Forbiddenly Bound To You
Chapter 102: Thankwu Mummy

Chapter 102: Thankwu Mummy

Five years later, Mira sat in the cozy warmth of her grandfather’s apartment, watching as her little daughter, Zami, twirled excitedly, the soft fabric of her new birthday dress floating around her. Mira had chosen the dress carefully, wanting her daughter to feel beautiful, loved, and celebrated.

Zami’s face glowed with pure joy, and her giggles filled the room as she admired herself in the dress. She looked so happy, her dark eyes wide with innocence and wonder. Mira couldn’t help but smile, feeling a bittersweet warmth in her heart as she watched Zami.

These past years had been anything but simple. Leaving her life behind, escaping the home she once shared with Zamian, and convincing her grandfather to let her stay—all of it had been a delicate process. Her grandfather had been confused and hesitant at first, especially when he saw her with Zami. He had asked about the child and how she came to have a daughter, and Mira had carefully crafted her story to avoid the full truth. She had told him that she and Zamian had agreed to a divorce, that they had gone their separate ways, and that she had come home to start a new life for herself and her child. That explanation had been partially true, and it had been enough to calm her grandfather’s initial questions.

But the real story was much more complicated. Mira had not simply left; she had escaped. She remembered that day with both relief and sadness—the overwhelming urge to protect her daughter had finally overridden her hesitation and fears. She knew Zamian’s resources and influence would make it impossible to stay in the same country without him finding her, so she had left quietly, taking only what was necessary and leaving no trace. Her heart had been torn, but the thought of Zami growing up in a loveless home, surrounded by strangers or nannies who couldn’t give her the warmth she needed, pushed her to act.

She had taken her daughter and crossed borders, driven by a fierce determination to give Zami a life filled with love. Mira knew she wasn’t perfect, and she knew she couldn’t provide the same luxuries Zami might have had in Zamian’s home. But she was confident that what she could give was something far more valuable: a mother’s love and undivided attention. For Zami, Mira wanted to be everything she had missed in her own childhood—someone who cherished her, who made her feel safe, and who would always be there, no matter what.

"Happy birthday, my little sweetheart," Mira whispered, her voice thick with emotion as she watched her daughter twirl one last time before stopping to face her. Zami’s cheeks were flushed with excitement, and her bright smile seemed to light up the whole room.

Zami looked up at her, her eyes wide with wonder. "Mommy, this dress is so pretty! Thank you!" She ran to Mira, wrapping her small arms around her mother’s waist, burying her face against Mira’s chest. Mira closed her eyes for a moment, savoring the feeling of her daughter’s warmth. She held Zami close, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead.

"I’m so glad you like it, my love," Mira murmured, pulling back just enough to look at her daughter’s face. Zami’s eyes sparkled as she looked up at Mira, a picture of innocent joy and love. In those deep, dark eyes, Mira could see traces of Zamian, and it sent a pang through her heart. Zami had inherited Zamian’s intense gaze and soft brown hair, features that made it impossible for Mira to fully escape thoughts of him. The resemblance was undeniable, but where Zamian’s eyes had been guarded and unreadable, Zami’s were open and filled with light.

The irony of her escape still lingered in Mira’s mind. She had left on the very day Zamian had planned to surprise her, a day that had been marked by strange coincidences. James, one the other hand, had left for errands that morning, and Mira seized the unexpected opportunity. She had told only one person of her plan—Nana, her trusted confidante—but even then, she had been vague, mentioning only that she was "going out" and would "come back later." She hadn’t told Nana she wouldn’t be returning, knowing that the less she said, the better. If Zamian asked Nana, which he likely would, she hoped Nana’s limited knowledge would buy her some time.

