A Widow's Poison, A Wife's Rebellion novel Chapter 1256

She didn't dare to trust anyone anymore.

And her father, who had been completely absent during her darkest days, had inherently been removed from her circle of trust as well.

For someone who used to feel so deeply, realizing that emotions were the greatest lie of all—and that no relationship could be trusted—was a unique kind of despair that no one else could ever truly understand.

If a romantic relationship shattered, you could walk away. You could even draw swords against each other if it came down to it.

But when the bonds of family shattered? How were you supposed to cope with that?

David let out a soft sigh. "Mr. Hoggart said that if you're angry, he'll leave the entire Hoggart empire to you. Mr. Yardley won't get a single cent!"

"That's not what I want at all."

"But if you control the Hoggart family, you can punish Mr. Yardley however you see fit."

Starla and Romy just stared at him.

Punish Yardley? Was he joking? With the kind of man Yardley was, who in their right mind would dare try to punish him?

Starla sniffled, looking at David in disbelief.

"Mr. Hoggart was issued two critical condition notices because of his worry for you," David added softly. "He finally found out you're alive, and he just really wants to see you."

Starla's heart gave a violent jolt.

She actually knew about this. Herbert had mentioned it to her before, but back then, she had been entirely apathetic to everything. She had let the words go in one ear and out the other, not even bothering to respond.

But hearing David say it now made her chest tighten painfully.

...

David spent a long time advocating for Elmer, but Starla remained deeply conflicted.

Once bitten, twice shy.

"Look..." Romy sighed, completely at a loss for what to tell her. The entire situation was a logistical nightmare.

Starla was still hesitating, desperately not wanting to return.

But she didn't realize that the second David Nash appeared, the choice was no longer hers to make.

"What if I have my people come..."

"Forget it. It's useless. No matter how many people you call, it won't make a difference," Romy said flatly. "The reality is, from the exact second your father found out you were alive, you had nowhere left to hide."

It was the brutal truth.

Before, Elmer hadn't sent anyone after her simply because he believed she was dead. But how long had he known the truth now?

Fairfax and Yardley hadn't even tracked them down yet, but Elmer's people were already here.