Chapter 16: Hudson's Plan Crashed

Hudson's restless pacing filled his dimly lit room, his mind consumed by the memory of those men who had prevented him from taking Annette with him. "Who the hell did they think they were?" He muttered under his breath, frustration etched across his face. "Annette belongs to me; I have a contract to prove it."

As he finally settled into an armchair, he pondered his next move. "What am I going to do now?" Hudson mused aloud, his voice tinged with uncertainty. He reached for a crystal glass, pouring a generous measure of whiskey. Raising the glass to his lips, he took a long, contemplative sip, the amber liquid warming his senses.

"Alright, maybe I brought this on myself." Hudson mumbled, taking another swig of his whiskey. "I did tell her the only time I needed her was at night to keep my bed warm, so I can't really blame myself for being jealous."

"But she was still my responsibility, so I had every right to know where she was and what she was up to." He pondered to himself. Finishing