You Looked Down on Me Once Now You Look Up (Patricia and Oliver) novel Chapter 739

The social workers caught on right away and just nodded, not asking any more questions. Jackson followed them back to Emerson’s old villa, where the grandmother still lived alone. She was getting up there in years, with nobody around to look after her, and there weren’t even any shops nearby. Just going out to buy groceries was tough for her, so it made sense that the community workers had gotten involved.

Jackson arrived just as the grandmother was opening the door. He stood at the threshold, a crooked smile on his face. When she saw him, her voice was icy cold. “What do you want?”

“People are saying you can’t take care of yourself. I thought I’d come by and see what’s really going on.”

Her expression hardened instantly. She blocked the doorway, refusing to let him in. “I’m perfectly fine. I don’t need you barging in here, playing the big shot.”

“Oh, come on. I just want to see how you’re really doing, not gloat over your situation. Why are you so hostile?”

“Jackson, do you really think I don’t know what you’re up to?”

Jackson lifted his shoulders in a careless shrug. “So you don’t want Patricia to come help either?”

“Absolutely not.”

His smile widened, bright and almost mocking. He glanced back at the social workers standing by the door. “You all heard that, right? It’s not that Mr. Martin doesn’t want to look after her or give her a comfortable life. She just doesn’t want it. What can he do? She’s got a granddaughter too, the CEO over at Skyline Entertainment. Maybe you should go talk to her?”

He paused, then leaned in conspiratorially. “Although honestly, I wouldn’t bother. The grandmother always liked her grandson better. She gave her granddaughter a hard time growing up. If you go to her, you’ll probably just get the cold shoulder.”

Jackson looked at the social workers and shook his head. “I feel bad for you guys, dealing with someone who’s this much of a headache.”

The social workers looked completely defeated. The concern they’d shown on earlier visits was gone, replaced by irritation and impatience. This old lady was so dramatic and helpless. She’d called the community office for help again and again, but now that help was actually here, she wanted nothing to do with it.

…

Wendy’s message popped up on Ruby’s phone. “Ruby, Theo’s back.” She’d attached a photo of Theo and Patricia sitting together in a coffee shop.

Ruby stared at the picture, her eyes dark with anger. The three of them had been inseparable when they were younger, but everything had changed. How was she supposed to move on? Everyone has desires, and with desire comes resentment. Patricia wasn’t innocent, and neither was Theo. Yet there they were, sitting together over coffee like nothing ever happened. The three of them should have been sworn enemies by now, but somehow they could sit there and act civil.

Just as Ruby was about to put her phone down, a message popped up from her lawyer. “Ruby, your mother’s case will be decided soon.”

Her hatred surged up all over again, and her urge to see Patricia ruined was stronger than ever. After a moment, she opened Wendy’s message again and forwarded the photo to one of her contacts in the media.