Forbiddenly Bound To You
Chapter 33: The Weight Of A Title

Chapter 33: The Weight Of A Title

James stared at Lily for a moment, a slight smirk tugging at his lips as she spoke. Without a word, he reached over and gently pinched her cheeks, catching her off guard. She blinked in surprise, her mouth falling open, momentarily stunned. Before she could say anything, he got to his seat, and began eating his breakfast, as though the cheek pinch had been the most natural thing in the world.

Lily sat frozen, speechless for a few moments, her surprise plain on her face. What just happened? James wasn’t usually this playful, and the sudden shift in his behavior threw her off balance. Slowly, she composed herself, trying to shake off her initial shock. She picked up her fork and quietly began eating alongside him, her mind spinning with questions. Why had he done that? Was he teasing her?

James casually handed her the plate of pancakes without looking at her, focused entirely on his food. She hesitated before taking a bite, still watching him out of the corner of her eye. When the taste hit her tongue, her eyes widened in delight.

"Wow, Mr. Cutesy, you’re actually a really good cook!" she exclaimed, the playfulness creeping back into her voice. She leaned forward slightly, a teasing smile spreading across her face. "Seems like I’ll be coming over here more often to eat."

James’ expression didn’t change, remaining calm and detached as he responded, "No, we shouldn’t be doing this. I only did it because it was an emergency..."

His voice trailed off, the sudden seriousness catching Lily by surprise. The playful air between them dissolved in an instant. The sharpness in his tone stung her more than she expected, and she blinked, taken aback. Why did his opinion matter so much to her? It wasn’t like she was trying to push herself onto him, but now she wondered if she had crossed some invisible line. She swallowed, keeping a smile on her face despite the unease growing in her chest.

She decided not to push it. For a moment, she considered teasing him again, making light of his sudden shift in mood. But the words stuck in her throat, and instead, she forced herself to stay quiet.

After finishing her breakfast, Lily stood up and began to gather the plates. She moved slower than usual, trying to act casual and not betray how his words had affected her.

"Thank you, Mr. Cutesy," she said, trying to keep her tone light and cheerful. "I’ll be going now. My mom is probably waiting for me, and I’ve already stayed longer than I should. Thanks again for everything." She let out a nervous laugh, hoping it would smooth over the awkwardness she felt.

She took a step toward the door, ready to make a quick exit and escape the tension, but just as she did, James called out to her.

"Lily."

Her heart skipped a beat, and she froze in place, slowly turning back toward him. Another nervous laugh escaped her lips, though it sounded forced even to her own ears.

"Where are my manners?" she said, trying to brush off the heaviness in the room. "I forgot to take the plates inside."

James’ eyes lingered on her, and for a brief moment, it felt as though the air between them thickened with something unspoken. She tried to maintain her usual playful demeanor, but the atmosphere had changed, and beneath her forced smile, her heart felt heavier than it had moments ago.

As she walked back to the table, her fingers brushing against the plates, she felt his hand on her wrist, stopping her. The contact was gentle, yet firm enough to send a jolt through her.

"Lily," James’ voice was soft, almost tender. "Are you okay?"

She forced a smile, though it felt weaker than before. "Of course, why wouldn’t I be? I slept well, and I’m enjoying breakfast," she replied lightly, her voice betraying none of the confusion she felt inside. She didn’t want to admit that his earlier words had hurt her, that she suddenly felt like she had overstayed her welcome. Instead, she pulled her hand free from his grasp and walked into the kitchen to wash the dishes.

The sound of running water filled the silence, giving her a moment to collect her thoughts. As she scrubbed the plates, she tried to focus on anything other than James. Why did his words sting so much? It wasn’t like she had feelings for him, right? They were just friends, and she was only joking around. But the way he had shut her down made her feel like she had crossed a line she didn’t know was there.

After finishing the dishes, she dried her hands and walked back out to the living room. James was still sitting at the table, his back to her, but there was something different about his posture—tenser, less relaxed than usual.

"Thank you, Mr. Cutesy," she said again, though this time her voice was quieter, lacking its usual spark. "I’ll head out now. I promise I’ll pay you back somehow." She hesitated for a moment, waiting for him to say something, but when he didn’t, she turned and made her way to the stairs.

*****

Mira, now dressed in new baggy clothes, sat on the bed. There was an IV drip attached to her hand, smaller than the previous one, marking the final step before she could finally go back. Zamian had already left for work. A soft knock interrupted her thoughts. When she opened the door, she saw the doctor standing there.

"Miss Mira, I can see you’re getting better. You’ve had quite a few changes, and it seems like you’re truly recovering. It’s great progress, and I’m confident you’ll be fully healed in a week. I’ve already informed your husband about what needs to be done."

As the doctor finished, Mira’s cheeks flushed crimson at the mention of her "husband." Trying to act normal, she spoke.

"If you don’t mind, could you please tell me what you told my husband?"

She tried to brush off the awkwardness and focus on what she was doing when a familiar voice broke in.

"No need for that. I’ll tell you myself."

Mira’s eyes widened as she turned toward the door. There, standing in the doorway, was Zamian.