A Widow's Poison, A Wife's Rebellion novel Chapter 764

Tanya's voice faltered.

Realizing this had devolved into a classic 'take the money and leave' scenario, Starla pressed, "How much did they give you?"

"A hundred."

"A hundred thousand?"

"No. A hundred. A single hundred-dollar bill."

"What?" Starla asked, stunned. "A hundred dollars? Is this some kind of joke?"

"A hundred bucks. Hilarious, right? I was pretty shocked myself. Apparently, that's exactly what I'm worth."

Tanya had heard so many stories about families throwing millions to get rid of unwanted girlfriends. Being dismissed with a crumpled piece of cash was jarring. But after the initial shock wore off, the message was crystal clear: the Lynn family was purposefully humiliating her.

Starla's breathing grew heavy. "They're degrading you."

"Yeah. I know. I'd have to be brain-dead not to realize that."

"Does Darian know?" Starla asked. The Lynn family was crossing a major line, but based on her previous impression of them, this ruthless tactic tracked perfectly with their style.

"I didn't tell him."

Tanya had no response.

"You saw it firsthand," Starla reminded her gently. "My foolishness didn't earn me a happy ending. And Fairfax... he was wonderful in the beginning, too."

Hearing that made Tanya flinch. Ever since the meeting with Darian's family, she had been wanting to back out, and Starla's words were the final push she needed. She was right. Fairfax had been incredible to Starla at the start. But what did it matter in the end? All that goodness had been violently eroded by time, until he couldn't even muster the spine to defend her against his own family.

Tanya sniffled. "I get it."

"A person should always move toward something better," Starla said softly. "But some relationships will only drain your soul. Once all the beauty is ground down, all that's left is coldness."

Tanya let the words wash over her in heavy silence.