You Looked Down on Me Once Now You Look Up (Patricia and Oliver) novel Chapter 768

Chelsea and Marian just sat there, silent.

Patricia glared at Jackson. “Can you just eat and stop talking?”

“I’m only telling the truth,” Jackson replied, always ready to poke at a sore spot. “You could at least pretend a little.”

“Then leave, and don’t eat.”

“Fine, I’ll go, but I’m taking my food.” He actually picked up his bowl and started to walk out. As he left, he shot Marian and Chelsea a look, lingering on Chelsea a little longer.

The meal lost all its flavor for Patricia. Once Jackson was out the door, she barely touched her food. She muttered something about needing to work and slipped off to her room.

Marian hurried after her. “Jackson’s mouth is going to get him in trouble one of these days. Just ignore him and eat a little more.”

Patricia sighed, sounding tired and annoyed. “Please, just let me be. I need some time alone.”

“But look at all this food…” Marian trailed off, staring at the table. When she heard Patricia’s door click shut, she grabbed her phone and called Jackson, ready to let him have it.

She didn’t expect Jackson to still be close by. He was out in the hallway, sitting with his bowl, planning to bring it back once he finished eating. Before Marian could even say a word, the doorbell rang.

“You just can’t keep your mouth shut, can you…”

“I didn’t say anything wrong,” Jackson replied, coming back inside and settling at the table with his food. He turned to Chelsea. “They’re married and fighting, and instead of helping, you two just hang out with her like nothing’s wrong. When Mr. Padilla gets back and sees this, he’ll think you’re encouraging her, like you want them to break up.”

“We did try to help!” Chelsea protested. “They’re already fighting and living apart. What are we supposed to do, sit around feeling miserable? Patricia’s upset, but Oliver isn’t here, so what’s the point? Should she just be sad by herself? And how do you know Oliver’s even upset? He’s the one who left her.”

Jackson pressed his lips together. “Have you really not noticed all the extra cars parked downstairs lately when you drive home?”

Patricia sat up, tossed the covers aside, and tried to get out of bed. The moment she stood, her knees buckled and she fell to the floor. Holding onto the side of the bed, she tried to steady herself, but her head kept spinning. When she realized something was seriously wrong, she called out for Marian.

…

“Mr. Padilla, Aiden is on the phone.”

Oliver was still in Switzerland. This trip was longer than expected, and as soon as he wrapped up the deal, he was pulled straight into a summit. He didn’t even have time to catch up with old friends, much less think about leaving. He’d told Patricia before, even at the very top, a businessman is still just a businessman. If you want to last, you have to think about the bigger picture, the world. That’s the road Pacific Capital was walking now.

He answered the phone. Aiden’s voice came through, tense and urgent. “Sir, your wife has been taken to the hospital.”

Oliver’s eyes snapped open, all business gone from his face. “What happened?”