You Looked Down on Me Once Now You Look Up (Patricia and Oliver) novel Chapter 102

When Theo pulled back, Ruby knew there were some things she just couldn’t say out loud.

“It’s fine. As long as you’re okay, that’s all I care about. Go inside,” she said, trying to sound casual.

Theo caught the disappointment in her eyes and hesitated, guilt tugging at him. “Ruby, I’m sorry.”

Ruby forced a small smile, swallowing her ambition. “As long as you’re alright, that’s enough for me.” Deep down, she was playing the long game, telling herself that one day, Theo would be hers.

Theo made his way back to the Newton house. He found Kelly at the dining table, staring blankly at a bowl of untouched bird’s nest soup that had gone cold.

“Mom?”

She snapped back to reality. “Oh, you’re back?”

“What were you thinking about?” Theo asked, shooting her a strange look. Kelly had seemed distracted for a while now.

“It’s nothing. How was the dinner?”

He shrugged. “Just some small talk. Where’s Dad?”

“In the study.”

“I’ll go find him.” Theo poured himself a glass of water and headed to the study.

He pushed open the door. Howard was hunched over, reading the latest financial reports from Newton Enterprises.

Howard looked up and waved him over. “You’re just in time. Help me take a look at this.”

They sat together, reviewing numbers until it was almost half past eleven. Just as they were wrapping up, Theo finally spoke.

“At dinner tonight, I ran into Tim. He’s living in Toronto now. Said he saw Patricia there—and apparently, her leg’s healed.”

Howard paused, trying to remember who Tim was, then his attention snapped to Patricia. “She’s alive? And her leg’s fine?”

Theo nodded. “Yeah.”

Howard let out a dry laugh, picking up his tea. “I figured. Three years ago, I already guessed she was setting everything up just to disappear for good.”

“If she comes back…” Theo started.

“You’re worried she’ll come after us instead?” Howard finished for him.

Almost instantly, another text came through: You wouldn’t want anyone to see those pictures, would you?

—

In a small café, Kelly sat across from a man, her hat pulled low and a mask covering half her face.

Three years ago, he’d been young and cocky. Now, he looked like life had beaten him down, aging him decades.

He glared at her, voice cold. “What do you want?”

“I want money,” he said flatly.

“Three years ago, I woke up dumped in a mining camp at the border. I spent three years working like a slave just to stay alive. I finally made it out, and you’re the only one I can turn to.”

He’d just wanted a quick score, but he’d run into real trouble instead.

Kelly’s mind raced. All I wanted was to make some money with you. I didn’t leave you in that hellhole,” she said, already scheming. “If it weren’t for Patricia, none of this would have happened to you.”

The man’s brow furrowed. “Who’s Patricia?”