You Looked Down on Me Once Now You Look Up (Patricia and Oliver) novel Chapter 602

“Ruby, I’ve always wondered—where does your sense of superiority even come from? You and your parents only ever had a decent life because Patricia’s family took care of you. Instead of being grateful, you spent your whole life trying to drag her down, spreading rumors and lies. You took what they gave you, lived under their roof, and then you turned around and trashed them behind their backs.”

“Do I need to remind you? If it weren’t for Patricia’s parents, you wouldn’t have even gotten close to a private school. With the way things were for your family, you’d be lucky to get into an average public school in Riverdale.”

“Oh, right. The way you all were living back then, maybe you could have squeezed into the worst public school in town. Your world is all about who you know. Without Patricia, who would you even be?”

“I used to think you were just jealous, like any other girl. But you’re rotten through and through. Your whole family—just a bunch of bad apples off the same vine.”

“I honestly want to ask your dad how someone ends up like him.”

“Ungrateful, cold-blooded, killed his own brother. And now you, a murderer’s daughter, think you have the right to judge me?”

“Ruby, shouldn’t I be the one asking you? Who do you think you are, really?”

Nina’s voice was calm and steady, every word cutting deep.

They’d known each other forever, from little kids all the way to adulthood—more than twenty years now.

Nina could still picture Ruby’s first day at the academy, standing at the front of the class, nervous and out of place, while Patricia introduced her with that open, friendly smile.

It all felt like it happened just yesterday.

Whenever there was a school fee or a special activity, Patricia’s parents always covered Ruby’s costs too. At first, everyone thought the girls were as close as real sisters.

But as they grew up, things changed. The conversations turned to fancy vacations and expensive clubs, and that’s when Ruby’s true ambition started to show.

She latched onto Theo, got him to take her to high-end restaurants, buy her designer things, whisk her away on trips abroad.

And the second she was out from under Patricia’s protection? The very first thing she did was badmouth her.

Now she dared to question Nina, as if she had any right at all.

—

That night, Patricia came back to Cloud Peak.

The house felt too quiet, and she couldn’t quite get used to it.

Marian spotted her coming in and broke into a big, happy smile. “You’re home! Go wash up, dinner’s almost ready.”

“Just bring it to the study. I’ll eat there,” Patricia said.

Marian shot her a worried look. “Are you sure you don’t want to eat in the dining room? You haven’t been eating properly lately. You’ve lost so much weight.”

“There’s always more work. Eating when you’re stressed just makes everything worse. How about you take half an hour, set it all aside, and actually enjoy your meal for once?” Marian coaxed gently, trying not to push too hard.

“I made your favorite—corn and pork soup. It’s really light.”