The Plane Tickets He Hoarded The Wife He Hid novel Chapter 15

15 Chapter 15 The Second Row View

Zain’s POV 1

Even though Carry had been scheming in her little head about teaming up with me to shut Mommy out, she still flashed Joanna that

angelic smile of hers.

“Miss Joanna, I’m totally fine. I just really want to hear you play piano again.”

Joanna’s face went soft. “Actually, I’ve got a show tonight. Want me to call someone and grab two tickets for you and your dad?”

Carry’s whole face exploded with joy, her hands clapping together. “Yes, yes! Miss Joanna, you’re absolutely the greatest!”

She threw herself at Joanna, arms wrapping around her neck while she nuzzled her cheek against hers.

I felt my mind wander for a second, thrown off not just by Blanche’s earlier reaction, but by how distant she’d been with our daughter.

In my memory, Blanche had always been completely obsessed with Carry–the type of mom who couldn’t even dash to the restroom

without stopping for another squeeze.

I could still remember when I’d brought Carry to see my grandfather at Jacob Manor. Blanche came home to an empty house and

freaked out, racing over in pure terror before grabbing our chicken–leg–chomping kid and breaking down in tears.

At the time, I’d figured Blanche was being way too dramatic.

But now?

She barely looked at Carry, let alone said a word to her.

Before, she would’ve been clinging to our little one, refusing to let her go.

“Zain?” Joanna stood up straight, catching the distant expression on my face.

I snapped back to reality, keeping my voice steady. “Right. Let’s find a table.“”

After we’d placed our order, I glanced across at Carry. She was curled up next to Joanna, both of them hunched over a phone screen.

Carry couldn’t make out many words yet, but she was dead set on helping Miss Joanna pick out seats.

Miss Joanna had such a lovely scent. Her hands were so elegant.

Joanna pulled up the ticket page, and after one look, her smile dimmed and she seemed a bit embarrassed. She turned to Carry with an apologetic expression. “Honey, the front row’s already taken. We’ve only got second row available.”

Carry’s face crumpled. “What?”

I had no clue Joanna was shopping for concert tickets, but I knew this was something I could fix.

If it would make both Carry and Joanna happy, money was no object.

“I’ll handle the tickets,” I said without missing a beat.

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15 Chapter 15 The Second Row View

Joanna filled me in on the concert details, and Carry jumped in saying she wanted to watch Miss Joanna perform.

The two of them chatted back and forth while I watched with a slight smile, then pulled out my phone to call Desmond.

“I need two front–row seats for tonight’s piano performance at Oakwood Auditorium.”

Desmond didn’t bother with questions, just answered, “Got it, Mr. Jacob.”

After I hung up, Joanna looked over with a grin. “Front–row tickets cost a fortune and there are only two available. Usually, unless you

and Carry show up, those seats stay empty at my concerts.”

Her shows always sold out, but she kept those two premium spots at an insane price.

It wasn’t about making money–just her way of ensuring that if Carry and I wanted to attend, she could give us the best seats for free.

Tonight was unusual, though.

Someone had actually purchased them. Joanna assumed it was probably some wealthy guy trying to wow his date.

Whoever it was didn’t matter when I was involved.

My phone buzzed–Desmond calling back.

I answered. “Just get it sorted, don’t bother calling me about it.”

“Mr. Jacob, I couldn’t secure the tickets,” Desmond said. “I made contact, but the purchaser won’t sell.”

My forehead creased. “You can’t handle something this basic? Offer them more–they’ll cave.”

“I already tried,” Desmond said with a hint of defeat in his voice. “They still said no.”

Blanche’s POV

OutPOVspital, Demetrius finished a call–the one setting up the astronomical offer he’d just made for a pair of concert tickets.

I assumed it was work–related, so I waited patiently a few steps away.

We’d just returned from lunch, wandering through the streets while discussing college memories, professors, and old friends we’d lost

touch with.

For the first time since my marriage, I found myself talking this freely, this comfortably, with another man.

