After the Fall A Leap into a Stranger's Arms novel Chapter 357

Just then her phone started ringing. It was her mom.

She took a steadying breath and answered. “Hi, Mom.”

“How did it go? Is the lawsuit with Catherine finished? Did you win?” Alice’s voice was sharp and eager.

Shirley barely opened her mouth before Alice jumped in again. “By the way, the evening dress I saw yesterday didn’t really do it for me. I’m heading out to try on a few more today. Maybe I’ll pick up some amethyst earrings too, just to match.”

Shirley felt a rush of anxiety. “Mom, don’t buy anything. Just return whatever you got, okay?”

She could practically hear her mom’s frown over the line. “What’s wrong? Waldo can’t even pay for a few things now? I am his mother-in-law, you know.”

A bitter laugh curled in Shirley’s chest. Waldo? Pay? He was just waiting to toss her out the second this was over. She remembered the prenup she signed with him when they got their marriage license. She wouldn’t see a dime.

“Mom, please. Just trust me and return everything. Don’t buy anything else. I’ll explain later.” Shirley tried to keep her voice steady, but her face still burned with shame. She couldn’t bring herself to tell her mom about the lawsuit.

Alice was relentless. “What is going on? Isn’t your wedding coming up soon?”

“We’re tied up with the lawsuit right now. There’s no time for a wedding. That’s it.” Shirley ended the call, pressing her palm to her face, her eyes burning with anger.

Regret crashed over her. She never should have pushed Catherine off that cruise ship. She should have just let Catherine marry Waldo, let her deal with his temper and violence.

But now, Catherine had Lawrence, a man with power, money, everything. Catherine was about to become the future Mrs. Nexus Dynamics, and she was even being celebrated as the creator of Resonance AI, the one thing Shirley had ever been truly proud of.

And her? All her scheming had brought her nothing but disgrace.

“Alright, come with me,” Ted said.

Talbot shook his head. “No need. My team and I gave our notice yesterday. Today’s our last day.”

Ted took the files, wondering if Waldo had fired them. He didn’t ask, just took the evidence straight to the tech company the court had appointed.

Shirley’s mood was sour as she sat in a coffee shop, staring at her phone. A message from Talbot popped up. Shirley, we’ve finished the work. Also, just so you know, the whole team and I have resigned.

Shirley shot to her feet, panic rising, and called Talbot right away.

“What happened? Why did you all quit?” Her voice shook. “Did Waldo force you out?”