Chapter 3

Hudson's POV

I forced myself to stop trembling and asked hoarsely, "Grace, don't you owe me an explanation?"

Grace frowned slightly on the couch, looking somewhat impatient. She retorted, "Get your mind out of the gutter. I'm just Aria's godmother."

Just then, Jason walked over, wiping his hands. "Hudson, have a seat. Just let me explain."

He half-led, half-dragged me over to the dining table. Aria followed curiously, wrapping her arms around Grace's leg.

He bit his lip, then explained, "Aria is indeed related to Grace by blood, but she is actually her sister's daughter. I used to be with her sister. But she died in the line of duty, leaving Aria behind. I've raised her on my own all these years. Without Grace's help, I honestly don't know how we would've managed."

As he spoke, his eyes welled up with tears.

Grace lifted Aria onto her lap and patted Jason on the shoulder with one hand. She did it so naturally and familiarly, as if she'd done it countless times.

When she saw that I still hadn't said a single word or shed a single tear, her tone turned colder. "Hudson, enough with the tantrum. Aria is the only child in our family. Do you really want to stand by and watch her end up with nowhere to go?"

When I heard those words, I suddenly remembered something else. Two years ago, Grace had been pregnant too. She was just over two months along when she was assigned to a pursuit operation. She chased the suspect for three blocks and finally tackled him to the ground. Only then did she realize something was wrong with her stomach.

At the hospital, we found out that she had already lost the baby. Heartbroken, I rushed to the hospital. But Grace wouldn't even let me into her room. "You should go home. Some of my colleagues are here. It wouldn't look good if they saw you."

But when I peered through the crack in the hospital room door, I saw Jason gently feeding her water. They looked completely at ease with each other.

Outside the door, I clenched my fists tightly. My own child was gone, and yet, for the sake of maintaining appearances, I didn't even have the right to be by my wife's side.

I closed my eyes and forced those memories back down. I said, "Alright. Just say what you have to say. I'm in a hurry."

Jason and Grace exchanged a glance. He hesitated for a long time before finally speaking. "Hudson, I know this house belongs to you, but Aria is starting elementary school now. Without a home or family, she won't be able to enroll.

"I was wondering if you'd be willing to temporarily transfer ownership of this house to my name. Once she's finished school, I'll transfer it right back. Not a minute later."

When he finished speaking, he looked at me expectantly.

I looked at them. Instead of crying or making a scene, I laughed. "You two went to all this trouble, coming up with so many lies just to deceive me. Aren't you exhausted?"

Seeing the shock on their faces, I pulled out the document I had printed at the administrative office. I unfolded it and put it on the coffee table, my expression composed.

The words on the page were crystal clear. Grace Rivera and Jason Shaw are legally married. The date of their marriage was seven years ago.

At that, the living room fell completely silent.