The Billionaire Twins Need A New Mommy!

Chapter 825: Draken’s Sacrifice

Everyone stayed in the hospital as there were more discussions about what to do. Lola had already dealt with the aftermath, but that didn’t mean she had to carry everything alone—especially when Marceline, Draken, Atlas, and Henrik were still alive.

And whatever decision they—the council—would reach regarding what to do with the church was for them to decide.

Surprisingly, they all came to a fair conclusion after days of endless meetings while still wearing their hospital gowns.

Since the cardinal’s actions and decisions were driven by self-righteousness, and the members of the church had shown clear disapproval of him. Plus, that same cardinal had taken the Pope hostage.

So, the council had sentenced the church to a ten-year probation.

It meant every document they had from the past, as well as any future records, would be disclosed to the others. They feared the cardinal might have left something behind. This was to ensure that the church remained transparent so it could slowly regain everyone’s trust.

It might be a long time, but it was a start.

Moreover, the council also removed the church’s vote within it. Although they were not completely shunned, they would still be required to attend every council meeting. It placed the church at a disadvantage, but considering how severe the consequences would have been if the cardinal had succeeded, it sounded fair.

The church had agreed to it—even the Pope.

These conditions might have placed them in a vulnerable position. But at the same time, if something like that happened again, the other founding families would know immediately and provide aid.

As for the other founding families, they would refocus on rebuilding their territories. Once they finished, they were required to report to the council and disclose any additional information they might discover. Failing to do so could strain the fragile relationship they had managed to build during this crisis.

It wasn’t just the founding families who had grown closer because of this crisis and because they had all teamed up for a single goal. Even the soldiers who fought alongside each other had managed to make friends among the other forces.

*

*

*

"My best friend, you look down," Draken said as he sat on the bed right beside Charles’s.

Charles was sitting there with a grim expression on his face. When he looked up, he huffed.

"Draken," Charles cleared his throat. "I told you I’d let you meet Haines someday."

Draken nodded. "I’d like to see what kind of man would marry someone half his age."

"Forget about that." Charles shook his head. "You’re my best friend now."

Draken smiled in satisfaction. "Your boy is very unhappy about that, and it makes me happier!"

"And since you’re my best friend, can you do me one favor?"

"Of course! That’s what best friends are for!"

"..."

Slowly, the corners of Charles’s lips curled into a smile. Seeing how diabolical it looked, Draken suddenly felt like he had just made a mistake.

But before Draken could say anything, Charles clasped both his hands together.

"Can you... do the explaining to my wife?"

"Huh?"

"I just remembered I should be in the hospital."

"You are in the hospital."

"In a different one after getting into a mild accident," Charles said, smiling until his eyes squinted as he chuckled evilly. "And because I was very worried about my son, I forgot to tell her. She’s going to kill me, my best friend."

Draken thought about it for a second, tilting his head as he studied Charles’s evil expression. Honestly, he didn’t understand it.

Why would Charles feel the need to ask his best friend to explain things to his wife?

It was just a wife!

Wasn’t Charles the man of the house?

For him, and in his tribe, women were expected to submit to their husbands. Even if they were upset, serving the men was simply natural. Though Draken’s relationship with his wife was neutral, there had never been a time when he felt nervous whenever she got upset. Well, sometimes he did feel worried.

Draken, after all, was the only tribe leader who didn’t take second or third wives.

"Heh," Draken clasped Charles’s hand and nodded. "Sure! I’ll make sure your wife understands!"

"Hehehe..."

Even so, Draken didn’t understand that evil chuckle. Nor did he understand why, when he joined the Bennets—who were flying back—everyone was smiling at him just like Charles.

It looked like their expressions had been copy-pasted.

Even Atlas was smiling at him like that.

"What a strange family," he mumbled to himself and shrugged, agreeing to make a detour to Anteca before returning home to his tribe.

*

*

*

After almost an entire day of traveling, everyone was inside a big van with Draken.

"What a nice gate!" he intoned happily as he leaned forward to look through the windshield. "Haha! Surely, my best friend is a rich guy! Rich guy!"

Draken turned his head to the other passengers in the van, who were all looking at him with strange little smiles.

"You lot..." he scoffed. "You’re all very weird."

But that only made their smiles stretch wider.

Draken simply ignored them, shaking his head. But as he leaned back while waiting for them to reach the residence, his brows knitted together.

"Is this driveway a little too long?" he wondered aloud. "We’re taking quite a while."

Draken glanced to the side, only to notice that their van was moving very, very slowly. Even a snail could wiggle past them at this point.

He shifted his eyes to the driver’s seat. Hugo was behind the wheel.

"Hey, why are you driving so slow?" he asked, only to pause when he noticed the entrance of the home.

There, standing on the porch, was a woman burning—almost quite literally.

Draken rubbed his eyes and peeked again, and he could have sworn he saw Allison’s hair floating in anger as the fire around her blazed even wilder. She also looked very evil—like she was wearing an Oni mask.

Draken gulped and laughed nervously, leaning back as he turned to the others.

"I think I should stop here and book a hotel—"

Just as he reached for the door to jump out of the slow-moving vehicle, countless pairs of hands grabbed him.

Even Atlas, who was beside him, was gripping his arm.

Atlas, almost like he was possessed, breathed out through gritted teeth, "You promised."

"Best friend, don’t leave me," Charles added nervously. "Please."

"Uncle, I’ll give you Third Brother’s snacks," Penny said, her eyes gleaming with murderous intent. "You gave your word."

"If I die, you’re the first person I’ll haunt," Slater, who was behind him, said with his eyes glinting evilly. "Uncle Baby, you’re... you’re very strong, right?"

Zoren, beside Penny, also clutched Draken. "Please. Just this once."

Even Finn, who was smiling, held onto Draken with all his might. After all, he had just seen his wife with his mother-in-law.

"I’m so doomed," he muttered. "Uncle, please tank this one for us."

"..."

Draken, who had agreed to Charles’s request simply because he didn’t understand them earlier, gulped.

Everyone’s eyes gleamed like hungry wolves in the dark woods, staring at him like prey. But now, he finally understood what it felt like to be thrown under the bus.

Not just by his selfish best friend, but by these jerks of children as well!

That night, Draken experienced the greatest culture shock of his life.

It began when Allison stopped him before he could even explain.

"Zip it, big man. You’ll have your turn."

And soon he found himself kneeling with his arms raised, along with everyone else, before eventually having a slumber party in the garage with every man in the family.

The ladies?

Well, they got away, especially when Lola forced out a tear... except for Penny, who earned a full earful from Allison.