I transmigrated and got a husband and a son!-Chapter 1169: Wallet

"You and my mother... aren’t on the same page, Mr. Zhu. You don’t know what she truly wants, nor the other four families. If any of the four families get to Hera first, it’ll be a bloody war based solely on the truth they twisted to take down my mother and every last member of our family, including me and Hera."

That was what Charlotte said, and it was something Axel didn’t want to buy. It was clear that Florence wanted Hera dead, no matter what. Looking at the determined young lady who was already toeing between the life of the alive and the spirit world, Axel let out a sigh.

"I understand you," he said after a momentary silence. "Florence is your mom and the person who birthed you. She’s your family — probably the only family you have. So, I understand you deny what your mother wants and what she is capable of for her ambition."

"You think she is good and that if you just try hard enough, she doesn’t have to cross the line. But she already did, and that isn’t the only thing she is going to do because soon, she’ll blur the lines as well," he continued solemnly, resonating with this young lady because he also felt the same helplessness until now. "They already hurt people, trampled them, and rationalized it. And it feels awful when their reason is family, but actually, it’s not. Because if it’s the family they protect, then they wouldn’t hurt another family member."

"I don’t have the means for you to meet Hera, but I can assure you she’ll kill you before you even get a word out. Do you know why?" Axel sighed. "Because your mother took away her only family. I’m not saying it is right or moral, but in her world, an eye for an eye. Florence killed her mother, and Hera will kill Florence’s daughter because that is how it works. I don’t know what kind of world Florence raised you in, but this is the real world."

Charlotte pursed her lips and bit her inner bottom lips. Tears formed in the corner of her eyes while staring at Axel.

"There should be a way, right?" she murmured.

Axel shook his head. "I’m afraid there isn’t."

"There’s always a way!" she intoned. "This isn’t about not having any choice. Hera and my mother have a choice and someone... someone just had to tell them that."

"It’s not about having no choice." This time, Axel couldn’t hide his displeasure about her idealism. "This is a matter of decision. Florence made a decision a long time ago, and Hera Cruel... also made hers the day she lost her mother."

"That is why I am here," he added. "Because Florence made a decision, and Hera as well, we are going to be affected. After all, they’re not the only ones who made a big decision at that time. My grandmother too."

"Now, if that is clear to you, I’ll drive you back." Axel repositioned himself in the driver’s seat. "You can’t have it both ways. If you truly care about your mother, then do what you should do for her. But if you want to betray her, I am not the person you come to. Our family already has a lot on our plates. We don’t plan to get in between."

With that being said, Axel started driving back to the hotel where Florence was staying. For the next few minutes, neither of them spoke.

"I still have to try." Charlotte’s whisper slashed through the thick silence in the air. "Meeting Hera Cruel is the only thing I could do for my mother that has a chance of making a difference."

She slowly raised her head, her eyes shining with determination. "If Hera kills me, then so be it. I’m dead anyway if the two of them fight."

"You are one stubborn fool."

"I am and this stubborn fool has to do everything since... it’s the only thing I can do." Charlotte gazed down, smiling bitterly. "If only I were just as capable as Hera and my mother, she wouldn’t have to worry about our family. Perhaps the four families wouldn’t even pressure us."

Axel couldn’t help but cast her a sidelong glance. At this point, he was so sure Charlotte was simply in denial. As the uninvolved family member, it was hard to accept the fact that the people they looked up to and admired turned out to be really cruel and heartless people.

"Please." Charlotte gazed down, clasping her hands in her lap. "Give me a chance. You don’t have to take me to Hera yourself. Just tell me where she is. I’m going to her on my own."

"Are you hearing yourself?" Axel scrunched up his nose. ’Here, I thought, I was the most foolish in this story. But I didn’t think there was someone more naive than me.’

"I told you before. I don’t have the means to take you to Hera Cruel. Moreover, sharing information in this situation isn’t ideal. It’s stupid," he grumbled. "We’re practically strangers. I don’t know you and you don’t know me. Who knows if this is nothing but an act you’re pulling?"

"But I’m not —"

"I’m saying even if you came to me with your heart on your sleeve, no one will easily believe it," Axel remarked. "Trust isn’t given so easily. It is earned."

"But you know I’m not acting," she argued strongly. "If I am, then my mother would’ve used me to do her bidding. But she doesn’t trust me to do a job well done. If she does, I wouldn’t have to sneak in her plane."

Axel slid his eyes to the corner but didn’t say anything. It wasn’t like he trusted her, but he knew she was for real. After being entrapped by conspiracies and schemes many times and after spending time with those bluffers (the Reapers), it had been easy to see through people.

’This is not the call I should make,’ he thought, slipping his hand to get a tiny phone that was half the size of a standard phone. He only pressed one button before holding the tiny phone in his ear. When the line connected, Axel wasted no time.

"I can’t talk now, but the good cop, bad cop, somehow worked," he remarked solemnly. "But... I picked up a... wallet."

"A wallet?" From the other end of the line was Dominic, furrowing his brows at his brother’s remarks.

Axel glanced at the front passenger seat. "Yeah. And I was wondering whether to return this wallet or take it back."

Dominic didn’t speak for a moment, pondering about what Axel meant by that. "Is it dangerous to take it back?" he asked.

"Very, but taking it back might solve a problem or two. The wallet has a lot of cards and a bit of cash, but the owner isn’t aware he lost his wallet."

"Take it back first," said Dominic. "Let’s see if it’s useful. If not, leave it where you picked it up before the owner notices."