“Did you know something about Ruby?”
Tina’s voice cut through the hallway as she stepped closer. Patricia yanked her hand away, a cold laugh slipping from her lips. “Wow, Aunt Tina, you really held out. Took you long enough to come find
me.”
“So what if I do know? Why would I tell you?”
“Patricia, don’t forget–we’re family.”
Family? What a load of crap.
Family, as in the people who killed my parents?
“Oh, now you remember we’re family? Funny how that only matters when you want something. Back when you used to boss me around and look down on me, you never thought of us as family. Honestly, not making your life miserable is me being generous. You really want my help?”
Patricia smiled, her eyes sharp as she stepped closer, forcing Tina back. “What’s the matter, Aunt Tina? Don’t you have any mirrors at home? Or at least a puddle to see your reflection?”
“Patricia, what’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means you should take a long, hard look at yourself. Isn’t it obvious?”
Patricia brushed past her, reaching for the fire exit, but Tina grabbed her arm.
“Don’t you realize? Whoever’s after Ruby could come after you next.”
Trying to scare her? Please.
Patricia laughed. “Let them come. What else do I have to lose?”
She meant it–she was done being afraid of anything.
With her heels on, Patricia towered over Tina. She leaned in, her voice dropping to a whisper right by Tina’s ear. “Uncle Emerson’s got billions now. Ruby’s out of the running. So who’s going to inherit the Martin family fortune? After all these years playing the perfect wife, you should know exactly what matters to men like him. Here’s some advice–if you’re smart, you’ll make your move while you still can. Otherwise, just wait for some other woman to swoop in and take everything.”
She straightened, her words hanging in the air like a knife. “Especially now that illegitimate kids have equal rights to the inheritance.”
She pulled open the fire door, letting it slam shut behind her.
Tina flinched at the sound, her whole body shaking as she leaned against the door, struggling to catch her breath.
At ten past six that evening, a black SUV pulled up outside Pacific Capital.
Oliver had been waiting in the parking lot forever.
They’d agreed on six o’clock.
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15:32
Chapter 255
Patricia was late. Again.
Oliver was all about discipline, raised on the Padilla family’s strict rules. People like Sara and the others would never risk being late with him. But Patricia? This was hardly the first time.
He leaned against the car, arms crossed, frown deepening by the minute.
In the front seat, Lincoln felt like he was sitting on pins and needles. He barely dared to breathe.
When Patricia’s car finally pulled in, Lincoln almost wanted to cheer.
“Mr. Padilla, ma’am’s here.”
Oliver’s eyes finally opened just as Patricia rushed over, yanking open the door and sliding into the
back seat.
“Sorry, traffic was a mess,” she said, glancing at his stone–cold face. She edged closer, voice turning soft and playful. “Are you mad at me?”
Oliver didn’t answer. He just said, stiff as ever, “Drive.”
As the car started moving and the privacy screen went up, Patricia turned to him, hooking her pinky around his and gently swinging it.
“Come on, don’t be mad,” she coaxed. “You’ll get wrinkles if you keep frowning like that.”
That seemed to hit a nerve. Oliver’s jaw tightened, his eyes hard. “So now you think I’m old?”
Patricia blinked, caught off guard. “No! Of course not. I was just saying… you shouldn’t stress yourself out.”
“Don’t think I don’t know you and Sara call me an old man behind my back.”
Patricia stared at him, speechless. She hadn’t said it–it was all Sara–but there was no way she’d throw her friend under the bus now.
So she kept her mouth shut and pretended not to hear.
The whole drive back to Cloud Peak, Oliver’s mood stayed dark and stormy.
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