Forbiddenly Bound To You
Chapter 113: Bridges of Trust

Chapter 113: Bridges of Trust

Mira and Zamian sat silently in the car. The atmosphere wasn’t awkward; instead, it was warm and peaceful, with a shared understanding lingering between them. Mira glanced out the window, watching the scenery pass by, her thoughts calm yet curious. It wasn’t often she found herself alone with Zamian, and in a strange way, the quiet between them felt reassuring.

"Where are we going now?" she finally asked, noticing that this wasn’t the usual route home. There was a hint of curiosity in her voice, but also an underlying note of hesitation. Zamian glanced over at her, his expression steady as he replied.

"To Zami’s school. They informed me that they’ll be closing early today."

Mira blinked, a flicker of surprise crossing her face. The news caught her off guard, and she felt a subtle pang of guilt. Had she overlooked something this important? Her mind quickly wandered over the recent days—she’d been so absorbed in her responsibilities and in the complex feelings surrounding Zamian’s presence that maybe she had let this slip.

Or was it simply that, deep down, she had been depending on Zamian a little too much lately? The idea made her uncomfortable. She needed to stay focused, to be the mother she had always been for Zami, regardless of Zamian’s support.

"I had no idea," she murmured, her voice soft, tinged with a trace of self-disappointment.

Zamian glanced at her, his gaze gentle yet watchful. "I was informed," he replied simply. He paused, and Mira sensed that he had more to say. Turning to face him fully, she waited, curiosity written in her expression.

"I told them I was a close friend of yours. I wanted us to discuss that first," he continued, his tone measured.

Mira felt a wave of relief wash over her, releasing a breath she didn’t know she was holding. She was glad. The last thing she wanted was for Zami to hear about their family situation from anyone else—especially not from someone outside their circle. It was something she wanted Zami to learn from herself, or maybe from Grandpa, or even, one day, from Zamian if the time felt right.

But as she watched him, Mira couldn’t shake the flicker of something dark beneath his calm exterior. Was it disappointment? Zamian’s expression had shifted ever so slightly before he masked it, and for a moment, Mira wondered if he, too, was feeling the weight of unspoken words.

Why was she acting so differently?

As the car finally pulled to a stop in front of Zami’s school, Mira turned to Zamian, a decision firming in her mind. "I think it’s better if you stay here," she said, her tone gentle but resolute. She didn’t want to risk causing a scene or drawing unnecessary attention. She’d noticed the other cars lined up outside, and she knew that Zamian’s presence—especially with a car this luxurious—would only attract more stares and curious glances.

Zamian nodded slowly, but Mira could see a shadow of disappointment cross his face. First, she had been relieved at his discretion about his identity at the school, and now she was asking him to stay behind. Was she embarrassed by him, or was it something else? Though he tried to hide his feelings, Mira noticed the slight downturn of his mouth, the way he briefly looked away. It was a look of misunderstanding, one that left him feeling as though he didn’t belong.

Choosing to respect her wishes, he settled back in his seat, his face softened but still carrying a hint of sadness. He chose to appear that way rather than show his disappointment too openly. After all, he understood that there were still boundaries he couldn’t cross in Mira’s life, especially with Zami.

As Mira closed the car door, her resolve hardened. She had to handle this situation on her own, to show herself that she could still be the mother Zami needed, independent of anyone else. She moved toward the school building, her steps steady, and the sound of children’s voices and the bustle of parents picking up their kids filling her surroundings. She didn’t look back at the car, even as she felt Zamian’s gaze on her.

Inside the car, Zamian watched her retreating figure, a mixture of emotions swirling within him. He was grateful for this growing bond with Zami, but Mira’s insistence on keeping him at a distance made him question his place in their lives. As his thoughts drifted, he glanced at the chauffeur, who sat silently in the front seat, his gaze fixed ahead.

The silence grew thicker, and unable to ignore his doubts, Zamian finally broke it.

