From His Ex-Wife to the World's Most Sought-After Restorer (Jade and Hudson) novel Chapter 259

She gave the Maybach one last look, then nodded to Julian.

"I'm counting on you."

Inside the limited-edition Maybach.

The second Hudson set Jade on the leather seat, she scrambled to the far side of the car, as far away from him as possible. Her hand went straight for the door handle.

In the next heartbeat, a cool, masculine scent flooded her senses. A shadow fell over her, and a firm hand clamped down over hers.

"You're in my car now. Where do you think you're going?"

Jade snatched her hand back as if she'd been burned. Her eyes were rimmed with red. "You forced me in here! I never wanted to come with you. Let me out!"

Hudson's eyes were dark and unreadable. He pressed closer to her.

His hot breath fanned across her face. Jade held her breath, turning her head away.

Suddenly, she felt a searing touch on her ankle. His fingers pressed against the swollen injury, and the pain made her jump. She instinctively kicked out at him.

"It hurts!"

He caught her wrist in one hand and her ankle in the other, his grip firm as he began to gently massage the area.

The pressure was lighter now, the pain subsiding into a dull, rhythmic throb.

Jade didn't know what he was playing at. She felt a surge of unease and tried to kick him away again.

But he'd predicted the move. He pinned her knee down and looked up at her.

"Your ankle is a mess. If I don't work the swelling out now, it's going to get worse."

"I don't care!" Jade shouted, repulsed by his touch.

"Let me go. I have to find Jewell."

Hudson ignored her, focusing entirely on her ankle.

Her ankle was so slender he could almost wrap his entire hand around it.

"What are you doing this for?" Jade's anxiety was mounting. She wanted to fight him, but she was afraid of triggering whatever was going on in his head.

Hudson stayed silent, his attention focused on her injury.

An oppressive silence filled the car, a suffocating atmosphere that made Jade want to scream.

Finally, Hudson spoke.

"You followed Amara here?"

So that was it. All this 'care' was just a lead-up to an interrogation. Jade felt a wave of relief. This, she understood.

This was the Hudson she knew.

"Yes. I followed her," she said directly.

The answer was immediate. Jade froze.

"What?"

Hudson looked up, his gaze locking onto her eyes. He was uncharacteristically serious.

"I believe you. I don't know why she would kidnap your friend, but I'll find out. Just... give me a little time."

The more he talked, the more confused Jade became. She pulled her leg back, her brow furrowed.

"What are you playing at, Hudson?"

Hudson's lips thinned. "I want to make it right. Everything—the child, the ashes—"

"Shut up!" Jade's voice was a jagged scream. She glared at him with pure hatred.

She couldn't stand to hear him talk about her mother's ashes. It felt like a desecration.

"If you really want to make it right, give me the divorce. Give me my freedom. Stop 'making it right' by destroying what's left of my life!"

"I won't."

Hudson suddenly leaned forward and pulled her into a crushing hug. He held her so tight it felt like he was trying to fuse their bodies together.

"Anything else, Jade. I'll give you anything but that."