Forbiddenly Bound To You
Chapter 123: A Day Of Suprises

Chapter 123: A Day Of Suprises

Mira’s sudden sprint left both Lily and James in stunned silence. They had never seen her move with such urgency before. It was as though being here had awakened something in her—a determination, a raw intensity—that rendered them speechless. Neither dared to follow, sensing that whatever Mira sought was deeply personal.

Mira rushed into the mansion, her steps echoing through the vast halls. The sound reverberated around her, each footfall a reminder of how empty the space seemed despite its grand size. The moment she stepped inside, the familiar scent of lavender and sandalwood calmed her nerves slightly. If this was a house, Suzemi had to be somewhere nearby. Thankfully, the open layout and lack of crowds would make her search easier. But one question gnawed at her: Where was James?

He had sounded so urgent on the phone, almost frantic. His tone had left her riddled with anxiety, fearing the worst, and yet now—when she needed him most—he was nowhere to be found. She hated this gnawing uncertainty, the sharp edge of fear that she couldn’t shake.

What was wrong? What could have happened?

Her pace quickened as her thoughts raced. Every corner she rounded brought a fresh wave of worry. Suddenly, she stopped in her tracks. Standing before her was a familiar face she hadn’t expected to see—Nana.

Mira’s eyes widened in surprise. It had been so long since she’d last seen Nana, but this wasn’t the time for reminiscing. She quickly gathered herself and offered a polite greeting. Nana, ever calm and warm, smiled brightly at her.

"Welcome back home, Mrs. Mira," Nana said, her voice steady and kind.

"Thank you," Mira replied, forcing her tone to remain composed despite her mounting concern. She hesitated before continuing. "Please... will you help me? I’m looking for my child."

Nana’s expression softened further. "Oh, you mean little Zami Cutie? She’s on the top floor," she replied with a gentle smile. "She said she wanted to see the view of the mansion."

Mira exhaled a sigh of relief, though the tension in her chest didn’t completely dissipate. Why had she panicked so much? It seemed silly now that she realized they were in their own home. She felt an urge to smack her forehead in embarrassment. Of course, Zami wasn’t in danger—why had she assumed her daughter was missing?

"Is that what she said?" Mira asked, her tone lighter now.

Nana nodded, her small smile reassuring. "Yes, ma’am. She was quite adamant about it, too. Said she was Zami Cutie, if I remember correctly."

Mira couldn’t help but giggle at her daughter’s adorable antics. Her child truly was one of a kind, always finding ways to charm everyone around her. Turning to Nana, Mira asked, "Could you take me to her?"

"Of course, Mrs. Mira." Nana nodded respectfully, gesturing toward the staircase. She began leading Mira to the top floor with practiced ease, her steps confident and quiet.

As they walked, the silence between them stretched, though not uncomfortably. Mira’s thoughts began to wander again, this time to the recent events that had brought her here. Just as she opened her mouth to ask another question, Nana hesitated, her steps slowing.

"I’m really sorry, Miss Mira," Nana said suddenly, her voice tinged with guilt. "I should have—"

Mira cut her off gently, her tone soft yet firm. "It’s fine, Nana. I understand. If I were in your shoes, I might have done the same thing. Don’t blame yourself. I forgive you, if that’s what will ease your mind."

Nana’s face brightened instantly, her smile wide and genuine. She had always known Mira to be kind, but this moment solidified it. Nana had half-expected some annoyance or even anger, but Mira’s understanding felt like a balm to her guilt.

Together, they continued toward the top floor, Mira’s heart feeling lighter now, though her curiosity about Zami’s antics remained. She couldn’t help but smile at the thought of her daughter, imagining her small figure standing by a window, gazing at the sprawling view outside.

When they reached the elevator, Nana pressed the button, and the soft ping of the doors opening filled the quiet air. They stepped inside, and Mira tapped her fingers against her palm, trying to keep her growing anticipation in check. She wasn’t entirely sure why she felt so on edge—Zami was fine, wasn’t she?

The elevator pinged softly again as the doors slid open, revealing a large, spacious room. But the sight that greeted Mira was far from comforting. The room was unnervingly dim, its shadows swallowing the light that should have poured in from the outside. Despite the broad daylight visible through the windows, the space was shrouded in a gloom that made Mira’s skin crawl. She had to strain her eyes to make sense of her surroundings.

A cold shiver ran down her spine as her heart raced. Dread crept into her thoughts unbidden. What was going on? She turned to Nana, whose confusion mirrored her own.

"The power supply has never failed before," Nana said, her voice uneasy. "This is Zamian’s mansion... I don’t understand. What’s happening?"

Mira’s chest tightened, her unease growing with every passing second. "I... I don’t know either," she admitted. Nana took a tentative step forward, clearly intending to investigate, but Mira quickly stepped in front of her, blocking her path.

"No. You stay here," Mira said firmly, though her voice trembled slightly.

