<b>Chapter </b><b>101 </b>
“You guys seriously didn’t know?” Tim stared around the private room, eyebrows raised in disbelief.
He couldn’t hide his curiosity about Ruby’s startled reaction.
“I saw her. Talked to her for a while, actually. And her leg–she’s walking just fine now.”
The memory flickered in Tim’s mind: a rare sunny day in Toronto, Patricia sitting beneath a café umbre in a crisp white sundress, a fancy–looking dog sprawledzily at her feet. He had no idea if the dog was hers, but it matched her vibe–rxed, a little distant, owning the moment..
Ruby was on her feet in an instant, eyes locked on Tim, voice tight with urgency,
“Are you sure?”
If Patricia was still alive, and if her leg really had healed, then everything that happened three years ago–every bit of chaos–was all just a setup for her grand escape,
She’d torn Riverdale apart, disappeared overseas, and quietly fixed her life?
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“I called her name–Patricia–and she answered me. We even chatted about our school days.”
The more Tim said, the paler Ruby got. “Don’t do this to me, Tim. Are you saying I’ve been seeing ghosts in broad daylight?” <fn260c> ???? ????s? ???????s ?? find(?)ovel</fn260c>
Across the table, Ruby’s eyes found Theo’s. In that split second, something passed between them–anger, and a flicker of something darker.
Patricia was alive.
Which meant the person who’d hurt them both was still out there.
“No,” Ruby said atst, her voice low. “Maybe she really is alive.”
If Patricia wanted Tim to see her, it was no ident. Tim had lived in Toronto for years, only dropping by Riverdale now and then–he was basically a local. All this time, nothing. But now, just as Theo wasing back, Patricia made sure she was seen.
Out in the hallway, Ruby leaned against the wall, arms crossed. She wore a sleeveless ck top, pale skin glowing against the dark fabric, her hair twisted into a low bun. As she pressed her fingertips into her arm, little white marks bloomed on her soft skin.
If Patricia really was alive and nning aeback, what then?
Three years ago, Patricia had orchestrated every move, tearing the Newton family down piece by piece, and she only stopped when Theo left town. If he hadn’t, who knows how far she would’ve
gone.
Theo watched Ruby, her brows drawn together in worry.
She’d never been as striking as Patricia, but she had a kind of quiet beauty, a grace she’d grown into over the years. Even now, in all ck, she looked effortlessly elegant–something he’d never seen in Patricia, no matter how long he knew her.
Patricia always wore the inest clothes, even when she was at her most ruthless.
“If she’s really alive, and she’sing back for revenge… what are we supposed to do?” Ruby’s voice
<b>11:19 </b>
was barely above a whisper.
“The Martins, back then…” She trailed off, stopping herself. Some things just weren’t meant to be said, at least not outside the family. Officially, they’d never done anything wrong.
“She’s not done with us. And she definitely hasn’t let go of what happened to your marriage, either.”
Ruby looked up at Theo, her clear eyes hiding a storm of emotions.
In a strange way, she was grateful to Patricia. If Tim hadn’t brought her up, Ruby might never have gotten this second chance to stand by Theo’s side.
He’d done nothing but keep his distance since he came back.
“We’ll deal with it. If shees at us, we won’t be caught unprepared this time,” Theo said quietly.
He wouldn’t let himself get blindsided like he did three years ago.
“I just can’t help worrying. She’s clever. Too clever.”
“Riverdale isn’t the same anymore. There’s nothing to be afraid of,” Theo replied, his voice steady, self–assured.
He wasn’t the same man, either. The things he couldn’t do back then–he wouldn’t hold back now<i>. </i>“Theo… you…” Ruby looked at him, her eyes shining with feelings she could barely hide.