New World with Four Husbands-Chapter 626: Apologizing and assurance

"Mama!" Coco called for her mother, her voice echoing down the hall. "We’re back! I brought my friends with me!"

Then, she proceeded to walk down the hall and drag Jacques further into the house, only stopping at where the kitchen is and pushed the door open to look inside.

She became face to face with Heiren, his brown eyes wide with delight. "Welcome home!"

The mediator leaned forward and captured his wife’s lips with his, but he was quick to pull away and turn his attention to the struggling woman in Coco’s arms.

"Why are you holding her like she’s some kind of hostage, Coco?"

Before Heiren could comment on how Coco was handling Jacques, Cleora had already spoken up and chastised her daughter.

"That’s not the correct way to show hospitality to our guest, child!" Cleora hissed the words out, but her face and the way she looked at Coco was soft. "Hand off her at this instant!"

What? Coco blinked and did as she was told, not wanting to anger her mother.

"No need to lecture me." Coco mumbled, quickly unwrapping her arms around Jacques and begrudgingly let go of her friend. "It’s not like I’m hurting her or anything."

Coco turned to Jacques, her eyes wide. "Isn’t that right, Jacques?"

Jacques was too disoriented and nervous to process what was happening around her, so when Coco turned to her and asked something without context, she merely nodded her head in agreement.

"Huh? O-Oh, yeah.. Right, right." The pink haired woman mumbled, sniffling quietly.

Coco’s eyes softened at the sight of her friend’s tears and couldn’t help, but feel bad for putting her in such a crazy ordeal.

"May we be excused for a moment, mama?" Coco asked, looking past Heiren to glance at her mother. "I gotta talk about something important with Jacques. We won’t take long. I promise."

"Sure, my love! Have fun, you two!" Cleora said, letting her know that she didn’t mind one bit.

The house was already filled with different kinds of pleasant and mouthwatering scents, but still, she wasn’t done cooking.

She wanted her daughter’s friends to have a taste of her cooking, to impress them and let them know that she’s a cool mom, to let them know that they can trust her because she’s their friend’s mother.

And she was well too familiar with the phrase that a way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, which also can be used for friends and enemies alike.

So, everything must be cooked perfectly!

"Thanks, mama!" Coco called over before turning back to Heiren and giving him a quick kiss on the lips. "I’ll be back with Jacques shortly. Have my cocoa ready, please."

Heiren flinched, not expecting the kiss, but when it registered on his head, a warmth spread across his face.

Coco didn’t stay any longer and dragged Jacques into the first floor bathroom, locking the two of them inside and turning around to face her friend with an apologetic look on her face.

"I’m sorry." Coco mumbled, her voice filled with remorse. "I didn’t mean to be an asshole. I’m sorry. Would you like me to walk you back to your house to change? Mama’s not done cooking yet, so we have time.." 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Jacques blinked slowly, still disoriented. "What? No, no, no, no.. Your mother sounded like she’s a kind woman, so I don’t think.."

She stopped talking and she pursed her lips, her eyebrows furrowing. "Are you sure that your mother wouldn’t think that I’m not worthy to be your friend if she sees me like this?"

"She already saw you." Coco pointed out bluntly, tilting her head. "Did she sound like she doesn’t like you? She even went as far as scolding me for dragging you inside the house like that.. And even called you my hostage."

It didn’t register in Jacques’ head at first because she was too worried about ruining her first impression of Coco’s mother, but when she put it like that..

"Well, you did hold me like I’m a hostage." Jacques giggled, her worries and fears vanishing in an instant.

"Hey!" Coco exclaimed, her voice bouncing off the bathroom’s walls. "I was only holding you like that because you were kicking and struggling! How am I supposed to hold you then?"

Jacques shook her head, laughing softly. "You’re so silly. Anyway, I feel fine now.. Forgive me for overreacting."

"You’re not." Coco quickly denied Jacques’ claim about her feelings, her eyebrows furrowing in disagreement. "Don’t ever say that about yourself, okay? I understand that you were anxious. It’s usually like that if you’re meeting a friend’s parents. It’s normal."

Jacques giggled and shook her head. "Yet, you brought me while I’m crying and told you that I wanted to change my dress."

Almost immediately, a guilt expression crossed Coco’s face. "I know. I am an asshole. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have forced you like that and let you change your dress. I’m really sorry—"

"Hey, hey, hey." Jacques quickly stopped Coco from apologizing further. "I don’t mind. It’s fine. You only meant well."

"I shouldn’t have." Coco mumbled, a lump forming in her throat as she recalled how hard Jacques fought in her grip, but since Coco is stronger, Jacques wasn’t able to get out of her arms.

"It’s really fine." Jacques assured her, smiling softly. "Let’s go now, shall we? I’m sure that your husbands are waiting for you."

"Are you sure that you’re fine?" Coco asked, but she moved out of the way when Jacques softly nudged her to the side and opened the door. "You don’t want to go home to change your dress? I can run fast—"

"I’m fine, Coco." Jacques laughed, wrapping her fingers around Coco’s wrist. "Seriously, stop. I’m fine now."

Coco felt guilty, but if Jacques is assuring her like this, then she’s really fine now, right? There’s no underlying meaning in her words or something, right?

"Come on." Jacques tugged Coco towards the kitchen, erasing her worries from her mind.