From His Ex-Wife to the World's Most Sought-After Restorer (Jade and Hudson) novel Chapter 222

Kevin offered to take him to the hospital, but Hudson refused, insisting on being driven home instead.

He needed to explain things to Jade. He needed her to know he was changing how he dealt with Amara.

He'd promised Jade he'd be more careful about how he helped her.

He'd failed before, but this time he'd gone through with it. He'd been harsh with Amara. Jade should be satisfied.

Hudson clutched his stomach and stumbled out of the car.

His stomach issues were chronic. During their three years of marriage, Jade had researched special diets and spent every day cooking recovery meals to get his health back on track.

Once she saw him like this, she was bound to notice he wasn't well.

Then, once he reported his progress with Amara, her heart would soften, and she'd make him one of those specialized soups. He'd feel better in no time.

Her home-cooked recovery meals were better than any hospital treatment.

Hudson had the whole plan mapped out, but as he looked up, the villa was a dark, silent silhouette. Not a single light was on.

Ignoring the searing pain in his abdomen, he hurried to the door.

Was she not home yet?

Or was she still so angry about last night that she wasn't coming back?

The more he thought about it, the faster he walked.

He'd never realized how unbearable it was to come home to a dark, empty house.

He was starting to realize that all his attempts to fix things were only making them worse. The things that used to be so easy to get—her attention, her care—were now slipping through his fingers.

Not even a bowl of ramen. Not even a porch light left on for him.

Bam—

Hudson pushed the door open, but the silence that greeted him was hollow.

Click.

He flipped the switch, and the living room was flooded with light, which only served to make the house feel more cavernously empty.

"Jade..."

He whispered her name and raced upstairs.

The guest room door was wide open, and the room looked far too tidy.

He opened the wardrobe. More than half her clothes were gone.

He pulled out his phone to call her.

A fresh wave of pain rippled through his stomach, like a knife twisting in his gut.

His hand shook, and he lost his grip.

Clatter— The phone hit the floor.

Kevin, who had followed him in, quickly knelt to retrieve it and helped Hudson into a chair.

"Sir, let me get your medication."

Hudson clutched his stomach and shook his head.

"Call Jade. Ask... ask her where she is."

The room fell into a deathly silence.

Kevin looked at Hudson and spoke tentatively.

"Sir, please... just take the medicine."

"What's the point?"

Hudson felt a surge of bitter resentment. Jade didn't give a damn about him anymore. She didn't care if he suffered. She probably wished he'd just drop dead.

Kevin stood in silence for a few seconds, holding the pills.

"If you won't take them, I'll put them away."

Before he could move, Hudson snatched the pills and swallowed them.

"Does everyone just want me to die in pain?"

Kevin lowered his head. "I never thought that, sir."

Hudson wasn't really looking for an answer. He leaned back against the headboard of Jade's bed.

"Find out where she is. I'm going to find her."

Kevin nodded. "Understood."

—

Habor City.

Jade dropped her bags at the hotel and reached out to Julian Forster. She needed people to track Victor Hales' every move in real-time.