"Do you think she doesn’t want me here?" he asked quietly, his voice laced with an uncertainty that was rare for a man of his standing. It was a vulnerable question, one he wouldn’t normally ask anyone, let alone his chauffeur except maybe....John sometimes.

The chauffeur stiffened, visibly caught off guard. He hesitated, unsure whether to offer a comforting smile, give a positive response, or maintain his professionalism. Zamian’s question hung in the air, making the car feel all the more enclosed.

"Uh... I think she just wants to handle things herself, sir. Maybe you could, um... ask her directly," he stammered, hoping to steer the conversation to safer ground.

Zamian’s gaze turned sharper, his brow furrowing slightly. "Handle things herself? And what do you mean by that?"

The chauffeur mentally cursed himself. Why had he opened his mouth? Why hadn’t he kept it strictly professional?

"I... I don’t know, sir. I just thought..." His voice trailed off as he noticed a movement outside. The door suddenly opened, and Little Zami scrambled into the car, her bright eyes lighting up as she spotted Zamian.

"Mr. Zamian, you cwame!" she squealed, leaping onto him and wrapping her small arms around his neck. The joy radiating from her small face was enough to wash away any lingering doubts he had, and Zamian felt an unfamiliar warmth spread through his chest. He hadn’t realized that seeing his daughter, holding her so close, could evoke such a powerful feeling.

For a moment, he simply held her, feeling the innocence and trust in her embrace. This was something he had missed for so long without even knowing it. He had always focused on protecting her, on ensuring that she and Mira were safe, but he hadn’t stopped to think about what it meant to truly be there with her.

The chauffeur let out a quiet breath of relief. Zamian’s attention had thankfully shifted, sparing him from any further questioning. Though he had served Zamian faithfully, he was all too aware of how protective his employer could be, especially when it came to family matters.

Mira climbed into the car next, her expression softened by a small smile as she closed the door behind her. As the car began to move, Little Zami eagerly reached into her bag, her tiny fingers gripping the handle of the gift Mark had given her for her birthday. She pulled out a book, her excitement barely contained as she turned to show it off.

"Mummy, I gwot an A! Look, Mr. Zamian, I gwot an A!" she exclaimed, her pride shining through her young voice as she held the book up for both of them to see.

Mira’s smile widened, her heart swelling with pride. "Wow, that’s amazing, Zami! I’m so proud of you," she said warmly, pulling her daughter into a heartfelt hug.

"Thank wyou, Mummy," Zami replied, her small voice filled with gratitude as she leaned into her mother’s embrace.

She then turned to Zamian, her eyes bright with anticipation. There was an innocence in her gaze, an eager expectation that pulled at Zamian’s heart in a way he hadn’t expected. He smiled, genuine pride softening his usually composed expression as he carefully examined her work.

"Awesome," he said, his tone full of admiration. "You did such a great job, Zami."

His words hung in the air, and Mira looked at him, caught slightly off guard. She hadn’t anticipated such open praise from him. It made her see a different side of Zamian, one she hadn’t known existed—warm and encouraging, even gentle in his way.

"Thankwu so much, Mr. Zamian!" Little Zami beamed, her smile brightening as she basked in his praise.

Zamian reached out, placing a hand on her small shoulder. "You’ve done so well that I want to take you shopping," he said, his own excitement reflecting in his gaze as he spoke.

"Weally?" she asked, her eyes widening with delight.

"Mhm," he hummed, nodding with a warm smile.

"Mummy, you’re coming wight?" Zami asked, her gaze shifting to Mira, who nodded slowly, though she felt a subtle unease stirring within her. She was grateful, yes, and seeing Zami so happy was everything she wanted. But there was also a quiet worry, a small part of her that felt Zamian might be starting to spoil their daughter.

Zamian noticed Mira’s hesitation, his smile faltering for just a moment as he read her expression. It was subtle, but the way her brows knitted together and the slight shift in her posture hinted at something deeper. He knew that Mira was protective of Zami, but he hadn’t anticipated this quiet resistance.

A silence settled over them, each of them lost in their thoughts, as the car continued its journey.