You Looked Down on Me Once Now You Look Up (Patricia and Oliver) novel Chapter 852

“Why did you bring me to a racetrack?”

Patricia glanced at the arena as the car rolled to a stop, her confusion obvious.

“To get some fresh air and catch a drama or two,” he said, slipping his arm around her waist to reassure her. He was still worried about her. “If you get tired or cold, just tell me. Promise me you won’t tough it out.”

Patricia let out a small sigh. “If you’re so worried I’ll get worn out or freeze, maybe you shouldn’t have dragged me out in the first place.”

He shook his head. “I can’t relax if you’re home alone.” He really felt like he was already on thin ice with her. If he left her by herself and someone at home said the wrong thing, she might just pack up and run back to Riverdale.

The thought alone made his heart race.

“So, are you scared I’ll take off, or scared of ending up in the doghouse?”

He grinned, admitting, “Both.” He got out of the car first.

“Come on, let’s go.”

Golden Bay Racetrack was always buzzing on holidays, packed with people who dreamed of visiting here at least once in their lives.

And here, the class divide was impossible to miss.

The regular stands were nothing like the luxury boxes up top. The higher you went, the more exclusive it got.

When Oliver led Patricia into a top-tier box, the room full of people playing dice all stood up, giving them a once-over like they were some kind of spectacle.

“Well, look who finally showed up. Oliver, you brought your wife out in public?”

“What’s with the mask? Is she so gorgeous she’s worried we’ll all go blind?”

Oliver let go of Patricia’s hand, switching to an arm around her waist. “Cut it out. She’s got a cold. We’re just being careful.”

Derek threw up his hands. “Got it, got it.”

Oliver introduced everyone with barely more than a name. Knowing him, that meant they were all pretty close.

Oliver knew Jenny was from the Rivers family, and her brother ran the racetrack. He just hadn’t realized she was a partner too.

“I thought it was just your brother’s place,” Oliver said, then asked, “How much does he owe you?”

“Sixty million.”

“Wow. That’s... a lot. You could sell him for parts and not get that much,” Cooper chimed in, shaking his head. “You’re brave, letting him run up a tab like that.”

Jenny shrugged, glancing at Oliver. “What could I do? He came in flashing the Padilla family name. How was I supposed to say no?”

“And it’s not just us. He’s doing this all over town.”

Jenny gave Oliver a look that said, *See? He’s out there spreading your family’s reputation thin.*

As Patricia listened, the story started to make sense. Oliver had come to find Nick, the second son of the Brooks family—a spoiled heir who did nothing but party, blow through money, and rack up huge debts, all while using the Padilla name to get away with it.

And everyone, out of respect for the Padillas, kept letting him slide. But now, that good will had turned into an endless pit.