She honestly couldn’t remember.
If she had met a guy that distinctive, she definitely wouldn’t have forgotten him.
“Do I know him?” she asked.
“Remember at the Parsons‘ house? My dad brought him in to consult on your recovery. You two met then,” Chelsea explained.
Patricia just shook her head. “I don’t remember at all.”
Chelsea linked arms with her as they made their way to a stone bench in the yard. “Makes sense. You were in your own little world back then. Even Grandma couldn’t get through to you, let alone some stranger. Don’t overthink it.”
Back then, Patricia was at her lowest point.
She was strung so tight she could snap, refusing to accept what had happened to her leg.
Every top specialist in Riverdale had told her there was no hope–and that alone was enough to break
anyone.
Who notices the sun shining when their own world is pouring rain?
They sat together in the courtyard, chatting aimlessly, when Patricia’s phone started buzzing
nonstop.
She glanced at the screen–notifications were blowing up her group chat.
There were six people in the group–her, and the five medical staff who’d helped with her rehab. Usually, they were all business, but today, the messages were flying so fast she could barely keep up.
Apparently, a photo posted earlier that afternoon had thrown the internet into chaos.
The comment section was brutal.
“Ugh! That cheating scumbag–caught red–handed and still denying it. How many times has he done this?”
“I feel so bad for his wife. And that girl–does she actually think being the side chick is something to brag about? The guy’s PR team is scrambling, meanwhile his girlfriend’s online flaunting their relationship. The stupidity is unreal.”
“And he sent the proof straight to his own wife!!”
“I’m so mad I could scream…”
“What are you looking at?” Chelsea raised an eyebrow, peering at Patricia’s phone.
She read a few of the savage comments and let out a sharp laugh, “He’s toast. Totally deserves it.” “Someone at the institute bought shares in Newton Enterprises. Says the stock’s tanking hard.”
“You didn’t warn them to sell?”
15.10
Chapter 51
AN
“Honestly, not telling him to buy more was the kindest thing I could do,” Chelsea scoffed. “He’s my mortal enemy–he wants advice from me? Not a chance.”
After leaving the institute, Patricia stopped by the mall. She still had time, so she figured she’d pick up some thank–you gifts for the doctors and nurses who’d stuck by her side these past two years.
Riverdale was full of massive malls. No matter which one you walked into, there were luxury brands everywhere.
Jackson wheeled her up to a cosmetics counter, and she asked the associate to put together three identical sets of high–end skincare–each one easily running into the thousands.
Then she headed up to the fourth floor to the lifestyle store and picked out complete gaming setups for the two male doctors.
Just as she was about to have everything wrapped, she caught a glimpse of a pair of black dress shoes stopping right next to her wheelchair.
She looked up and found Joseph standing there, one hand in his pocket, wearing a black polo that made his forced ‘elite‘ vibe look even more fake.
“Buying game gear, sis–in–law?” he said, his tone casual but his eyes sharp.
“It’s for someone else,” Patricia replied, not bothering to hide her indifference.
“A guy?” he pressed.
His question wasn’t awkward–it was calculated, like he’d rehearsed how to stir the pot. “Is Mr. Miller hoping it’s a man?” she shot back.
“Don’t take it personally, sis–in–law. I’m just worried about my buddy’s reputation,” Joseph said with a sly smile.
In other words, he was trying to set her up as the fall guy.
How was this any different from when Kelly tried to throw her under the bus?
His own sister had wrecked someone’s marriage, and now he was desperate to blame the wife instead.
Figures–everyone around Theo was the same.
People just can’t resist juicy drama, especially when it comes to messy relationships. Patricia barely glanced at the curious faces sneaking looks in her direction, pretending not to notice the gossip swirling around her.
15:43
