After the Fall A Leap into a Stranger's Arms novel Chapter 119

Waldo stepped out of The Blair Group building, but his mind was stuck on Catherine’s face. She was beautiful in a way that left him restless, frustrated, and aching for more. He couldn’t let her go. And he definitely couldn’t stand the thought of someone else—especially someone as useless as Lawrence—having her.

He was pretty sure Catherine and Lawrence hadn’t slept together yet. Catherine was always careful about things like that. Even after five years with him, she wouldn’t budge on saving herself for marriage. She and Lawrence barely knew each other when they got married, so with Catherine’s personality, they were probably still sleeping in separate beds. That meant Catherine was still untouched.

Sitting in his car, Waldo’s expression grew even colder. Lawrence probably thought he’d scored big by landing The Blair Group the Nexus Dynamics contract. He had no idea what was coming. This wasn’t over. Waldo would make sure Lawrence understood exactly what it cost to steal something that belonged to him.

He pulled out his phone and dialed. “Get the jet ready. I’m flying to Harrisburg tonight.”

***

Evenings at the Tech Institute always felt calm and serious.

Catherine finished her group discussion, arms full of notes and her laptop, and walked into the lobby of the guesthouse. She was lost in thought about the algorithm problem her group had been stuck on when she heard someone call her name.

“Catherine.”

She paused and looked up toward the lounge. Waldo was there, holding a bouquet of champagne-colored roses, walking straight toward her.

His face was soft, his eyes focused on her as he offered a warm smile. “You look tired. Want to get dinner together?”

Catherine’s eyes flashed with annoyance. She really didn’t have the patience for this.

“Catherine.” Waldo stepped in front of her, blocking her way. “Just give me a chance. Can we talk for a minute?”

Catherine cut him off with a sharp glare. “Waldo, what do you take me for? What do you think marriage is? Some deal you can buy with money and favors? After five years, you still don’t understand what matters to me.”

Waldo stared at her, stunned. Then his hands curled into fists, a cold little smile on his lips. “Can Lawrence give you any of that?”

“He can’t, but I don’t care. I did love you once, but you always loved money more than me. That’s why you’ll never deserve my love,” Catherine said, her words hitting him hard.

Waldo looked at her, disbelief flickering across his face before his eyes darkened with humiliation and anger.

No one had ever talked to him like this before. For Catherine to side with Lawrence, to crush his pride over and over, was something he couldn’t forgive.

He stepped in close and grabbed her wrist, his voice rough. “Catherine, I did everything for you these past five years. I even waited... I respected your wishes. And now you say I’m not good enough? Tell me, what’s so wrong with me?”