After the Fall A Leap into a Stranger's Arms novel Chapter 223

Alice was standing in the hallway of a cramped rental apartment, phone in hand, already regretting answering Garnett’s call. He had told her to come over, said he needed to talk. She had wanted to ignore him, but Garnett always knew how to get his way. With just a hint that he might reveal Shirley’s real father, Alice had no choice but to show up.

She lingered in the doorway, refusing to step inside. “Spit it out. What do you want?”

Garnett looked her up and down, a smirk playing on his lips. Even now, Alice was stunning. He definitely wasn’t interested in just talking. He grabbed her arm and pulled her inside, closing the door behind them.

He was her ex, after all. It didn’t take much before the old chemistry sparked. One thing led to another and they ended up tangled in the sheets, half-hearted protests forgotten.

Afterward, Alice sat at the edge of the bed, clutching her purse, cheeks flushed with shame and frustration. She wanted to leave, to put as much distance between herself and Garnett as possible.

Garnett circled his arms around her waist, holding her close. “Alice, don’t you ever think about us? We could be a real family with Shirley. We could be happy, just the three of us.”

She wriggled free, glaring at him. “What are you after, Garnett? What’s this really about?”

He didn’t miss a beat. “I want you to divorce Nestor and marry me.” He pulled her in again, tilting her chin up, his voice low and insistent.

Alice rolled her eyes. “Are you out of your mind? You think I’d give up my life just to squeeze into this dump and struggle with you?”

Garnett just shrugged, pulling on his shirt. “Didn’t you say everything Nestor owns will go to Shirley someday? We wouldn’t be poor, would we?”

He tried to slip his arm around her, voice turning soft and persuasive. “Just imagine, once he’s gone, all that money and power belongs to you and Shirley. We could finally be together, for real, living the good life.”

Alice’s breath came fast, her eyes darting as she weighed his words. She didn’t want to admit it, but Garnett knew exactly how to play on her deepest fears and darkest hopes.

Lately, Nestor had been praising Lawrence nonstop, giving him more power at work. It was obvious he wanted Lawrence to take over the company someday.

Why should Lawrence get everything after all the years she’d put in? And now Nestor was growing closer to Catherine, too, forgetting all about her and Shirley.