Forbiddenly Bound To You
Chapter 62: The Door

Chapter 62: The Door

Mira couldn’t believe what he had just said. Her body froze, her mind reeling from the embarrassment.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Zamian and Mrs. Mira. I wanted to inform you that it’s time for lunch." Nana bowed her head respectfully before leaving the room, her movements graceful and quiet.

As soon as Nana left, Mira quickly used her palm to cover her face, clearly affected by what Zamian had said earlier. Her cheeks were burning with embarrassment. She couldn’t believe she had let herself get so flustered in front of him, especially with Nana witnessing it.

"Why are you covering your face?" Zamian asked, his voice calm and unbothered as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.

"Nothing," Mira muttered, still keeping her face hidden. She wasn’t ready to face him yet, not after what she had just said. Her fingers curled slightly, pressing against her cheeks as she tried to calm herself from the growing embarrassment.

Zamian raised an eyebrow, his gaze fixed on her as if he could read right through her. "Then stop hiding your face."

Mira shook her head slightly, her fingers still pressed against her skin. "Gosh, why would you say that?" she finally blurted out, her voice betraying her flustered state as she pulled her hand away from her face.

Zamian simply shrugged. "You asked what I was thinking about, and I told you," he said matter-of-factly, not showing the slightest hint of shame.

’Oh, could he be any more shameless?’ she thought, her mind racing as she tried to compose herself. How could he say something so bold without even blinking?

Zamian wasn’t done, though. With a playful glint in his eyes, he leaned forward slightly. "Would you like to know what I’m thinking now?" he asked, his voice carrying a teasing edge.

Mira’s heart skipped a beat, and she felt her face heat up again. "No, thanks!" she replied quickly, her voice almost breathless as she stood up abruptly, eager to escape the conversation. She couldn’t handle any more of his teasing. As she hurriedly walked toward the dining room, she heard Zamian chuckle behind her.

Inside the dining room, the atmosphere was calmer. They ate in relative silence for a while, the only sounds being the clinking of cutlery and the occasional shifting in their seats. Mira’s mind was still racing, but she forced herself to focus on the food in front of her.

After several moments, she finally spoke. "I have fully recovered, which means I can start working again," she said, hoping to shift the conversation to something more neutral.

Zamian, however, had other plans. He set his fork down and looked at her. "No," he said firmly, his tone leaving no room for debate. "It seems you’ve forgotten that you’re having a wedding soon. And after the wedding, what comes next? A honeymoon." A small smile played on his lips, revealing his perfect white teeth.

Mira’s body froze once again as she stared at him, awestruck by his stunning features. His smile made his already striking appearance even more captivating. For a moment, she couldn’t look away. How could someone be this attractive?

Zamian, noticing her distraction, broke the silence. "Eat more; be energized," he said casually, his tone returning to normal as he resumed eating.

Mira blinked, snapping out of her thoughts. ’Why did he have to use that particular word?’ she wondered, feeling her face flush once again. Of all the words he could’ve chosen, ’energized’ was the one that seemed to linger in her mind.

***

Meanwhile, inside a sleek car, James and Lily sat together as the driver navigated the busy streets. The excitement was palpable between them as they discussed the upcoming wedding.

"Who would have thought I’d be Mira’s bridesmaid?" Lily squealed, practically bouncing in her seat as she squeezed James’s hand. "And who would have thought that Mr. Cutesy—my very handsome boyfriend—would be the best man? Oh, we were really fated to be!" she added with a bright smile.

James chuckled, turning to face her. "You look really excited," he remarked, his eyes soft with affection.

"No, I am excited!" Lily beamed, her enthusiasm contagious.

The car finally halted in front of a large, elegant building. As they stepped out, the grandeur of the place hit them. They were led inside and directed to the elevator. As they ascended, the anticipation grew, and Lily couldn’t contain her excitement.

Once they reached the designated floor, they were greeted by rows of breathtaking bridesmaid gowns hanging on the rails. The dresses were nothing short of exquisite—each one more beautiful and elegant than the last. From what Lily could see, it was clear that these gowns were expensive, far beyond what she had imagined.

"Hello, Mr. James. Hello, ma’am," a friendly voice greeted them as a lady approached with a warm smile. "We’ll be taking her measurements," she explained, motioning for Lily to follow her into the fitting room.

James nodded as Lily eagerly followed the lady. The excitement of the day was starting to feel real.

***

Back in his office, Zamian sat at his desk, his mind focused on his work. The room was quiet except for the faint sound of his fingers tapping against the keyboard. Suddenly, his phone lit up and began to ring, breaking the silence. Glancing at the screen, he saw his brother Zander’s name flash across the screen. With a sigh, he picked up.

"So you finally decided to answer, little bro," Zander’s voice came through the line, teasing but with an undertone of something more serious.

Zamian remained silent for a moment before speaking. "Say what you want to say; I’m busy," he replied coldly, his tone sharp.

