Forbiddenly Bound To You
Chapter 100: Wait For Me

Chapter 100: Wait For Me

Mira hadn’t expected him to answer, let alone say something like that. Her heart began to beat loudly in her chest, each thud echoing her growing uncertainty. She hadn’t allowed herself to hope for anything more from Zamian than what they already had.

"You’re just saying that," she muttered to herself, barely loud enough for him to hear. Maybe that wasn’t what Zamian wanted right now. Maybe, in time, he would find someone else—someone he could truly settle down with. Unlike her, who was in a contract relationship.

Her chest tightened painfully at the thought. It was all too much to think about. If Zamian found someone else, where would that leave her? She had always known this arrangement wouldn’t last forever, but hearing him speak as if there might be something real—something lasting—between them made her emotions spiral.

She turned her gaze to the side, wanting to hide her turmoil. But before she could pull herself away any further, she felt the warmth of Zamian’s palm gently touch her face. The heat of his hand sent shivers down her spine as he turned her face back toward him. His touch was steady, firm, but tender. She didn’t want to meet his eyes, but when he gently coaxed her to look at him, she had no choice but to give in.

"You don’t believe me, huh?" Zamian’s voice was soft, his words a gentle inquiry that felt like a plea for her trust.

Mira stared into his eyes, searching for any hint that this was all an act. For a long moment, she didn’t say anything. She didn’t want to believe him. She couldn’t afford to. But the sincerity in his gaze was undeniable. It was there, clear as day, making her doubt every wall she had built around her heart.

"Just wait, okay?" he continued, his voice gentle yet firm, as if he had some kind of plan that he hadn’t yet revealed. Part of her was curious about what he was thinking, about what he could possibly have planned for her. Yet another part of her was scared. Fear gripped her, twisting in her chest like a coiling snake. What did he mean? What was he going to do?

"Let’s go back," Mira said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. She couldn’t handle the intensity of his gaze any longer, nor the emotions that his words had stirred within her. She needed to retreat, to pull herself together.

Zamian nodded, not pressing her further. He seemed to sense that she must be tired, both physically and emotionally. Without another word, they began to walk back, Zamian gently holding Mira’s soft hand in his as they made their way to the mansion. The silence between them was heavy but not uncomfortable, filled with unspoken thoughts and emotions that neither of them were quite ready to voice.

Once inside, they stepped into the elevator, the familiar hum of the machinery filling the space between them. The ride up felt longer than usual, the air thick with unexpressed feelings. When they reached their floor, they headed to their room to get ready for the day. Mira wasn’t planning to go anywhere today—she needed to rest.

After they were both done, they both left to the dining room for breakfast. The table was set neatly, the familiar aroma of freshly brewed coffee and baked goods filling the air. The food looked perfect, but Mira had no appetite. As they ate in silence, her mind wandered back to the conversation they had just had. She couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that lingered in her chest.

Zamian turned to her, breaking the silence with a question that seemed to weigh on him. "Are you okay?"

Mira’s hands stilled on her fork. The question was simple, but the answer was far from it. Of course she wasn’t okay. How could she be? There was so much she didn’t understand, so much he hadn’t said. Why hadn’t he brought up the divorce? Every time she tried to get a straight answer from him, he danced around the subject. Even when she directly asked, he wouldn’t say whether or not he intended to leave her. Instead, he gave her vague reassurances, just like he had done earlier.

Why couldn’t he just tell her the truth? Her mind raced with a hundred different questions, but she kept her expression neutral, not wanting to reveal the storm that was brewing inside her.

"I’m fine," she lied, her voice steady, but the words tasted bitter on her tongue. She didn’t want to think about the divorce, didn’t want to overthink what all of this meant. But part of her couldn’t help it. The thought of him leaving gnawed at her, a constant ache that she couldn’t shake.

"Please come home quickly," Mira finally said, her voice soft, almost pleading. There were so many things she wanted to tell him, so many things she needed to say, but she couldn’t find the words. All she knew was that she didn’t want him to go.

"I will, darling," Zamian replied, his tone gentle, as if he could sense her unease.

Mira smiled at him, a small, fragile smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. At least she could try to think on the bright side. Maybe—just maybe—things wouldn’t end the way she feared. What if they never got a divorce? What if, somehow, they could stay together and live happily ever after? It was a dangerous thought, one that threatened to give her hope. But she couldn’t help herself. For the first time in a long while, she allowed herself to dream of a future that wasn’t dictated by a contract.

