You Looked Down on Me Once, Now You Look Up. novel Chapter 194

Howard took Kelly’s hand and started to lead her toward the ballroom.

“You go ahead,” she said, pulling her hand back gently. “I need to fix my makeup.”

He gave her a quick once-over, lingering on her lips. “Try a brighter lipstick,” he suggested.

“Got it.”

Kelly slipped into the restroom and, after freshening up, headed out. As she opened the lounge door, her toe bumped into something. She looked down and picked up an envelope.

Curious, she opened it. The moment she saw the photos inside, her heart nearly stopped. She slammed the door shut and locked it, her hands shaking so badly she could barely hold on.

On the back of one photo, a single line was scrawled in handwriting she knew all too well: I can’t wait to see these photos scattered across the ballroom.

She recognized Ruby’s handwriting instantly.

“Ruby!” she whispered, voice trembling with anger and fear. “Are you out of your mind?”

She ripped the photos to shreds and flushed them down the toilet, her pulse racing.

Meanwhile, music from the ballroom drifted through the open windows and spilled into the parking lot.

A car door opened and closed. Jackson slid into the driver’s seat and grinned. “It’s done.”

“So, we just wait for the drama now?” Patricia didn’t look up, eyes glued to her phone.

She barely nodded.

Jackson glanced at her screen, saw she was deep in a chat, and shrugged. He pulled out his own phone to play a game. Colton, sitting beside him, immediately leaned in with his own phone, ready to join.

The party slowly wound down. Guests trickled out into the night.

Howard stood off to the side while a staff member quietly pointed someone out. “The woman in the black dress who just left—she’s from the Padilla family. Supposedly one of the younger generation.”

Howard’s eyes followed Sara and Roger through the crowd, remembering what a friend had told him: With the Padillas backing them, you never stood a chance.

Golden Bay. The Padilla family. Serious old money. They’d been in business forever, but their government ties went way back. They were powerful, united, and almost untouchable in Riverdale.

Verify captcha to read the contentVerify