From His Ex-Wife to the World's Most Sought-After Restorer (Jade and Hudson) novel Chapter 178

"Look at you, Cortney! Have you grown taller since I last saw you?"

"I have!" Cortney chirped, happily chatting with the older woman.

Seeing them occupied, Amara spoke as if she were just making idle conversation.

"You know, Rosa... I remember Jade and Hudson were fighting so much. I thought she'd moved out for good. Why did she suddenly come back?"

Rosa felt the question was a bit intrusive and didn't answer right away.

Amara let out a heavy, guilt-ridden sigh.

"I know it's not my place to ask, Rosa. But I don't mean anything bad by it. I know I've made mistakes in the past. I'm just here to help them fix things."

Rosa was skeptical, but she didn't show it. Amara noticed the hesitation and intentionally shifted her sleeve to show her scars, adding weight to her story.

"I... I was sick. I couldn't control what I was doing or saying to her. But I know I was wrong now. I want to make amends. Please, Rosa, give me a chance to help them."

Rosa looked at the jagged scars on the woman's arm and gasped in horror.

"Good heavens! What happened to your arm?"

Amara seized the woman's hand, her voice trembling.

"I was sick, Rosa. I couldn't stop myself. But I really want to help Hudson and Jade get back to how they were. You want that too, don't you?"

Rosa had been with the couple since the beginning. Seeing them like this broke her heart.

She eventually succumbed to Amara's performance. She sat down on a stone bench and began to speak softly.

"Ma'am didn't want to come back. The Master... he found Ma'am's mother's ashes and used them to force her home. I can tell he cares for her, but the way he goes about it is just..."

She shook her head sadly.

"I'm afraid it's only pushing her further away."

"That's just terrible! Hudson went too far. I'm going to have a serious talk with him about this!"

Amara played along, but her mind was racing as she processed the crucial information.

So that's it. Jade was only here because Hudson was holding her mother's ashes hostage.

That meant if the ashes were gone, Jade would leave. And she'd probably hate Hudson for it.

Perfect. That made things much easier.

Amara pulled out her phone and sent a quick text to Chloe Bennett.

She didn't take the folder. She looked Julian in the eye, her expression serious.

"I told you, that was my way of paying you back for everything you've done for me. I can't take shares for that."

If it hadn't been for Julian, she might have been killed by that man in the mask.

Saving her life wasn't something a single business deal could repay.

"Business is business," Julian said, taking a sip of water.

"You're the reason I got that deal. If I don't give you a cut, my grandfather will never let me hear the end of it—and my own conscience wouldn't allow it."

He looked deep into her eyes.

"Unless... you're really that desperate to cut ties with me?"

This was the second time Julian had asked that. Jade had wanted to clear the air last time, and now seemed like the perfect moment.

"It's not that at all. I just feel like you've done too much for me already, and I don't know how to repay it... as for the shares, I never expected to profit from this."

"I know," Julian said, a small smile playing on his lips.

"I know exactly what kind of person you are. Just take them. Don't be formal with me."