The Plane Tickets He Hoarded The Wife He Hid novel Chapter 213

213 Chapter 213 Where Was This

Protection

Blanche’s POV

I stopped halfway to the door, couldn’t help myself. Spinning around to face Kaden, ice coating my words. “Comments like that just reveal who you really are.”

Kaden had always despised me, and my sharp retort sent his temper through the roof. “Say that again!” he snarled.

I let out a bitter laugh. “I could repeat it a hundred times–wouldn’t make you any less of a complete waste of space.”

Something in Kaden snapped. He threw his phone

down hard and stalked toward me. “You’re asking for it

now.”

As he closed the distance, Kaden raised his hand, ready to strike.

But before he could bring it down, a powerful voice boomed from upstairs.

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“Kaden, freeze!”

Zain.

Hearing his older brother’s command, Kaden’s body went rigid, his hand dropping instantly.

Zain appeared at the top of the stairs in pale gray pajamas, descending slowly.

Each step he took seemed to land like a punch to Kaden’s gut.

When Zain finally reached us, Kaden mumbled weakly,

“Zain.”

His head hung like a kid caught red–handed, voice thick with shame.

But Zain showed zero mercy. His foot connected hard with the back of Kaden’s knee, brutal and precise.

The force nearly dropped Kaden–he wobbled, barely staying upright.

Once Kaden regained his balance, Zain pinned him with a deadly stare. “Is that any way to talk to

Blanche?”

Kaden kept his eyes glued to the floor, muttering,

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“She’s different now. Won’t cook or clean anymore. I was just trying to knock some sense into her.”

Zain’s voice turned arctic. “You think you have any authority to ‘knock sense‘ into her?”

Kaden stayed silent, studying his shoes.

Zain pressed harder, each word sharp as a blade. “Is Blanche some kind of servant to the Jacob family?”

Kaden shook his head. “No.”

Zain fired back, “Then why the hell do you expect her to cook and clean?”

Kaden’s head snapped up, eyes blazing with

resentment. “But she used to take care of everything! She made all those amazing meals for me!”

Zain’s rage exploded, cutting Kaden off mid–sentence. “Well, those days are over. She doesn’t owe anyone here a damn thing.”

Kaden’s voice turned bitter. “Zain, you’re spoiling her

rotten.”

Zain brushed off the complaint and asked coldly, “What brings you to the Jacob house anyway?”

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Kaden shifted uncomfortably. “Haven’t seen Carry in forever. Thought I’d swing by.”

Zain snapped, “She’s upstairs. You want to see her, go up there. Stop hanging around down here being a pain in everyone’s ass.”

Kaden grudgingly agreed and dragged himself upstairs, clearly sulking.

From the moment Zain appeared, I couldn’t take my eyes off him.

I watched him defend me–landing that kick, speaking up for me…

Yet my heart stayed completely still. Not even a

flutter.

For a split second, I thought, ‘So he actually can stand up for me!‘

‘But where was this protection when I desperately

needed it?‘

He’d never been there before.

After Kaden disappeared upstairs, Zain turned to me. “If he gives you any more trouble, come find me. I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen ag―”

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I cut him off, my tone flat. “I need to get to work. I’m leaving.”

Without waiting for a response, I walked away, my steps steady and sure.

I could feel Zain watching me go, but I didn’t look back.

Kaden searched Carry’s room but found it empty.

After checking around, he discovered her in the guest

room.

Carry was awake but sprawled across the large bed, obviously wrestling with heavy thoughts.

Kaden approached and playfully poked her ribs.

Instead of giggling, Carry just rolled away, glancing at him with tired eyes. “Uncle Kaden.”

Kaden helped her sit up, gently pinching her cheek. “What’s eating at you? You look pretty bummed out.”

Carry wrapped her arms around Kaden’s waist, burying her face against him. Her voice came out small and fragile. “Nothing really. Just feeling kind of sick.”

Kaden sensed something deeper was wrong, but

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decided not to push.

Still, he had a strong suspicion Blanche was behind Carry’s mood.

In his head, Kaden cursed Blanche again. ‘Damn witch, making Carry this miserable. She’s really asking for it.’

After spending some time with Carry, Kaden finally got to his feet. “I’m heading back downstairs.”

Carry nodded sweetly. “See you later, Uncle Kaden.”

Kaden smiled, messing up her hair. “You’re the best kid, Carry.”

Seeing such a sweet girl looking so down really tugged at his heartstrings.

If Blanche was responsible for Carry’s sadness, Kaden was determined to make her pay.

Lost in these vengeful thoughts, Kaden completely missed Joanna climbing the stairs as he descended.

Joanna spotted him immediately.

“Kaden,” she purred, her voice like silk with a hint of mischief.

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That sweet way she said his name made Kaden’s pulse race—he couldn’t hide the huge grin spreading across his face as he turned toward her. “Joanna.”

His ears instantly turned bright red.

Seeing his face and ears burning crimson, Joanna knew exactly what was happening.

After dealing with plenty of men, she could read the signs easily–Kaden was completely smitten with her.

She reached up and tapped his forehead playfully, smirking. “Look at you, Kaden, all grown up and acting like such a man now.”.

Joanna was clearly teasing him, and Kaden’s heart went into overdrive.

He was crazy about Joanna—she looked absolutely stunning when she played piano, so focused and elegant, and her music completely mesmerized him.

Until now, Kaden had kept his feelings buried, just admiring her from a distance and never daring to dream anything could happen between them.

But today, Joanna had actually touched his hair.

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Right then, Kaden felt like he was floating, walking on air.

He gazed down at her, his ears practically on fire, and stammered shyly, “Joanna, you really enjoy messing with me.”

Kaden was younger than Joanna, and watching him get so flustered over her gave her a little thrill of power.

Joanna gave him a warm smile. “You’ve really grown up, Kaden, and you’ve gotten so much more

handsome.”

Kaden loved hearing her compliments, but one thing kept nagging at him.

Joanna belonged to Zain.

After that brief moment of joy, his expression grew serious. He looked at Joanna and said, “Doesn’t matter how good–looking I get, I’ll never mean to you what

Zain does.”

Joanna smiled gently. “You and Zain are both special to me, Kaden.”

Kaden hesitated, words forming on his lips, but in the end he kept quiet.

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Noticing his struggle, Joanna didn’t push for an

answer.

Instead, she reached out and ruffled his hair again, her voice soft and suggestive. “You’re such a sweet boy, Kaden. I really do have a soft spot for you.”

Her words carried unmistakable undertones, and Joanna’s eyes sparkled with dangerous promise.

Kaden missed the deeper meaning completely, but before he could respond, Joanna was already gliding upstairs.

Just watching her move away made Kaden’s longing for her burn even fiercer.