gone into detail about his relationship with Herbert, but hearing this now made it seem like they were old friends.

"You know my brother well?"

"Yes, very well," Herbert confirmed with a nod. "We were classmates when I studied abroad. We became good friends at university." After graduation, they had collaborated on several ventures. It was clear that when it came to his loyalty between Fairfax and Yardley, Herbert's leaned toward Yardley—at least, in situations where Fairfax and Starla were at odds.

The discovery of this connection made Starla marvel at how strange and small the world could be.

Before either of them could say more, Herbert's phone began to ring.

It was Fairfax.