You Looked Down on Me Once Now You Look Up (Patricia and Oliver) novel Chapter 407

“Dad!”

“Why did Uncle suddenly pull out?”

“He didn’t say.” Howard’s hand shook as he held his teacup. “He just told us to drop it, to stop wanting anything else. Whoever’s protecting Patricia—we can’t afford to mess with them.”

“Who could it be? Even Uncle’s scared?”

Howard had spent the whole night thinking. There weren’t many people who could make the Stone family this uneasy.

Sean was at the top, and only a handful of people could stand on the same level as him.

If he came to Riverdale, it was definitely to help clear things up for them. But now, with the problem only half solved, he’d suddenly backed out.

There was only one reason for that: someone must’ve threatened his own interests.

Patricia, oh Patricia. You really are something.

Howard couldn’t help but remember what Patricia said before she left: “As long as I’m alive, I’ll make sure you regret it.”

Theo sat across from him, leaning slightly, one long arm resting on the edge of the table.

“So we’re just supposed to let what happened to Mom and Grandma go?”

Howard’s voice was low. “As long as we’re still here, there’s always a chance.”

Theo let out a dry laugh. “Patricia’s not the merciful type. She knows better than anyone how dangerous it is to let your enemies off the hook.”

She never left loose ends. That was just how she operated.

“Uncle said as long as we don’t go after her, we’ll be safe. That’s his promise.”

Theo dropped his gaze, staring at the swirling water in the teapot.

The Newton family was loaded. Howard had been building and investing for years. Even if every business in Riverdale went under, just the trust funds would be enough for generations.

But losing everything—who could just accept that?

Steam from the kettle fogged up his glasses. He turned his head, trying to clear his mind.

Splitting up money, they always thought their parents had too many kids. But when it came to facing pressure, suddenly three never seemed like enough.

The three of them grew up bickering, clinging together, and rolling their eyes at each other. That was just how they were.

“Damn,” Sara said, suddenly nervous. “We better go drag him inside before something happens.”

If Colton died, she’d be the one out of luck.

Patricia was coming over just as the two of them slid open the glass door and walked outside.

And right then, Patricia caught Jackson tossing Colton over his shoulder like he was nothing, dumping him straight onto the ground.

It reminded her of the time Kelly brought home that nasty dog. She’d picked it up off the street, and every time Patricia came by the house, it would bark its head off, like it wanted to tear her apart.

Jackson had hated that dog from the very beginning. After putting up with it for weeks, one morning he just picked it up, slammed it on the ground, and later hung it from a tree branch.

The way he handled Colton today—it was almost exactly the same.

He only needed to take it one step further.