You Looked Down on Me Once Now You Look Up (Patricia and Oliver) novel Chapter 775

Chelsea could tell right away that something was off with Patricia. She looked at her, worried, and didn’t dare say anything else. In Chelsea’s mind, Patricia had always been the calm one, gentle just like her mom, with this kind of soft warmth that came from growing up in comfort. She treated everyone kindly, spoke in a quiet voice, and even when Chelsea would mess with her as kids, Patricia rarely got mad.

But today, she was like a different person, bristling with defenses. Chelsea had only asked her a couple of simple questions, and Patricia shot them down so quickly it left no room for follow up.

“Did you guys get into a fight?” Chelsea finally asked.

Patricia just pressed her lips together and didn’t answer.

Chelsea glanced down at her arm. “Wait… did he do this to you? Did Oliver hurt you? That guy is unbelievable. Seriously, when I drop you off later, I’m going to storm over to Pacific Capital and end him. I’ve been reading up on poisons lately. I could come up with something really nasty…”

Patricia gave her a look. “You know murder is illegal, right?”

“I’m talking about slow acting poison. That’s not technically murder,” Chelsea shot back.

Patricia let out a tired sigh. She cradled her wrist and leaned back, shoulders slumping. “Just stay out of it, okay? The stuff between me and him… don’t get involved. Oliver might look all polished and charming, but honestly, he’s got this clear sense of hierarchy. In his mind, if anyone besides his parents or elders tries to give advice about his marriage, it’s just meddling.”

Chelsea shook her head. “Yeah, but I can’t just sit here and watch him treat you like crap.”

“I didn’t just let it go, you know. I stood up for myself,” Patricia said quietly.

“Good for you. Serve him right. Old man needs to get put in his place,” Chelsea grumbled, still fuming.

The doctor looked up when Patricia opened her eyes. He’d already noticed how pretty she was when she was sleeping—almost unreal, like a fairy tale. Now that she was awake, her clear eyes still cloudy from sleep, she looked even more beautiful. He thought to himself, beauties like her really were rare. She looked so young, yet she was married and about to be a mom.

“Did I… hurt you just now?” the doctor asked.

“No, it’s fine,” Patricia answered.

She waited while he finished dressing her injury. He stood and spoke gently. “Try not to get the wound wet for the next few days. Also, you’re pregnant.”

Patricia stared at him, stunned. She hadn’t expected this at all. She’d never even thought about getting pregnant. Oliver never liked using protection, and honestly, she couldn’t even remember the last time he’d bothered. Before the Padilla family’s patriarch fell, Oliver would sometimes come up with excuses not to use a condom, but after the accident, when they moved back to Golden Bay, the family had started hinting—sometimes not so subtly—that they should have a baby soon. Since then, Oliver had stopped using protection altogether. Maybe he wanted a child too.