The Plane Tickets He Hoarded The Wife He Hid novel Chapter 71

71 Chapter 71 A Convenient Lie

Blanche’s POV

The car window cracked open halfway, letting cool air drift inside. Mixed with the alcohol buzzing through my system, it made my head

feel light and dizzy.

I realized that overthinking Zain’s words was pointless–just empty promises. Better to stop torturing myself. I settled back against the

seat, shut my eyes, and faked sleep.

The beer hit harder than expected, making me grimace and cough softly.

Zain must have heard because he shot me a quick look.

When he saw I wasn’t feeling great, he quietly raised the window.

The sound made me crack my eyes open. In the glass reflection, I caught sight of his face. He was concentrating on the road, his profile sharp and controlled–exactly the way I’d always found irresistible.

Even now, looking at him sent my pulse racing, though something had shifted.

At a red light, Zain glanced over again. I was turned sideways, and the cold had left pink marks on my exposed arm.

He unclipped his seatbelt, reached across, and draped his jacket over my legs.

I looked down at the jacket and pushed it away. “I’m fine. Not cold.” I shoved it off my lap.

The light changed green, and Zain said nothing. He didn’t take the jacket back either.

Since he wasn’t going to retrieve it, I folded it neatly and set it aside. I ignored it for the rest of the drive.

Zain seemed to notice my coldness but kept quiet. Before, just touching his jacket would’ve made my whole week. Now I couldn’t care

less about anything connected to him.

The car pulled up to Jacob Manor. Tia had been pacing by the entrance, looking as if she knew Zain had gone looking for Kaden.

When we stopped, relief washed over her face as she hurried toward us. She yanked open the back door and exhaled when she saw

Kaden sitting there, unharmed.

She flicked his head lightly “Getting cocky, are we? Ignoring our calls now?”

Kaden batted her hand away, irritated. “Quit messing with my hair”

Tia opened her mouth as if to snap back, but then she spotted the red welts on Kaden’s face. “Kaden, what happened to your face?” She

reached out to touch the marks.

Kaden knocked her hand away. “It’s nothing he mumbled, then stalked toward the house without a backward glance.

Tia stood there bewildered, then turned to Zain. Her expression suggested she suspected he’d had something to do with Kaden’s

condition

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71 Chapter 71 A Convenient Lie

But Zain offered no explanation. He just told Tia, “Go Inside and watch him. Don’t let him slip out again.”

Tia didn’t argue, simply nodded quickly. “Understood.”

After they disappeared inside, I finally climbed out of the car. The alcohol had worked fast, but the effects were wearing off, leaving my

head clearer.

I walked toward Jacob Manor without looking around, completely missing Zain reaching out to steady me.

Zain’s POV

I saw she didn’t need assistance and pulled my hand back, letting out a bitter laugh.

I headed straight for our bedroom while Blanche went to check on Kaden.

When I returned to the bedroom, all I found was a bloodstained tissue on the table. Confused, I glanced around and noticed the

bathroom light glowing. I walked over and pushed the door open without knocking.

Steam filled the bathroom, and Blanche stood at the vanity wrapped in a towel. Her bare shoulders and legs below the knees were

exposed.

Her figure was the kind that turned heads–even from other women.

Right then, she was bent forward, smoothing lotion onto her skin, the towel barely maintaining coverage across her chest.

I caught sight of her and froze for a moment.

Blanche spotted me in the mirror, straightened up, and asked, “Need something?” Her voice was ice–cold–nothing like the warmth it

used to hold.

I didn’t see any injuries, but I asked anyway, “I saw a bloody tissue on the table. Are you hurt?”

“Nothing serious. Already took care of it,” she replied. She’d scratched her finger on Kaden’s earring when she hit him. The cut wasn’t

deep, but it had bled plenty.

I couldn’t help asking, “Should we get that checked at the hospital?”

She frowned and turned to face me. “You really don’t need to worry about me like this.”

Her concern felt excessive, almost fake. If we weren’t at Jacob Manor, she might’ve believed I actually cared. But here, in this house,

nothing I said or did carried ‘real weight.

I just stared at her without responding.

She didn’t care what I was thinking. After finishing her skincare routine, she said, “I need to ask you something.”

She wanted to know my thoughts about our divorce, which I’d been stalling on forever. She hoped we could figure out how to separate

peacefully.

But before I could answer, my phone buzzed.

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71 Chapter 71 A Convenient Lie

I checked the screen. Joanna was calling.

Blanche saw my hesitation and smiled coldly. “Go ahead and answer it.”

I picked up just before it went to voicemail, walking into the living room as I spoke.

Blanche stayed behind me, catching Carry’s voice through the speaker. “Dad, look! This is the little house Miss Joanna and I drew

together.”

I studied the image on the video screen and noticed multiple figures in the drawing. “Carry, who did you draw in your picture?”

Carry’s voice bubbled with excitement. “I drew you, Miss Joanna, and me. We’re all enjoying the sunshine together.”

I smiled gently. “That’s beautiful work.”

Carry asked, “Dad, was Grandpa Oswald happy today?”

I answered, “Yes, he was very happy.”

“Dad, I’ll visit him next time. Miss Joanna wants to take a vacation, so I want to go with her,” Carry said.

I replied softly, “Alright.”

I continued my call in the living room while Blanche lingered in the bathroom, wrapping up her routine.

She hadn’t stepped out yet because she wanted to hear what Carry would tell me–whether she’d mention her at all.

Instead, she discovered why Carry hadn’t come back to Jacob Manor. On Oswald’s birthday, of all days, Carry had gone on vacation with

Joanna.

If Oswald found out, he’d be livid.

Carry’s voice came through again. “Dad, you didn’t tell Grandpa Oswald, did you? If he finds out I went on vacation instead of being there

for his birthday, he’ll be so mad.”

I replied calmly, “I covered for you. I told him you went to visit your grandmother.”

Carry sounded relieved. “Thanks, Dad. You’re the best.”

“Are you heading to bed soon?” I asked warmly.

I might’ve been a terrible husband, but I was definitely a devoted father.

Still in the bathroom, Blanche had heard every word. Learning that I had used her mother as my excuse to cover for Carry left her feeling

sick. Another layer of resentment settled over her.

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