Chapter 3
Patricia’s heart clenched at the calm words, as if someone had slid a knife right between her ribs.)
The wolf never says thank you for the sheep. Kelly was all charm and gratitude when it suited her, but vicious underneath.-
She remembered the day she saved Oliver. Kelly, all red–eyed and trembling, had sobbed in front of her, promising she’d never forget what Patricia had done. If it weren’t for her, Oliver might’ve died. It had been a scene straight out of a drama, so touching that everyone in the room had teared up.
But the second Patricia’s grandmother suggested that Oliver repay the favor by marrying her, the tears dried up. Kelly’s look had turned sharp and cold, like she wanted to stab Patricia right then and there.
That memory haunted Patricia, as clear as if it’d happened yesterday.
She sat in her wheelchair by the window, watching the Riverdale sky fade from blue to indigo. Spring was giving way to summer, the weather bouncing between warm and chilly. At night, the breeze cut right through her, even with a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. Marian tucked the blanket in tighter and gave her a gentle nudge. “Try not to think about it, sweetheart.”
Patricia let out a long breath, her posture finally slumping. “That’s easier said than done.”
Her parents had died in a car crash when she was fifteen, so she’d grown up with her grandmother. At twenty–two, she’d come back from overseas to visit when her grandmother got sick–and accidentally got mixed up in the Newton family’s kidnapping mess. She lost the use of her legs, and along with them, her freedom. Now, even her marriage wasn’t her own choice.
“Come on, let’s eat,” Marian said, trying to sound cheerful. She’d practically raised Patricia, and even after getting married, still looked after her like family.
Marian rolled her up to the dining table. Patricia wiped her hands with a warm towel, picked up her fork. Every movement was careful and graceful, the kind of poise you only get from growing up in a good family.”
She was supposed to shine. Instead, she’d crashed and burned.
Marian couldn’t bear to look at her anymore, so she turned away and quietly tidied the kitchen.
The front door opened.
Patricia’s hand froze on her fork, but she didn’t put it down.”
Oliver walked in. Marian went over to take his coat. “Have you had dinner, sir?“)
Oliver glanced at Patricia, but she didn’t even bother to look up. His eyes grew a little colder. “No.”
His shadow stretched over the table. Only then did Patricia finally look at him.”
“My mom came by this afternoon?” he asked.
“Yeah,” she replied, not looking the least bit interested.
“What did she want?“!
Patricia picked up her soup bowl, voice flat. “The usual. She insulted me, made some snide comments, threw in a few threats for good
measure.”
Oliver didn’t look surprised. He knew exactly what his mother was like. “Don’t let her get to you.”
Patricia just nodded, like that was the end of it.
Normally, Oliver wouldn’t say much more, but tonight he lingered in the doorway, restless. “Shane opened a new club on the west side. Yesterday was the grand opening, so everyone got together. I drank too much and ended up crashing there.”
Patricia nodded again. “Makes sense.“%
“You’re mad about it?”
She set her chopsticks down and looked him dead in the eye. “Mr. Newton, I’m not going to waste my energy getting upset about something that happens all the time.”
“Patricia, you don’t have to be so passive–aggressive.” Oliver’s frown deepened, his gaze heavy and hard. “Your family forced this marriage. You knew it would end up like this.”
“We’re not in love. There’s nothing between us except obligation. What kind of ending were you expecting?“N
“I never wanted a happy ending from you,” Patricia shot back, her words sharp with frustration.
If it weren’t for him, she’d be running the Martin Group right now, not stuck in a wheelchair, not stuck here.M
“I’m tired. I’m going to bed.“A
She pressed the button on her wheelchair and rolled herself away.
