After the Fall A Leap into a Stranger's Arms novel Chapter 9

A rush of frustration and impulse flooded through him. He reached out, ready to grab Catherine’s wrist, his voice as commanding as ever. “Catherine, let’s talk. Just you and me…”

But before he could even touch her, another arm swept in, pulling Catherine firmly against a broad chest. The move was confident, protective, and left no room for discussion.

“Don’t touch my wife.”

The words came from above her, deep and steady, full of authority and a possessiveness that left no doubt about where Catherine belonged.

Lawrence’s scent lingered around her, clean and oddly comforting. Catherine glanced up, her eyes shining with admiration at this man who was still a little unfamiliar but was now her husband.

Waldo’s face turned stormy, so dark it looked like rain could start pouring from his eyes. A vein pulsed at his temple.

He was Waldo, someone who mattered in Cabinda. Now, out of nowhere, some no-name engineer had stolen his fiancée. The humiliation was almost too much to take.

Watching Catherine held so close in Lawrence’s arms, jealousy and anger twisted inside him.

“Lawrence, right? I won’t forget you.”

Catherine could tell Waldo was gearing up to insult Lawrence again, so she shot him a sharp look. “Waldo, don’t—”

He sneered. “Who do you even think you are? You really believe someone like you can compete with me? Catherine’s just confused. She’ll come to her senses soon enough and realize you have nothing to offer her. Then she’ll come running back.”

Waldo’s words dripped with superiority, leaning on his status and wealth as if they could erase the sting of losing face.

Something flickered in Lawrence’s eyes, deep and unreadable. He nodded, voice low. “Alright.”

Waldo stood rooted to the spot, watching them walk away hand in hand. His eyes grew cold, and a bitter smile tugged at his lips.

For five years, he had turned a shy, sheltered Catherine into the dazzling woman everyone admired.

No one knew her as well as he did. Catherine was used to luxury, to designer bags and sparkling jewelry. She always had drivers at her beck and call, servants waiting on her. She was a princess who had never needed to lift a finger.

How could a woman like that possibly handle an ordinary life?

Waldo let out a short laugh. A junior engineer working a regular job, barely scraping by each month? That guy probably couldn’t even afford what Catherine used to spend on a single meal.