A Widow's Poison, A Wife's Rebellion novel Chapter 24

Fairfax had planned to see Starla that evening, but Brinley’s condition kept fluctuating, forcing him to stay by her side. It wasn’t until two in the morning that she finally stabilized.

“Fairfax, I’m so sorry,” Brinley began, her voice weak with guilt. “I made things difficult for you again. I’m so—”

“Faraday is gone,” Fairfax cut her off, his voice chillingly flat. “Nothing was left of him.” His eyes, when they met hers, were just as cold.

Brinley froze.

A weary Darleen, sitting nearby, shot up from her chair. “Fairfax, what are you doing? Why would you tell her that now?” she demanded, rushing to Brinley’s side with a worried expression.

Brinley’s face was draining of all color. Panicked, Darleen pulled her into an embrace. “Brinley, don’t listen to him. Faraday, he’s…”

“Six months ago, he died in a plane crash,” Fairfax continued, his voice devoid of emotion, cutting through Darleen’s reassurances. “His body was never found.”

Darleen spun around, furious. “What are you doing? Are you trying to kill her?”

In her arms, Brinley’s face had become ghostly white, and she began to tremble.

“Brinley, Brinley, don’t listen to him,” Darleen soothed, terrified.

“Just accept it,” Fairfax said. “He’s never coming back.”

Darleen was speechless. What was wrong with him?

Brinley’s face grew paler until it was almost translucent. Her eyes filled with a terrified, helpless look.

“No… no, he can’t be dead. He’s here, he’s always been here… Faraday… Faraday!” Her voice rose to a frantic shout, and her emotions spiraled out of control.

“She has to face reality sooner or later,” Fairfax said. “Me showing up like this all the time isn’t sustainable.”

“But not now! She just gave birth. She’s at her weakest.”

“Then when?” Fairfax shot back. “After her recovery period? Then you’ll say the babies are too small, won’t you?”

They had agreed he would only need to do this until the babies were born.

Darleen was taken aback. “Are you in such a rush?” His relentless pressure on the matter infuriated her. “I know what this is about. It’s because of Starla, isn’t it? She knows Brinley’s situation. Besides, what could possibly be going on between you and Brinley? What is she making such a fuss about?”

The more she thought about the havoc Starla had wreaked since yesterday, the angrier Darleen became.