The Plane Tickets He Hoarded The Wife He Hid novel Chapter 52

ter 52 A Perfect Family of Three

Blanche’s POV 1

Back in Oakwood, Demetrius drove me home to the Callum Mansion.

Dad and Mom wanted Demetrius to stay for a late–night bite, but I turned them down for him. “Dad, Mom, Demetrius’s exhausted. It’s

way too late to keep him here any longer.”

Demetrius got it–I’d come back partly because of Zain’s threats, and he knew I needed to talk to my family alone.

He didn’t push. “Mr. and Mrs. Callum, I’ll swing by another time.”

Dad and Mom didn’t argue, just smiled and waved as Demetrius pulled away.

The next morning, I sat down for breakfast in the dining room. I wanted to ask my family how everything was going, but Amber and

Quinton were nowhere to be found.

With nobody around, I had no choice but to head to the hospital for my shift.

That evening after work, I was the first one back at the Callum Mansion.

Around eight, everyone else started filtering in.

Once Isabela had everything ready, we all sat down for dinner like usual.

Camila was practically bouncing–she peeled shrimp for me, filled my water glass, and kept gushing about how amazing it was that I was

finally home so we could all be together again.

Amber smiled too, but it never touched her eyes. Same with Quinton–his calm act looked so strained it made my skin crawl.

Dad and Mom barely said a word. The harder they tried to act normal, the more obvious it became that something was seriously wrong.

Nobody said it out loud, but I could read them like a book.

I figured Zain had probably messed with Quinton and Amber’s jobs somehow.

They were just faking it so I wouldn’t stress.

I pushed food around my plate, my emotions all tangled up.

After everyone finished and pushed their plates away, I was the last one to get up and head upstairs.

Zain was sending me a message, loud and clear.

Now that my family was back together, I couldn’t let anything destroy these precious moments.

I decided to call Zain and find out what he really wanted.

He’d told me to come home that day, but never spelled out what he expected once I got here.

But when I dialed Zain, he wouldn’t pick up, no matter how long I waited.

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I tried twice more, same thing–nothing.

Finally, I gave up calling and decided to show up at Blissfield Villa first thing in the morning.

I remembered Zain saying Carry was craving my soup.

Whether Zain had stirred up all this drama just for that or not, it was my only excuse to see him.

Before sunrise the next day, I made my way to Blissfield Villa.

When Heidi got up and saw the kitchen light glowing, she probably thought someone forgot to switch it off.

But when she walked in, she found me with an apron tied around my waist, working at the stove.

“Mrs. Jacob?” Heidi sounded completely baffled.

I replied softly, “Morning”

Heidi asked nervously, “W–Why are you up so early?”

I gave a weak smile but didn’t explain. I hadn’t even spent the night at Blissfield Villa, so saying I was “up early” didn’t really make sense.

Soon, I set the soup on the table and arranged a few light side dishes.

It was already seven, and Carry should be awake by now. I didn’t go upstairs. I just sat quietly at the table, waiting.

A few minutes later, laughter echoed down from upstairs.

“Miss Joanna, you look so pretty today,” Carry said.

“Carry, you’re pretty too,” Joanna smiled.

Carry giggled, “I wish I could be as pretty as you, Miss Joanna.”

“Carry, when you grow up, you’ll be even prettier than me,” Joanna replied.

“Dad, do you think I’ll grow up to be as pretty as Miss Joanna?” Carry asked.

“Well, we’ll just have to wait and see when you’re older,” Zain said.

Laughter drifted down from the stairs.

I glanced toward the sound and saw Joanna and Zain, each holding one of Carry’s hands, slowly coming into view.

As the three of them emerged from the shadows, for a split second, they looked exactly like a perfect family of three.

I was sitting at the dining table in plain sight, and all three of them spotted me instantly.

Carry almost reflexively dropped Zain and Joanna’s hands. Seeing me sitting quietly in the dining room, she called out, “Mom?”

I looked up and said, “Morning, come have breakfast. I made that soup you love.”

Carry lit up. She raced down the stairs and rushed to the table. She waved her hands over the pot, breathing in the steam, and exclaimed, “Wow, it’s Mom’s soup! I haven’t had this in forever. Thank you, Mom!”

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Kids had such short memories. Carry had already forgotten about me hitting Joanna and the fight back at the Callum Mansion.

Carry was my little girl, and I didn’t want to hold grudges against her. I just smiled softly and said, “I’m glad you like it, Carry.”

After sitting down, I ladled Carry a bowl of soup. Carry took a sip, her little feet bouncing with joy. She turned to Joanna and said, “Miss Joanna, want to try some of Mom’s soup? It’s really good.”

Joanna smiled and said, “That’s okay, sweetie. If you like it, you should have as much as you want.”

Carry shoved another spoonful into her mouth, her cheeks bulging as she nodded. “Okay.”

Watching Carry still think about Joanna even while eating, I felt a sharp twist of jealousy in my chest. But Carry didn’t notice my feelings

at all.

The whole time, Zain never even glanced my way. My presence at Blissfield Villa didn’t seem to affect him one bit.

It took forever before Zain and Joanna finally came downstairs together.

Neither of them looked like they planned to stay for breakfast–they headed straight for the front hall.

That’s when I suddenly stood up and called out, “Zain, can we talk?”

Zain turned sideways, while I stood facing him directly.

When he heard my voice, Zain stopped walking, but he didn’t look at me. Still turned halfway away, he said, “I’m busy. I don’t have time

today.”

I pressed, “Then when will you have time?”

Zain replied, “I don’t know.”

My hands clenched unconsciously at my sides. Obviously, Zain was just blowing me off. So I didn’t push any further.

But then Joanna walked over to Carry, her voice gentle as she said, “Carry, your dad and I have to go out for a while. How about

mom takes you to school later, okay?”

your

Carry was slurping her soup, some broth clinging to the corner of her mouth. Her eyes sparkled as she blinked and replied, “Okay.”

Joanna patted her head softly, then turned to Zain and said, “Zain, let’s go.”

Zain’s dark expression melted into a smile as he looked at Joanna. “Okay.”

Under my gaze, the two of them walked out side by side through the hall.

When I finally looked away, I realized my eyes were already filling with tears.

After Carry finished eating, she suddenly remembered she was running late. She hurried upstairs, calling out, “Mom, I’m going to get my

backpack!”

I watched her go, my eyes stinging even more,

After sitting back down at the table, I turned to Heidi, who was standing nearby, and asked, “Did Joanna stay here last night?”

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Heidi lowered her head, not daring to answer.

Seeing Heidi’s reaction, I let out a bitter laugh. “So that’s how it is.”

Heidi looked apologetic. “Mrs. Jacob, you know I’m just the help.”

I answered quietly, “Yeah, I’m not blaming you.”

Just then, Carry came bouncing down the stairs with her little backpack, grabbed my hand, and said, “Mom, let’s go.”

Looking into those familiar eyes on my daughter’s face, I felt a sharp stab in my heart.

Maybe Carry still needed me, but in her heart, I would always come second to Joanna.

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