From His Ex-Wife to the World's Most Sought-After Restorer (Jade and Hudson) novel Chapter 182

"Hudson, I know you didn't want us here while Jade was home. But I saw her car leave the complex from my window. If you're still uncomfortable, I'll take Cortney and leave right now."

Since Jade wasn't even there, Hudson didn't see the harm.

"Fine. Since you're here, join me for breakfast."

"Thank you."

Amara led Cortney to the table with a bright smile.

After breakfast, Hudson was helping Cortney with some building blocks when his phone rang. It was Michael.

After listening to the request with a deep frown, Hudson finally sighed.

"Fine. I'll take the photo for the cemetery records now."

He headed upstairs. Amara caught Rosa leaving to go grocery shopping and quickly nudged Cortney to follow him.

They reached the study. Through the crack in the door, Amara saw Hudson pull a white ceramic urn from the safe to take a photo.

Amara seized the moment. She tucked Cortney into a nearby room and let out a blood-curdling scream.

"Aargh! Help!"

Hudson, startled, didn't even have time to put the urn back. He dropped it on the desk and ran out.

He found Amara in a room down the hall. "Amara! What happened?"

Amara threw herself into his arms, trembling.

"A spider! A huge spider! Hudson, I'm terrified!"

Hudson shielded her while looking for the imaginary intruder.

"Don't worry. I've got you."

Meanwhile, Cortney slipped into the study. She grabbed the white ceramic urn and began skipping down the hallway, treating it like a toy.

At that exact moment, downstairs.

Jade returned from the studio. She was about to head up and demand the urn when she heard skipping footsteps from the second floor.

She looked up and froze. In Cortney's hands was a white ceramic jar.

The urn.

She walked up the stairs, her eyes fixed on the object. As she reached the landing, her heart stopped.

Etched on the side of the white ceramic were her mother's initials.

There was no doubt. Cortney was playing with her mother's ashes.

Hudson was so obsessed with Amara's daughter that he'd actually let her use an urn as a toy?

"Tell your daughter to give me my mother!"

"What are you talking about? Jade, I don't understand why you're always picking on a child!"

Amara kept shoving and pulling. Cortney, sensing her mother's backup, began slamming her head into Jade's stomach with all her might.

"Let go of me, you mean lady! Let go!"

Jade was in agony—her arm was bleeding, and her stomach was cramping from the blows. She lunged for the urn one last time.

But as her fingers brushed the ceramic, Cortney swung her arms out. The urn flew through the air, smashed against the opposite wall, and a gray cloud erupted into the hallway.

"Cortney!" Hudson roared.

Jade's face went white. She ignored everything else and dropped to her knees, trying to scoop up the scattered gray dust.

But the wind was howling today, and the hallway windows were wide open.

A draft swept through, scattering the ashes everywhere. No matter how she clawed at the floor, they slipped through her fingers.

"No!"

Jade's eyes turned a horrific red. She clutched her hair in despair, letting out a raw, guttural scream of agony. She collapsed onto the floor, her hands shaking as she tried to pick up the few grains left on the ceramic shards.

The sharp edges sliced into her fingers, staining the white pieces with deep, vivid red, but she didn't seem to feel it. She kept digging, her tears mixing with blood on the ruined carpet.