Chapter 12 Matthew responded with a calm demeanor , " Mrs. Ashley , you know we never dare to ask about his business . Even if we did know , we wouldn't dare to tell you . Please understand . " Samantha covered her face with both hands , her tears falling freely . " I know I'm putting you in a difficult position , but I've run out of options . Hudson won't tell me anything . My father's still unconscious from surgery , and now the Chapman family is in ruins . All my leads have gone cold . Even if I die , I want to die knowing the truth , rather than living in torment at his hands . " " Mrs. Ashley , Miss Ashley's matters are off - limits for us , " Matthew said quietly . Seemingly aware of Samantha's intentions , Matthew wrote down an address on a piece of paper and handed it to her . " As a favor , this is what I can do for you . " Samantha glanced down at the piece of paper , her gaze falling on the address of a cemetery . A chilling thought struck her . ' Has his sister already died ? But what did his sister's death have to do with my father ? ' From everything she knew about Theo , he would never harm a little girl . Knowing that neither of them would reveal much , Samantha didn't push further . She stayed silent for the rest of the journey , all the way to the Ashley villa . Arriving at the familiar place again , Samantha felt a rush of emotions . Matthew politely asked , " Are you getting out ? " 10:17 Chapter 12 "No , I'll just wait for him here , " she replied . 128 Vouchers Her last connection with Hudson was the divorce . She didn't want any unnecessary drama . Besides , every tree , every blade of grass here carried the memories of the two of them , and she didn't want to relive the past . If there was anything to blame , it was that man who once cherished her like a treasure , only to treat her like dust now . Even though Hudson had grown colder with each passing day , she still held on to the good memories of him . She should hate him more than anyone , yet she couldn't bring herself to truly despise him . The car engine hummed , keeping her warm in the otherwise empty vehicle . Samantha's stomach twisted with pain again . She curled into a tight ball , hugging her knees , and waited for dawn . The winter nights were long . It was still only a little past seven , and the sky remained cloudy and dim . The ginkgo tree in the yard had long lost all its leaves . Samantha's thoughts drifted back in time . During the season when the golden fruit would ripen , she had once asked for chicken soup . Hudson had climbed the 30 - foot - high ginkgo tree in the yard to shake the fruit down for her . The leaves , green and golden , would fall like a golden rain , the scene beautiful and gentle . Back then , Hudson had been so approachable , cooking her favorite meals , treating her like royalty . Thinking back , Samantha didn't even realize when she had walked to stand under that very tree . The ginkgo tree was still there , but everything 10170 Chapter 12 else had changed . 1720 / Vuchern The leaves had all fallen , leaving only a few fragile ones clinging to the branches , much like her now fragile relationship with Hudson . As Hudson stepped out of the villa , he was met with this scene . Samantha stood under the tree , her face turned upward , her thin knit sweater hardly enough to protect her from the cold wind . The first rays of sunlight broke through the clouds , landing gently on her face . Her skin seemed almost ethereal , as if she could vanish at any moment . Her hands were still bandaged , and curiously , she was still wearing the clothes from the night before . She looked exhausted and pale . " Hudson , " she said softly , without turning around , but somehow , she knew he had arrived . " Yeah ? " Samantha slowly turned around , her gaze falling on him . They were so close now , but it felt like they were worlds apart . " I want to have that soup you made again , " she said .. Hudson's eyes flickered with surprise for a moment , but then he said coldly , " Without seasonal ingredients , the soup can't be made . Don't waste your time . " Samantha's eyes reddened . She murmured , " Can't you at least fulfill this one last request before our divorce ? " Three months apart , and she seemed to have changed so much . Hudson turned his face away , looking at the barren tree . His voice softened , but only slightly . " The ones I froze last year aren't fresh 10 : 170 ler 12 208 vouchers ymore . If you want some , ask for it when next season's fruit is in . " mantha ran her fingers over the rough bark of the tree , wondering if she ould even live to see it . Iudson , do you hate me? " she asked quietly . do . " e turned to look at him , her voice soft but filled with sorrow . " Then ... ould you be happy if I died ? " 10.17 Chapter 13