You Looked Down on Me Once Now You Look Up (Patricia and Oliver) novel Chapter 562

“A couple going at it like this? That’s definitely a first.”

“Well, it’s the rich and famous—who actually believes there’s real love in those circles? Word is, Mr. Martin cheated first. Even got another woman pregnant. No wonder it turned into such a mess.”

“Being a good dad doesn’t mean much these days. A good mom though? That’s the real jackpot.”

“It’s a little sad but also kind of enviable, you know? I can’t even make up my mind how I feel about it!”

Everyone in the private room kept their voices low, careful not to sound judgmental or sarcastic. They just laid out the facts, picking apart how everything had started.

Soon, the conversation shifted to a classic debate: who matters more, mom or dad?

Ruby hovered at the door, ready to slip out, when she heard the director’s voice float through the room, casual and almost teasing.

“If your dad’s rich, you end up with a bunch of siblings you barely know. But if your mom’s the one with money, you’ll have more than you could ever need. Kids don’t need guys to give birth or raise them. Only women know how exhausting it is to bring a child into the world and actually care for them. That’s why mothers value their children so much more.”

“These days, the smartest women in showbiz are the ones who choose to raise their kids on their own and skip marriage altogether. They’re the true leading ladies.”

Ruby wandered back to her apartment, her mind a blur.

The place was pitch dark. Tina still hadn’t come home from work.

Ruby shot her a quick message. No answer.

She was about to set her phone down when a text from the housekeeper popped up.

“Miss, I really can’t do this anymore. Could you please talk to Madam and see if I could get paid for this month a little early?”

“What’s going on?” Ruby texted back.

“Grandma is impossible. I’ve worked here almost ten years and I’ve never been this tired. She got me up at two in the morning to cook, then again at six. I barely slept three hours.”

“Figure out how much you’re owed. I’ll send it to you,” Ruby replied.

“Thirteen hundred.”

Ruby sent her fifteen hundred and told her to take a break for a few days.

She was just about to put her phone down and get out of bed when a message from Nina popped up with a photo attached.

It was a termination contract, Raymond’s signature at the bottom.

She replied with a simple, “Thanks.”

In the office, Nina set her phone aside, sipping her coffee as she studied Raymond and the middle-aged woman beside him.

“Mr. Miller, I’d at least like to know why I’m being let go,” Raymond said, sounding genuinely confused. The company had given him a generous severance—enough to cover a few years off. Still, he couldn’t help the bitterness in his chest.

He’d been on the fast track, and just like that, it was all over.

“I’d like to know too, Mr. McKinney. Why not just tell me who I managed to offend?”

Raymond replayed the last few weeks in his head, trying to figure out if he’d upset anyone.

Nina glanced at Cecilia, her meaning clear. “If you can’t think of anyone, maybe you should ask the people closest to you.”