“Why should we? Why should we be the ones to make peace with her, just because she says so? She’s just some girl–what makes her so special<b>?</b>”
Kelly just couldn’t get her head around Howard’s attitude..
“What’s so great about Patricia anyway?”
Howard let out a frustrated sigh, his eyes hard. “Because the Parsons family is already getting involved. Isn’t that enough? They’re in politics, we run businesses–what do we possibly gain by picking a fight with them?”
He shot Kelly a sharp look. “Where does your superiority evene from? If Patricia hadn’t messed up her legs saving your son, she wouldn’t have spared him a second nce. Let’s be real–neither you nor Theo could ever outy her. You really think she’d choose us if she had a choice?”
Sure, the Newton family was one of the top families in Riverdale, but Patricia had always been out of their league. She was born at the top–she never had to notice people like them.
If it hadn’t been for a twist of fate, they never would’ve ended up in the same family.
“Enough. Stop interfering in Theo’s life. You want to control everything–what’s next, you’re going to have his kids for him too?” Howard tossed a chess piece onto the board and gave Theo a look. <!--
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Theo followed him quietly into the study.
“Miss, you were right–Ruby’s here.”
Patricia was sitting by the window, sunlight warming her as she scrolled through updates on her overseas property renovations.
Jackson was practically buzzing with excitement. “You called it. She couldn’t stay away.”
Patricia barely looked up. “Makes sense. She failed overseas and finally realized that, without a powerful family behind her, she’s just another nobody.”
The more dramatic her exit, the more awkward her return.
Jackson scoffed. “So much for all her talk about making it big. Now she’s back, tail between her legs.”
Patricia smiled faintly. “Take me out to the garden–and don’t let anyone else in if you can help it.”
The house was empty, stripped of anything meaningful. Letting people inside now would just raise questions.
Fresh grass scented the air, a gentle reminder that spring was turning into summer.
When Ruby arrived, she found Patricia sitting at a wooden table in the garden. There was a steaming pot of tea and a chessboard set up in front of her. <fnfddc> Chapters first released on FindN0vel</fnfddc>
“Sis, are you ying chess?”
19.10
“Come on, y with me.” Patricia slid the ck pieces toward her.
Ruby knew how to y, but she’d never beaten Patricia–not even <b>as </b>a kid. Every game ended the same way: with Ruby losing, and both of them knowing it.
But she’de here on her own today, and turning her down would just be awkward.
Halfway through the game, it was obvious who was winning. Ruby finally broke the silence. “You’re not mad I came back, are you?”
Patricia kept her eyes on the board. “Since we were kids, have I ever said no to you? Why would this bother me now?”
Growing up, Ruby’s family never had as much as hers. Their dads were brothers, but that only meant so much.
Whenever Ruby wanted something and her parents said no, Patricia would just buy it for her. Again and again, she’d spoiled the girl sitting across from her–only to end up raising someone who’d turn on her without a second thought.
After Patricia lost her legs, the first person to call her a cripple in public had been Ruby.
Ruby had used her of stealing the man she loved, as if Patricia, just because she was in a wheelchair, had no right to happiness.
It was like she’d forgotten that even as a cripple, Patricia had once been someone she looked up to. She’d epted all of Patricia’s kindness, then stabbed her in the back.
“You’re still as generous as ever, sis.”
“It’s not generosity,” Patricia said calmly. “Those things never meant anything to me. Some people throw away what others treat like treasure.”
“I’ve always respected people’s choices–just like I respected your right to call me a cripple.”