You Looked Down on Me Once Now You Look Up (Patricia and Oliver) novel Chapter 771

“Sir, you’re back! Did you have breakfast yet?”

Marian could barely hide her excitement as she watched Oliver come in. She had been worried sick about the fight and the way he and Patricia had been living apart, but there was nothing she could do. He was stubborn and proud, and Patricia was quiet and distant. Even a miracle wouldn’t have fixed things between them.

“Not yet,” Oliver answered, his voice calm and even. He was talking to Marian, but his eyes never left Patricia.

She didn’t even flinch at his arrival. She just kept eating, her posture the same as always, spoon moving steadily. Her pale neck was bent down, not a hint of her looking up. It was like Oliver wasn’t even there, like she could pretend he was invisible.

Patricia’s silence made the air in the dining room grow heavy. Marian glanced at Chelsea, who was frozen in place. Chelsea quickly grabbed her bag and mumbled something about needing to go, then rushed out the door. She only let herself breathe again when she was alone in the elevator lobby.

God, this was insane. It was her own house, but she’d just run out like she was escaping from a crime scene.

A little while later, Marian brought Oliver his breakfast and then made up an excuse about buying groceries so she could leave too.

By now, it was almost nine thirty. Usually Patricia would have left for work already, but Oliver showing up had thrown off her whole morning.

She finished eating, wiped her mouth with a napkin, and finally looked up at Oliver. Their eyes met, and Patricia felt like she was caught in a current, dragged under, her breath suddenly shallow.

They hadn’t seen each other in almost two weeks. He looked tired, maybe from a long flight the night before. There was stubble across his jaw, nothing like his usual neat appearance.

It had been nearly half a month since the argument. No texts, no calls, just two people living side by side like strangers.

“So you finally decided to look at me?”

“Did you take anything for it? If you’re not feeling well, just stay home today. Don’t go to the office.”

Patricia glanced at the water, then at his face. “It’s fine. I’m fine.” Her words were distant, her expression closed off, making it clear she didn’t want to talk anymore.

His concern landed flat, brushed away without a second thought. Whatever happiness he’d felt seeing her after so long just slipped away.

He stood at the end of the table, looking more upset by the second. Silence wrapped around them again. Oliver stood there, one hand on the back of the chair, the other hanging at his side. His lips were pressed together, eyes low, the whole room feeling tense.

He didn’t say anything, but Patricia could feel it. He was disappointed in her, and she could feel it in every inch of the room.