From His Ex-Wife to the World's Most Sought-After Restorer (Jade and Hudson) novel Chapter 255

That fear had been a living nightmare, a blade poised to fall at any second.

Every waking moment had been spent looking for a way out, until she'd finally taken this gamble.

And sitting here now, touching her friend, Jade knew she'd made the right call.

The risk had been worth it.

"I'm glad I didn't wait," Jade said, her voice trembling as fresh tears fell.

"I didn't know how much longer it would take to find you."

"Stupid girl," Jewell whispered, pulling Jade into a hug and patting her back.

"They haven't actually hurt me. They just kept me locked in here and tried to force me to make those recordings. When I wouldn't, they stopped feeding me.

"But half the stuff they sent you must have been faked. I didn't give them nearly that much."

Jade sniffled, her eyes red and swollen.

"It doesn't matter. You're safe."

Jewell reached up to wipe Jade's tears.

"Did you call the police before you came?"

"I didn't want to spook them," Jade whispered in Jewell's ear.

"But I sent my real-time location to Julian. He should be on his way."

"Good," Jewell breathed, a wave of relief washing over her.

She looked at Jade—eyes red, nose pink, looking entirely vulnerable—and she couldn't help but let out a small laugh.

"You're brave. I'm impressed."

Jade thought of the fight in the mall and the knife at Amara's throat. Now that the adrenaline was gone, her hands were shaking.

She could only show her weakness here, with Jewell. She held onto her friend's arm like a lifeline.

"I was petrified. I only did it for you."

Jewell didn't say anything, just held her tight. Her heart ached for Jade.

She knew Jade was a soft person at heart, someone meant for peace and care.

Lately, she'd been forced into a world of violence and cruelty.

It was wrong. A person shouldn't be forced to grow up this way. If she could, she wanted Jade to be able to go back to being happy and carefree.

As they spoke, a set of heavy footsteps began to descend the stairs.

Jewell instinctively moved in front of Jade, her gaze fixed on the entrance.

The person who stepped into the dim light was Amara.

Amara sneered. "I'll deal with your ghost when it shows up."

She took the blade and walked back to Jade, the back of the knife sliding slowly down Jade's cheek toward her neck.

The cold steel sent a shiver through Jade's body, but she took a deep breath and stared back.

"Amara, just kill me if you've got the guts."

"Kill you? That's too easy," Amara whispered, a twisted smile on her face.

"Tell me, if you lose this face and then get used by these guards, do you think Hudson will still want you?"

Psycho!

Jade cursed her in her mind, her thoughts racing. She had to buy time.

"I sent my location to Hudson before I got here."

Amara's hand froze. Her expression shifted into a mask of disbelief.

"What did you say?"

Jade kept her voice low and steady, making the lie as convincing as possible.

"I said Hudson is on his way. Tell me—how do you think he'll react when he sees you acting like a lunatic?"