A Widow's Poison, A Wife's Rebellion novel Chapter 1153

Herbert was secretly hoping that the conflict between Yardley and Fairfax would escalate into an all-out war. The more consumed Fairfax was with fighting Yardley, the less time he would have to question whether Starla and Herbert were actually dead.

The messier, the better!

Just then, Starla's phone buzzed. It was a text from Tanya Mercer.

It read simply: [I'm back in Marina City!]

Starla stared at the screen.

Back in Marina City?

Tanya had only just left Smaro Town. How could she possibly be back already?

Unless...

Starla's head snapped up, her eyes locking onto Herbert.

Seeing the sudden shift in her expression, Herbert frowned. "What is it?"

"You leaked Tanya's location to Darian, didn't you?"

It was the only explanation. The moment Tanya stepped foot outside Smaro Town, Herbert must have fed the intel straight to Darian Lynn.

There was no way Tanya went back voluntarily. She had been running from Darian like her life depended on it; she would never just walk right back into his grasp.

Starla had gone through a lot of trouble to help Tanya escape Marina City in the first place, and now Herbert had completely sold her out.

Herbert's brow furrowed at the mention of Tanya's name. "It's not safe for a girl to wander alone in a foreign country for too long."

"Are you seriously trying to tell me you did this for her own good?"

Starla's voice was dripping with sarcasm.

"Who do you think you are? She doesn't need you looking out for her."

Starla dropped all pretenses, her tone sharp and unforgiving.

Herbert was far too arrogant, making decisions for people as if he had the right to play god with their lives. He just hadn't wanted Tanya hovering around her.

Herbert remained silent.

He was right, in a way. Keeping Tanya alive really was a massive concession on his part.

...

Starla barely touched her food for the rest of the day.

When Rudolf came in and saw the practically untouched plates, he sighed. "Ms. Lansbury isn't eating again?"

Herbert had scoured dozens of recipes and spent hours in the kitchen just to make something she might like, only for her to refuse it.

"She's throwing a fit over Tanya," Herbert muttered.

Rudolf winced. Even though they hadn't killed Tanya, he knew Starla would be furious once she found out.

"Sending her back to Marina City was the best possible arrangement."

It kept Tanya far away from Starla. Women's friendships were endlessly complicated, and the things Tanya had whispered in Starla's ear before hadn't gone unnoticed by Herbert's men.

First, she had constantly trashed Fairfax...