New World with Four Husbands-Chapter 582: Mother and daughter talk [2]

Coco stared at Cleora, her eyes rounding in surprise— a mix of emotions swimming through their emerald depths.

"Oh, mama.." She breathed out, the words catching in her throat, her voice shaking as she flashed Cleora a smile. "To think you’re considering them like this.. It means you care."

But something in Cleora’s expression shifted— the sadness in her eyes deepening, almost like she wished it were otherwise, and it made Coco realize something that sent a flutter of fear through her chest.

"You’re thinking about leaving, aren’t you?" Coco asked in a breathy whisper.

Cleora’s eyes brimmed with tears, showing the conflicting emotions churning inside her, a sight that squeezed Coco’s heart.

"I’m thinking about it.." She admitted, voice wavering slightly as she said aloud what they both already knew. "But I don’t want to lose you again, my child."

The older woman’s hand squeezed Coco’s tightly, fingers almost trembling. "It took me so long to find you. I can’t.. Not so easily this time."

Her gaze locked with Coco’s, silently pleading for understanding— or maybe for a miracle.

Coco nodded slowly, her grip tightening on Cleora’s hand as if she could anchor her here through sheer will.

"I know, mama." She whispered. "I just.. I just got you back."

The words were raw, vulnerable— like she was afraid speaking too loudly would shatter the fragile moment between them. "I don’t want to lose you again either."

Then her lips quirked, just a little, despite the ache in her chest.

"But... it’s obvious to me." She added softly, her gaze flickering to look at Cleora’s eyes. "That you have grown to love them, too, even if you don’t realize it yet."

The way Cleora’s breath hitched told Coco everything she needed to know and it only made her smile grow wider. ".. S-So what if we both went instead? We don’t have to be in pain like this, you know?"

Cleora’s eyes widened, tears spilling over. "You.. You would come?"

"Where else would I be?" Coco asked, rolling her tear filled eyes. "You found me, so you’re stuck with me, mama."

Cleora giggled, the sound high and soft in the quiet room, and she leaned forward, pressing her forehead against Coco’s as gentle tears slid down her cheeks.

"Oh, you sweet child.." Cleora murmured softly, voice filled with both amusement and awe. "You’re saying that to me, but what about your husbands? They wouldn’t let you leave without them, would they?"

Coco’s breath hitched at the reminder, her heart suddenly racing.

The thought of just leaving them..

Her chest tightened at the thought because she knew herself that she would never let them go without a fight.

But then again, her mother is right in front of her.

Coco frowned, a sigh escaping her lips as she considered Cleora’s suggestion.

"I don’t know." She admitted, voice laced with uncertainty. "Could you stay here for a few days? So I can think about it..?"

"I don’t know, either, baby." Cleora looked away, pulling her head away from Coco’s.

"Actually, mama..." Coco added slowly, the word stretching between them like a lifeline. "They’re not technically my husbands.. I just refer to them as that."

Cleora blinked, pulling back further to look at her daughter with wide eyes.

"Excuse me?" she echoed, voice higher than earlier, like she couldn’t believe what she had just heard, her grip loosening on Coco’s hand as she stared at her in confusion. "What do you mean they’re not your husbands?"

Coco pulled away from Cleora’s touch, flopping backward onto her bed with a sigh.

She stared up at the ceiling and avoided her mother’s gaze before answering haltingly "I meant that they’re... not mine."

She paused, thinking of the right words to say to explain her situation better. "They belonged to the original owner of this body and I promised that I would divorce them.."

She stopped and swallowed hard, her fingers twisting in the sheets. "I ended up loving them too much to go through with it."

Cleora stayed silent for a long moment, processing this— before exhaling slowly.

"So they are yours now, Coco." Cleora said simply with a sigh, though her tone was gentle rather than accusing.

Coco’s cheeks warmed. "I wish, so I’m trying to make them mine.."

"Well.." Cleora murmured and flashed Coco a smile. "I suppose that answers that question, hm? No need to worry about it anymore."

Coco peeked up at her, hesitant. "Which one?"

Cleora smiled, soft and knowing, as she nudged Coco with the back of her wrist. "The one about whether they would follow you to the ends of the earth."

Coco pressed her hands into her face and groaned. "Mama."

Cleora laughed— truly laughed, for the first time in what felt like forever and dropped onto the bed beside Coco, her laughter still bubbling up as she nudged her daughter playfully once again.

"Oh, baby," she said, her voice warm with amusement and something softer. "I saw how they looked at you. Those men would march into hell itself if you asked."

She stopped for a second, her voice a mere whisper. "And since we live longer than them.. Wouldn’t it be better to stay? To give them all the time you can?"

Coco bit her lip, her chest tightening at the thought. "But what about you, mama?"

Cleora hummed and reached over, brushing a stray lock of hair from Coco’s forehead. "I can wait, my love. A few decades for them.. Is nothing compared to centuries with you."

The words settled over them like a promise— one that didn’t need to be rushed and for the first time since this conversation began, Coco felt something unclench inside her.

"..Okay." She murmured, turning her face into her mother’s shoulder.

Cleora pressed a kiss to her hair, causing Coco to bite her lower lip to hold back the tears that were threatening to spill over.

At that moment, she couldn’t help, but feel like a child again— small and vulnerable.