You Looked Down on Me Once Now You Look Up (Patricia and Oliver) novel Chapter 126

It worked.

It actually worked.

“Miss, you’re amazing! Honestly, I could live my life twice and still never figure out all these twists and turns,” Jackson said, grinning wide and not hiding his admiration for her at all.

Patricia just listened, quiet, her eyes following the blur of trees outside the car window before she finally looked away.

She’d been down this road more times than she could count.

Someday, she knew, she’d be the only one left walking it.

Some people take over what isn’t theirs for so long they forget they were never meant to stay.

But she wasn’t in a rush. She had all the patience—and more than enough tricks up her sleeve.

“Take me to the villa,” she said.

The car eased its way toward the place she’d called home three years ago.

Aiden was already waiting for her. The real estate agent was with him, showing him around the grounds, talking about the land and what was left standing.

Patricia arrived just as they finished their tour. She slipped on her sunglasses and walked over.

Aiden nodded toward her. “You’ll have to talk to my wife,” he said.

The agent’s eyes lingered on Patricia, curiosity all over his face. The villa had burned down in a fire a few years back, and since it was a private sale, no one could rebuild. On top of that, the previous owner had died in the fire, so everyone called it haunted.

The Newton family hadn’t cared. They just put it up for sale and let it sit.

Three years, and not a single buyer—until today, when someone actually came looking for it.

“Hello, ma’am,” the agent greeted her.

“How much?” Patricia asked, getting straight to the point.

The agent hesitated. “Ma’am, this house burned down three years ago. There’s basically nothing left but the land. Are you sure you want it?”

“Can’t it be rebuilt?” Patricia asked.

Patricia glanced at the commotion. “Do we have guests?”

“No, no, Mr. Padilla said you’ll be starting work soon, so you’ll need clothes and handbags to look the part. He asked the boutique to send over their latest collection for you to choose from.”

The more Marian talked, the happier she seemed.

She thought to herself, Mr. Padilla might be older, but he was so much more thoughtful than that ghost of an ex. This was what a real husband should be like.

So much better.

Was this Oliver’s idea?

Patricia was still a little confused as she made her way into the living room. There, she found a whole line of boutique staff standing at attention by racks and racks of designer clothes, all eyes fixed on her.

As soon as she walked in, they bowed in perfect unison. “Mrs. Padilla.”

Patricia just stood there, completely at a loss for words.