After the Fall A Leap into a Stranger's Arms novel Chapter 94

That afternoon, Catherine got a call from Nestor. He told her to come home, his voice leaving no room for argument.

She agreed, not because she wanted to, but because she didn’t want to risk Nestor getting angry and taking it out on Lawrence later. After finishing up her shopping trip with Nettie, Catherine made her way back to The Blair Estate.

The second she stepped through the door, she saw Nestor, Alice, and Shirley all waiting for her. Catherine’s brows knit together. Alice was already pointing at her, her voice sharp. “Catherine, what did Shirley ever do to you? Why did you slap her—twice?”

So this was why Nestor called her home. He wanted her here just to get scolded, to be forced to apologize.

Catherine didn’t even bother to hide her annoyance. She spun around, ready to walk right back out.

“Don’t move,” Nestor said, his tone hard. “You’re not leaving until you apologize to Shirley.”

Catherine stopped in her tracks. Her chest tightened. Nestor was always like this, always taking Alice and Shirley’s side.

She swallowed, turned to look at him, and said, “Dad, aren’t you even going to ask why I hit her?”

Alice’s voice shot up, shrill and full of outrage. “There’s no excuse for hitting someone. Shirley is my daughter. I’ve never even touched her. Who do you think you are, hitting her like that?”

Catherine shot Alice a cold look. “Maybe if you’d disciplined her once in a while, she wouldn’t be so rude.”

Shirley’s eyes went glossy, like she was about to cry. “Catherine, we’re family. Why do you have to be so harsh?”

“I know why I hit you, even if no one else does. And so do you,” Catherine replied, not breaking eye contact. “If you ever insult my husband again, you’ll get the same treatment.”

Nestor’s expression turned stormy. “That’s no way to speak to your family.”

Nestor just sighed. “Kids fight. It happens.” His phone started buzzing. He glanced at the screen, then answered. “I’ll be right there.”

He hung up and turned to Alice. “I have to get to the office.”

Catherine took that as her cue and spoke up, “Dad, I’m heading out too.”

Nestor hurried off toward the garage. As soon as he was gone, Alice charged at Catherine, hand raised, ready to slap her for herself.

But Catherine was younger, taller, and faster. She caught Alice’s hand in midair and shoved her back, hard. “You don’t get to hit me.”

Alice, tottering in her heels, stumbled and landed right on the floor. Her face twisted in pain as she tried to recover.