The Plane Tickets He Hoarded The Wife He Hid novel Chapter 225

225 Chapter 225 How Could I Leave

Her

Blanche lay in that sterile hospital room, looking

drained and fragile, like the weight of everything had crushed her spirit.

1

Zain’s POV

Meanwhile, the club was alive with pounding energy and raw excitement.

I sprawled in the VIP section with my crew, the heavy bass vibrating through my bones.

Down on the floor, bodies moved without restraint, lost in the rhythm and the moment.

I’d been downing red wine like it was nothing–already burned through more than a bottle.

This crushing weight in my chest won’t let up. Alcohol’s the only thing that numbs the pain, I thought, refilling my glass again.

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Drew arrived last. Taking in the nearly empty second bottle beside me, he shot Nicholas a questioning look. “What’s eating at him?”

Nicholas shrugged, then leaned in to whisper, “Tia got exposed during that surgery. High–risk situation. It’s got him wound tight.”

Drew had heard the news through Joanna already.

He studied me with worry, then slid closer and squeezed my shoulder. “Look, Tia’s on the blockers now. Nothing’s set in stone yet. Don’t give up hope, alright?”

I lifted my eyes to meet Drew’s, and I could feel the darkness there, like blood had stained my vision.

I paused before managing a nod. “Yeah.”

Drew thought his words might lift my spirits, but the longer he watched, the more convinced he became that something else was wrong.

He turned back to Nicholas. “There’s more to this, isn’t

there?”

Nicholas had picked up on it too, his forehead

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creasing. “Hell if I know.”

Drew took a wild guess. “Think it’s about Blanche?”

Nicholas shook his head firmly. “No way. They never had anything real between them. He wouldn’t be this messed up over Blanche.”

But Drew pushed back, “Then who else could it be?”

Nicholas suggested, “Maybe it’s Carry or Joanna?”

When Joanna’s name came up, Drew answered easily, “Joanna’s always been sweet, never demanding anything special. The fact that she’s stayed loyal all these years proves she’s the real deal—she’d never upset him.”

That shut Nicholas up.

After a moment, he spoke again. “Whatever it is, let’s just back off. He’s been like this since I got here. Doesn’t matter what I try–he won’t talk.”

Drew agreed with Nicholas’s approach.

I’d already put away a serious amount of wine. After finishing the second bottle, I cracked open another

without hesitation.

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But midway through, I suddenly got to my feet and walked out of the club without saying anything.

Seeing me leave, Drew and Nicholas automatically started to follow.

That’s when Kaden appeared with Ashlee, blocking my path completely.

“Zain, leaving so soon?” Kaden asked directly.

I looked surprised to see Kaden and asked, “What brings you here?”

Kaden answered, “Grandpa’s worried about you, so he sent me to keep an eye on things.”

Ashlee hung back behind Kaden, too nervous to step forward and make herself known.

I just nodded simply. “I’m heading to the hospital to see someone. You go enjoy yourself with Drew and Nicholas. When you’re finished, get home early. Don’t stay out too late.”

When I mentioned the hospital, Kaden’s heart nearly stopped.

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He stared at me, fighting to stay composed. “Which friend are you visiting?”

I answered without hesitation, “Blanche.”

Hearing me say “Blanche,” Kaden completely lost it and almost lost his balance.

Fortunately, Ashlee was right behind him and quickly caught him.

At the same time, she gripped his arm tight, clearly signaling him to come up with something fast.

Kaden’s thoughts were in complete chaos right then.

I saw Kaden just standing there speechless, so I moved to go around him toward the exit.

But Kaden called out frantically, “Zain, what’s wrong with Blanche?”

I shot Kaden a sharp look, my voice controlled and tense. “What exactly are you asking?”

Kaden didn’t respond. Instead, he glanced at Ashlee, silently begging for her help.

After a brief hesitation, Ashlee gathered her courage

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and stepped out from behind Kaden.

She turned to face me and said sweetly, “Hello, Zain.”

I narrowed my eyes at Ashlee.

Her face looked familiar, but I couldn’t place where I’d

seen her.

So I just nodded and said, “Hello.”

Only after I spoke did it click–Ashlee was the one who’d deliberately dumped oil on Blanche at that

event.

And that day, Vincent had completely destroyed her in front of everyone.

I never expected to run into her here, standing right

beside Kaden.

I shifted my attention back to Kaden and asked carefully, “And this person with you is?”

Kaden replied, “She’s… a good friend of mine.”

As he said it, Ashlee threw him a worried sideways glance,

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I could read people easily, and I caught the meaning behind that look immediately.

I didn’t bother being polite. “Really? Since when do you call just anyone your ‘good friend“?”

Kaden hesitated. “What?”

I fixed my stare on Kaden and said quietly, “This ‘good friend‘ of yours went after Blanche. How can you call someone like that a friend?”

Kaden was stunned by my words, completely frozen.

Kaden looked confused, probably wondering why I suddenly cared so much about Blanche.

Kaden had only felt safe letting Ashlee target Blanche because he’d assumed I didn’t give a damn.

But now, suddenly, this?

Under my intense gaze, Kaden stammered, “Oh, really?”

I replied flatly, “Yeah.”

Even though I’d knocked back nearly several bottles, I didn’t show it. I looked completely alert.

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Ashlee, standing to the side, immediately sensed danger. She quickly tried to explain, “Zain, I think you’ve got the wrong idea. That day at the event, I really didn’t mean to spill anything on Blanche.”

I didn’t even look at her. I just turned to Kaden and said, “Blanche or your ‘good friend‘–pick one.”

With that, I stepped around Kaden and headed for the

exit.

With Blanche stuck in that hospital, I couldn’t shake this restless feeling.

Sure, she’d lost our baby, but how could I just leave her to handle that hospital hell alone?

As I walked out, Kaden and Ashlee were both in full panic mode.

Kaden was shaking, and Ashlee looked like she might collapse.

But just as I was about to reach the bar’s exit, I saw Joanna entering from the cold street outside.

Winter had already arrived, and the frigid air outside wrapped Joanna in a thin veil of mist as she stepped

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through the entrance.

I spotted her instantly–and she noticed me just as quickly.

We walked straight toward each other, stopping at exactly the same moment.

Joanna’s smile was gentle and radiant. She threaded her arm through mine and asked softly, “Zain, where are you going?”

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