From His Ex-Wife to the World's Most Sought-After Restorer (Jade and Hudson) novel Chapter 184

Taking a deep, shaky breath, Julian pulled a clean file bag from the glove box and stepped in front of her.

"Put them in here," he said, his voice raspy. "It's sealed. They won't fall out."

"Okay."

Jade began to meticulously place each shard into the bag, one by one, until it was sealed tight.

Without the ceramic to hide them, the wounds on her fingers were even more horrific. One cut was so deep it reached the bone.

Julian's eyes turned a lethal shade of red, but he remained silent. He helped her into the car and called his private doctor, ordering him to be ready at his residence immediately.

-

Inside the villa.

Hudson sat on the sofa, with Amara and Cortney standing before him.

"Cortney, tell me the truth. Why did you go into my study and take that urn?"

Hudson was usually a calm, gentle figure to Cortney. She had never seen him look so terrifyingly serious.

She began to tremble, tears welling in her eyes.

"I... I was just walking by. I saw the jar and thought it was pretty. I wanted to see it in the sun. Then the mean lady came and started yelling at me. She tried to take it, and I got scared. I didn't know why she was so mad!"

Amara stepped forward with a pained look, trying to protect her daughter and minimize the damage.

"Hudson, you've given her toys worth thousands before. It was just a ceramic jar. Is it really worth making such a scene over?"

Hudson massaged his temples, looking exhausted.

"That jar contained the remains of Jade's mother."

Amara's face went white. She looked as if she'd been struck by lightning.

"She... she was telling the truth? I thought... I thought she was just using it as an excuse to pick on us again."

Before Hudson could speak, Amara grabbed Cortney and began striking her across the backside.

"Who told you to touch things that don't belong to you? Didn't I tell you not to touch anything in someone else's house? You are a brat! I have to teach you a lesson so you never do it again!"

Cortney burst into a howl of pain.

"I remember, Mommy! I remember everything you said! But... but Daddy Hudson isn't 'someone else'!"

Amara didn't stop.

"Still talking back?!"

Cortney's face was beet-red as she sobbed hysterically.

"Waaaah! I'm sorry! I'm sorry, Mommy! I'll never do it again!"

"Enough."

Hudson finally called out, his voice weary.

Julian fetched a first-aid kit. Seeing Jade standing frozen in the center of the room, he gestured to a nearby velvet sofa.

"Sit. Let me look at your hands."

Jade nodded mechanically and sat down.

Julian knelt on the floor before her. He sterilized a pair of tweezers and gently took her hand, his movements as light as a feather as he began to remove the tiny ceramic slivers from her skin.

"This might sting. If I'm too rough, tell me."

Jade's fingers twitched instinctively. Julian held her hand firm.

"Does it hurt?"

Jade shook her head.

"Not really..."

"Then I'll keep going." Julian laid her hand across his knee, meticulously checking every millimeter of her skin for hidden shards.

Jade looked down at him. She saw the gentle, steady focus in his eyes.

He looked like a wild, dangerous man on the outside, yet he was more careful with her than anyone she'd ever known.

By the time he finished, the doctor had arrived.

The doctor examined the deep cuts and his brow furrowed.