New World with Four Husbands

"Come again?"

Heiren felt like his ears were ringing, the words that Zaque had just said making his heart race in anxiety, and felt like he was just stabbed in the back.

He needed to hear what Zaque said again, to make sure that he did not misheard the words.

"She's planning to bring Quizen with us." Zaque repeated what he said, his eyes shifting from the tea in his hand to the second husband.

Heiren's muscles in his arms flexed as he clenched his hands as a sharp, disapproving glare flickered across his face after he took in Zaque's words, disapproval clear in his gaze.

His body tensed with barely contained frustration, his expression hardening at the mediator's words, with his earlier warm demeanor replaced by an intense look of displeasure.

"That's ridiculous," He snapped, his voice sharp and cold. "She can't bring Quizen with her. She's already taking you with her."

"But she already said it to the guards." Zaque said, lying through his teeth to stir Heiren's anger away from Coco, "Apparently, she helped someone important to the main city guards last night so in return, they will accompany her back to the city."

"She can just leave Quizen with me and Alhai, why would she need Quizen? She already has you." Heiren crossed his arms and darted his glare to the floor instead.

"Are you not enough? Did she really have to bring Quizen, too? Then what? She'll bring me with her? Alhai? As if—"

"Yes, actually." Zaque said and cut off Heiren, "Since she will bring Quizen with us, she wanted to ask you and Alhai, too. After her work today, she will be stopping by to ask you two so you better have your answer ready."

"Answer for what?" Alhai, who has been quiet since Zaque revealed that Quizen will go with Coco, finally spoke up, "Isn't it obvious that we will refuse?"

"Refuse?" Zaque raised an eyebrow and looked at Alhai, "I think you're the only one who will refuse."

"What are you talking about? Heiren doesn't want to go either." Alhai hissed, walking over to Heiren and grabbed him by the arm, "Isn't that right, Heiren? You don't want to go with Coco, right?"

However, to Alhai's surprise, Heiren looked like he was in a daze.

Heiren was taken aback by Zaque's words, his eyes widening with surprise when Zaque said that Coco wanted to ask him if he wants to go.

Coco wanted to bring him with her to the main city? He couldn't believe it so all he could do was stare at Zaque, trying to process the implications of this new information with his lips agape.

Alhai watched as Heiren slowly looked like he was excited about the thought of accompanying Coco on her journey.

The expression of anticipation on his face was clear, and the fact that he was not as opposed to the idea as he had hoped stung deeply.

He couldn't help, but feel a sense of betrayal rising within him, his heart heavy with the realization that perhaps his friends were not entirely on his side, that they were not considering his own feelings, as if they were eager to leave without him.

His angry demeanor faltered, his jaw clenching as he tried to rein in his emotions, but it was hard.

Alhai felt a wave of anger wash over him, the pain of his friends' indifference gnawing at his heart, but amidst his emotional and inner turmoil, he was not aware that tears had already started rolling down his cheeks, his pain being too great to keep contained.

As he stood there, trying to compose himself, Zaque, Heiren, and Quizen noticed the wetness on his face, their attention instantly drawn to the droplets running down his cheeks, their eyes wide in shock.

Zaque felt a surge of shock as he noticed Alhai crying, the sight catching him completely off guard.

He had known Alhai for a long time, and the only time he had seen his friend cry before was when Coco Hughes decided to be trash by beating him until he's black and blue.

The sight of Alhai's tears, no matter the size, felt wrong— like an unexpected crack in a sturdy wall so when a pang of guilt and worry flared in Zaque's chest, the realization of Alhai's pain hitting him like a jolt, he couldn't do anything, but stand there.

The shock was too great.

He has expected Alhai to just scream and cuss him out for choosing their wife over their friendship, but seeing him cry? He would much prefer to hear Alhai curse him from the bottom of his heart.

"Alhai.." Zaque called out softly, snapping out of his stupor, and took a step forward.

Upon hearing his voice, Quizen and Heiren also snapped out of their surprise, making them turn to the third husband who looked betrayed and hurt.

"Why?" Alhai croaks out, "I thought it's always the four of us? Why are you three choosing her now..?"

Alhai felt a mix of anger and frustration, his mind a whirlwind of emotions because he was confused as to why his friends seemed so eager to accompany Coco, after all the pain she had caused them before.

The memories of past hurts and betrayals were still fresh in his mind, and he couldn't quite understand why they had so quickly forgiven her.

Even if Coco already said that she was a completely different person, seeing her face, the face of their abusive wife, still makes his body react— often finding himself putting his guards up and glaring to protect himself, like how he would protect himself from Coco Hughes.

Instead of answering, Zaque reached out, his strong hand gently grasping Alhai's cheeks, his fingers tenderly wiping away the tears that were streaming down his face.

Alhai let him, his defenses briefly crumbling, his heart aching, because Zaque's hand was soothing, his touch offering Alhai a moment of comfort.

"It's still the four of us, Alhai."