A Widow's Poison, A Wife's Rebellion novel Chapter 1090

It made perfect sense. After everything that had happened, every single calculated move had directly harmed her. To turn around now and claim he was treating her well? Of course it looked like pure hypocrisy.

"Everything you do right now just makes me sick," Starla said, making zero effort to mask her revulsion.

"Don't be sickened by me," Herbert replied smoothly. "We're going to be together for the rest of our lives."

The words rest of our lives sent a cold shiver straight through her heart.

She glared at him. "You really are exactly the same as Fairfax."

During her time at the Cyrus Sea, Fairfax had used the exact same shameless tactics to keep her trapped. Now, Herbert was doing the exact same thing.

Herbert didn't argue. He just fell silent. He was playing the long game, and his endgame was a lifetime together. No matter how much she resisted internally, it didn't change his ultimate goal.

It didn't matter. Soon enough, she would be completely erased from the minds of Yardley and Fairfax. Their world would go quiet, leaving only the two of them.

...

That night.

Right before Herbert left, he leaned down to kiss her forehead again.

Starla shot him a lethal glare, remaining stubbornly silent.

"Be good and wait for me to come back, alright?"

She ignored him completely.

With a helpless sigh, he affectionately ruffled her hair and stood up. As he reached the doorway, he paused and glanced back, parting his lips to say something.

But seeing the sheer frost radiating from her face, the words died on his tongue.

He left. However, just like Fairfax had done, he stationed his most loyal men to guard her.

The only difference this time? Starla refused to speak a single word to any of them.

Fairfax's eyes turned instantly bloodshot. He lunged forward, grabbing Rudolf by the collar. "You're lying! How could she be?!"

He raised his fist, fully prepared to smash it into Rudolf's face.

"She fell into Lazar's hands. Do you really think I'm making this up, Mr. Yelchin?" Rudolf shot back without flinching. "You knew on the way here that her chances of survival were basically zero. And now... that probability has become reality."

Probability has become reality.

The freezing air around them seemed to solidify.

Yardley stared at Rudolf in sheer disbelief, while Fairfax's raised fist froze mid-air, trembling violently.

"And the last time she walked away safe and sound," Rudolf added ruthlessly, "was when she left your hands."

Hearing those words, every last ounce of strength drained from Fairfax's body.

The last truly safe place she had been was by his side. The exact moment he decided to take her out of the Cyrus Sea was the moment he had doomed her.