After the Fall A Leap into a Stranger's Arms novel Chapter 235

Waldo dropped onto the sofa in his villa, still wearing his suit from the dinner he'd just come home from. He loosened his tie and pressed his fingers to his forehead, feeling the beginnings of a headache.

He let his eyes close for a moment, but Catherine's face immediately came to mind. Soft, beautiful, the way she used to fuss over him when he drank too much.

"Waldo, you drank again? Wait here, I'll make you some tea to help you sober up."

He snapped his eyes open, but the room was empty. No sign of Catherine, no gentle voice or caring touch. Just silence.

He used to think she'd always be there, that she belonged to him and no one could ever take her away.

Now she was gone. Not only that, she had married someone else. Someone who, in his eyes, didn't hold a candle to him. Did Catherine really love Lawrence?

Honestly, he couldn't see what was so special about Lawrence.

The guy had nothing but his feelings to offer her.

And in Waldo's mind, a man's feelings were the cheapest thing he had.

He reached into a drawer and pulled out a new phone, one he’d bought just for this. Only one contact saved—Catherine. She had already blocked his main number, so this was the only way.

He dialed.

It was already past eleven. Catherine was getting ready for bed when her phone rang. She glanced at the screen, saw a number she didn’t recognize, and hesitated before answering.

"Hello? Who’s this?"

"Catherine? It’s me..." Waldo’s voice came through, thick with alcohol.

Catherine snorted. "And you’re not calculating? When you had to choose between me and your own interests, you made your choice pretty clear."

"Catherine, I was wrong. I regret it so much. My company was in trouble, and I needed Resonance AI to save it. Shirley made it possible. I know I was a jerk. Losing you has been hell for me. I—"

"Enough. You don’t get to judge Lawrence. You’re the last person who should."

"Catherine, I’m only saying this because I care. I don’t want to see you get hurt—"

"If you really cared about me, you’d stay out of my life. And don’t think I’ve forgotten what you did to my father’s company. Forcing him into a corner with that takeover? I remember everything."

"I—" Waldo struggled for words, then let out a shaky breath. "Catherine, can’t you see why I did it? Why I went after your dad’s company? I did it for you. I just wanted you to come back to me."

Catherine let out a harsh laugh, angry and cold. "So that’s your excuse? You wanted to ruin my father just to make me come crawling back? All so you could feel like you owned me? And you still think you’re the victim here?"