You Looked Down on Me Once Now You Look Up (Patricia and Oliver) novel Chapter 23

Theo glanced at his phone, saw the caller ID, and—just like always—hit decline.

Patricia watched him with that faint, unreadable smile, as if she already knew nothing would ever change. She waited, calm and patient, eyes sharp enough to cut right through him.

He hated the way she looked at him, like she could see straight through all his defenses. Around Patricia, it felt like there was nowhere to hide, every thought and excuse laid bare. That quiet, knowing confidence of hers always got under his skin, made him want to rebel just for the sake of it.

So, he didn’t answer. Just hung up. Again.

Patricia leaned back in her wheelchair, propping her chin on her hand, watching him with bored amusement. Did he really think ignoring the calls would make them stop?

Of course not. The phone rang again.

Theo ignored it.

By the fourth call, Patricia was done waiting. She pressed the elevator button and rolled herself inside, leaving Theo downstairs, staring after her, lost and awkward.

Later, after her shower, Patricia emerged from the bathroom, hair damp, skin fresh. Marian was waiting for her and helped her settle onto the bed.

“He’s still here?” Marian asked quietly.

“Nope. Still lurking around somewhere,” Patricia replied.

Marian grumbled, “Seriously, what is up with him and Ms. Miller? Every time she calls, he hangs up, but in public, they’re always together like nothing’s wrong. If there’s nothing going on, why act so shady?”

Patricia snorted. “He just wants to have it both ways. He’s worried about the Newton family’s reputation—doesn’t want people thinking we’re ungrateful.”

“It’s all about appearances, huh?” Marian sighed.

“Forget him. Go get some sleep.”

“Alright.” Marian’s bedroom was just down the hall, close enough to help Patricia if needed. When Patricia first came home, Marian slept on the living room sofa, but after she got steadier on her cane, Marian moved back to her own room.

Around eleven-thirty, Patricia put down her tablet and reached for the light, ready to call it a night, when someone knocked on her door.

She called Marian in to find out what was going on.

Marian walked in, looking like she’d just lost a fight with the bathroom scale. “Ms. Miller showed up.”

Downstairs, Nina’s voice echoed through the house, shrill with tears. “I called you so many times last night! Why didn’t you answer? Why didn’t you come over? Was it because Patricia told you not to?”

“Say something!”

“Nina, that’s enough. You shouldn’t even be here,” Theo’s voice was icy, all patience gone.

In families like theirs, practically everyone had some kind of messy marriage, but as long as the paperwork was still in place, everyone kept up the act.

“I’m your girlfriend! Why can’t I be here? Do you know how long I waited for you alone last night? Do you know how scared I was?”

Nina clung to his hand, her eyes red and glossy with tears. She looked heartbreakingly delicate, like a gardenia after the rain—beautiful, fragile, and completely out of place in this house.