Nana’s eyes widened in protest. "But Mrs. Mira—"

"No," Mira interrupted, shaking her head. "Stay here. If something happens, I need you to take Zami to safety."

Nana hesitated, her worry etched into her face. But after a moment, she nodded respectfully, stepping back to give Mira space. Still, her gaze lingered on Mira, the unspoken concern evident in her expression.

Mira turned back to face the dim room. Her face paled as she took a steadying breath. "Zami?" she called out softly, her voice measured to avoid alarming her daughter. "Baby, where are you?"

"Mummy?"

The faint voice of her little girl reached Mira’s ears, and her heart calmed slightly. She followed the sound, moving cautiously into the room. Her steps were slow, deliberate, as if one wrong move could shatter the fragile calm she was trying to maintain.

"Yes, baby, I’m here," Mira said gently, squinting as her eyes adjusted to the dimness.

Finally, she spotted a small figure sitting on the floor, knees drawn to her chest and arms wrapped tightly around them. Zami’s face was hidden, but Mira knew instantly that it was her daughter.

Mira’s hands trembled as she stretched them out carefully, not wanting to scare the child. "Zami?" she called softly.

Little Zami lifted her head, revealing teary eyes, and Mira’s breath hitched. "Mummy," the girl whispered, a small smile breaking through her sorrow as she held out a handful of Senerp flowers.

Mira gasped at the unexpected gesture, her heart swelling with emotion. "Oh, sweetheart..." she began, but her words trailed off when Zami turned her head and called out, "Daddy!"

As if the word was a signal, the dim room lit up in an instant, revealing decorations that made Mira’s eyes widen in shock. Banners and balloons adorned the walls, and a soft golden glow illuminated the space, casting everything in a warm, magical light. Tears spilled down Mira’s cheeks as she took in the surprise around her.

Her daughter giggled happily, dropping the flowers as she ran off, leaving Mira alone with Zamian.

Mira turned slowly, still overwhelmed, and her gaze landed on her husband. Zamian stood there, his lips curving into a deliberate, teasing smirk. "So," he drawled, his tone casual but playful, "how’d I do? Rate my performance."

Mira blinked away her tears, her emotions swirling in a chaotic blend of shock, joy, and exasperation. Slowly, she raised her hands. She extended all ten fingers for a brief moment before lowering them, leaving only her middle finger raised in a defiant gesture.

"Fuck you," she said, her voice tinged with reluctant amusement.

Zamian chuckled, stepping closer to her, his smirk widening. "Careful, love. Save that energy for later."

Zamian leaned in, his face just inches away from hers. His fingers gently lifted her chin, coaxing her to look at him. Then, he surprised her by tilting his head and pressing a soft kiss to the tear trailing down her cheek. The warmth of his touch, combined with the tenderness of the gesture, sent a wave of butterflies fluttering in Mira’s belly. Her heart warmed, and for a moment, the weight of the room seemed to melt away.

"Who knew my wife could curse, huh?" Zamian teased, amusement flashing in his eyes. There was a trace of surprise in his voice, like he couldn’t quite believe she had uttered such a word. Yet, the sound of it—coming from her—ignited something unexplainable in him. He felt a strange surge of emotion, something deep and raw, but he couldn’t put it into words.

Mira, feeling the heat rising to her cheeks, shifted her gaze, too flustered to hold his intense stare any longer. That was when she truly noticed the room around her. Her eyes widened as she took in the breathtaking sight.

The decorations were far more intricate than she had initially realized. The flowers scattered across the floor weren’t placed haphazardly—they formed a delicate, almost artistic pattern that seemed too perfect to be real. Small cakes, shaped like lambs, were carefully arranged around the room. At first glance, they seemed like simple decorations, but the longer she looked, the more she realized they resembled tiny glowing lamps. The cakes were crafted in an array of colors—some she didn’t even know existed—and they shimmered faintly under the golden lights, giving the room a magical, otherworldly feel.

Then her eyes landed on a set of photos displayed at the side of the room. Her breath hitched. There was one of her and Zamian in matching pajamas, their faces lit up with genuine smiles. Another photo captured a moment when they had shared ice cream, the scene so candid that Mira felt the warmth of that memory flood back. Each image was a snapshot of joy, of togetherness, and it was clear that Zamian had put thought into every detail.

The sheer beauty of the scene, the overwhelming effort he had poured into it, made her throat tighten. Mira blinked rapidly, trying to keep the tears at bay, but they threatened to spill over once again. How could something this perfect be real?

"Good girl," Zamian said softly, his voice low and teasing. His hand lingered near her face as he spoke. "I love it. You’re really saving that voice of yours."

Mira let out a small, breathy laugh, her emotions swirling as she tried to process everything. She couldn’t decide whether to laugh, cry, or throw herself into Zamian’s arms. Instead, she simply stared at him, her lips trembling with the weight of unsaid words.

"You really did all of this... for me?" she finally whispered, her voice barely audible.

Zamian smirked, his eyes glinting mischievously. "Who else, love?"