From His Ex-Wife to the World's Most Sought-After Restorer (Jade and Hudson) novel Chapter 1

Chapter 1 A Cheating Husband

“Two lines…”

Jade Merchant stared at the pregnancy test, disbelief giving way to a surge of joy. After three years, she and Hudson Walter were finally having a baby.

Her phone chimed with his special tone.

Hudson must be back from his business trip!

She grabbed her phone, the test still in her hand. The image on the screen hit her like a punch to the gut. Her phone and the test clattered to the floor.

There was Hudson, the husband she hadn’t seen in a month, in some fancy club. He had a tiny woman cradled easily in his arms. A little girl in a pink dress held his other hand.

Jade knew her instantly-Amara Hoyt, Hudson’s cherished childhood sweetheart, the one everyone knew about.

An hour later, Jade stood outside a private room at the Mingler Club. The door was slightly open. Inside, Hudson and Amara sat surrounded by friends on a plush sofa, the smiling little girl between them. Every time the girl spoke to him, Hudson leaned in close, all attention. That gentle look felt like a knife twisting in Jade’s chest.

With flowers, balloons, and a perfect little family, their friends all smiled-creating such a happy scene.

But Jade was the one watching. She was Hudson’s wife, but only on paper.

Amid the noise, Amara stood up. She was wearing a stunning red dress. She leaned over and put a birthday hat on Hudson’s head.

The lights went out. In the candlelight, Amara glowed.

“Hudson, make a wish,” Amara said, her voice sweet,

If Jade said that, Hudson’d call her childish.

But with Amara, he was different. His usual detached look was gone, replaced by pure fondness. “Okay,” he said, his voice soft.

He blew out the candles as everyone sang. He closed his eyes to wish. Amara watched him, her affection plain. They were in their own world.

Jade’s fingers pressed into her flat stomach until they turned white. Her heart was breaking, but she couldn’t look away. She just stood there, hurting herself by watching.

When the lights came on, her face was wet. Then she heard a voice from inside the room.

“Amara, you’re staying for good this time, right? Just stick with Hudson. Save him the trips overseas.”

Amara’s cheeks turned pink. “Hudson has a wife. Don’t say that.”

Hudson just leaned back on the sofa, a lazy, fond smile on his face as he looked at her. “It’s harmless,” he said.

Jade remembered he hated being teased. But for her, it was “harmless”. His rules never applied to Amara-for her, he always made exceptions.

Jade didn’t remember leaving. There was no scene. She just left.

In the taxi, she pressed her forehead to the cool window. Sobs shook her shoulders.

Three years ago, Hudson’s grandfather, John Walter, was dying. She had saved him. The old man offered her anything.

All she asked for was to marry Hudson.

The world thought she was a gold-digger who’d trapped the Walter heir. No one knew she’d been in love with him for years. He was her fantasy.

Even though Hudson was distant, he came home for dinner. He held her at night. He let her run the house. She was happy. She thought this was their life.

Today ended that. The last three years were a stolen dream. Now she was awake,

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