The Plane Tickets He Hoarded The Wife He Hid novel Chapter 229

229 Chapter 229 A Pathetic Waste

Of Space

Blanche’s POV

1

I turned away, refusing to meet Vincent’s gaze. “I don’t owe you anything,” I said, my voice ice–cold. “You don’t get to know everything about me.”

Even as the harsh words left my lips, something fragile stirred inside my chest.

Vincent wouldn’t back down. His hand reached for my arm, desperate and determined.

The moment his fingers grazed my skin, pain shot through me. I couldn’t hide the wince that twisted my features.

Vincent’s face went white. He grabbed my hand, and when he saw the dark bruises painting my arm, his eyes blazed red with something raw and devastating.

All his anger crumbled away, replaced by an ache that seemed to consume him whole.

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Vincent cradled my hand like it might shatter, silent tears tracking down his cheeks.

I tried to pull away, but seeing him cry made my heart squeeze painfully.

“You…” The word barely escaped my throat.

His grip stayed gentle as he whispered, “Just sleep. I’m not going anywhere.”

I couldn’t find words. I just stared at him, caught in this strange, suspended moment.

He tried to hide his tears, turning his face away, but I caught the shimmer in his eyes anyway.

That raw pain and worry blazed there again, impossible to miss.

But I still couldn’t decode him. Every emotion looked

like another act to me.

Vincent killed the lights and coaxed me toward sleep with soft murmurs.

In the darkness, I had no idea tears were sliding down his face in steady streams.

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Exhaustion weighed on me like a heavy blanket.

Sleep claimed me within minutes.

Vincent remained frozen beside Blanche’s bed, his

stare vacant and hollow–like he’d fallen into some kind of trance, unable to tear his gaze away.

Each bruise on her skin felt like a blade twisting in his chest, every mark cutting deeper than the last.

Only when Blanche’s breathing deepened into true sleep did Vincent reach over to tuck the blanket around her shoulders.

He watched her for what felt like hours. Finally, he leaned down to brush a feather–light kiss across her forehead before slipping from the room.

The moment he stepped into the hallway, Vincent found Amara waiting.

He pulled himself together, then asked quietly, “Amara, could you stay with her a little longer?”

Amara frowned. “What about you? Where are you going?”

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Vincent hesitated. “Nowhere special.”

He didn’t wait for her response—just walked away.

Meanwhile, after Joanna had dragged Zain off

somewhere, Kaden and Ashlee had settled into Drew

and Nicholas’s booth.

The four lounged together, drinks flowing as they swapped stories–wild memories, funny moments, whatever came to mind.

Even though it was well past midnight, the bar still throbbed with energy.

Ashlee had knocked back two beers, and her stomach felt uncomfortably full.

She found a break in conversation and stood up, slightly embarrassed. “I need to hit the bathroom.”

Kaden just nodded for her to go.

Ashlee smoothed her dress and stepped out of the

booth.

But as she moved, she accidentally collided with a passing girl.

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The girl had platinum blonde hair, heavy makeup, and wore barely–there clothes that left nothing to

imagination.

After the collision, the girl spun around, fixing Ashlee with a vicious glare.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” she snarled.

Ashlee blinked, then snapped back, “Nothing.”

The girl looked furious and stepped closer, invading Ashlee’s space. “You slammed into me! Don’t you know how to apologize?”

Ashlee found herself backed against the wall as the girl crowded her. “Say you’re sorry!”

“It was an accident! Why should I apologize?”

Ashlee fired back, refusing to be intimidated.

The girl looked like pure trouble–she didn’t hesitate for a second. She grabbed Ashlee’s hair in a vicious grip, yanking her head back to force eye contact.

Without warning, the girl leaned in and spat directly into Ashlee’s slightly open mouth.

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The saliva landed right inside. Ashlee’s stomach lurched as disgust and humiliation crashed over her, making her gag and fight not to vomit.

But the girl wasn’t finished. She slapped Ashlee hard across the face. “You disgusting slut! You should be grateful I spit in your mouth–and you have the nerve to look revolted? Who do you think you are, acting like you’re too good for me? You must have a death wish!”

The slap left Ashlee completely stunned. When the shock wore off, she instinctively screamed toward their booth, “Kaden!”

The commotion drew everyone’s attention instantly.

Kaden missed Ashlee’s cry, but he noticed all the heads. turning, eyes locked on the same spot.

He followed their gaze–and spotted Ashlee being attacked.

Kaden couldn’t stay seated another second. He shot up, leaped from the booth, and shouted at the girl, “What do you think you’re doing? Touch my friend again and you’ll regret it!”

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But the girl completely ignored him.

Seeing that, Kaden’s temper exploded. He stormed over, clearly ready to defend Ashlee.

But just as he got close, the girl whipped out a folding knife—without hesitation, she dragged the blade straight across Ashlee’s cheek.

Ashlee’s terrified scream tore through the entire bar.

When Kaden saw what was happening, his legs locked up–he couldn’t move a muscle.

But the girl wasn’t done. She slashed the blade across Ashlee’s face two more times, brutal and relentless.

Within seconds, blood was streaming down Ashlee’s face, turning it into a horrific mess.

Ashlee clutched her face, crying out repeatedly, “Kaden! Help me! Please, help me!”

She looked to Kaden, blood trickling into her eyes

from the wounds.

Seeing her like that–her face covered in blood–Kaden felt his entire body go weak.

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Drew and Nicholas had also jumped from their booth by now. They rushed over to catch Kaden, who looked ready to collapse.

The two guys stared at Ashlee, but neither stepped in to help.

Kaden was Zain’s little brother of course they’d look

out for him. But Ashlee? Well…

Ashlee watched Kaden shrinking back, saw Drew and Nicholas standing in complete silence, making no move to help.

Right then, she couldn’t even feel the knife’s sting anymore–all she felt was her heart shattering.

After slashing her face, the girl pinned Ashlee down and started beating her without mercy.

Ashlee’s vision went black as blood continued pouring from her wounds.

When Ashlee finally regained consciousness, she spotted a solitary figure sitting by the window.

Through her blurred vision, all she could make out was his tall, steady silhouette–so solid and familiar, it

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offered her a fragile sense of comfort.

Weakly, Ashlee whispered without thinking, her voice

barely audible, “Kaden?”

The figure slowly turned in the chair.

Ashlee’s eyes finally focused—it wasn’t Kaden.

Instead, she saw a face that had haunted her with anxiety for so long.

The gala incident was seared into Ashlee’s memory— she’d never forget it.

Vincent had shown her zero mercy that day; he’d destroyed her in front of everyone, leaving her dignity

in ruins.

Ashlee watched as Vincent approached, his handsome features softened by a slight smile. “Were you calling for me?” he asked, his voice gentle, carrying something she couldn’t identify.

Ashlee froze when she realized it was Vincent. “Why

are you here? Where’s Kaden?” she blurted out,

disbelief flooding her voice.

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Vincent sneered, his tone dripping with disdain. “That pathetic waste of space? What could he possibly do for you?”

Ashlee’s slashed face was now wrapped tightly in

gauze.

She fixed Vincent with a cautious stare, her voice steady but wary. “So? What exactly are you getting at?”

Vincent leaned down, reaching out to gently tap Ashlee’s forehead with his finger. His voice was surprisingly gentle as he asked, “Did that hurt?”

Ashlee looked somewhat confused, but shook her

head.

Vincent’s expression darkened at her response.

He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a soft, almost casual whisper. “That didn’t hurt, did it?”

Something unspoken lurked in his words–so much hidden meaning that Ashlee felt chills race across her

skin.