A Widow's Poison, A Wife's Rebellion novel Chapter 53

Back at Cosmos Summit, Starla had just settled into bed after a hot shower when a message from an unknown number came in. It was a photo. In it, Fairfax was on the hospital rooftop, lifting Brinley into his arms to bring her to safety.

Starla turned off her phone. It had to be Brinley, sending it from a burner phone.

Let her gloat. However triumphant she felt now was how miserable she would be tomorrow.

...

At the hospital, Brinley was not faring well after being rescued from the rooftop. The pain from her wounds was intense.

Darleen and Xenia were both there, and Darleen couldn't stop wiping away tears. "Brinley, what were you thinking? You have to think about the children! They're so little."

Tonight had been terrifying. She had been standing right on the edge of that tall building. A fall would have been fatal.

With tears streaming down her face, Brinley whispered, "I… I don't know what happened. I really don't know anything. I just… I just wanted to find Faraday, I…"

Her choked sobs broke Darleen's heart.

Xenia added, "It's all that Starla's fault. Look at how she's been bullying Brinley these past few days."

Brinley's tears fell like rain. "What did I do wrong? Why are they all cursing me? The entire city… what did I do wrong?"

Hearing the despair in her voice, Xenia hugged her tightly. "There, there, don't cry. Just get a good night's sleep, and everything will be better in the morning."

Darleen chimed in, "That's right, you just need some sleep, and it will all be over."

Brinley sobbed uncontrollably in Xenia's arms. She looked at Fairfax, her tear-filled eyes pitiful and pleading. "Faraday, are you going to leave again?"

Seeing his expression, she knew he was going to find Starla. She tightened her grip on his sleeve. "Brinley is in a very fragile state right now. Please, can't you just stay here and watch over her tonight?"

"I'll have ten bodyguards here shortly to watch her."

Darleen's heart leaped into her throat. "What… what do you mean by that?"

"If ten isn't enough, then twenty. Or thirty. Or fifty. Is that enough? If not, I can make it a hundred. A thousand…"

He was done with her games. If she wanted to cause a scene, he would give her a whole audience.

"You…" Darleen stammered.

Fairfax’s voice was laced with ice. "You want me to stay with her personally? I'm Faraday's brother. Who am I to her?"