A Widow's Poison, A Wife's Rebellion novel Chapter 1227

Being dragged back to the Hoggart estate, no matter how miserable, was exponentially better than falling into Fairfax's vengeful hands. Romy laid out the logic perfectly.

"I know you loathe that high-society cage," Romy urged softly, "but sometimes, you have to know when to bow to fate."

It didn't mean giving up forever, but tactically surviving the current storm.

Starla offered a fragile smile. "Bow to fate?"

Romy nodded. "If you won't let me smuggle you out, that's your only play."

Run with Romy, or surrender to the Hoggarts.

Starla stayed silent.

*Bow to fate.* But for how long?

"So what's your plan?" Romy pressed.

"Either run with you, or... go back to the Hoggarts."

Fleeing again was a pipe dream. With Fairfax and Yardley both hunting her, there were no safe havens left. Every breath of freedom would be laced with suffocating paranoia.

"You're right. Sometimes, you just have to yield," Starla whispered. "I'll go back to the Hoggart family. As for the blood feud with Fairfax... I just won't face it."

Romy frowned. "You can't outrun it forever. You'll have to face him eventually."

Starla sighed heavily.

She had never been one to shirk responsibility, but the collateral damage of this war was too catastrophic. How could she possibly shoulder the weight of all those deaths?

Romy wanted to argue, but seeing the utter desolation in Starla's posture, she couldn't find the words.

"Yardley knows by now, doesn't he?" Starla asked quietly.

"Such magnificent news—of course he knows."

*Just as I thought.* The moment Fairfax found out, he would make sure Yardley knew. He wouldn't just hunt her himself; he would weaponize her own brother's resources to corner her. Fairfax was nothing if not brutally efficient.

"Are you crawling back to Marina City on your own, or are you going to make me send my men to drag you back?" Fairfax demanded.

Marina City. Just the name made her skin crawl with phantom nightmares. She despised the thought of ever returning.

Taking a deep breath, Starla asked calmly, "Tell me straight. How exactly do you want to resolve this?"

"Resolve?" Fairfax let out a dark, grating laugh. "How do you suggest we *resolve* this? You deserve to die, Starla!"

"I know," she replied softly. "I know I deserve to die. So... what if I pay with my life? Will that be enough?"