You Looked Down on Me Once Now You Look Up (Patricia and Oliver) novel Chapter 116

While Patricia was distracted, Oliver gave her palm a gentle squeeze. “There’s nothing wrong with wanting your own space. Everyone’s got their own habits—those deserve respect.”

“Or, if you want, there are other villas at Cloud Peak. We could always move to a different one.”

“No, no, that’s not necessary.” Patricia quickly shook her head. She didn’t dare let this conversation drag on. If she did, Colton and the others might end up out on the street.

“I’ll be busy for a while, so I probably won’t have much time to check in on you,” Oliver continued. “If you need anything at Cloud Peak, just ask Johns. Marian will still handle your meals and daily stuff. Is that okay?”

Patricia nodded.

Oliver reached over and gently ruffled her hair. “Call me when you can. If I don’t pick up, just send a message. I’ll get back to you as soon as I see it.”

“And if I don’t reply right away, don’t worry.”

Patricia nodded again, shoulders drawing in. She couldn’t help feeling like he was treating her like a kid.

It was such a weird feeling.

Was this what people online called ‘dad energy’? Honestly, it was a bit much.

Oliver noticed the flush creeping up her neck and his smile only grew. He liked seeing her get shy—anything but that unbreakable shield she used to wear around him.

“I’ll arrange for someone else to handle things outside for you. Jackson’s capable, but he’s not steady enough.”

“I’ll leave it to you,” she said. She really did need some extra help.

By lunchtime, Patricia woke from her nap to find Oliver already gone from Cloud Peak. She took her time getting ready before heading out.

The jewelry exhibition was set to last a whole week. Aside from last night’s opening gala, today was when collectors and enthusiasts would start trickling in—drawn by the buzz surrounding the show.

Patricia headed straight for the glass case in the center of the room, where a set of red agate jewelry from the old British royal family was laid out—glittering, priceless, impossible to ignore.

“Congratulate me for what?” Patricia replied, her tone light. “For ditching a jerk and getting a fresh start? Or for learning to walk again?”

Ruby’s expression went cold. If she congratulated Patricia for the first, she’d be admitting Theo was a loser—and that she’d chased after him anyway. If she said the second, that’d just be ridiculous.

Staring at the red agate through the glass, Ruby’s voice turned pointed. “Do you know how many owners that set has had before it landed here?”

She didn’t wait for Patricia’s answer. “Six. The third owner was a businessman who got murdered after buying it. The fourth ended up in jail, all because of this jewelry. Things didn’t turn around until the fifth owner, who treated it like a family treasure.”

“Even objects have their ups and downs. People change even more, don’t you think, Patricia?”

Patricia let her gaze drift from the jewelry to Ruby, her eyes cool and steady as she looked her sister up and down. With a smooth, almost teasing gesture, she tucked a loose strand of Ruby’s hair behind her ear, voice soft but laced with mockery. “You haven’t changed at all, little sister. Still so good at lying to yourself.”