The Plane Tickets He Hoarded The Wife He Hid novel Chapter 158

158 Chapter 158 A Selfish Kind Of Love

Blanche’s POV 1

I didn’t expect to run into Demetrius here.

After that quick flash of surprise, I let my smile warm up as I greeted him. “Demetrius! What a coincidence. Never thought I’d see you

here.”

His grin was easy and familiar. “Funny thing is, I was about to call you anyway.”

I was still hanging onto Oswald’s arm, focused on Demetrius, completely missing the sharp warning look Oswald was shooting my way.

While Demetrius and I chatted, Zain took the opportunity to pull out his phone. Probably answering texts, though Oswald just figured it

was his usual work stuff.

Right now, all my attention was on Demetrius. “Did you need to talk to me about something?”

That relaxed smile never left his face. “Professor Reese’s putting together a teaching workshop this weekend. You thinking of going?”

I didn’t even hesitate. “Absolutely,” I said, flashing him a bright smile.

But before Demetrius could respond, Oswald jumped in with this sly smirk. “You look pretty young there–married yet?”

Zain had been typing away on his phone, but the second Oswald spoke up, he quickly shoved it back in his pocket.

I glanced over at Oswald, then caught Zain hastily putting his phone away.

My guess? He was probably texting Joanna.

Maybe sweet messages about missing each other, or checking in on how Carry was doing.

Demetrius’s eyes shifted from me to Oswald, his tone staying mild. “Not yet.”

Oswald’s expression brightened as he joked, “Well, since you’re friends with Blanche here, I should help you out. How about I play

matchmaker? What do you think?”

Demetrius didn’t miss a beat. “Thanks, but I’ll pass. I’m already in love with someone.”

As he said it, his eyes instinctively drifted back to me,

Oswald, being the experienced man he was, saw right through Demetrius and picked up on his feelings instantly.

Zain had figured out from day one that Demetrius had feelings for me, but he’d never seemed bothered by it.

Now, though, Oswald was the one who seemed to care.

Even after Demetrius had already turned him down, Oswald wouldn’t let it go. He grinned wider. “How about I set you up with the Tim heiress? What do you say?”

In Oakwood, when you talked about the elite families, only a handful really mattered–the Jacobs, Aaravs, Stewarts, Jims, Griffin, and

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158 Chapter 158 A Selfish Kind Of Love

Tim.

The Tim heiress Oswald was talking about was serious business, no question.

I couldn’t help thinking that if Demetrius actually married into the Tim family, with his talent, his status would skyrocket overnight.

But before I could think it through, Demetrius cut in again. “I appreciate the offer, but I really have to decline.”

Oswald had expected mentioning the Tim name would at least get some kind of reaction from the kid.

Instead, all he saw in Demetrius’s eyes was rock–solid determination.

Oswald wasn’t ready to drop it, though. He threw out a loaded comment. “For young people like you, choosing the right path in life

matters more than just picking a career.”

The subtext was crystal clear.

Demetrius didn’t even flinch. His voice stayed calm. “Some things just aren’t meant for me, so why chase after them?”

Seeing how unmovable Demetrius was, Oswald couldn’t help but sigh. “You’re still too young.”

Demetrius’s smile was faint but steady. “The path you’re suggesting isn’t necessarily as golden as it appears.”

Oswald didn’t answer, just let out a dismissive scoff.

Seeing Oswald suddenly lose interest, Zain stepped in. “Grandpa, we should head back.”

I let go of Oswald’s arm. After watching Zain guide him away, I turned to Demetrius and said quietly, “Demetrius, don’t let what Mr.

Oswald Jacob said get to you. Just stay true to yourself.”

From Demetrius’s steady gaze, I could tell he understood Oswald’s intentions to put him down while tempting him with a shortcut to

success. It seemed to me that all that status built on money was empty and meaningless to him, and he wasn’t the type to climb the

social ladder by using women. So he’d rejected it without a second thought, and I knew from his calm demeanor that he considered

Oswald no ordinary man.

After mulling it over, he couldn’t help asking me, “Hey, weren’t you already planning to get divorced?”

I nodded. “Yeah, we’re in that cooling–off period right now.”

Demetrius visibly relaxed. “The Jacobs are all business, and businessmen only care about profit. Don’t put too much trust in that old

man

I nodded. “I get it, Demetrius. I’m not that naive”

Just from watching how Oswald had tried to tempt Demetrius carlier, I could tell he was definitely someone to be careful around.

But maybe because I was his granddaughter–in–law, he hadn’t shown me his worst side yet.

Oswald had already walked quite a distance, then turned around, as if realizing I wasn’t following. Seeing me still talking with Demetrius, his face darkened, and he called out sharply, “Blanche, are you coming or not?”

I quickly called back, “Coming!”

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158 Chapter 158 A Selfish Kind Of Love

I turned back to Demetrius. “Demetrius, once this divorce goes through, I’ll keep my distance from the Jacobs, including Mr. Oswald

Jacob.”

Demetrius finally looked relieved. “Good. Things will get better. Go ahead, then.”

I nodded and left.

Once I caught up with Zain and Oswald, I stayed quiet.

Oswald didn’t ask me anything either. He just wandered around the backyard, and when he got tired, he settled down in the gazebo for a

while.

After some time spent strolling through the garden, Oswald finally announced it was time to head back and rest.

As we all crowded into the elevator, the small space felt suffocating. I caught sight of Oswald’s reflection on the elevator wall–his

expression was ice–cold, and his voice carried a sharp edge of irritation. “Blanche, I want to know–what exactly is your relationship with

that young man from earlier?”

Zain stood to the side and glanced at me, ready to jump in and answer for me, but I didn’t give him the chance.

I answered honestly, “Grandpa, Demetrius is my college senior, and we’re close friends.”

Oswald’s expression shifted as he continued, “Your grandmother was incredibly talented at writing. Before she married me, she had

several published books. Lots of people read her work, and she had plenty of admirers. But after she married me, she stopped writing,

and as for male friends, she didn’t keep any around.”

When he mentioned Anaya Jacob, his wife, his eyes filled with warmth and pride.

I caught onto what Oswald was hinting at immediately.

He was making it crystal clear, in his roundabout way, that now that I was married to Zain, I wasn’t supposed to get cozy with other men.

But I could tell Oswald was implying something deeper, though I didn’t call him out on it.

Instead, I smiled and said, “Grandma really was amazing. She actually sacrificed herself for love.”

Oswald waved that off immediately. “Sacrifice? Hardly. I made sure she never wanted for anything. Besides, her writing barely paid the

bills

I felt a stab of sadness hearing Oswald dismiss Anaya’s choices so casually. I spoke gently, “Maybe money was never what Grandma truly

wanted.”

Oswald went quiet, seemingly lost in thought.

When the elevator doors opened, Oswald huffed, clearly fed up. “Forget it. There’s just no reasoning with you young people.”

As I stepped out, I watched Oswald walk away and muttered under my breath, “No reasoning with me? You’re just selfish, Grandpa.”

Oswald was too far away to hear me, but Zain caught every word.

He didn’t say anything right then, but I could tell he was filing away what I’d said.

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