You Looked Down on Me Once, Now You Look Up. novel Chapter 257

Oliver’s question was just for show—he was only pretending to be polite to Patricia. In reality, he had already thrown a dagger straight at Newton Enterprises.

Lately, Howard felt like every door was slammed in his face. No matter what he tried, it led nowhere. The people he used to rub shoulders with in Riverdale’s inner circle had vanished. These days, he couldn’t even get a meeting with district officials, let alone anyone from city hall.

He knew something was off. So, he grabbed drinks with an old classmate who worked for the government, hoping for some insight.

After a few rounds, when the buzz had set in and the bar was almost empty, his friend leaned close, half-drunk, half-serious, and asked, “Did you piss someone off?”

Howard let out a bitter laugh. “Who in Riverdale has the power to freeze me out like this?” This was his home turf. The Newton family had been here for decades, running a legacy business, creating jobs, paying taxes. Kyle used to visit Newton Enterprises every year, always giving him face.

Now, Howard couldn’t even get a callback. Forget respect—he was lucky if anyone picked up the phone.

His friend hesitated, then dipped his finger in his drink and traced a single letter on the table: L.

Howard stared at it, brow furrowed, racking his brain for anyone this could mean. He came up empty.

“Who is it?” he pressed.

His friend just put a finger to his lips. “That’s all I can say, buddy.”

Howard left the bar feeling suffocated and angry. When he got home, the tightness in his chest hadn’t eased at all.

In the living room, Theo was on the phone with a department manager. Whatever he was hearing, it wasn’t good.

“The resort just opened. How is there already a fatal accident?”

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