A Widow's Poison, A Wife's Rebellion novel Chapter 226

He believed them. Whatever Brinley and Darleen had said at the hospital, whatever he had seen, it had been enough. He believed she had taken the baby.

"Where is the baby?" Fairfax demanded again, his patience wearing thin. He was desperate to find the baby, fighting an overwhelming urge to tear the world apart on the drive back. He couldn't let anything happen to that child, especially not like this.

Starla closed her eyes. "I don't know."

The fire she’d had when arguing with Brinley and Darleen on the phone had vanished, leaving her feeling utterly drained. This was the state of her relationship with Fairfax now—so broken that even speaking to him was an exhausting effort. It felt like ever since their troubles began, he hadn't believed a single word she'd said. He could even dismiss her miscarriage as just a heavy period. Now, with the baby missing, he was certain she was the kidnapper. There was no point in explaining or defending herself. He wouldn't believe her anyway.

"Starla!" His voice was colder now, almost a snarl.

She opened her eyes and met his gaze. "Fairfax…" She started to speak but trailed off, silenced by the dark, menacing look in his eyes. She had seen that look before, but it had always been directed at his enemies.

Now, it was turned on her. A bitter, cold smile touched her lips. "It seems you've never really trusted me."

Fairfax remained silent.

"When you were pursuing me, you believed everything I said. But ever since I married you…" She shrugged, shaking her head slightly. "Ever since we got married, it seems that whenever your family is involved, you never believe me."

It was always the Yelchins over her. He always chose them.

"My pregnancy… I don't know what they did, but you believed them. You believed I wasn't pregnant, that I didn't have a miscarriage."

The word 'miscarriage' struck Fairfax like a blow, and for a moment, he felt the air leave his lungs.

Still, why would it be someone from Yoran? It had to be connected to her.

Fairfax took another drag from his cigarette. "If the baby isn't back at the hospital by dawn, I'm turning this over to the police."

The threat in his voice was unmistakable. He was trying to blackmail her into giving up the baby.

"What does that mean? Are you going to personally escort me to prison?" Starla laughed, a hollow sound. "If I had taken the child, you know exactly what I'd be using her for, don't you?"

Fairfax's jaw tightened. A divorce. That was Starla's goal. If she had the baby, her first move would be to use the child as leverage to force him into a divorce.

But she hadn't done that.