You Looked Down on Me Once, Now You Look Up. novel Chapter 72

Joseph’s words wiped the color right off Wendy’s face.

Sure, she and Ruby were tight, but fun was fun—getting caught up in a lawsuit that could drag down her family’s reputation was a whole different story. It just wasn’t worth it.

Wendy kept quiet. Joseph took Nina’s hand, ready to leave. Just as they reached the door, they ran straight into Ruby.

“Ms. Martin, you really ought to keep your dog on a leash,” Joseph said coolly. “If you let it bite people, what does that say about the owner?”

Ruby shot him a sharp look. “What’s that supposed to mean, Joseph?”

He raised a brow. “Come on, drop the act. Nina and Patricia’s presence says it all. Twenty years, and for what? Some people are always replaceable.”

His words hit Ruby right where it hurt.

She lifted her chin, her smile all bite. “At least all I lost was a man. Not like you, Mr. Miller—crippled by someone else’s hand.” Her gaze lingered on his injured arm, the mocking curve of her lips impossible to miss.

Joseph’s anger flared, immediate and hot.

Everyone went their separate ways at the police station.

As soon as Ruby got in her car, Tina started in. “Only you would tag along to the station for something that had nothing to do with you.”

Ruby just flicked her nails, unbothered. “If I didn’t show up, do you really think they’d still be loyal to me?” She never did anything for free.

Tina glanced over. “Joseph’s been spending a lot of time with the Newtons lately, hasn’t he?”

“It makes sense. The Miller hotel brand is about to go public, and the Newtons are their partners,” Tina explained, running down the connection between Joseph and Theo.

After a beat, she muttered, “Figures.”

“No one thought to call Theo, with all this drama?” Ruby asked.

“We did. No answer.”

Ruby frowned. That was weird. She’d been too busy putting out fires to notice Theo’s absence, but with all the usual crowd around, he should’ve at least shown his face. Not even a word from him.

“Mom, maybe you should call Ms. Phipps and check in?”

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