Forbiddenly Bound To You
Chapter 84: Unexpected News

Chapter 84: Unexpected News

His kiss was gentle, like a golden promise, and it caught Mira completely off guard. She had not expected such a tender gesture from Zamian, and it felt almost surreal, as if she were caught in a dream. When he finally pulled away, her cheeks flushed with a deep embarrassment, a rosy hue that made her feel both exhilarated and shy. The chauffeur, who had respectfully turned his back to them, only intensified her blush, as she felt suddenly aware of their surroundings.

"Call me, okay?" Zamian reminded her softly, his voice a warm murmur that lingered in the air between them. Mira nodded, her heart racing, too shy to respond with words, the weight of their unspoken connection pressing heavily in the space around them.

As the moment of parting drew nearer, she found it hard to say goodbye, fearing that it would feel too final, as if he might never return. "See you soon," she finally whispered, her voice barely audible, yet filled with hopeful anticipation.

Zamian nodded, a slow, charming smile playing on his lips, before he turned and entered the car. With that, the vehicle zoomed off, leaving Mira standing there, her heart still racing. She exhaled softly, her fingers gently caressing the card he had given her, seeking reassurance in its presence. She stood there for a moment longer, watching the car disappear into the distance, until it was completely out of view.

Turning around, she spotted James standing nearby, Lily by his side, and her face lit up with excitement.

"Oh my, Lily!" she exclaimed, her voice brightening with genuine joy. Usually, Lily would leap into Mira’s arms for a hug, but this time, she embraced her gently instead, perhaps sensing the whirlwind of emotions swirling within her.

"Oh, Mira, congratulations! I heard the good news," Lily said, her warm smile radiating happiness.

"Thank you," Mira replied, returning the smile with equal warmth, her heart still fluttering from her earlier encounter with Zamian.

"Hello, Mr. James," she greeted him, her tone respectful as she acknowledged his presence.

"Mrs. Mira, how are you doing?" he asked, his expression friendly.

"Great, thanks," she responded, her thoughts still drifting back to Zamian, the moment of their kiss replaying in her mind. She turned her attention back to Lily, eager to shift her focus away from her racing heart.

"Let’s go," Mira suggested, her excitement bubbling over.

"Of course, you have lots of explaining to do," Lily teased, nudging her playfully, a mischievous glint in her eye that made Mira laugh.

Inside the living room, Lily and Mira settled down as Lily sipped grape juice while Mira opted for a glass of fresh apple juice, knowing it was safe for her pregnancy.

"So you’re telling me that you did it in two days? Though not literally, I know you didn’t just do it once in those two days," Lily said, a teasing tone lacing her words. Mira blushed, her cheeks warming as she turned her face away, trying to hide her embarrassment.

Lily continued, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. "I must say, your husband is a sharp shooter! He scored those goals right into the post," she quipped, her laughter ringing in the air.

Mira’s eyes widened as she realized the meaning behind Lily’s playful words, her cheeks flushing a deep pink. "Come on, I’m sure the goalkeeper had no chance," Lily teased further, clearly enjoying Mira’s discomfort.

Mira’s mind spun as she tried to process Lily’s bizarre soccer analogy. Why was Lily using soccer to explain this? Oh heavens...

"Lily..." Mira called, trying to regain some composure, her voice shaky.

"What? But I’m not lying, am I?" Lily replied, her tone innocent yet laced with playful mischief as she noticed Mira’s deepening blush.

Sensing that she had pushed Mira far enough, Lily quickly attempted to change the subject. "I had no idea you changed branches," she said, shifting the focus away from their previous topic.

"Oh yeah, they sent me a mail. I’m now working at the main branch," Mira replied casually, though she knew that her husband had orchestrated the change. She preferred not to mention that, keeping it to herself for now.

"Oh really? Umm, I heard they changed their dress code. You know, they used to be known for having the sexiest work outfits, but now it seems like it’s the opposite," Lily remarked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. Mira’s eyes widened at Lily’s words; she had no idea about the shift.

"But even with that change, many branches still wish to be promoted there," Lily finished, shrugging as if it were obvious. Mira nodded, her thoughts elsewhere.

