From His Ex-Wife to the World's Most Sought-After Restorer (Jade and Hudson) novel Chapter 241

The call was cut off at the most agonizing moment, a calculated strike designed to push Jade to the brink of insanity and shred her nerves.

"Ah!"

Jade let out a fractured cry, her hands clutched in her hair. She slid to the floor, her body curled into a ball as she sobbed in total desperation.

"Jewell... where are you?"

Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.

The phone vibrated again.

Jade snatched it up and practically roared into the receiver, tears streaming down her face and splashing onto the hardwood floor.

"You want the files? You can have them! Take me instead! Just let her go! She's innocent—she doesn't know anything! Please..."

There was a long silence on the other end.

Only Jade's jagged, broken sobbing filled the room.

After what felt like an eternity, a man's voice finally came through. It was deep and resonant, possessing the rich, magnetic timbre of a cello.

"I'm sorry. I failed to keep those intruders out of your studio, and I failed to help you the moment your friend was taken. That's on me. I've already stationed security to patrol the perimeter twenty-four hours a day. Nothing like tonight will happen again.

"As for your friend, I have a lead. I just need time to confirm it. And about wanting to see me... it wasn't my intention to avoid you. In a few days, once I've settled things on my end, I'll come to you in person to apologize."

"Who... who is this?"

Jade's eyes widened, the realization hitting her instantly.

"The Blue-eyed Gentleman?!"

The man seemed to pause for a heartbeat, then let out a low, soft chuckle.

"It's me."

"But you can call me Bastian. Bastian Hamlet."

Bastian Hamlet.

The name was entirely unfamiliar.

Neither those blue eyes nor this name had ever appeared in Jade's memories.

And yet, as the man spoke, every word was heavy with apology, as if he owed her a debt that could never be repaid.

She was curious about his identity, but even more so about his attitude toward her.

Sensing her silence, Bastian spoke up. "Is there anything else you wanted to ask?"

Jade knew she wouldn't get the answers she truly wanted right now, so she made a small request instead.

"None of this was your fault. You don't owe me anything. I'm incredibly grateful for your help, so... could you stop sounding so sorry every time we talk?"

"Oh, so you're the boss? Perfect!" The woman's expression turned icy as she pointed to a box on the counter.

"My husband dropped this manuscript off yesterday. I wasn't comfortable leaving it here, so I stopped by this morning to take a look. And when your girl pulled it out, a page was missing.

"This is an heirloom! My family has treated this with the utmost care for generations, and now I bring it to your 'professional' studio only for it to be defaced. If you don't give me a d*mn good explanation, I'll see this place shut down!"

"Please, calm down. Let me take a look." Jade's smile faded into a look of serious concentration. She picked up the manuscript and began to look through it.

It was a valuable piece. When the client had brought it in yesterday, she'd personally assessed the damage. She remembered it clearly.

She reached the middle of the book, and her brow furrowed.

There was a jagged edge where a page had clearly been torn out.

The text no longer matched up.

But it had been perfectly intact yesterday.

"Well? Are you going to just stare at it all day?" the woman snapped, her gaze full of suspicion.

"Are you stalling? Trying to figure out how to lie your way out of this?"

Jade closed the manuscript and spoke calmly.

"Ma'am, I've checked it. You're right—there is a page missing. I will conduct a full investigation into how this happened and give you a formal answer."