You Looked Down on Me Once Now You Look Up (Patricia and Oliver) novel Chapter 165

“You didn’t look into it?”

Theo’s sudden question hit Ruby like a slap. Her fingers curled tightly at her side.

“Probably couldn’t find anything, huh? Otherwise, why would she lash out at me? Patricia’s not the type to leave any loose ends.”

“And you let someone finish a whole proposal right under her nose. Clearly, you don’t take Patricia very seriously,” Joseph said, taking a slow sip of water, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “Everyone in Riverdale knows Patricia is Jason’s handpicked successor. Underestimating her like this? Not your smartest move.”

The room went dead silent.

Ruby’s chest heaved as she glared at Joseph, her anger barely contained. Her fingers clenched and unclenched on her knee, over and over.

“Eager to take a shot at me, huh, Mr. Miller? Don’t tell me you came here just to watch me squirm.”

“We’re not enemies. I’m just telling it like it is,” Joseph replied, leaning back in his seat, completely at ease.

He spun his teacup, drained it, and stood up with some excuse. The others followed his lead, each one quietly slipping out, avoiding her eyes.

In the end, only Ruby and Theo were left in the private room.

Ruby couldn’t ignore how different Theo seemed now. Ever since he married Patricia, ever since Patricia almost destroyed the Newton family, it felt like there was this invisible wall between them—neither of them could get through, and neither could walk away.

She was still burning with frustration, and seeing Theo looking at her so calmly only made it worse.

“So you agree with Joseph, don’t you?”

Theo didn’t look at her. He used to promise her forever when they were young.

Ruby turned to face him, her eyes clear and cold. “Don’t think I don’t see what you’re doing.”

Patricia going after the Martins and leaving the Newtons alone was the best thing for him. If a real fight broke out, his family would have no choice but to get involved. He wanted her family to take the hit first.

“You’ve changed,” she said, her voice shaking. “You’re not the Theo I knew.”

Wendy was right. Patricia had torn him apart. He wasn’t the same person anymore.

The door slammed behind her.

Theo sank into the heavy chair, pressing his hand to his forehead, lips trembling as he tried to keep himself together.

It wasn’t supposed to be like this. Ruby was never supposed to get dragged into any of this.