I transmigrated and got a husband and a son!
Chapter 1143: Friendship, family, loyalty

Chapter 1143: Friendship, family, loyalty

[Years ago]

Grandma Zhu chuckled happily as she held the telephone to her ear. Her face glowed in satisfaction just by talking to the person on the other end of the line. If any of her associates and everyone who knew her had seen her, they would surely rub their eyes or wonder if they were seeing correctly. After all, she was no easy woman and was known as a tigress in the business world.

She’s a woman not to mess with.

"Those times." Grandma Zhu chuckled, leaning comfortably against the settee. She smacked her lips mildly, her smile switching into a subtle one. "So, how was your little girl, Felice?"

"She is no longer a little girl." Felice, who was on the other end of the line, chuckled. "She is now a beautiful young swan... her words. I’m so glad I didn’t give her to you when she was still a child."

"Your husband wouldn’t have let you."

Felice smiled and didn’t speak for a moment. "He would’ve, but we were selfish and greedy."

"You are a mother, Felice—a mother who will do anything for her child. Choosing to raise her is not wrong." Grandma Zhu nodded reassuringly, even though Felice wouldn’t see her. "No one else can raise her properly aside from you."

"Still, can you blame me?"

Grandma Zhu let out a shallow breath as she could already imagine the look on Felice’s face with that tone alone. "I can’t. Being a parent is more challenging than rewarding. Every day we wake up, we’re either looking forward to the wonders of the world or fearing that something bad will happen to them."

"The older Hera gets, the more concerned I am with her well-being. She could’ve had a normal childhood and life if she hadn’t grown up here."

"Felice."

"Now, I can’t send her over there anymore, can I?"

The smile on Grandma Zhu’s face faded slowly.

"Why didn’t you tell me, Donna?" Felice continued, this time, her voice was even more solemn. "Why didn’t you tell me that she has found you and was threatening you and your family?"

"Felice, I —" Grandma Zhu halted and sighed. "I killed my husband to protect my family, trampled others for the same reason, and became as heartless as I can so no one will even dare hurt them. Just like you, I am a woman who would do anything to protect my family. This matter is mine to settle, not yours."

"But you are being threatened because of me, Donna," Felice stressed. "What do you think I would do if my friend is being harassed just because you know me?"

"Do you not trust me, Felice?" Grandma Zhu frowned deeply. "I am no longer the battered wife you once knew. I owe you my life and my family’s life. Do not argue with me."

"Sadly, that is the argument I wanted to say. Do not argue with me here."

"This is none of your concern."

"Donna, I am Felice Cruel. If that name isn’t enough explanation, then should I tell you who and where I stand in the world you cannot even walk in?" Felice let out a low hiss. "Your contacts aren’t gonna help or protect you. If you are up against some regular mobs, perhaps they would. But if I send out a kill order on you, you’d be dead before they know it."

Grandma Zhu pursed her lips into a thin line, unable to retort with her. How could she argue with that when what Felice said was nothing but facts? The threat in her life and her family’s life hadn’t made her sleep at night for some time now. However, she didn’t want to implicate Felice.

After all, Felice might be a friend, but she was also family to her.

Felice helped her many times, but this was something Grandma Zhu didn’t want her to help. Because Grandma Zhu knew that once Felice stepped in, it wouldn’t end well for her.

"Felice." Grandma Zhu sighed heavily. "Those people are simply trying to lure you out by using me. I won’t forgive myself if they get their hands on you through me. So, stop and trust me. I will protect my family like I always do, and you protect yours."

Felice didn’t answer for quite some time, but her silence was enough for Grandma Zhu to understand she disagreed with her.

"I am protecting mine, Donna," Felice replied quietly after a stifling silence. "You are my family and I am yours. Isn’t that the reason why you, who did everything for the family, would put them in danger to protect me?"

"I’m not putting them in danger."

"You are." Felice hissed. "I cannot do this to you, nor can I do this to myself."

"Those people... had been wanting your head, Felice. And you ran away from them. Vincenzo protected you, but he’s dead now."

"I can’t keep running away from them, Donna." Felice shook her head. "Not when my only friend, my people, and my child are on the line. If you think by refusing them, they would stop, they won’t. They’ll kill you and your entire family just as they told you. And if you’re dead, who is going to take care of Hera?"

"You promised me, Donna. That if something happened to me, you’re going to take Hera away from here and give her a different life," Felice continued. "I can’t let you die because if you do, they’ll find someone else and try to lure me out. Eventually, they will find me and do you know who is the first person they’d kill? My daughter."

"I have to stop them now before it’s too late," Felice added under her breath. "Don’t be foolish, Donna. I know you want to protect me, but between us, I am more capable."

Grandma Zhu drew a deep breath as she leaned back. "This is what I hate about you, Felice."

"Tell me. What else did they tell you aside from threatening your life and your family?"

"They wanted me to call you." Grandma Zhu sighed heavily. "And tell you to meet me."

"Then, I’ll meet you."

"Felice."

"Agree to them. Although they’re heartless people, they keep their word. As long as you agree to lure me out, they will stop pestering you."

Grandma Zhu frowned deeply. "This is dangerous."

"Donna, don’t you know me?" Felice smirked proudly. "There’s a reason they wanted me dead when I already told them I don’t care about what’s theirs. Because they knew that once I got interested, I could steal everything from them."

"Felice, I know you’re capable. But through experience, I have to warn you." Grandma Zhu’s expression turned solemn. "Things change, Felice. It’s been a long time since you ran away from home. You don’t know what changed back in there."

"I got it, Donna." Felice rocked her head reassuringly. "Don’t worry."

Don’t worry.

Felice always had a way to make someone feel at ease and reassured. But for some reason, after hearing it now, Grandma Zhu didn’t feel at ease. If anything, her gut feeling told her this wouldn’t end well. Even so, she understood Felice’s concern and respected her decision. Thus, as instructed, Grandma Zhu agreed to her enemies and ’lured’ out Felice.