You Looked Down on Me Once Now You Look Up (Patricia and Oliver) novel Chapter 850

Most people thought the Brooks branch of the Padilla family had it all together. Aaron was a university dean, and with the powerful Padilla family behind him, he was someone everyone respected. If anyone even thought about messing with him, they’d have to think twice about his older brother first.

Honestly, things might have stayed peaceful if everyone just played their part and followed the rules. But of course, that didn’t happen. Restlessness crept in.

The differences between the two brothers were obvious the moment you put them side by side. And with those differences came tension. Aaron was a real academic, the kind who believed all his achievements were the result of years of hard work and study. But these days, whenever people looked at him, they only seemed to see his big brother, not his own accomplishments.

He couldn’t help but feel like all his efforts were being overshadowed, smothered before they could really shine.

At first, it was just a bit of distance. Eventually, it turned into full-blown conflict.

Sometimes, Lydia couldn’t figure out what had gotten into her brother-in-law and his wife. They acted so tough, but they kept using all these sneaky little tricks against their own family. They liked to play the part of the upright, principled ones in public, but behind closed doors, it was a different story.

In the tea room, the kettle was heating up, sending clouds of steam into the air until they faded away. A cozy, golden chandelier cast a soft glow overhead. Outside, Golden Bay was covered in thick gray clouds, the kind that said rain could start at any minute. The whole city felt heavy and dull, making everyone’s mood just a little worse.

Lydia and the couple sat across from each other in silence. Neither of them looked ready to break it, and Lydia certainly wasn’t going to be the first to speak. Instead, she poured herself into the simple act of making tea, moving at her own comfortable pace.

She slid a white porcelain cup toward Aaron. He gave a quiet thank you, finally breaking the stillness in the room.

“About last night… you owe us an explanation, Lydia.”

A maid, waiting quietly by the door, walked in with a tablet and handed it to Aaron. She pressed play on a video. There was no sound, but just from the way people moved and the energy in the room, it was obvious who started the whole thing.

Grace’s face went pale. She looked at Lydia, and all that sweet, innocent act disappeared. “Then why aren’t you talking about what happened between Oliver and Helena?”

“In public, even if someone’s phone gets broken, you just pay for it. Does that mean you have to humiliate a young woman so badly that she tries to hurt herself?”

“I’ve always treated Helena like my own daughter. Is this really how Oliver treats her?”

Lydia nodded, finally understanding where Grace was coming from. “If someone’s expensive phone gets smashed, of course they’re going to be upset. Oliver didn’t even ask for money—he just got a little mad, that’s all. As for Helena… everyone knows why she really did what she did. Grace…”