A Widow's Poison, A Wife's Rebellion novel Chapter 9

“Fairfax, you son of a bitch!” Tanya exploded.

Starla, delirious with fever, heard Fairfax’s words through the speakerphone, and a fresh wave of cold washed through her.

Tanya glanced at her friend’s pale, sweat-sheened face and her rage intensified. “You care so much about Brinley’s recovery, but your wife just lost…”

Before she could finish, the phone was snatched from her hand. She turned to see Starla gripping it, her thumb pressing the end-call button.

“What are you doing? Let me give him a piece of my mind!”

Tanya was practically shaking with fury. As an outsider, even she was incensed. She couldn’t imagine what Starla had been going through.

“He doesn’t believe me,” Starla whispered. “Arguing with him is just a waste of breath.”

Tanya fell silent. It was true. For the last six months, Fairfax had dismissed every one of Starla’s concerns about Brinley, becoming more and more distant, culminating in him being present for Brinley’s delivery. The thought was infuriating.

Starla’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Don’t mention the miscarriage to him again.”

“Why not?”

Why? Because he thought she was faking the pregnancy. After years of marriage, they had no trust left. What else was there to say?

“I’ve already decided on the divorce,” Starla said. “I want it to be a clean break.”

As they passed each other, Fairfax saw Starla. He stopped, his lips parting as if to say something. But before he could speak, Brinley let out a loud wail. “Fairfax, if something happens to the baby, I don’t want to live anymore!”

His gaze shifted from Starla’s deathly pale face and back to Brinley. Without another word, he turned and strode away, the group hurrying to keep up.

Tanya was shaking with rage. “Fairfax, you get back here, you piece of… Starla? Starla!”

The woman she was supporting suddenly went limp, sliding toward the floor. Tanya struggled to hold her up.

Fairfax, who had just reached the elevator, heard Tanya’s frantic shouts and spun around. He saw her struggling to hold an unconscious Starla, screaming, “Doctor! Somebody help! We need a doctor!”

His heart lurched. He instinctively shoved the baby into the arms of the person next to him and started to run toward them.