You Looked Down on Me Once Now You Look Up (Patricia and Oliver) novel Chapter 788

The room was calm and comfortable, and a doctor was always nearby, just in case. You could see Oliver finally let out a breath he’d been holding all day.

Patricia slept straight through until nearly two thirty. When she started to stir, her first instinct was to shield her eyes from the harsh sunlight. Before she could even lift her arm, Oliver was there, gently stopping her and standing up to block the glare pouring in through the giant windows. Only then did she slowly open her eyes.

She tried to say something, but her throat was so dry and sore that all she managed was a scratchy whisper, not even real words. Oliver poured a glass of water and slipped a straw into it, holding it to her lips so she could drink. As she took a few careful sips, he spoke softly.

“You slept for a long time. The doctor said it’d be good for you to wake up with natural light, so we opened the curtains.”

Patricia had just started to wonder how long she’d actually been out when she accidentally swallowed wrong and started coughing, hard. The cough racked her whole body, sharp pain shooting through her stomach. She winced and curled up on her side, trying to catch her breath.

Oliver didn’t hesitate. He pressed the call button right away.

The doctor rushed in, clearly worried. No one wanted to risk upsetting the big boss by being slow. Once Patricia finally stopped coughing, she felt a little better, though her face was buried in her pillow, trying to hide the tears in her eyes.

“Mrs. Padilla needs to be extra careful right now. Try not to do anything that could put strain on your abdomen,” the doctor said gently, still looking shaken. He’d been scared out of his mind. After all, the baby Patricia carried was basically royalty, born into a world of luxury. People like him were here to serve families like hers.

Patricia made a soft sound of acknowledgment.

“If you need anything, Mr. Padilla, just let us know,” the doctor added before slipping out.

Patricia stayed curled on her side, taking a moment to recover. Oliver stood next to the bed, so tense that even his fingertips shook. He kept trying to crouch down to meet her eyes, tugging awkwardly at his pants like he couldn’t quite figure out what to do with himself. It took a few tries, but finally, he steadied himself and knelt beside her, worry etched deep in his face. He rested his palm gently on her back, moving his hand in slow, soothing circles.

“Are you feeling any better?” His voice was shaky.

“Pattie, you can’t just shut me out like this.”

She was freezing him out, trying to push him away, not even telling him she was pregnant. It was like she didn’t need him anymore. If it hadn’t been for the accident, who knows how much longer she would have kept the secret? Another month, maybe two? By then, their fights might have blown up into something they couldn’t fix. How was he supposed to deal with that?

He was caught between regret and relief. He hated that they’d argued, but in a strange way, he was grateful for the accident. If it hadn’t happened, he might never have learned he was going to be a dad.

Patricia let out a tired sigh. “We still haven’t solved anything between us.”

“Let’s get you healthy first, then we can figure it out. Please?” Oliver’s voice was barely more than a whisper. When she didn’t answer, he lowered his head, pleading quietly. “I’m begging you. Please.”