You Looked Down on Me Once Now You Look Up (Patricia and Oliver) novel Chapter 643

He’d just picked up his phone when a message popped up.

Pattie: Having dinner with Chelsea, I’ll be home late.

Mr. Padilla: Didn’t Marian say dinner’s already made?

Pattie: I just want some junk food.

Oliver saw the words “junk food” and couldn’t help but think of that night they’d eaten street hotpot at a roadside stall. He frowned, the memory sticking with him.

At the dinner table, conversation drifted toward Pacific Capital.

Oliver tried typing a reply one-handed, but his phone was too big to manage easily. He flicked his cigarette into the ashtray, then typed out: Send me the address.

Pattie: Not there yet. I’ll send it later.

Mr. Padilla: Stay safe.

After making the rounds of small talk, Oliver thought “stay safe” was a little too vague. He added another message: Watch out for yourself—and what you eat.

Right then, a business car pulled up outside Chelsea’s research building.

From a distance, Patricia spotted Chelsea coming over, arms full of bags.

She shot off a quick text: Mind your own business.

Mr. Padilla couldn’t help but laugh when he saw her reply. The kid was growing up—telling him to back off.

Everyone at the table paused, turning to stare at Oliver, surprised by his sudden laughter.

Jaxon nudged him under the table.

Oliver finally looked up, realizing he’d interrupted the conversation.

“Sorry, just got a funny message from someone at work.”

Everyone laughed it off, eager to smooth things over.

As the night went on and the drinks kept coming, people began to drift off in small groups, waiting for their drivers or assistants to pick them up.

Jaxon thought his daughter was being dramatic until he glanced at Roger, who nodded solemnly.

Jaxon could only sigh.

***

“What is all this?” Patricia asked, watching Chelsea load bag after bag into the trunk outside the lab.

“There’s a pet food company in the tech park. They just came out with a bunch of new stuff, so I grabbed a ton of samples.”

“Move over, don’t block the way,” Chelsea said, not about to let Patricia help, but needing her out of the path.

Patricia stepped aside without protest.

Once everything was packed up, Aiden drove them to the night market near the university.

As soon as they parked, Aiden looked around at the crowded stalls, worry on his face. Before Patricia even got out, he turned in his seat.

“Ma’am, I’m not sure this place is exactly… clean.”