The Plane Tickets He Hoarded The Wife He Hid novel Chapter 17

17 Chapter 17 Anything She Tries

Blanche’s POV T

Forced fruit never tastes sweet. Especially since I couldn’t have kept that marriage going even if I tried. Even if I hadn’t asked for the

divorce, Zain would have done it after our second child.

But I didn’t want to be a breeding tool anymore. Much less a caged bird.

Watching my tears fall, Demetrius’s heart ached.

Beyond offering comfort and wiping away my tears, there was nothing else he could do.

After Carry dashed onto the stage, Zain didn’t follow immediately. Instead, his gaze drifted sideways–just in time to see Demetrius

wiping tears from Blanche’s cheek.

They stood so close that from Zain’s angle, they looked practically pressed together.

By then, Joanna had changed out of her gown.

Taking Carry’s hand, she walked toward Zain.

“Zain,” she called softly.

Zain snapped back to attention, his eyes warming as they met hers.

“Dinner together?” Joanna suggested.

“Sure,” Zain answered with a smile.

Carry tugged at Zain’s arm. “Daddy, I want roasted meat.”

Joanna booped her nose playfully. “Little foodie,” she teased.

Outside the concert hall, the cool air cleared my head. The weight lifted off my chest. Zain and Carry walked away from me, not the

other way around. I had nothing to apologize for.

Seeing I looked more myself, Demetrius spoke up. “Want to grab dinner?”

I thought for a second, then nodded. “Why not?”

I was hungry. Besides, I didn’t want to turn Demetrius down.

At the restaurant, Demetrius held the door for me.

The moment I stepped inside, I froze.

Right at the center table sat six people, including Zain, Carry, and Joanna.

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17 Chapter 17 Anything She Tries

Zain and Carry had their backs to the entrance, completely unaware I had entered,

Joanna sat beside Zain, her view toward the doorway blocked unless she turned around.

Across from Zain sat two men and a woman.

I recognized both men, Drew and Nicholas. But the woman was a stranger to me.

In our wealthy circle, men tended to bring different women to different events. Even married ones.

As for Zain, Joanna was the only one ever by his side. Everyone in his world knew Joanna well. But very few knew Zain actually had a wife

named Blanche.

Demetrius followed me in. Seeing me frozen in place, he asked right away, “What’s up?” But the words were barely out of his mouth

when he spotted Zain and the others nearby.

Grabbing my arm, he said, “Let’s grab a bite somewhere else.”

I didn’t budge. Instead, I held him back.

Looking straight at him, I said in a steady voice, “It’s fine. Let’s eat here.”

It wasn’t me who’d screwed things up. I wasn’t about to hide from anyone.

Demetrius looked at me for a few moments, then smiled. “Alright.”

I chose a table near the entrance, quite a ways away from Zain. The two groups sat back–to–back, so no one could see the other party.

Demetrius handed the menu to me and let me order.

I didn’t play coy and picked two dishes I liked.

Soon, the food arrived. I had barely taken my first bite when I heard Carry’s excited voice from nearby.

“Uncle Stewart, you know what? Miss Joanna is super talented. She played the piano beautifully. I’ve never heard anything like it.”

Drew chuckled at Carry’s words. He leaned across the table to look her right in the eye. “Listen, Carry,” he said, “Your Miss Joanna is the

real deal. She just finished her master’s and is heading for her doctoral degree. And her family’s got money.

“On top of that, she’s got a pile of piano awards and certificates. Oh, and she does some modeling and acting on the side. She doesn’t just

do things well. She can do an amazing job at anything she tries. Seriously.”

Drew was clearly impressed. Carry, swelling with pride at his words, turned to Joanna.

“Miss Joanna,” she said seriously, “you’re so awesome. Really amazing.”

Joanna patted her head, her voice warm and affectionate. “You’ll do amazing things too, sweetie. Because you have an exceptional dad.”

Carry glanced at Zain, her pride growing even bigger. Her dad was an exceptional man, and Miss Joanna was so popular that everyone

admired her.

Nicholas sat across from them. No matter what anyone said, he seemed pretty chill. Gossip just wasn’t his thing.

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17 Chapter 17 Anything She Tries

But Nicholas kept thinking the woman by the door looked familiar. It took him a while to place her. He finally remembered seeing her

when he visited Carry. She was Zain‘ wife.

Thinking this, Nicholas murmured, “Think I spotted someone I know.” He still wasn’t sure she was Zain‘ wife, but he tossed it out casually

anyway.

The moment Nicholas said it, Zain, Carry, and Joanna all turned to look toward me. I had my back to them. All they could see was my

back.

Carry let out a huff. “Ugh, so annoying,” she complained, “I keep running into Mom everywhere.”

Zain looked away. He put some food on Carry’s plate and said, “Eat up.”

Carry was huffing and puffing, her appetite suddenly gone.

‘Running into Mom at the concert was bad enough, she thought, ‘but at a restaurant too? She must be following us around secretly. But…

maybe she couldn’t help it? Maybe she wants to say sorry?‘

The thought made Carry’s mood brighten up a little.

Since the two groups were sitting back–to–back, it wasn’t until Carry sneaked another peek that she realized Blanche was gone.

Carry was thrown for a loop. She couldn’t figure out Blanche’s intention.

Zain hadn’t noticed when Blanche had left either.

He just didn’t care enough to ask.

Demetrius drove me back to Callum Mansion.

When we arrived, Amber was waiting in the doorway, wrapped in a coat.

I got out of the car, looking puzzled. “Amber, what are you doing out here?” I asked.

Amber glanced at me, then her eyes shifted to the driver’s seat. There sat a tall and handsome man. His clothes were clearly well–off. The

car he drove was low–key but solid, radiating quality.

Demetrius noticed Amber checking him out. He met her gaze naturally and introduced himself, “I was Blanche’s university classmate,

two years above her.”

Amber smiled. “Hello.”

Demetrius gave a slight nod. His good manners showed in the little things.

Demetrius and I chatted for another moment. “Next time, dinner’s on me,” I insisted.

A warm, deep smile lit up Demetrius’s eyes. He knew me too well. Letting me feel I owed him was the perfect way to guarantee countless

more meet–ups.

We’d been close friends back then. But since I got married, things had naturally faded away.

After Demetrius left, Amber looked at me with a thoughtful, curious look. “Just a classmate?” she pressed.

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17 Chapter 17 Anything She Tries

I nodded, my reply quick and firm. “Yeah, just a classmate. But we were close friends”

Seeing I clearly wasn’t in the mood for any talk about romance, Amber dropped it. Instead, she suddenly turned serious. “Dad’s waiting

for you in the living room. Says it’s something important.”

The look on Amber’s face told me this wouldn’t be easy for me.

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