From His Ex-Wife to the World's Most Sought-After Restorer (Jade and Hudson) novel Chapter 246

Amara kept her head low, her voice barely a whisper as she struggled for an answer.

"I... I just..."

Riva's patience snapped. She lunged forward, grabbing a handful of Amara's hair and yanking her head back.

"Did you hear me, you little brat?"

"Ah!" Amara shrieked, her eyes welling with tears as she looked toward Hudson.

"Hudson, help me... it hurts. It hurts so much."

Even with the evidence of her guilt in front of him, Hudson couldn't bring himself to be truly ruthless with her.

He stepped in with a darkened expression, physically prying Riva's hands away and shielding Amara behind him.

"That's enough!"

Riva was momentarily cowed by the sheer intensity of his presence, the words dying in her throat.

Hudson turned to Jade, his tone shifting to one of strained negotiation.

"Jade, this was a massive oversight on my part. I'll make it up to you once we're home. For my sake, let's just drop this. Making a public scene won't do anyone any favors."

"For your sake?" Jade tilted her chin up, her voice dripping with derision.

"What exactly is your 'sake' worth? And I'm not the one who looks pathetic here. If you were so worried about appearances, maybe you should have thought of that before you started hurling accusations at me."

Hudson stood in a stifling silence, unable to find a rebuttal.

He truly hadn't expected Amara to be capable of something so calculated.

She had utterly betrayed his trust.

In the heavy silence, he heard Amara's muffled, tearful voice behind him.

"Cortney's school is almost out. I'm stuck here... what if nobody picks her up?

"My poor baby... she's going to be so scared.

"She'll be crying for her mommy..."

Cortney.

Hudson pressed his thumb hard against the bridge of his nose.

Perhaps it was the lingering grief of their lost child, but he had become increasingly soft-hearted toward the girl lately. He couldn't stand the thought of her being distressed.

Taking a sharp breath, he looked at Jade. Since a plea for mercy hadn't worked, he switched to a business transaction.

"You hired a lawyer to send those letters, so this is about a settlement. Name your price. Tell me how much you want to walk away from this right now."

Jade considered him for a long moment.

"Actually, you have a point."

Hudson felt a sliver of relief, until she spoke again.

"I want ten million dollars."

Hudson's jaw tightened. "Jade, you certainly don't hold back when you're handed an open check."

You're finished, Jade.

This time, you've truly crossed the line.

"I'm sorry, Jade."

Jade merely shrugged, shaking his hand off with an air of complete indifference.

"It's not the first time, and it won me ten million. I'm used to it."

"Jade!"

Hudson, stung by her detachment, gripped her shoulder again.

"I'm offering you a sincere apology. Can't you at least acknowledge it?"

Jade slapped his hand away with a sharp crack. "Since when does an apology mean I'm forced to accept it? Stop acting like your word is law, Hudson."

With that, she turned and marched toward the parking lot.

After a few paces, she stopped and looked back at him, her expression unsettlingly grave.

"Hudson, you're so determined to protect that woman and her daughter. I promise you, there will come a day when you will regret every single choice you're making right now."

Her tone was so absolute that Hudson felt a sudden, hollow chill in his chest. He moved to follow her, but his phone began to ring.

He checked the ID. It was Kevin. He froze in place and answered the call.

"Sir, we looked into that boutique firm that's been trying to snatch the Evergreen project from us. It turns out the majority shareholder has direct ties to Julian Forster in Habor City."

Julian?

Hudson's face darkened instantly. He gripped the phone so hard his knuckles turned white, a cold, jagged laugh escaping his lips.