<b>19:28 </b>
With just a few sharp words, Patricia managed to wipe the smug look right off Ruby’s face.
Ruby hade here to show off, to rub it in. Instead, Patricia had herpletely outmaneuvered. Every sentence was like a subtle job, reminding Ruby she was only picking up leftovers Patricia didn’t even want. But those “leftovers” were hers in the first ce.
“Sis, this isn’t how things <b>are </b>supposed to go, is it?” Ruby tried to keep her voice steady, but it shook anyway.
Patricia just poured herself some tea, her lips curled in that mysterious half–smile she always wore. “Then how are things supposed to go?”
She took a slow sip before adding, “Should we just pretend nothing’s changed? With the way things are now, if we really went back to before, wouldn’t we both just be sharing the same man?”
As if Theo–cheating, lying Theo–deserved to have two women fighting over him. <fn507b> Fresh chapters posted on fι?dnοvel</fn507b>
“Have you ever thought that this man you’re desperate to win back isn’t even the same person anymore?” Patricia’s gaze was razor–sharp.
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“You mean Nina?” Ruby’s sneer was obvious, pure disdain twisting her lips.
She didn’t think much of Nina, just like Joseph and the others looked down on her for her limp. Birds of a feather, really–only certain kinds of people end up sticking together.
Patricia didn’t bother replying. She leaned back in her wheelchair, looking so calm and in control it was almost regal.
“Ruby, I’ll be waiting to hear your good news,” she said finally.
“Don’t worry, Sis. You won’t be waiting long.”
As soon as Ruby left, the courtyard felt empty and still. Jackson, who’d been quietly sitting by the house, crossed his arms and stepped up behind Patricia, watching Ruby’s figure disappear<b>.. </b>
“You’re just letting her walk away?” he asked.
“She treated you so badly before. Don’t you ever think about getting even?”
Patricia’s smile was icy. “What’s the rush? People like her always get too full of themselves before. they fall. She hasn’t climbed high enough yet.”
A small stumble wouldn’t hurt enough. Patricia could wait.
That night, Theo came out of his study, his face dark and tense. He told a watered–down version of what happened, carefully skipping the bit where Patricia had those scandalous photos. There was
way to mention that–if Kelly found out, she’d never be able to show her face again.
по
Later, Howard showed up at the vi. The whole ce was dark, not a light on anywhere. When he rang the bell, the window by the door slid open.
Jackson leaned out, wearing a t–shirt.
“Mr. Newton,” he greeted politely.
<b>13:28 </b>
“Has Miss Patricia gone to bed already?”
Jackson nced back into the house. “Yeah. Ms. Martin came by earlier and left our Miss so upset she went straight to sleep as soon as it got dark.”
Howard’s brow tightened, but he let it go quickly.
Those Martin sisters, he thought–one walks the straight and narrow, the other’s as crooked as they
So Ruby came home just to pick a fight with her own sister?
Shut out, Howard went back to the Newton family home, looking grim,
“Did Patricia make things difficult?” Kelly <b>asked</b>.
“I didn’t even see her,” Howard grumbled.
“She refused to see you?”
“Not exactly.” Howard slipped off his coat and handed it to Kelly. “I don’t want you getting involved with the Martin family. And as for Ruby, I can’t stand her. Don’t get too close, okay?”
“Do you think I’m crazy?” Kelly scoffed. “Even if Theo and Patricia divorce, there’s no way Ruby’s bing his next wife. What would that make us–a dumping ground for other people’s rejects? Or maybe a one–on–one recycling service?”
Howard managed a slight smile. “d you get it.”
After he left, the lights in the vi’s tea room flickered on. The room shifted from shadowy to warm and bright. Marian calmly ground ink at the side table while Patricia picked up a brush and painted two bold strokes on a long scroll.
“Tomorrow morning, send Joseph a bouquet,” Patricia said.
“What kind of flowers?”
Patricia’s smile turned sly. “Chrysanthemums.”