"I came here for you," Lily spoke earnestly, her expression shifting to sincerity. "Let’s prepare something—how about muffins?"

"That would be nice," Mira smiled, grateful for the distraction as they moved into the kitchen.

Inside the kitchen, Nana stood to the side, watching as Mira and Lily prepared the muffins. Mira handed ingredients to Lily while she worked her magic, measuring and mixing with practiced ease. After a while, Lily announced, "Done!" as she arranged the muffins in the oven, her face glowing with pride.

That one word made Mira remember the day she and Zamian had cooked together, a soft smile playing on her lips as the memory flooded back. The warmth of the kitchen and the sweet scent of baking muffins reminded her of that intimate moment, deepening her affection for him.

"Someone is daydreaming," Lily said, glancing up but pretending not to notice Mira’s smile.

"I’m not!" Mira protested, her cheeks warming slightly at being caught in her thoughts.

Lily finally turned to her, feigning surprise. "I said someone, but if it’s you, then there’s no problem," she said with a wink.

Mira glared at her playfully, but Lily couldn’t help but giggle, clearly enjoying the teasing.

Mira decided it was time to turn the tables and tease Lily a bit; she had been the target of teasing for long enough.

"How’s Mr. James? Does any one knows that you two are dating?" Mira asked, a mischievous glint in her eyes as she leaned closer.

Lily nodded shyly, her cheeks flushing. "Yes,my mom knows," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Hmmm," Mira replied, noticing Lily’s cheeks warming even more.

"Stop it!" Lily exclaimed, trying to regain her composure, but the bright smile on her face gave her away.

"What happened to your voice? Why does it sound so different, huh?" Mira pressed, enjoying the moment as she saw Lily squirm under the teasing.

Lily turned her head to the side, trying to deflect. "It’s not!" she protested, her denial only making Mira laugh more.

"Oh really? It’s not?" Mira repeated, mimicking Lily’s tone in a playful, childlike manner, enjoying the banter.

"That’s not how I said it!" Lily insisted, but the corners of her mouth were twitching with a smile, betraying her amusement.

"Mmmm, oh really?" Mira teased further, relishing the playful exchange. The sound of laughter filled the kitchen, creating a lighthearted atmosphere that made both of them feel closer.

Just then, the oven pinged, signaling that the muffins were ready. Lily’s face lit up with joy, a bright smile illuminating her features.

"Finally!" she exclaimed, rushing to open the oven, the warm aroma of freshly baked muffins wafting through the air, making Mira’s stomach rumble in anticipation. Lily gently put on an oven mitt as she opened the oven and took out the muffin pan. She placed it on the counter before carefully removing the muffins and arranging them on a tray.

"Come have a taste," she said, gesturing to Mira, who walked over eagerly. Taking a bite, Mira’s eyes lit up with delight.

"¡Delicioso!" she exclaimed, savoring the rich, buttery flavor that melted in her mouth. The muffins tasted exceptionally delicious, a perfect blend of sweetness and warmth.

Lily beamed at her reaction, her heart swelling with pride. Mira then turned to Nana, who had been watching them with a soft smile. "Come have a taste," she urged, signaling her to join them.

"It’s fine, Mrs. Mira. Enjoy," Nana replied, her smile warm and encouraging, but Mira wasn’t having any of it.

"Come on! I know you want it. I saw you drooling earlier," Lily teased, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she pushed a muffin toward Nana.

"Nana, don’t let her tease you," Mira said, chuckling softly, enjoying the lighthearted atmosphere between them.

Nana smiled as she moved closer, and Lily handed her a plate with a muffin, clearly relishing in the playful banter.

"See? I wasn’t lying," Lily said with a shrug, looking at Mira, who shook her head with a smile, still amused by the ongoing teasing.

Mira and Lily sat in the dining room, enjoying their meal and sharing laughter. Just as they were about to finish, Lily’s phone rang. She glanced at the caller ID, and her expression turned serious. Standing up immediately, her body shook slightly as she answered the call. After a brief conversation, she hung up.

"I’m so sorry, Mira. I need to go."

"It’s fine. Is there a problem?" Mira asked, worry creeping into her voice.

"My mum... she’s in the hospital."