Chapter 11

Her face twisted with disgust. “Where are you running to? I heard that wretched woman is dead. Never liked her anyway.”

“Perfect timing, actually. Leon’s your real son, and I adore him. Just marry Valeria and make it official.”

Hudson stared at her. “Mom, what are you talking about? Val’s married.”

“She hasn’t told you? She was never married.”

“She had her reasons for leaving. But look—she’s given you this wonderful son. Let the past go. Make her your wife.”

Valeria clutched his hand, feigning innocence. “Baby, everything I did was for us.”

“She doesn’t deserve your love. Couldn’t even have kids. We’re perfect together. Now that she’s gone, we can finally—”

Hudson yanked his hand away, his eyes cold. “For us? What exactly did you sacrifice, Valeria?”

“All these years, I gave you more time than Reese ever got. The gifts, the cash—way more than she ever saw. But did she complain? Never.”

“Because of you, she lost our baby. Can’t have another. And how dare you say she’s not good enough? Reese is the one who suffered.”

“Valeria, we’re done. It’s none of my business whether you’re married or single. After all I’ve done for you, Reese is my legal wife. And she is still alive.”

“And by the way? I never realized you’d raised Leon to be such an entitled brat.”

“The company transfer is terminated. If I hear either of you gossip about Reese again, you won’t like the consequences.”

He turned to his mother, his voice deadly quiet. “Mom? Stay out of my business. Unless you want to see what living on social security and food stamps looks like.”

Without another glance, Hudson bolted from the hotel.

Hudson flew home in a panic, but the sight that greeted him sent him crumbling to the floor.