You Looked Down on Me Once, Now You Look Up. novel Chapter 503

“It’s just easier when I have meetings,” he said.

Emerson didn’t quite buy it, but she didn’t push.

When they pulled up at home, the car had barely stopped in the driveway.

Tina’s attention drifted to the gardeners out front—three of them today, hats pulled low as they dug around in the flowerbeds.

Emerson got out first. The gardeners didn’t budge, so he followed Tina’s gaze.

His stomach dropped.

He raised his voice, sharp and loud. “Who told you to pull that up?”

The gardeners jumped, flustered. “Mrs. Harper told us to, sir.”

“Stop! Right now!”

“And what about the black pine that was here?” Emerson demanded.

“It’s over there…” One of the women pointed. Emerson looked. In the far corner, that black pine he’d picked out himself was lying on its side, looking sad and half-wilted.

“It’s just a tree. Why are you making such a scene?” Mrs. Harper, his mother, came out onto the porch, her annoyance plain as day.

“Mom…” Emerson’s words stuck in his throat.

Tina looked from the uprooted tree to the family drama playing out. She knew the backstory: Emerson had splurged on that black pine as a centerpiece for a new house he’d bought for his mistress. The place wasn’t even finished yet, and he’d already invested a fortune in that tree.

No wonder he was upset with Mrs. Harper for having it pulled up.

But Tina also understood how these family arguments went—whoever got involved usually ended up getting burned. Still, she couldn’t help giving Emerson a gentle out.

She smiled. “Were you planning to give that tree to someone important?”

Emerson caught on, letting out a heavy sigh. “Yeah.”

“Mom didn’t mean anything by it. Maybe the tree can be saved?” Tina said, turning to Mrs. Harper.

Then she softened. “So what are you planting here instead, Mom?”

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