Forbiddenly Bound To You
Chapter 30: It’s Too Small

Chapter 30: It’s Too Small

*Inside James Car*

It was already dark and late when Lily sat in the front seat of James’s car, a vehicle distinctly different from the one he usually used to drop off and pick up Mira. The unfamiliarity of the car only heightened her anxiety. Her face was a portrait of worry; she had never imagined things would turn out this way. The shock of Mira’s kidnapping hit her like a cold wave, leaving her feeling numb and helpless. If she had known, she would have insisted on Mira staying at the company. But she hadn’t known. Her pallor was so pronounced that James, noticing her distress, turned to her with a look of quiet sympathy.

"It’s not your fault," he said softly, his voice carrying a warmth that felt almost like a comforting hug. His gaze was steady and reassuring, like a lighthouse guiding her through the stormy sea of her emotions.

Before he could say more, his phone rang, breaking the tense silence in the car. He answered it, and after a brief, tense pause, his expression transformed from anxiety to relief. "They’ve found Mira," he said, his voice carrying a note of hope.

Lily’s heart skipped a beat. She immediately sat up, her eyes wide with a mix of relief and lingering worry. "How did they kidnap her? Who did this? What happened? Why is all of this happening?" Her voice trembled, revealing the depth of her anxiety.

James looked at her with a mixture of concern and reassurance. "The important thing is that Mira has been found," he said gently, his eyes softening with sincerity.

Lily nodded, trying to process the relief mingled with her remaining anxiety. Just then, her phone screen lit up—her mum was calling. Lily’s eyes widened in panic. Her mother’s overprotectiveness was legendary, and with the late hour, she knew her mum would be frantic. The thought of her mother finding out a guy was dropping her off made Lily’s heart race.

She quickly picked up the call, striving to steady her voice. "Hey, Mum."

Her mother’s voice came through, loud and anxious, with a touch of frustration. "Lily, where are you? I’m so worried! Where are you? I’m outside and can’t find you at the company!"

Lily’s heart raced as she tried to fabricate a plausible excuse. "I’m staying at my friend Jane’s house. She’s driving me. We’re having a sleepover tonight. I couldn’t say no."

As she spoke, she glanced at James, who gave her a look of shock before turning his attention back to the road. Lily’s anxiety mounted, hoping her lie would suffice. Her mum replied, her tone still worried, "You should have told me earlier. You made me worry sick. Come home tomorrow."

"Yes, Mum," Lily said quickly, her voice barely above a whisper before ending the call. She sat in silence afterward, a mixture of relief and guilt washing over her. James watched her, his expression a blend of concern and curiosity.

Lily pouted her lips, her eyes wide and pleading. "Can I stay at your place?"

James looked at her with a firm expression. "No."

Undeterred, Lily gave him her best pleading look, her bottom lip jutting out in a way that was almost impossible to resist. "Pretty please? I have nowhere else to go."

James sighed deeply, his resolve visibly crumbling. After a moment of hesitation, he finally relented, his expression softening. For some reason, Lily felt a wave of relief wash over her—she was glad that she had stayed out late, happy that Mira had been found, and relieved that James had allowed her to stay.

James drove in silence for a while, the tension in the car palpable. Lily broke the silence, her voice soft and full of gratitude. "Thank you very much, Jane," she said, giving him a grateful wink that seemed to light up her entire face.

James glanced at her, his gaze softening. "You shouldn’t lie to your mum," he said gently, though his tone was not reproachful.

Lily sighed and replied, "Yeah, I know, I know. Um, I can’t really tell her that I’m..." She trailed off, realizing that mentioning her reasons for not going home might make James reconsider letting her stay. So, she decided to remain silent as they continued driving.

James drove for a while longer before pulling up in front of a clothing store. Lily looked at him, puzzled. "Wait here. I’ll be back in a minute," he said, giving her a reassuring smile before quickly exiting the car and walking toward the store.

Lily sat in the car, her mind racing as she tried to piece together what James might be doing. She couldn’t help but feel a little flutter of curiosity and excitement. After a short while, James returned with a white bag and handed it to her.

As James handed the bag to Lily, he spoke in a low, almost bashful tone, "Don’t open it until you get back." His cheeks were slightly flushed, a look Lily hadn’t seen before.

Curious, Lily glanced inside the bag. She pulled out a set of nightwear and some casual clothes for the next morning. The nightwear was a matching pink set with a cute bunny print on the shirt and shorts. Her eyes lit up with a delighted smile, and she let out a soft, surprised gasp.

"Oh my, Mr. Cutesy, you really bought this?" she said, her voice full of joy. Her surprise grew when she noticed an additional item in the bag—a bra.

As she pulled the bra out, her eyes widened in shock and amusement. "Oh my!"

James, noticing her reaction, said with a touch of embarrassment, "I told you not to check it until you got back."

Before he could say more, the car screeched to a halt. Lily’s eyes widened as she held up the bra, which was too small for her.

"But these aren’t my size—they’re too small," she exclaimed, her face a mix of confusion and amusement.