When Demetrius closed the gap between us, he gave me a gentle smile. “What do you say we catch a concert tonight?”

My automatic response was to decline–divorce plans or not, I was still married.

But Demetrius continued before I could object. “Just consider it keeping me company for a while.”

I wavered, then reasoned, ‘It’s just a concert. And we’ve always been close friends.‘

“Sure,” I said at last.

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15 Chapter 15 The Second Row View

He smiled warmly. “I’ll come get you tonight.”

I nodded. “Sounds good. I should head back to work now.”

Demetrius watched me leave, remaining under the tree’s shadow long after I’d disappeared from view.

Then, out of nowhere, he smiled–like someone who’d just rediscovered something valuable he thought was gone forever. The happiness

in his eyes was unmistakable.

Taking out his phone, he scrolled back to an old conversation with Foster, his smile growing as he read.

“What’s your opinion on this woman? I’m considering pursuing her.”

The message included a photo–one Foster had talked her into taking, claiming he needed it as a keepsake before she returned to

Oakwood.

“She’s divorced, has a daughter. But that’s okay, I can handle being a stepfather. I’d love that child like she was mine.”

Demetrius had stared at the photo that day, shocked, before typing just one word: “Divorced?”

“Yeah,” Foster had responded. “She told me directly, why would she make that up?”

Demetrius’s hands had begun trembling, and a slow warmth built in his eyes.

He hadn’t responded for ages, until Foster finally gave up and video–called him. “I’m being serious, what do you think of her? I’m kind of

interested,” Foster said.

Demetrius’s expression relaxed for the first time, though he kept his tone purposefully sincere. “Foster, she’s not right for you.”

Foster kept pushing for an explanation. Initially, Demetrius wouldn’t elaborate.

But eventually, he revealed the truth. “Foster, she’s that underclassman I mentioned to you before.”

After hearing that, Foster didn’t probe further. He just smiled quietly and said, “Then I hope things work out for you.”

That evening, when I finished my shift, Demetrius was already waiting at the hospital entrance.

We had dinner first, then walked toward Oakwood Auditorium.

Once our tickets were checked, Demetrius guided me directly to the front row–the premium seats in the venue.

When the auditorium filled up, the lights dimmed to black.

A single spotlight pierced through, illuminating a young woman approaching the grand piano. The pristine white dress hugged her

silhouette; a veil obscured her features, but her elegance and poise made it clear she was breathtakingly gorgeous.

My eyes remained locked on the figure as camera flashes sparkled across the stage. With each deliberate step the woman took toward

the piano, recognition crystallized–it was Joanna Vins.

I’d spent enough time secretly watching Joanna’s videos, analyzing her in endless photographs, to identify her instantly.

Joanna was gorgeous–refined, gifted, and possessed the kind of beauty that attracted admirers throughout Oakwood.

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15 Chapter 15 The Second Row View

But beauty like that was never available for public consumption.

This rose had already been claimed–by Zain Jacob.

The performance opened with Joanna flowing into “Memory of the Rain.” Then she performed several consecutive pieces, each carrying

its own evolving wave of feeling.

I might have loathed Joanna, but I couldn’t dismiss the woman’s skill.

Despite my resistance, the music pulled me in, enveloping me in the narratives woven between each note.

When the final chord dissolved, applause thundered through Oakwood Auditorium, mixed with whispers of admiration for Joanna.

From the second row, Carry jumped up, forming a megaphone with her hands. “Miss Joanna, you were incredible–so brilliant!”

Her tiny voice was lost in the crowd’s roar, unnoticed by me and equally missed by Joanna.

Zain Jacob, though, remained still in his seat, eyes locked on the stage. His gaze held a tenderness that left no space for anything, or

anyone else.

As Carry settled back down, her eyes wandered, almost instinctively, toward the VIP area where she and her daddy typically sat.

One look, and she went rigid.

Worried she might be seeing things, she leaned toward Zain, grabbing his sleeve and pointing at Demetrius and me. “Daddy, look over

there. Is that Mommy?”

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