The Plane Tickets He Hoarded The Wife He Hid novel Chapter 24

24 Chapter 24 My Daughter Her Child

Blanche’s POV 1

When Carry brushed me off, the smile died on my lips.

I hadn’t been trying to patch things up with my daughter these past few days.

Carry had her own agenda–getting close to Joanna. I stayed out of it.

If I hadn’t picked up on what was eating at Carry, I wouldn’t have said anything.

But reaching out only to get the cold shoulder? It cut deep.

From the moment I gave birth to Carry, I’d imagined being there for every milestone in her life.

Now she was in school, and this was my first time stepping foot in her preschool.

The toddler class teacher spotted Joanna and lit up. “Ms. Jacob.”

Joanna didn’t bother correcting her. She flashed a smile and waved at Carry. “Carry, come here.”

Carry bolted straight into Joanna’s arms, sobbing her heart out.

“Miss Joanna, can you pick me up tomorrow? I don’t want to go with Mr. Oswald anymore.”

Joanna wrapped her arms around Carry, rubbing soothing circles on her back. She didn’t know the full story, but her voice stayed soft

and gentle. “Of course. Miss Joanna will take you to preschool from now on.”

Carry’s crying eased up, but she still hiccupped, her little shoulders trembling.

Zain stepped closer, crouched down, and gave Joanna’s shoulder a gentle squeeze before murmuring, “You should talk to her.”

Joanna glanced at Zain, lips curving into a knowing smile as she nodded. “Got it.”

She took Carry’s hand. “Carry, I need to ask you something, okay?”

I’d been standing close by the whole time, watching my daughter bond with Joanna.

Carry nodded, wiping her runny nose. “Okay.”

Joanna grabbed a tissue and cleaned Carry’s nose before asking gently, “Mommy wants you to visit your grandparents tonight. Will you

come?”

Carry’s eyes flicked to me–standing there in my plain clothes, trying to blend into the background.

When I’d called her name earlier, she’d seemed a little happy. But thinking about being late this morning because of me, her face clouded

over again.

She shook her head immediately. “Miss Joanna, I don’t want to. I want to go home and take a bath.”

She hadn’t bathed last night and felt grimy.

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24 Chapter 24 My Daughter Her Child

Joanna had expected this but kept her voice patient. “Carry, just one night with Mommy, okay? If you do, Daddy and I will take you

somewhere fun this weekend.”

The promise of an outing made Carry’s eyes light up, but she held firm. “I don’t want to. I want to go back to Blissfield Villa and sleep in

the big comfy bed.

Joanna smiled and pinched Carry’s cheek playfully. “Just one night. This weekend, I’ll take you anywhere you want.”

Carry wavered, then stuck out her pinky. “Pinky promise?”

Joanna locked pinkies with her, sealing the deal before standing and catching Zain’s eye.

Zain picked up on her cue and told Carry, “Think about where you want to go. I’ll get everything ready.”

Carry jumped up and down, clapping. “Yay!”

The three of them stood together like the perfect family picture, drawing admiring looks from passing parents.

I stood off to the side, listening to strangers gush about how Zain and Joanna made such a gorgeous couple. The words hit like tiny

daggers, and I tried to tune them out, but they burrowed under my skin anyway.

It wasn’t until Joanna called my name-“Miss Blanche?“—that I snapped back.

My cheeks burned as I met Joanna’s gaze. Her radiant energy only made my exhaustion more obvious.

We faced each other, but the contrast in how we were treated couldn’t have been starker.

I couldn’t stay detached anymore. My chest ached, and my voice came out shaky. “Yes?”

Joanna said, “Carry agreed.”

My hands trembled. For a split second, I almost said “thank you,” but thank her for what?

Joanna was my husband’s mistress, and now she’d stolen my daughter’s heart too.

The two people I loved most had been taken by Joanna. What was left to thank her for?

I swallowed the words and simply reached out my hand to Carry. “Let’s go.”

My tone had gone ice–cold, nothing like the warmth I used to have.

Carry stared at my outstretched hand for what felt like forever. Only after Joanna’s gentle nudge did she take it hesitantly.

After buckling Carry into the car, stowing her backpack, and making sure her seatbelt was secure, I started the engine.

On the drive to Callum Mansion, Roger called asking what Carry liked to eat. I didn’t give him the real answer–just told him not to go

overboard.

Carry wasn’t coming willingly, so I didn’t want my parents getting too attached.

After the divorce, Carry would cut ties with me anyway.

I didn’t say another word to Carry during the drive, and she stayed glued to her phone in the backseat.

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24 Chapter 24 My Daughter Her Child

At 7:30 PM, I pulled over a few hundred yards from Callum Mansion.

I caught Carry’s reflection in the rearview mirror and sighed before calling her name.

Carry didn’t look up from her screen but gave me a grudging “Mm.”

I kept my voice gentle. “Don’t play on your phone in the car. It’s bad for your eyes.”

Carry huffed and put the phone down, clearly annoyed.

I turned around to face my daughter. “I want to talk to you about something.”

Carry softened a little–I’d been distant lately, but now I was speaking kindly again.

“Mm.”

Since Carry was a smart kid, I didn’t ask her outright what was wrong. Instead, I eased into it. “Are you happy at East Street Preschool?”

“Mm.”

“Do the teachers treat you well?”

“Mm.”

“Is anyone giving you trouble at school?”

“No.”

Carry’s indifference twisted the knife in my chest, but I pressed on. “If anyone bullies you, tell the teacher. If the teacher doesn’t help,

tell your dad. He’ll handle it.”

“Nobody dares mess with me at school. They all know Daddy drives a fancy car and Miss Joanna wears designer clothes. They’re too

powerful–no one would bully me.”

Carry thought I was being ridiculous.

Her sharp tone stung, but I managed a weak smile. “Okay, maybe I’m overthinking it.”

As I straightened up, I added, “Come on. Let’s go meet Grandpa and Grandma. They’ve been waiting for you.”

After getting out of the car, Carry stood beside me, confused. “Who are Grandpa and Grandma?”

I answered, “My father and mother.”

“Then why haven’t I met them before?” Her confusion deepened.

I didn’t know how to explain. After a long pause, I said, “That’s my fault.”

Halfway to the house, Carry stopped dead in her tracks. “I don’t want to meet them. I don’t even know them.”

I stopped too and looked at my daughter for a long moment. Finally, I gave her a bitter smile. “Just this once. I won’t bring you here

again.”

After tonight, our connection would be severed for good.

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