"I thought you wouldn’t invite me to your wedding. But hey, I’m proud of you," Zander said, his voice almost taunting.

Zamian’s expression hardened. He didn’t have time for Zander’s games. "I hope you won’t hide anything from your wife now that you’re married," Zander continued, the teasing in his voice turning darker. "It’s better to tell her the truth. If you can’t... I’ll help."

Zamian’s grip on the phone tightened. "No. Mind your own business," he snapped, his patience wearing thin. Without waiting for a response, he hung up, his jaw clenched in frustration. The air in the room grew cold as the tension from the conversation lingered.

It seemed Zander was up to something, and Zamian wasn’t in the mood for any of it. His anger bubbling to the surface, he slammed his laptop shut with such force that it made a cracking noise. The screen shattered slightly, but he didn’t care. His mind was already racing with thoughts of how to handle whatever scheme his brother had in mind.

Meanwhile, in the garden, Mira gently watered the plants, her hand absentmindedly caressing the necklace around her neck. She hadn’t taken it off since Zamian had given it to her. It had become a symbol of something precious between them.

As she moved to water the senerp flower, she noticed a remarkable change. The flower had grown even more colorful and vibrant since the last time she had seen it. Its petals shimmered under the sunlight, almost glowing with life.

After tending to the garden, Mira decided to explore the mansion, having little else to do for the day. She strolled through the hallways, her fingertips brushing along the cool walls as she admired the intricate designs and towering ceilings. The place was massive, and despite living here, she felt as though there were still parts of it left unexplored.

She paused in front of a modest-sized door she hadn’t noticed before. Curiosity piqued, she reached out, gently turning the knob. As she opened it, her eyes widened. A fresh breeze swept across her face, sending her hair fluttering as if the wind had followed her from outside.

The room that greeted her was breathtaking. At its center lay a square-shaped pool, the water shimmering under the soft light pouring in from the skylights above. On one side, there were chairs and a table set up for drinks and refreshments, giving it the feel of a private beach retreat—only this was indoors, tucked away within the mansion’s luxurious interior.

Her eyes traveled back to the pool, the inviting water lapping gently at the edges. It looked peaceful. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to swim, she thought. But then doubt crept in—could she even swim? The last time she had gone to the beach, she had never stepped into the water. She hadn’t been able to bring herself to wear anything as revealing as a bikini with so many people around.

But now, she was alone. No prying eyes, no judgment. Just her and the pool.

Although her period has ended, that would not be an excuse, and swimming wouldn’t be that bad.

After a moment of hesitation, she turned back to lock the door behind her. The soft *click* gave her a sense of privacy, security. Her nerves settled a little as she crossed the room to where several swimsuits hung neatly on racks. The selection was impressive, but her eyes were drawn to a light pink bikini. It was delicate, yet bold, and something about it called to her.

Mira removed her clothes and slipped into the two-piece swimsuit. She stepped in front of a mirror, her eyes tracing the outline of her reflection. The bikini fit her perfectly, accentuating her curves. She had always been self-conscious about her figure—her big hips and small waist drew attention whether she wanted it or not. But now, standing there alone, she felt a mix of confidence and vulnerability.

She let her hair fall down her back, the dark strands flowing freely as she adjusted the straps. ’Good thing I locked the door’, she thought with a faint smile. There was no one here to make her feel uncomfortable or to judge her. This moment was hers alone.

Turning away from the mirror, she walked slowly toward the pool. The air was warm, and the faint sound of water trickling relaxed her. She dipped a toe into the water, testing its temperature. Satisfied, she stepped in slowly, the coolness enveloping her skin and sending a shiver down her spine. It felt calming, soothing her in a way she hadn’t expected. She waded further in, the water gently lapping at her waist.

"Wow," she whispered to herself, looking around in awe. "Who knew such a beautiful place was hidden here?" Her voice echoed softly in the room, adding to the serenity of the moment.

She ran her hands across the surface of the water, watching the ripples spread out in tiny waves. With a playful grin, she splashed a little, the droplets sparkling as they caught the light. She hadn’t felt this relaxed in a long time. The pressures of her new life, the looming wedding, the unfamiliarity of the mansion—it all seemed to wash away with the cool water.

Her laughter bubbled up as she splashed around more, her worries fading. She felt light, free.

But just as she was starting to enjoy herself fully, the unmistakable sound of footsteps echoed in the hallway outside. Her heart skipped a beat. Footsteps? But... she had locked the door. Her mind raced, a sudden wave of panic gripping her.

She turned quickly, her eyes darting toward the door. Her hands instinctively flew to cover her chest, even though she wasn’t naked. The bikini top, though modest, still showed a reasonable amount of cleavage, and the thought of someone seeing her like this sent a rush of embarrassment through her.

"Please... don’t come any closer," she called out, her voice trembling slightly.