From His Ex-Wife to the World's Most Sought-After Restorer (Jade and Hudson) novel Chapter 280

Gulls wheeled through the air, and the world looked peaceful and new.

Flowers, the ocean, the sunrise...

For a second, it felt like a date rather than a trip to end a marriage.

But Jade felt no romance. Only a mounting sense of dread.

"Hudson, what are you doing?"

Hudson had expected her to be happy, but seeing the suspicion in her eyes, his heart sank. His voice turned raspy.

"You once said you wanted to see the sunrise at the beach with me. I was always too busy. I thought... maybe seeing it now would make this easier for you."

Jade knit her brows. "Hudson, things you didn't do then don't mean anything now. It's too late for 'meaningful' gestures."

Hudson's lips thinned. He looked at her with a gaze that held a thousand unspoken words.

Finally, he looked back at the road.

"I see."

At exactly 9:00 AM, the Pagani pulled up in front of City Hall.

They both stepped out of the car.

Jade started for the entrance, but Hudson called out to her.

"Jade, wait."

She stopped and turned back.

"What now?"

Hudson stepped forward, handing her a new settlement agreement and a pen.

"I've already signed it. You sign here, and we can go inside for the final decree."

Jade took the papers and scanned them.

This wasn't the original draft. Hudson had added several clauses—he was giving her 50% of his personal assets.

Jade looked up. "Is this a payoff?"

Hudson nodded. "It's what you deserve."

"If this is a payoff for my mother's ashes, I won't touch it. Your actions aren't for sale, Hudson." Jade's voice was flat, but the hatred in her eyes was sharp.

The mention of the ashes was a physical blow to Hudson. He looked away.

"It's not for that," he said quickly. "It's for the three years you spent taking care of me and our home. It's back pay."

Before she could take another step, Hudson lunged. He grabbed her shoulders, pulled her forward, and crushed her into a hug. He held her like a dying man clinging to his last breath, inhaling the scent of her hair.

"Jade... thank you. Thank you for giving me a second chance."

Jade was pinned against his chest, her struggle meaningless against his strength.

When the words processed, she went cold.

"What 'second chance'? What the hell are you talking about?"

A terrifying sense of dread washed over her. She felt like a bird that had just escaped its cage only to find the entire world was made of glass.

Hudson didn't answer. He buried his face in the crook of her neck for one last second, then let go and walked to his car without looking back.

Jade stood on the steps, shaking. She pulled the decree out of her bag again.

She checked the seal. She checked the names. It was real.

Desperate for a grounded reality, she snapped a photo of the document and sent it to Silas.

"It's done. Thank you."

Grandview Estate.

Hudson walked through his front door. Amara was waiting for him in the foyer.