From His Ex-Wife to the World's Most Sought-After Restorer (Jade and Hudson) novel Chapter 268

Who was he?

Why was he protecting her so aggressively?

Was he another hunter, just like...

Julian's head began to throb.

There were too many people around Jade. Far too many.

Knock, knock.

He looked up. Silas was at the window.

He rolled it down. "What?"

"Hudson Walter just performed a miracle," Silas said dryly. "He salvaged half the project. The man's a shark."

"Yeah..." Julian lit a cigarette, his tone flat.

He'd made a mistake. The one mistake he couldn't afford.

At this point, winning or losing the market didn't seem to matter anymore.

Silas raised an eyebrow. "The job is done. Why aren't you at the station waiting for Jade?"

"Someone already picked her up," Julian said, blowing a cloud of smoke into the night. He relayed what Jade had told him.

Silas's expression went stone-cold. "Whoever saved her isn't playing around."

Julian knew that better than anyone. "Victor's in. What's your play?"

Silas's eyes narrowed. "I'm filing a formal suit against the Spensers in the family's name. I want every cent they stole returned. As for Jade, I'll clear her name personally."

Julian crushed his cigarette.

"At least we got the core files back. But Ronald's murder... that's a deeper grave. We need a new plan."

"I'm going to visit Victor in his cell," Silas said. He looked at Julian.

"And you? How are you handling your 'feelings'?"

"How do you think?"

Julian's lips curled into a bitter smile.

"When you've committed a sin, you seek penance before you seek anything else."

Silas acted immediately. Using the files Jade had photographed, he hit Lyndon Spenser with a massive lawsuit and used his official channels to clear Jade of all charges.

The tide of public opinion turned in an instant. Jade went from a common thief to a "Heroine of Restoration" who had risked her life for a friend.

"Lyndon, I risked everything to have our daughter. Think of me. Help me get back to Hudson. If we both run, what happens to Cortney? She's so small. If I'm safe, she's safe."

Lyndon didn't answer immediately. He was wavering.

Amara leaned in, her lips meeting his, her voice a soft, desperate whimper.

"Think of our family, Lyndon. Think of our little girl."

Lyndon's fingers twitched. He pulled her into his arms, his voice full of resentment, but he caved.

"Fine. I'll find a way."

Amara leaned into his chest. The tears vanished instantly, replaced by a cold, calculating light.

"Make it fast," she whispered. "Our daughter is waiting."

—

By the floor-to-ceiling window, Jade sat with a pencil and a sketchbook.

She hadn't drawn in years, and her technique was rusty.

But this beautiful scenery made her want to record it.