From His Ex-Wife to the World's Most Sought-After Restorer (Jade and Hudson) novel Chapter 285

He checked the ID. It was Bert Walter.

He answered, and his father's voice roared through the receiver.

"Get your *ss home! Now!"

Hudson looked at the hospital door, his lips thinning. "What is it?"

"Your mother and I are at the villa. You have one hour to get here, or you're finished at the firm!"

Beep.

The line went dead.

Hudson knit his brows. He called for a private nurse to watch Jade before heading out.

On the bed, Jade opened her eyes.

She'd been awake for a few minutes. She'd heard the doctor's report and Hudson's conversation. Her mind was a tangled mess.

She'd known her sleep was bad. She'd been taking Melatonin just to get through the night.

But even then, the nightmares wouldn't stop.

The forced pregnancy, the ashes, the crash, Jewell's screaming...

She'd thought she was just "shaken up." She hadn't realized her mind was actually starting to fracture.

I need to see a professional, she thought.

Movement caught her eye. Through the crack in the door, she saw Julian Forster approaching.

She frowned and pulled the covers over her head, slipping into the bathroom to hide.

"Jade?" Julian called softly. No answer. She stayed perfectly still in the dark.

Seeing no one in the room, Julian paced for a moment before heading back out. She heard him talking to the nurse in the hall.

"Where is she?"

The nurse sounded confused. "She was just there... maybe she went for a walk? She said she felt cooped up."

"I'll look for her," Julian said.

Waiting until their footsteps faded, Jade slipped out of the room, took the elevator to the ground floor, and hailed a cab.

She knew what Julian was going to say. He'd apologize. He'd say he was sorry.

But the damage was done. Talk was meaningless now.

"Are you even listening to me?!"

The vase shattered against Hudson's temple. Blood immediately began to pour down his face. Hudson didn't flinch. He stood perfectly still as the red liquid dripped onto the floor. Emily Walter let out a shriek, glare at Bert, but before she could speak, Amara burst into the room.

She threw herself in front of Hudson, shielding him.

"Mr. Walter! Stop! It's not Hudson's fault! It's Jade! She's been sleeping around behind his back and now she's trying to destroy the family name just to prove how 'wanted' she is!"

Hudson's brow knit. He opened his mouth to defend Jade, then saw the look in Bert's eyes. His father was studying him like a piece of faulty machinery.

"Are you really done with her?" Bert asked.

Hudson clenched his fists. He looked at Amara, then back at his father. He needed to buy time.

"The papers are signed."

Divorced or not, she's still mine, he thought. I'll fix this. I'll clear her name, then I'll bring her home.

Bert rubbed his chin. "Let Rosa clean that up. Then come upstairs. We need to talk business."

Hudson was in a world of pain, but he gave a short nod.

Rosa arrived with the first-aid kit. Amara fluttered around him, her voice a relentless, high-pitched whimper of concern.