Despite her fears, Mira knew leaving was the right decision. Zamian’s life was wrapped in layers of complexity, duty, and secrets she could barely understand, and she didn’t want Zami to be raised in an environment so full of shadows. Mira wanted her daughter to grow up in a place where laughter and love were not scarce. The thought of Zami being left alone for days, her cries muffled in a large, empty house, haunted Mira. She couldn’t bear the image of her child yearning for a mother’s affection, with only Zamian’s demanding schedule and the watchful eyes of strangers for company.

Zami tugged at her hand, snapping her out of her thoughts.

"Mummwi, am so happwi" Zami’s voice was high-pitched with excitement, her words slightly lisped in a way only a five-year-old could manage.

Mira chuckled softly, reaching behind her to reveal a small, pink gift box. Zami’s eyes grew wide with surprise, her face lighting up as she reached for the box, her hands trembling slightly with anticipation.

"Mummwi, you got another giwt?" Zami’s voice rang with excitement as she squealed in delight, clapping her tiny hands together before carefully opening the box. Inside, nestled in a bed of soft tissue paper, was a small, "cwute" pink bunny plush, accompanied by a bunny-shaped hairpin. Zami’s face lit up with pure joy as she looked at the gifts.

"Oh, Mummwi, so cwute!" she exclaimed, her voice full of awe as she hugged the plush bunny tightly. Her wide eyes met Mira’s, and Mira felt a warmth spread through her chest, filling the empty spaces that had been there since she left Zamian.

"Now, remember what I always say, sweetheart," Mira said, smiling gently as she brushed a stray curl away from Zami’s forehead.

Zami nodded eagerly, her eyes shining with pride. "Yes, I’m the cwutest!"

"That’s right, baby," Mira replied, laughing softly as Zami launched herself into her mother’s arms, wrapping her little arms around Mira’s neck in a tight hug. Mira held her close, her heart swelling with a mix of love and protectiveness. She wanted to savor this moment, to keep it locked away in her heart where no one—not even Zamian—could take it from her.

After a few moments, Zami pulled away, gazing up at her mother with a look of pure adoration. Her dark eyes sparkled, filled with innocence and happiness, a reflection of everything Mira had hoped to give her. And in that gaze, Mira saw Zamian again—the same intensity, the same depth. But Zami’s eyes were different; they were warm and open, where Zamian’s had always been guarded and distant, as if he were carrying a weight no one else could see.

"I love you, Mummwi," Zami whispered, her small voice filled with sincerity. Mira felt her heart squeeze, her love for her daughter too vast to put into words.

"I love you more, my baby girl," she replied softly, brushing her hand over Zami’s soft hair. The simple words carried a depth of emotion that she hoped Zami would understand someday. For now, she was content knowing that her daughter felt safe, loved, and cherished.

"Thankwu, Mummwi," Zami said, her shy smile lighting up her face. Mira couldn’t help but grin back, overwhelmed by her daughter’s innocence and beauty. She often wondered how much of Zami’s charm came from Zamian, whose striking looks were impossible to ignore. But deep down, she knew Zami’s beauty was a blend of them both—a mixture of her and Zamian, created out of a love that had once felt unbreakable.

Lost in thought, Mira didn’t hear the faint sound of the approaching footsteps outside the door. Her gaze lingered on Zami, taking in every detail of her face—the dark eyes, so much like Zamian’s, the soft curls of her hair, and the small nose that mirrored Mira’s own. Zami was a part of both of them, a living reminder of the life Mira had left behind but could never entirely forget.

Just then, the doorbell rang, interrupting the quiet intimacy of the moment. Mira’s eyes shifted from Zami’s face to the door, a hint of tension creeping into her heart. She wasn’t expecting anyone, and the uncertainty of who it might be unsettled her.

But before Mira could move, Zami’s face lit up with excitement, her voice rising with joy.

"Gweat Gwampa is home! Yay!"

Her daughter’s innocent enthusiasm eased Mira’s nerves, and she gave Zami a reassuring smile, though a shadow lingered in the back of her mind.

****

Author’s note

A/N: Za = Zamian, Mi = Mira, together = Zami

This is to clarify