From His Ex-Wife to the World's Most Sought-After Restorer (Jade and Hudson) novel Chapter 202

"Jade, are you still planning on going abroad?"

Jade's hand froze mid-air. Hudson's dark, possessive whisper from the hospital flashed through her mind.

"Don't think you can just leave because the baby is gone."

"I will find you, Jade. No matter where you hide."

The memory of those words made her grip her pen so hard the nib bled a large blot of ink onto the page.

She took a shallow, shaky breath to settle the panic rising in her chest. She capped the pen and set it aside.

"I can't go. Not for a while."

The fantasy was beautiful, but reality was a cold, hard cell.

Anthony let out a long, heavy sigh of frustration.

"It's okay. Just remember, this studio is your second home. If you're in trouble, you come to us. Anytime."

A sudden sting hit Jade's nose. Her eyes burned, and she fought to keep her voice from breaking.

"Thank you."

After hanging up, Jade wiped her eyes and reached for her journal to map out her next move.

Bam!

The bedroom door was kicked open. Hudson stood in the doorway, his face a mask of brooding, dark fury.

Jade instinctively scrambled back, clutching a throw pillow to her chest like a shield. Her voice carried a faint, uncontrollable tremor.

"Stay away from me!"

The raw fear in her voice hit Hudson like a physical blow, making him freeze. A deep crease formed between his brows.

"Are you afraid of me?"

"What the hell do you want now?" Jade snapped. She'd been startled for a moment, but the fear was already being replaced by a cold, sharp resentment.

Hudson strode to the bed and gripped her face, forcing her to look at him.

"What do I want? You knew I was behind you. You saw the accident, yet you didn't even slow down to see if I was alive. Jade, is your heart made of stone?"

Jade shoved his hands away and stood up on the mattress.

"When Cortney slammed into my stomach and I was doubled over in pain on the floor, you saw me. You knew how much I was hurting, and you walked away anyway. If you can't even meet your own standards, why the hell are you lecturing me?"

Hudson straightened up, the memory of that day in the hallway a jagged glass shard in his heart.

"I'm sorry."

Jade's expression didn't flicker.

"And you said you'd 'learn to respect me'? Monitoring my living room and stalking my car? Is that your version of respect?"

"I..."

Hudson managed one syllable before the words died in his throat. He had no defense.

Kevin walked through the garden gate and stopped before him.

"We've confirmed that Silas Faith is officially in Kingston."

"Silas Faith?"

Hudson's head snapped up, his eyes narrowing.

"Ronald's uncle?"

Kevin nodded. "That's him."

Hudson leaned against a stone pillar, his mind racing.

He had to admit it now: Amara was the wall between him and Jade.

He hadn't had anyone to pawn Amara off on before, but with Silas back, things were different. Amara was Ronald's widow. Silas was family. He couldn't ignore her.

Hudson made a decision. He looked at Kevin.

"Book a meeting with Silas Faith. I have something to discuss with him."

"Yes, sir."

Hudson returned to his study. The screen of his phone on the desk lit up.

He glanced at it to find two photos from Amara Hoyt.