After the Fall A Leap into a Stranger's Arms novel Chapter 296

At seven, the ballroom glittered beneath sparkling crystal chandeliers. The air buzzed with laughter and the soft clink of glasses, perfume lingering everywhere. Catherine and Lawrence made their entrance, instantly drawing attention. People turned, conversations paused. Several big names from the industry broke away from their circles just to greet Lawrence.

“Lawrence, and this is...?” A middle-aged man hovered nearby, eyeing Catherine with curiosity, clearly unsure how to address her.

“She’s my wife,” Lawrence answered, his smile gentle, almost proud.

The man looked genuinely shocked, blinking for a few moments as if he needed to process it. Lawrence was always something of a mystery, and now, apparently, he was married too.

“Catherine,” she offered, her tone calm and confident.

“Nice to meet you,” she said, her greeting smooth and warm.

Across the room, Alice stood among the wives’ circle, her elegantly tailored cheongsam making her stand out. Her smile faltered. A moment ago, she had been glowing, basking in the attention, but now her expression tightened.

Not only had Catherine shown up, she was practically radiant tonight. All eyes seemed to drift toward Catherine and Lawrence. Guests were circling them, and for a moment, it almost felt like this was their night instead.

“Isn’t that Catherine? Is the man with her her husband?” one of the wives asked, her voice just a little too loud.

Alice let out a short laugh. “Yes, she’s Nestor’s ex-wife’s daughter. The one with her is her husband.”

“Wait, isn’t her husband the young CEO of Nexus Dynamics? I saw his photo once. I swear that’s him!” another woman chimed in, eyebrows raised.

“That’s him, all right. Even better looking in person. No wonder they call him the whole package.”

“So? What does Waldo lack compared to him?” Alice muttered, her voice edged with jealousy.

The two women exchanged awkward glances and quickly dropped the subject. But deep down, they both knew The James Group just couldn’t compete with the likes of Nexus Dynamics.

Across the room, Amy was already seated. She raised her glass in Catherine’s direction. Catherine caught her eye and smiled back.

Just then, Nestor strode over, dressed to the nines in a formal suit. He stopped beside Lawrence and Catherine, his chest puffed out with pride.

“This is my son-in-law, Lawrence, and my daughter, Catherine,” he announced.

“Sorry, this one’s reserved for another guest.”

The woman shrugged and picked a glass from a different tray.

The waiter noticed Catherine’s empty hand and approached. He offered her a glass with a slight bow.

“Miss, for you.”

Catherine was about to head off with Lawrence to meet an important guest. She reached for the champagne without a second thought.

“Thank you,” she said.

The waiter slipped away, catching Shirley’s eye across the room. They shared a brief look.

Shirley saw the champagne in Catherine’s hand and couldn’t help but smile darkly. Finally, her plan was set in motion. If she couldn’t ruin Lawrence, then she’d ruin his wife.