From His Ex-Wife to the World's Most Sought-After Restorer (Jade and Hudson) novel Chapter 239

Julian dodged the shove but stayed firmly in the doorway.

"Everything."

Hudson swung a fist, his jaw clenched tight.

"She's my wife!"

Julian didn't move fast enough and took the hit, but he delivered a counter-punch instantly.

"And she's the woman I love!"

Just as they were about to tear into each other, the door swung open again.

Jade stood there, her face a mask of cold indifference.

"Please. Just go home. Both of you. I'm exhausted."

Between the worry over Jewell and everything else, she just didn't have the energy for this.

Julian immediately backed away from Hudson.

"Sorry."

Hudson's face was taut, his fists clenching and unclenching at his side.

He gave Jade one long, hard look, then turned and walked away.

Julian followed shortly after.

Night deepened.

Jade finished her work and started sketching out a map of where Jewell might be.

She was certain Victor was involved. She messaged Silas to keep a close eye on him.

She cleared her desk and picked up a heavy trash bag to take out.

When she came back, she was about to shut the door when a hand shot through the gap, forcing the door open.

"Ah!"

Jade let out a short scream and reacted instantly, throwing her weight against the door to slam it shut on the hand.

But the person outside was faster. He used his shoulder to absorb the impact and shoved his way in, his long leg hooking the door and slamming it shut with a loud thud.

Jade was terrified. She grabbed a vase from the table and hurled it.

The sound of shattering glass exploded in the quiet room.

The man dodged it easily. Jade reached for another vase, but before she could throw it, he grabbed her wrist.

Her arm was pinned, her movements completely restricted.

Jade looked up, meeting Hudson's smug, self-satisfied face.

"Come home with me," he said, his tone casual and slow.

Jade's chest was heaving with fury.

Hudson's eyes were starting to turn bloodshot.

"The only reason I'm here is for the family's reputation. We aren't divorced yet, and you're out here in public, living in a studio. How do you think that looks for the Walter family?"

"Don't give me that 'reputation' garbage!" Jade screamed back.

"Everyone in high society knows we're over! If you cared about your precious reputation, you'd sign the papers instead of stalking me!"

Hudson chose to ignore her, grabbing her arm and pulling her toward the door.

"As long as you're my wife, you'll act like it. Stop this nonsense."

"Let go!" Jade struggled, clawing at his arm.

"Don't touch me!"

Hudson didn't even blink, his eyes fixed forward as he ignored her pleas. As they passed the doorway, Jade lunged for a heavy broom leaning in the corner and swung it with everything she had at his head.

Dust exploded into the air, clouding his vision. Hudson flinched, his momentum breaking just long enough for him to wrench the broom from her grip and hurl it across the floor. He caught both her wrists in one hand, his grip like an iron vice, and began hauling her bodily toward the exit.

"Hudson, stop!"

Jade screamed, digging her heels into the floor and trying to wedge herself behind the heavy doorframe.

"Let me go! Get your damn hands off me!"

Every desperate struggle, every jagged word of rejection, was like pouring gasoline on the fire of Hudson's rage. His patience finally snapped.

He didn't hesitate. He hoisted her over his shoulder in one fluid, violent motion, ignoring her frantic pounding on his back as he marched back into the center of the studio. He slammed her down onto the solid worktable, pinning her against the wood as he crowded into the space between her legs, trapping her completely.