You Looked Down on Me Once Now You Look Up (Patricia and Oliver) novel Chapter 77

“Miss, everything’s packed.”

“Take a last look and let me know if there’s anything else to toss. I’ll handle whatever’s left.”

Patricia glanced around. “No, that’s it. Take these to the car.”

The rest would be dealt with by someone else.

Marian and Jackson lugged the boxes outside. When they came back in, Kelly was standing in the middle of the room, glaring at Patricia like she wanted to set her on fire.

Her eyes were pure venom.

“Was it you?”

Patricia had always been careful, and she knew exactly what the Newtons were capable of. She wasn’t about to step into their trap. “What are you talking about?”

“Don’t play dumb. Was it you who had him stripped and dumped outside Newton Enterprises?”

“Mrs. Newton, you really shouldn’t accuse people without evidence.” Patricia’s voice was calm, almost bored, but her gaze was sharp.

“Evidence? The things you said to Howard are enough.”

“And what exactly did I say to Howard?”

They kept going back and forth, neither one getting to the point. Patricia didn’t mind. She almost seemed to enjoy dragging it out.

Outside, the sun was setting, golden light spilling through the living room windows like it was making one last stand.

“What’s wrong? Afraid I’m recording this?” Kelly shot back, her laugh cold. “Patricia, do you think I’m as sly and scheming as you?”

Patricia let out a short laugh. “Are you saying you’re sweet and innocent, Mrs. Newton? Kind and pure?”

“Should I remind you, one by one, of every single thing you’ve ever said or done? All the times you called me a cripple, all the ways you insulted the man who saved your son’s life? If the media ever got hold of half the things you’ve said, they’d have a field day tearing you apart.”

“And even if it was me, so what? Think of it as karma for your family.”

“Patricia, my son wanting you, even trying to force himself on you, was a blessing for you. You should be grateful.”

Next to her, just as bare, was a man, his arm draped over her waist.

Patricia leaned down, pretending to examine the picture. “Hmm, can’t really see your faces in this one. Let’s try another.”

She pulled out a second photo, this one with both of their faces perfectly clear, and set it down.

The color drained from Kelly’s face as she stared at the damning evidence, veins standing out on her forehead.

She thrashed, desperate to get free.

Jackson saw Marian struggling to hold her and calmly pressed his foot into Kelly’s back.

“Patricia, I’ll kill you!”

Kelly was screaming, wild and raw, like an animal at the end of its rope.

Patricia didn’t even flinch. Her voice was soft, almost sympathetic. “You recognize him, don’t you? You should. After all, you picked him out yourself.”