A Widow's Poison, A Wife's Rebellion novel Chapter 50

Fairfax's frustration mounted, but he forced himself to keep his voice calm. "For the past six months, my only focus was making sure my brother's children was born safely. I know you're angry with me, but…"

His words were cut off by the buzzing of his phone. It was Darleen. He didn't need to guess why she was calling. It was always about Brinley.

Annoyed, he declined the call.

A second later, it rang again, persistent.

A deeply cynical smile touched Starla's lips. "You should answer that. She's probably on the hospital roof right now, threatening to jump so she can see Faraday. And only your face, a perfect copy of his, can talk her down."

Fairfax took a long, deep breath and ran a hand through her soft hair, as if trying to soothe a cornered animal. Then he answered the phone, his voice a single, cold word. "Speak."

"Fairfax, you have to come quickly!" Darleen shrieked on the other end. "Brinley's on the roof of the hospital! She's going to jump!"

Starla's smirk widened. See? When it came to Brinley, she could predict every move. Whenever Fairfax was with her, Brinley would find a way to pull him away.

Fairfax's expression hardened. Before he could speak, Darleen's voice came through again, desperate. "I know you said you'd wash your hands of her after the babies were born, but they are barely newborns! If she dies, how will you face your brother?"

The mention of Faraday made Fairfax's face turn to stone. He hung up.

Starla opened the car door, then reached into the back seat and retrieved an umbrella. She stepped out into the rain.

Fairfax didn't start the car. He reached for her arm. "Let me take you home first."

Starla said nothing, just stood silently in the downpour.

His phone buzzed again. This time, it was a photo message. A high-resolution image of Brinley standing on the ledge of the hospital roof.

Darleen's call followed instantly. "Fairfax, please, save her! Mom is begging you!" she sobbed hysterically.

In a Maybach parked a short distance away, a man sat in the back with his eyes closed, exuding an air of cold, refined nobility. The driver spoke. "Sir, Fairfax has left."

The man's cool eyes opened. He pushed his gold-rimmed glasses up the bridge of his nose and looked at the lone figure of Starla under her black umbrella.

"When did he leave?"

"Just now, sir," the driver reported. "Ms. Lansbury took a call right before, and she didn't look happy. I'd guess it was from the Seabrooks or the Yelchins."

Because over the past two days, Starla had completely burned her bridges with the Yelchins. By targeting Brinley, she was going head-to-head with Harriet Seabrook.

Seeing that his boss remained silent, the driver added, "Brinley is threatening to jump off a building."

In the back seat, Herbert's cold eyes narrowed. He looked back at Starla, a small, solitary figure standing in the rain, looking utterly pathetic.