The Plane Tickets He Hoarded The Wife He Hid novel Chapter 25

25 Chapter 25 A Table Full Of Tears

Blanche’s POV 1

I didn’t drive straight to Callum Mansion. Instead, I pulled over outside the neighborhood.

I had my reasons–I wanted those last few hundred meters with my daughter, just the two of us walking together.

Even in silence, it would mean something to me.

After tonight, God knows when we’d share another moment like this.

Maybe never again in this lifetime.

The thought made my eyes sting with unshed tears.

But that stretch of road I usually dreaded seemed to fly by tonight.

Before I knew it–within what felt like no time at all–we’d arrived.

Several figures waited by the mansion gate. I spotted Irene, Amber, and Roger.

“Roger, look! Blanche brought Carry!” Irene’s voice rang out excitedly from across the distance.

My chest tightened, but I pushed down the pain.

Before we even got close, the whole family rushed toward us.

“Carry, come give Grandpa a hug,” Roger stretched out his arms, his face bright with hope.

But to Carry, he was just a stranger.

She didn’t like him and ducked behind me.

Roger saw her fear. Disappointment flickered in his eyes, but he kept smiling. “No hug then. Grandpa made lots of yummy food for you.

Come see.”

Irene pulled back her reaching hand. Her smile froze, but she held it in place.

Amber hung back, shooting me a complicated look.

When our eyes met, she saw the helplessness and grief I couldn’t hide,

As a mother, how could she miss Carry’s rejection?

Carry wouldn’t budge, so I pulled her forward. “Carry, this is Grandpa, this is Grandma, and this is Aunt. Say hello.”

I pointed to each family member as I introduced them.

Carry pressed closer to me, frowning at the unfamiliar middle–aged faces.

She pursed her lips but stayed silent.

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She’d met Amber before and knew she was Aunt, but after Camila had yelled at her that day, she didn’t want to acknowledge her

anymore.

“Carry, say something!” I snapped when her silence dragged on too long.

My sharp tone made her burst into tears. “Mom’s mad at me! I want to call Dad!”

The child’s crying broke Roger and Irene’s hearts.

“Blanche, she’s just a little girl. Why are you so hard on her?” Irene stepped forward, scolding me.

Roger shot me a look. He didn’t speak, but his eyes held a mix of pity and anger.

Seeing both grandparents take her side, Carry felt triumphant.

She loved watching me lose face.

If staying here would make me miserable, she was all for it.

So she grabbed Irene’s hand. “Grandma, I want lychees.”

Hearing “Grandma,” Irene melted. She scooped Carry up. “Of course, Grandma will get you some.”

She headed toward the mansion, but once out of sight, Irene’s eyes quietly filled with tears.

Carry rested her head on Irene’s shoulder and looked back at me, still frozen in place.

A smug smile spread across her face.

Inside Callum Mansion, the dining table was set. Quinton and Camila were already seated. I could see the spread of delicious food as we

approached. Camila sat quietly, clearly waiting for her grandparents before touching anything. From her posture and the way she glanced at Carry, I could tell Amber had warned her about the visit. Camila looked like she was bracing herself, trying to remember her

manners despite whatever reservations she had about meeting her half–sister.

“Camila, your sister’s here. Come say hello,” Irene said, placing Carry next to Camila.

Camila’s smile looked forced, but she managed it. “Sister.”

Carry glanced at her and muttered, “Ugly fatty.”

Camila heard every word. Through gritted teeth, she shot back, “Spoiled brat.”

Roger walked in just then and saw his two granddaughters whispering together. Assuming they were bonding, he smiled.

But I could see the tension between them, and from Amber’s expression, she knew they weren’t getting along at all.

As we sat down, I couldn’t get the seat next to Carry, Camila pulled her to sit beside her instead, with Carry between Camila and Irene.

Quinton sat stone–faced. He didn’t speak, but I knew him well enough. The fact that he stayed at the table and waited for us proved he cared about me.

He just hated showing it.

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During dinner, Irene picked up a shrimp. “Carry, try this river shrimp.”

Carry stared at the shrimp in her bowl and wrinkled her nose in disgust. “Grandma, don’t you use serving chopsticks?”

Irene froze, then smiled awkwardly and took Carry’s bowl, replacing it with a clean one. “Okay, Grandma will use serving chopsticks.”

Camila clenched her small fist on the table at Carry’s criticism.

She was about to explode, but I gently held her hand and whispered, “Camila, just eat.”

Camila looked into my tear–filled eyes. She felt awful but obeyed without a word.

With Carry there, the meal was torture.

Even though Quinton was furious with his niece, he held back. Roger and Irene kept their heads down, silent. Only Amber kept

encouraging Carry to eat more.

Carry, spoiled rotten, kept complaining about everything.

“Grandma, don’t you eat caviar? It’s so fresh.”

“This shrimp is gross. It probably has parasites.”

“At home, someone always peels my shrimp.”

“These lychees aren’t fresh. They’re too sweet, like they injected sugar water.”

“This meat is tough. Like chewing rocks.”

Carry went on and on. Irene grew quiet, head down as tears started falling.

When Roger saw her cry, he was about to speak, but Camila shot up.

Before she could say anything, I stood too. I’d had enough. I walked behind Carry and lifted her off the chair. “If you’re not hungry, I’m

taking you upstairs.”

My voice was stern, even harsh.

Carry fought back, but I didn’t let go. I carried her upstairs by force.

“Bad Mommy! I’m telling Daddy you hit me, bullied me, and won’t let me eat! I’ll tell him to get rid of you!” Carry screamed.

I rushed upstairs and slammed the bedroom door shut.

Downstairs, they could hear me scolding faintly. “Carry, is this how I taught you to talk to elders? You think you can do whatever you

want just because I don’t discipline you?”

In the living room, Irene’s quiet sobs grew louder.

Camila went to her grandmother’s side, hugging her for comfort. “Grandma, don’t be sad. Camila doesn’t think you’re bad. You’re the

best grandma, and Camila loves you most.”

She wiped away Irene’s tears as she spoke.

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Irene’s heart ached even more, and her tears fell faster.

Meanwhile, Quinton slammed his chopsticks on the table and stood up, looking ready to march upstairs and teach Carry a lesson.

Amber, sensing the rage building in him, grabbed his arm and looked up at him. “Enough. Blanche knows how to handle this. She’s got it

under control.”

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