You Looked Down on Me Once Now You Look Up (Patricia and Oliver) novel Chapter 196

Total communication fail.

Oliver had finally figured it out—Jackson and Marian were one hundred percent on Patricia’s side. Loyal to the bone, they’d never let anyone mess with her.

After her shower, Patricia was towel-drying her hair and reaching for the hairdryer when a big, steady hand landed on her shoulder, gently nudging her to sit at the vanity.

“I’ll do it,” he said.

She barely had time to plug in the hairdryer before he draped a blanket over her lap.

He was so thoughtful.

Patricia couldn’t help but be a little moved.

As her hair danced in the warm air, his rough fingertips worked through her scalp, sending shivers straight down her spine.

She gritted her teeth and waited for her hair to dry, barely holding it together. Skincare could wait—right now, she just wanted to crawl into bed and hide under the covers.

But the second she got close to the bed, a strong arm slid around her waist and pulled her right back against him.

“Where are you going?” he murmured.

“I’m just tired. I want to lie down.”

Oliver’s voice was low. “It’s still early.”

“It’s not early. It’s literally past midnight.”

He didn’t back down, his tone dark and moody. “Exactly. It’s the middle of the night, and my Pattie finally came home. Finally out of her ex-husband’s world.”

Patricia froze.

She turned, about to explain, but he caught her face in his hands and kissed her, deep and fierce.

He hated the idea of Patricia being anywhere near Theo. Hated it with a passion.

Meanwhile, after midnight, Ruby was just about to crawl into bed when her phone buzzed.

Someone from her team sounded panicked. “A bunch of stuff about you is blowing up online.”

She tried to keep her voice steady. “If I’m not mistaken, we broke up a long time ago.”

“I never agreed to that.”

“Doesn’t matter if you did. It’s over. How much do you want? Name your price, I’ll pay.”

The guy looked devastated, clinging to her hand, practically begging. “I don’t need your money. I don’t want it. Can’t we go back to how things were? The baby’s still waiting for you at home.”

Ruby snapped. “Shut up. Stay out of my life. And stop spreading stuff about me online.”

She turned to leave. He chased her to the elevator, then all the way to the parking garage.

They both got in their cars. Ruby, knowing every shortcut in Riverdale, took off, weaving through the empty late-night streets until she finally lost him.

She checked her rearview mirror, feeling a little triumphant.

Right then, out of nowhere, a black cement truck barreled straight toward her.

Her scream vanished into the night.