After the Fall A Leap into a Stranger's Arms novel Chapter 356

“What’s going on? Why is Resonance AI being sued?”

“Dad, I’m handling it.”

“Handling it? You can’t lose this lawsuit. I don’t care what it takes, just get it done.”

“I get it, Dad.”

“When this is over, I want you to divorce that woman. Get her out of my house. She doesn’t deserve to be my daughter-in-law.”

Disgust flashed in Waldo’s eyes. “I will.”

He hung up and stormed out of the conference room, heading straight for Shirley’s office.

Shirley was in the middle of discussing some changes with a colleague. The moment she saw Waldo’s dark expression as he walked in, her coworker quickly slipped out, not wanting to get caught in the crossfire.

Shirley hurried over, reaching for Waldo’s arm. “Waldo, is the meeting done? How did it—”

She didn’t get to finish. Waldo’s hand flew up and landed across her face with a sharp, echoing slap.

The sound rang out in the office. The impact spun Shirley around and left her bent over her desk. Five red marks were already swelling up on her cheek, and the sting brought tears to her eyes.

Shirlie’s face burned with shame. Waldo’s contempt crushed whatever pride she had left. To him, Catherine would always be perfect. And she would always be nothing.

Waldo leaned in close, grabbing Shirley by the collar and forcing her to look at him. “Fix this. Or you’ll see what I can really do.”

He shoved her hard into the desk, and she cried out as her hip hit the corner. The pain knocked the color from her face, but Waldo was already gone, slamming the door behind him.

Shirley crumpled to the floor, clutching her side. Where was her pride now? Was this really the man she’d loved in secret for five years? The man she’d done anything to marry?

All she felt now was bitterness, rage, and a crushing sense of despair.