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

Chapter 280 The Second Chance

Chapter 280 The Second Chance

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?”

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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.

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Chapter 280 The Second Chance

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.”

Jade stared at him for a long beat.

“If I don’t sign this, will you refuse the divorce?”

Hudson’s jaw tightened. “If you don’t sign, we don’t go in.”

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Fine. If taking his money was the only way to be free of him, she’d take it. She’d consider it her hazard pay for the hell he’d put her through.

She signed her name without another word.

“Let’s go.”

Hudson followed her inside.

Because they had already gone through the preliminary legal battles and had a signed, uncontested agreement for asset division, they were able to bypass the waiting period.

Minutes later, the paperwork was stamped. The marriage of Hudson Walter and Jade Merchant was officially over.

To Jade, it was the end of a nightmare. To Hudson, it was a clean slate-a chance to start over from zero.

Outside on the steps, Jade tucked her copy of the decree into her bag. A shadow fell over her. She looked up to find Hudson standing directly in her path.

“What?”

Hudson opened his arms. “Can I have one last hug?”

Jade backed away, her eyes full of distrust. “No. That’s not appropriate.”

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.

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