You Looked Down on Me Once Now You Look Up (Patricia and Oliver) novel Chapter 928

“Grandpa’s gone. Dad says you have to be home before sunrise.”

Lydia’s voice was calm but heavy, echoing through the phone just as Oliver opened his bedroom door. Roger stood in the hallway, already dressed in his running gear. He must have gotten the call before Oliver did. Sara was curled up outside the bedroom, her knees tucked to her chest, crying so softly she barely made a sound. She looked up at him, her eyes shining with tears, clearly trying not to wake Patricia.

The news hit Oliver hard, a weight settling in his chest. He closed the door quietly behind him before he spoke. “How did it happen so fast?”

Lydia’s voice was steady but sad. “It was peaceful. He had dinner, then sat in the courtyard with your dad. They were drinking tea and talking. He set down his cup, leaned back in his chair, and just… went.”

“We’ve already notified everyone. You need to be home by morning,” Lydia reminded him. The Padilla family was complicated. One misstep, and everything could spiral out of control. If guests and reporters showed up in the morning and Oliver was missing, the headlines would write themselves—scandal, family drama, all of it.

Grandpa had always been the one holding the family together. He’d raised his kids well. Even now, with Miles at the helm, Grandpa’s presence had been a shelter for them. Without him, everyone would be watching, waiting for cracks to show.

Oliver felt torn in half. Life and death—both were huge in their culture. Patricia was full-term, the baby could come any minute now. But Grandpa’s death meant he couldn’t just stay away. It would be wrong, no matter how he looked at it. And with the family’s status, there were probably people already circling, waiting for a sign of weakness.

“I’ll make sure Patricia’s okay before I leave.”

Lydia paused, thinking about Patricia. Her voice softened. “Could you bring her home with you? It’s busy here, but Katie can help take care of her. You’d feel better having her close. If you’re caught up with the funeral in Golden Bay and Patricia goes into labor in Riverdale, what will you do?”

Childbirth was no joke, Lydia knew that. If Oliver wasn’t there, she was afraid it could drive a wedge between him and Patricia. And if Patricia didn’t even show up at the funeral, the media would have a field day. Just being there, even briefly, would be enough.

But the idea of traveling now made Oliver tense. “She can’t travel. What if she goes into labor while we’re on the road?”

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