From His Ex-Wife to the World's Most Sought-After Restorer (Jade and Hudson) novel Chapter 284

"Are you serious, Jade? He's cornering you like this and you're protecting him?"

Jade was deathly pale, her breath coming in short, shallow gasps. Her head was pounding, the ringing in her ears reaching a deafening pitch. She grabbed his sleeve again.

"Just stop. Please. Calm down."

Julian forced himself back to his feet. His immaculate hair was a mess, and the blood on his lip made him look wild.

He wiped the red away and met Hudson's murderous stare.

"I didn't force her."

"Hah!"

Hudson let out a jagged laugh, pointing a finger at the crowd.

"You didn't force her? Then what is all this? Why are all these people here? You used her heart against her! You wanted her to feel like she couldn't say no without looking like a monster. You wanted her to take pity on you. I know exactly what you're doing, Julian. Stop playing the saint!"

Julian's expression flickered. He hadn't meant it that way, but looking around, he realized Hudson was right. He'd been so desperate to win her that he'd cornered her.

He looked at the wreckage of his proposal, then back at Hudson. He let out a cold laugh.

"You're the man who broke her. You have no right to lecture me!"

Hudson's eyes narrowed. "And how are you any different?"

Julian ground his teeth together and lunged, his fist catching Hudson in the stomach.

"Don't you dare compare me to you!"

Hudson took the hit and delivered a counter-punch to Julian's ribs.

The sound of the impacts was sickeningly heavy.

Thud.

Crack.

Smash.

Tables, flowers, and the massive cake were all casualties of the fight.

The "romantic" venue was now a disaster zone.

Both men were bleeding. Hudson's dark suit was covered in dust and debris.

They stood apart for a heartbeat, panting, their eyes full of pure, unadulterated hatred.

Before they could lock together again, Jade stepped between them.

The ringing in her head was like a siren. Her skull felt like it was being hit with a hammer.

She forced her voice to rise.

"Have you had enough?"

"Is this enough yet?"

Seeing they weren't moving, she screamed at the top of her lungs.

"Enough! Stop it!"

B*tch!

Amara's eyes burned with a dark, calculated rage. She looked at her phone, scrolling through the photos and video she'd just taken. A slow, cruel smile spread across her face.

High-end private hospital, VIP wing.

Jade lay in the bed, her face a ghastly, translucent white.

Hudson tucked the blanket around her and saw the doctor in the hallway. He stepped out, clicking the door shut to keep the room quiet.

"How is she?"

The doctor checked the chart, his expression serious.

"Ms. Merchant is severely depleted. She didn't recover properly from her miscarriage, and her physical foundation is hollow. As for the collapse... it's stress-induced. Her mental state is very fragile. You need to keep her in a calm environment. Any more emotional trauma could lead to a full psychological breakdown."

Miscarriage recovery? Hollow foundation?

Breakdown?

Hudson felt like he'd been dropped into a frozen lake. He was suffocating, the guilt rising like a tide.

He'd thought she was okay. But in reality...

He was the one who had done this to her. Every bit of it.

He realized then that a settlement wasn't enough. He owed her a debt that might take a lifetime to pay.

The doctor moved on. Hudson stood in the hallway for an eternity, unable to move.

He went to the door, ready to go back in, when his phone rang.