Forbiddenly Bound To You
Chapter 149: Light into Darkness

Chapter 149: Light into Darkness

Mira ate in silence, the only sound in the room being the soft clinking of cutlery against the plates. The atmosphere was tense, almost fragile, as though a single word could shatter the delicate quiet. Everyone seemed absorbed in their own thoughts, the weight of unspoken words heavy between them. Only the occasional glance toward one another broke the stillness, and the tension was thick enough to feel like a tangible presence in the room.

Zander, ever the one to break silence when it became too unbearable, finally spoke up. His voice was calm, but there was an edge of something else in it. "I see there’s a new face here," he said, his eyes shifting to Little Zami who was quietly nibbling at her food, oblivious to the conversation.

Little Zami lifted her head briefly at the sound of his voice. Her curious eyes met Zander’s, just for a fleeting moment before she returned to her meal, her small fingers delicately handling her food. A faint smile touched Zander’s lips as he watched her, but before he could say anything more, Ella, his wife, chimed in with a voice as soft and kind as the breeze outside.

"Hello, dear. What’s your name?" she asked, her eyes warm as she looked down at the little girl.

Little Zami hesitated for a heartbeat before looking up again. "My name is Zemi. It’s really nice to meet you, ma’am," she replied, her voice soft but steady, as though the warmth of Ella’s gaze had soothed her nerves.

Ella giggled softly at the child’s polite response, the sound light and genuine. "Nice to meet you too, Zami. I’m your aunt, and he’s your uncle," she said, gesturing toward Zander with a tender smile.

Little Zami’s gaze shifted to Mira, seeking confirmation, and Mira gave her a small nod, a quiet reassurance in her eyes. The girl’s face relaxed slightly, her small frame leaning back just enough to suggest comfort.

Ella smiled warmly, turning her attention back to Mirror. "Your child is so well-behaved," she said, her voice full of approval. "From what I can see, you’ve done a wonderful job with her. I’m proud of you."

Mira smiled softly in return, her voice calm and deliberate as she spoke. "Thank you," she murmured.

Little Zami continued eating quietly, the peaceful silence resuming for a moment, but it wasn’t long before Zander spoke again, breaking the calm. His words were casual, but there was an undercurrent of something else in his tone.

"I see I’m not always welcomed here," he remarked, his eyes flicking to Zamian, who had been silent throughout the exchange.

Zamian, who had been staring into his plate with an intense focus, finally looked up. His sharp gaze met Zander’s, unwavering. "At least you got one thing right," he said, his voice clipped, and he returned to his meal without another word.

Zander chuckled, unfazed by the remark. "You never told me about our cute Little Zami here," he said, his tone still light, though there was a hint of curiosity in his words.

Little Zami raised her head at his words, her curiosity piqued. The surprise in her eyes was clear—if he was truly her uncle, shouldn’t he already know about her? She shifted her gaze toward her father, her eyes questioning, searching for reassurance.

Zamian met her gaze briefly, his expression unreadable for a moment before he turned back to Zander. His eyes stiffened, and the silent message was clear: Mind your words.

The tension in the air was palpable, and for a moment, it seemed as though no one would speak again. Zander’s lighthearted demeanor had not gone unnoticed, but Zamian wasn’t one to let such comments slide easily. Yet, just as the silence stretched on, Zamian finally broke it, his voice measured and controlled.

"You’re always so busy," he began, his tone steady but laced with something unspoken. "I wouldn’t want to disturb you." He paused for a heartbeat, then added, "What matters is you’re seeing her now."

Zander was momentarily taken aback by the response. It wasn’t like Zamian to speak so openly, especially about something so personal. His usual guarded nature had slipped, and for a brief moment, it seemed as though Zamian genuinely cared for the daughter he had kept at arm’s length for so long.

Zamian’s expression softened, and he turned to Little Zami with a new light in his eyes. "My daughter here," he said, his tone softer than usual, "she took after me a little—small but smart." There was a warmth in his gaze as he regarded the little girl, his normally stoic demeanor softening just enough to allow a smile to play at the corners of his lips.

Zander turned to Ella with a smile on his lips, a brief flicker of surprise is still evident on his face. "I see the walls have finally crumbled. Our Mrs Mira here did an excellent job," he said, his tone lighter now, though there was an underlying layer of admiration in his words.

Ella nodded quietly, offering Mira a slow thumbs-up. It was a subtle gesture, but it carried a weight of approval that didn’t need to be spoken aloud. Her smile was small, but there was pride in her eyes as she looked at Mira.

The quiet moments lingered as Zander spoke again, breaking the stillness that had enveloped them. "I couldn’t possibly miss my brother’s introduction to his wife today," he said, his voice carrying a strange edge, though it wasn’t entirely unfriendly.

The room fell into a quiet stillness once more, and Mira’s heart softened at his words. It was the kind of statement that carried meaning beyond the surface, a moment of quiet understanding between them all. She glanced at Zamian, a tender smile forming on her lips. His stern demeanor seemed to ease for a moment, just long enough for her to see the flicker of emotion in his eyes.

Zamian, ever the protector, reached for the serving dishes, placing a generous portion of food on Little Zami’s plate before serving some onto Mira’s. His movements were steady and purposeful, but there was a certain tenderness in the way he placed the food on her plate, as though he cared more than he was willing to admit.

"You need to eat more," Zamian said matter-of-factly as he dropped another portion onto Mira’s plate. "You need to stay energized."

His words seemed casual, but Mira could hear the deeper layer beneath them. The word ’energized’ struck a chord in her, one that made her cheeks tinge faintly with blush. It reminded her of moments they had shared before—those fleeting, teasing moments that often made her heart race.

But he wasn’t teasing her now. His tone was serious, and it was clear that he meant every word.

’Stop thinking dirty,’Mira scolded herself quietly, shaking her head slightly to dismiss the thought. She couldn’t afford to entertain such notions now—not when the atmosphere was shifting again, so delicately between them all.

Yet, a part of her couldn’t help but wonder. Could it be her, not Zamian, who had entertained such thoughts all along? The possibility left her both flustered and amused, the sudden realization making her cheeks warm once more.

After the meal, Little Zami was guided by a maid to a special room filled with games and puzzles—her favorite pastime. The girl’s excitement was evident as she eagerly followed, her small frame bouncing with joy as she stepped into the room. She was finally free to immerse herself in the activities she loved, and the smile on her face said it all.

Meanwhile, Mira and Ella strolled through the garden, the fresh breeze gently sweeping through their hair. The tranquil atmosphere seemed to invite quiet reflection, the sound of birds chirping in the distance and the rustling of leaves providing a peaceful backdrop to their conversation. They settled into a pair of chairs beneath the shade of a large tree, the coolness of the leaves offering respite from the warm afternoon sun.

Ella broke the silence first, her voice soft but filled with sincerity. "Your husband... he’s changed so much. There’s light in him now." She paused, looking out toward the horizon as though gathering her thoughts. "I wanted to thank you. My husband—he’s always been so afraid that he’d stay the way he was, trapped in his darkness. But you... you’ve brought light into his world."

Mira smiled warmly at her words, her eyes glistening with a mixture of gratitude and understanding. It was as though Mira had voiced something she, too, had felt but hadn’t known how to put into words. The words hung in the air between them, carried by the breeze, as the two women shared a quiet moment of connection and admiration.

The stillness of the moment wrapped around them, and for the first time in a long while, Mira felt the weight of the past few days begin to lift. But something in the air still lingered—unspoken yet understood. They both knew that the journey ahead would not be easy, but perhaps, just perhaps, it was worth taking together.