You Looked Down on Me Once Now You Look Up (Patricia and Oliver) novel Chapter 314

Oliver thought Patricia was making things way too complicated.

Patricia, on the other hand, was sure Oliver was the one overthinking it all.

It’s not like she ever spent his money anyway. She had more than enough herself, thanks to the mountain of shares and inheritance her parents left her. There was no way she’d ever run out, even if she tried her hardest.

After seeing so many stories of people suddenly dropping dead in their thirties, Patricia figured she might as well enjoy what she had. Why wait?

By eleven o’clock, they were on their way home, arms full of shopping bags—gifts, groceries, and fresh produce from the supermarket.

Maggie had texted earlier, making it clear: Don’t forget to pick up stuff for dinner.

Tonight, they were eating in.

Chelsea, if nothing else, could really cook—her mom’s Sichuan recipes were next level, and Patricia had been craving them for ages.

If home wasn’t so far away, if her dad would just let her mom visit, Patricia was sure her mom would be in that kitchen right now, making her favorites.

They loaded everything into the car. Jackson slid into the driver’s seat and started heading back to the apartment.

He’d barely turned the wheel in the underground parking lot when another car suddenly swerved out, cutting them off so fast he had to slam on the brakes.

Jackson’s palms instantly broke out in sweat. “Shit! That scared the hell out of me.”

“Who drives like that?”

The other car didn’t hit them, but it also wasn’t moving out of the way.

There was a weird, heavy silence. Jackson was about to open his door to check things out when the back door of the black Porsche popped open.

Howard stepped out, standing by his car, staring straight at them.

Just in case Patricia hadn’t noticed, Jackson twisted in his seat and called out, “Hey, Miss. That’s your ex’s dad.”

Patricia just rolled her eyes. “I saw him.”

Jackson couldn’t help himself. “What do you think he wants?”

Patricia shrugged. “Why don’t you go ask him?”

Jackson shook his head. “Pretty sure he’s not here for me.”

Patricia shot back, “So why are you just sitting here?”

Patricia smirked. “What do you think he’s here for? You hit him, and he’ll probably think he just got handed everything he ever wished for.”

Jackson muttered under his breath. Everything he ever wished for? Not likely. The family gravesite was long gone. There was no such thing as luck for them.

Patricia flung her door open and stepped out.

She faced Howard head-on. “Mr. Newton, what do you want?”

“I’d like to have a word, Ms. Martin.”

Patricia flicked her nails, looking bored, not giving him an inch. “Didn’t we already clear everything up three years ago?”

“If you were a bit tougher, Mr. Newton, I might actually respect you. But honestly, you just keep letting me down.”

She didn’t bother hiding the bite in her voice.

Howard had been through worse. Years in business meant he’d heard every insult in the book. Patricia’s sarcasm barely touched him.

“Things change. Business is a battlefield. No one plays by the rules forever. You adapt, or you fall behind. Ms. Martin, you really want more enemies? Martin Group’s twentieth anniversary is coming up. Didn’t you ever think about taking it back and celebrating that yourself?”