You Looked Down on Me Once, Now You Look Up. novel Chapter 506

Chelsea’s voice wasn’t loud, but they were close enough that Patricia caught every word.

Ruby’s grip tightened around her fork, her eyes narrowing with a cold, bitter glare fixed on Patricia. Resentment simmered in her gaze.

Tina, standing quietly at her side, leaned in and spoke softly. “If you don’t want to eat in the same place as them, let’s just go.”

“Mom, I just can’t swallow this,” Ruby muttered.

“A lot of people ruin their lives over those exact words,” Tina replied, calm and steady. “You’re not ready to fight them yet. Right now, it’s smarter to just walk away.”

Ruby seemed to let that sink in. She gave a quiet nod. “You eat. I’m going to the restroom for a minute.”

The moment Ruby stood up, Tina’s eyes flickered over to Patricia. If Patricia so much as followed Ruby out, Tina was ready to step in. But Patricia just kept eating, cool as ever, like she hadn’t even noticed the drama.

The restroom in the luxury mall was as fancy as you’d expect—marble counters, soft lighting, the faint scent of designer candles in the air. Ruby stepped out of a stall and went to wash her hands, leaning over the sink just as her phone buzzed.

Nobody really sent texts anymore—usually it was just spam or random codes. But this message was from a real number, and that alone made her pause.

She unlocked her phone. A photo stared back at her.

It was her, holding hands with a little boy—maybe five years old.

That part of her past she’d tried so hard to bury had suddenly been dragged into the light, and it hit her like ice water.

Kelly should’ve been in prison. Where was this photo from? Patricia? If it was her, why wait until now to use it?

Ruby’s fingers pressed hard against the cold marble.

“Mommy…”

A woman walked in, leading her young daughter. The little girl’s voice echoed through the restroom, making Ruby jump. She turned, her heart racing, then let out a shaky breath when she saw just a kid and her mom.

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