After breakfast, they both walked outside where John and the chauffeur stood waiting by the car. The morning sun was bright, casting a warm glow over everything, but to Mira, it felt cold. This was it—the moment she dreaded. Zamian was leaving, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that something important was slipping away.

Zamian turned to her, his expression soft but serious. "Don’t forget to call me," he said slowly, his eyes lingering on her as if he didn’t want to leave.

Mira nodded, trying to keep her emotions in check. "I won’t," she promised, though the words felt empty. There was so much she wanted to say, so much she needed to understand, but none of it came out.

John, who had been standing quietly beside the car, sighed quietly. He remembered what had happened the time they spoke on the phone thier video call, how the line had abruptly gone dead because his battery had died. He shook his head, but before he could dwell on it, Mira caught his attention.

She signaled for him to lower his head, and he followed her silent request. Just as he did, Mira reached up, cupping Zamian’s face with both hands. She pulled him close, her lips brushing his in a soft, unexpected kiss. It was brief, barely more than a whisper of a touch, but it was enough to freeze Zamian in place.

He hadn’t expected that. Not in front of everyone, not when they were already so close to saying goodbye. For a moment, he didn’t know how to react.

"Come home quickly, okay?" she repeated, her voice softer now, filled with an emotion she hadn’t let herself express before.

Zamian nodded, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips. "I will," he said again, his voice just as soft.

Mira raised her head, her eyes locking with his as she spoke the words she had been holding back for so long.

"I love you," she whispered, the words finally slipping past her defenses.

The world around them seemed to pause. Mira hadn’t expected herself to say those words—not her, not now—but she couldn’t hide it any longer. It was clear her feelings for Zamian were no longer just a simple liking, but something much deeper. As Zamian locked his gaze with hers, everything around them faded into the background, as if the moment existed only for them.

Without warning, Zamian pulled her into a deep, slow kiss. It was unlike any of their previous kisses—more intense, more deliberate. There was something about it, something more profound, something neither of them could ignore. Mira’s heart raced, and she felt as though time itself had stopped. The kiss seemed to last forever, yet not nearly long enough. When they finally parted, their gazes remained locked, the air between them charged with unspoken emotions.

Zamian then gently pulled Mira into a soft, soothing embrace, holding her with a care that made her feel cherished. Mira, overwhelmed and speechless, could only lean into his chest, the rhythm of his heartbeat calming her nerves. This was different—everything about this moment was different.

"Wait for me," Zamian whispered softly, his breath warm against her ear.

Mira nodded, too moved to speak, her emotions swirling inside her like a storm. She didn’t want him to leave, but she knew he had to. Zamian pulled away slowly, his arms still lingering around her as if reluctant to let her go. Meanwhile, the chauffeur discreetly turned his head, pretending to be busy with something else. This was the second time he’d witnessed such a scene, and though he was used to the intensity of his boss’s life, moments like this still caught him off guard. John, on the other hand, scratched the back of his neck awkwardly, his eyes wandering to the sky, the trees—anywhere but them.

As Zamian finally stepped toward the car, Mira felt a pang in her chest. She didn’t want to say goodbye, but she knew it was inevitable.

"Bye," she murmured, her voice barely audible.

Zamian simply nodded, not trusting himself to speak. He didn’t want to say the word either—it felt too final, too real. But with one last lingering glance, he climbed into the car, leaving Mira standing there, watching him go.

Inside the car, Zamian’s expression softened, and an amused smile crept onto his lips. He shook his head slightly, a chuckle escaping him as the door closed behind him. His usually stoic demeanor was replaced with something else—something lighter, more carefree. His white, perfect teeth gleamed as his smile widened.

John, who had slid into the driver’s seat, glanced in the rearview mirror, taken aback. Why was his boss smiling right now? It was rare for Zamian to show such emotion, especially in front of others. But John said nothing, simply waiting for orders.

"How long will it take?" Zamian asked, his voice calm but laced with anticipation.

John didn’t need an explanation; he knew exactly what his boss meant. "One month, maybe a little over," he replied. "If we push, we could get it done in one month."

Zamian’s smile deepened. "No, make it faster. Two weeks."

John’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Two weeks?" he repeated, his tone incredulous.

Zamian nodded, his gaze still distant, clearly lost in thoughts of Mira. "I want to meet my wife."

****

Dear FBTY Readers,

Happy hundredth Chapter! Words cannot describe what this milestone means to me. If someone had told me that I would reach Chapter 100, I probably wouldn’t have believed it. I am incredibly grateful to all of you who have made it this far with me. Your support means the world, and I can’t express how happy I am to share this journey with you. Thank you so much!

EZZTEE