A Widow's Poison, A Wife's Rebellion novel Chapter 5

Tanya wanted to take Starla to her place, but Starla insisted on going to Maple Heights on Astral Road, an apartment she had purchased for herself three months ago. Clearly, she had been planning her exit for some time.

“I told you to come to my place, but you refused,” Tanya grumbled, draping a blanket over her. “You need someone to look after you. When did you even buy this apartment?” She bustled off to the kitchen to make some soup.

Starla snuggled under the blanket. “The month after Faraday died.”

“That was early. You were already planning to divorce Fairfax back then?” Tanya asked from the kitchen.

“Mmm,” Starla murmured, exhausted, and stretched out on the sofa. In the month following Faraday’s death, Fairfax had practically lived at the family estate, rarely coming home. And even when he did, a single phone call about Brinley would send him running back. Who could tolerate such a twisted marriage?

Her phone vibrated. It was the landline from the villa. Without a second thought, she declined the call and blocked the number.

Immediately after, Tanya’s phone rang. It was Fairfax.

She answered, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “What, Brinley doesn’t need you anymore?”

“Let me talk to Starla,” Fairfax’s low voice demanded. He had just arrived at the hospital when he got a call from Molly saying Starla had run off. He’d rushed back to the villa to find a circle of scorched stone by the entrance where Starla had built her fire. Her closet was empty, as were the drawers where she kept the things she’d bought for him. She’d burned it all. What was she trying to do? Was her tantrum still not over?

Tanya let out a snide laugh. “Brinley is weak after giving birth. You should be comforting her. Why are you looking for Starla? Who is Starla to you, anyway?”

“Tanya!” His own anger was clearly simmering.

Tanya glanced at Starla, who was scrolling through her phone, her expression darkening. Seeing that her friend wasn't paying attention, Tanya took the call into the kitchen and shut the door. “Fairfax, are you out of your damn mind? Does Brinley see you as a substitute for Faraday, or does she just want the man with his face to be her fallback plan? You can’t honestly be that clueless. You rush to her side, with no regard for appearances. Do you have any idea what people in Marina City are saying about you two? Are you deaf and blind?”

The whole situation made her furious. Brinley was shameless, the Yelchin family enabled her, and Fairfax played right along.

“I said, put Starla on the phone!” Fairfax gritted out, his patience gone.

“She just had a miscarriage. She doesn’t need your attitude right now,” Tanya retorted. “If you can’t be a decent husband, then stop tormenting her. Starla needs you so much less than you think. Go spend the rest of your life with Brinley.”

If Fairfax wouldn't cherish her, Tanya would. Thinking about what Starla had told her—that Brinley had pushed her today—Tanya didn't give him another chance to speak. She just hung up.

When she returned to the living room, she saw that Starla was gripping her phone so tightly her knuckles were white.

“What are you looking at? Stop if it’s making you upset.”

Starla saw the name and let out a cold, humorless laugh. “So, that’s how I was ‘rejected.’”

Tanya’s lips were a thin, hard line, her eyes flashing with fury.

“I was originally going to start with her mother,” Starla said, her voice dangerously quiet. “But now… I think I’ll start with her.”

Tanya’s heart skipped a beat. “Honey, what are you talking about?”

What did she mean, ‘start with her’? Was she planning to go after Harriet and Brinley? As furious as Tanya was, she could see the rational part of her friend was completely gone. She forced herself to stay calm.

“Sweetie, listen. The Yelchin family, Fairfax included, have always favored Brinley. And her mother is a powerhouse. You can’t win against them. Please, don’t do anything reckless, okay?”

A mocking smile played on Starla’s lips. “Can’t I?”

She knew Harriet was a formidable opponent. But what if she lost the power that made her so formidable?