You Looked Down on Me Once Now You Look Up (Patricia and Oliver) novel Chapter 845

“Auntie…”

Helena stared at Grace, completely stunned. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

“Helena, losing your reputation isn’t a big deal. What’s truly sad is losing your reputation and getting nothing in return. Is that really the kind of person you want to be?” Grace’s tone was soft, almost encouraging.

Grace had been struggling to find a way to get the main branch of the family to compromise, and now, out of nowhere, Oliver had handed her the perfect chance. If she didn’t take it, who knew when another opportunity like this would come along? No matter what happened, Helena had to be the arrow she shot herself.

“But Auntie, it’s just not true.”

Helena couldn’t deny she’d once had feelings for Oliver when they were younger. He’d been so full of life, handsome and charming. Honestly, what teenage girl wouldn’t like a guy who had it all—good family, good looks, talent, and a promising future?

She was just one of many girls who liked him back then. Nothing made her special. If she had anything different, it was that her aunt was Oliver’s Aunt Tina. Sometimes they’d see each other at Padilla family parties, but that was all. As years passed and Miles rose in the family, she and Oliver drifted apart.

Lydia was always strict with Oliver. She made sure he stayed focused on school, never letting him get distracted by dating. Later, he went overseas and they lost touch for years.

The only recent time she’d seen him, other than Jaxon’s promotion dinner, was at the Rath family’s hundred-day celebration. Someone asked when he planned to get married. He said he was already married, but his wife was still in school, so they hadn’t had a wedding yet. The news shocked everyone there, but the media hadn’t been invited, so the story stayed private.

Helena wasn’t shameless. In Golden Bay, rich men kept mistresses like it was nothing, some even having four or five. She’d seen enough of that world to want nothing to do with it. She had her pride. She never wanted to be like them.

“From the moment you landed in the hospital with your wrists cut, those entertainment reporters started carving up your life with their words. Whether you use this situation or not, the ending is the same. Either you’re the scheming girl desperate to marry into the Padilla family, or you’re the love-struck woman who tried to kill herself after being humiliated. That’s how they’ll write your story.”

“That’s not true.”

“That’s not it at all.” Helena shot upright in bed, her voice shaking as she yelled at Grace. “I didn’t hurt myself because of a man, and definitely not because of Oliver. It was my mother. She cornered me, insulted me, called me things no mother should say to her own daughter. None of this has anything to do with him.”

“Why are you forcing me into this?”

“Helena!” Grace suddenly stood up. She was always so put-together. Even though the Brooks family hadn’t kept up with the main branch in recent years, she still carried herself like someone important. She never let her guard down in public, always aware that the media could be watching.