“Ellie, over here!”Kristine stood up and waved enthusiastically.Hudson had already turned back around, calmly picking vegetables and placing them into the bubbling hot pot.“Hudson, let me introduce you,” Kristine said cheerfully as she pulled the woman closer. “This is my best friend, Ellie!”She was so focused on the introduction that she didn’t notice the look of shock on Ellie’s face the moment she saw Hudson.Hudson lifted his head, met Ellie’s gaze, and spoke first with a faint smile. “California really is small. Didn’t expect to run into you here.”Now it was Kristine’s turn to be stunned. She blinked, then stammered, “Wait… you two know each other?”Ellie smiled and nodded, then explained calmly, “Hudson is the head of security at our company, and he’s also the boyfriend of our company president.”She deliberately emphasized the second part.Some time ago, Kristine had mentioned that she’d met a young, wealthy man. She’d sounded unsure of herself, even saying she didn’t feel

After signaling for her daughter to be ready, Jessa turned around and opened the door.The moment it swung open, she struck without hesitation. Her hand shot forward and clamped tightly around Hudson’s throat.Before acting, Jessa had already prepared herself for resistance. She expected a struggle, maybe even a desperate fight. Instead, Hudson didn’t move at all. He didn’t dodge. He didn’t block. He simply let her grab him.Jessa froze.She hadn’t expected it to be this easy. Still, she didn’t allow herself to think too much. Her expression hardened as she turned sharply toward Nathan and the others behind Hudson.“Back off,” she shouted coldly. “All of you. One more step and I’ll snap his neck.”Nathan didn’t move.Neither did the members of the Blue Tiger Crew.It wasn’t arrogance. It was a certainty. Even if Hudson stood perfectly still, this woman couldn’t hurt him.“Hudson… why?” Ellie stepped forward, her eyes red as she looked at him.Hudson was just about to speak when Jessa

Memories needed the right kind of trigger.Hudson knew he hadn’t been that young back then. He must have known who his parents were. If he could just recover those lost memories, many questions about his past could finally be answered.Before, Ellie had mentioned that she used to call him “Brother Willie,” which meant they must have spent time together when they were younger.Ellie thought for a moment before speaking.“It’s been so long… I don’t remember everything clearly.”“It’s okay,” Hudson said gently. “Just tell me whatever you do remember.”He didn’t have much hope that this would restore his memory, but there was no harm in trying.Ellie began to recall what she could.She said that one day, her father suddenly told the family he had to go out to handle something. The next day, he came back to their home in Northern California carrying Hudson, who was covered in blood.At the time, the Brown family had asked whose child he was. But Ellie’s father refused to say much. He only

The Abbot’s brows furrowed slightly. After thinking it over, he couldn’t recall any notable figures connected to Omega Villa.He had lived in the temple for many years and knew very little about the outside world.Looking at Hudson’s calm smile, he instinctively assumed the young man was bluffing. He glared at him and said coldly,“You’d better start talking. Where is the Brown family’s daughter?”Hudson didn’t answer directly. Instead, he said,“You’re looking for the Brown family’s daughter because you want the dragon-shaped jade pendant… right?”“Do you know where it is?”Abbot's expression shifted instantly. His eyes locked onto Hudson.Ever since they’d lost track of their target twenty years ago, the dragon-shaped jade pendant had vanished along with him.Now this young man was bringing it up on his own. That meant he’d either seen it… or knew exactly where it was.The Abbot quietly took a breath, suppressing the excitement rising in his chest. His face turned serious.“Young ma

Hudson’s calm gaze carried an overwhelming pressure. Nathan felt a bitter smile rise in his chest.He knew very well the boss wasn’t joking this time.Thinking back on his life, decades spent scraping along the edges of California’s underworld, he couldn’t help but feel a little pathetic.Now, with Hudson as his backer, many things he once thought were impossible might finally become reality.Nathan gritted his teeth and nodded.“I want to.”“As long as you need me to do it, Boss, I’ll do it.”Hudson smiled faintly and nodded, then teased,“Don’t look so serious. I’m not sending you to your death.”He paused before continuing,“In that case… we’ll start with California. First, we turn this place into our territory.”“There are things that still require you to stand in the spotlight. I’ll stay behind the scenes.”Nathan nodded instinctively, But then he froze. He stared at Hudson, excitement and nervousness mixing on his face.“Boss… I, I heard you right, didn’t I? You… you’re planning