A Widow's Poison, A Wife's Rebellion novel Chapter 188

"It certainly looks that way," Gabriel confirmed. It wasn't just a resemblance; it was a certainty. When a global giant like Hoggart Group entered a new market, they typically built from the ground up, not by poaching existing projects. This move was unprecedented.

Fairfax took another long drag from his cigarette, the grim set of his jaw unyielding. "I've never crossed anyone from Hoggart Group." He didn't even know them, so how could he have offended them?

Gabriel knew that, but the evidence pointed to a personal conflict. Before he could say more, his phone rang. He answered it, and his expression quickly soured. "Are you sure?"

After a brief exchange, he hung up and turned to Fairfax. "Mrs. Yelchin was just seen at the biotech company."

He was referring to Herbert's company, as they were unaware that Starla had her own research lab there. The news sent a jolt of fury through Fairfax, and a vein throbbed in his forehead.

"She's going to work now?" he roared. The damned woman had just suffered a major hemorrhage. She was supposed to be resting. What the hell was she doing running around?

...

By the time Fairfax arrived at Epoch Plaza, Starla and Garret were just walking out of the building, deep in conversation. He couldn't hear what they were saying from this distance. Leaning against his car, he watched them, his gaze growing colder by the second.

Starla saw him and stopped in her tracks. Their eyes locked across the pavement. Fairfax pushed off the car, hands shoved in his pockets, and strode toward them. He moved with a barely contained rage, his normally styled hair looking disheveled, which only added to the wildness in his eyes. A manic energy seemed to radiate from him.

He walked right up to her, a cigarette dangling from his lips. His eyes flickered from her to Garret, then back again. In a sudden move, he grabbed Starla's wrist. His motion was lightning-fast, but his eyes, full of menace, were fixed on Garret.

"Well, well, now you're hitting me for another man?" he murmured, his eyes glinting. "Then again, hitting is nothing for you, is it? You've already tried poisoning me."

The memory of her feeding him that tainted broth yesterday made his grip on her wrist tighten. He yanked her into his arms.

Starla fought against him, trying to keep her balance, but his strength was overwhelming.

Garret moved to intervene, but a dozen of Fairfax's bodyguards materialized out of nowhere, forming a wall that kept him several feet away. The scene erupted into chaos.