Forbiddenly Bound To You
Chapter 88: Hidden Clause:Child’s Fate

Chapter 88: Hidden Clause:Child’s Fate

Mira and Lily enjoyed their time together, relaxing as they indulged in a hair wash and massage. The soothing ambiance enveloped them, making it easy to forget the world outside. Once they finished, they moved on to hair care, meticulously applying products that left their locks looking silky and shiny.

Lily smiled at the result, her reflection sparkling in the rearview mirror. Mira couldn’t help but mirror her friend’s expression, admiring the way their hair shimmered in the light. Satisfied with their pampering session, they left the building and slid into the car, which started moving smoothly along the road.

The car was quiet, the hum of the engine punctuating the silence. However, Mira couldn’t shake the feeling that Lily had something on her mind. She glanced over at her friend, who was biting her lip—a clear sign of contemplation.

"Do you have something to say?" Mira asked, tilting her head slightly, encouraging Lily to open up.

"Yes, but I’m afraid it might be too early," Lily hesitated, her eyes darting to the window as if seeking answers from the passing scenery.

"No, go on," Mira urged, sensing the weight of Lily’s thoughts.

After a moment, Lily took a deep breath. "About the baby shower—when are you planning to hold it?"

Mira froze, the question hanging in the air like a heavy cloud. She hadn’t even considered that detail. Wait, what?

Lily’s excitement bubbled over, breaking through Mira’s momentary paralysis. "I was thinking maybe in the seventh month. That would be awesome, you know?"

Mira’s heart thundered in her chest, and her body stilled as her eyes widened in disbelief. Pregnancy was supposed to last nine months. Her contract with Zamian was meant to end in the fourth month. She was supposed to divorce him by then. But... the baby? Of course, she wasn’t going to give birth in the fourth month. She wasn’t an alien.

Sensing Mira’s change in demeanor, Lily immediately regretted speaking. Had she gone too far? "Mira... I’m sorry, I... I didn’t mean to—"

"No, Lily, you asked a great question. I’ll think about it," Mira replied, forcing a weak smile. Deep down, she felt the tension coiling in her stomach. The mere mention of a baby shower triggered a whirlwind of emotions she hadn’t fully processed.

Lily could only get angry with herself for asking such a "stupid" question. She should have waited until she was sure Mira was ready for that conversation. Now, it seemed she had pushed her friend too hard.

As the car continued its journey, the silence between them grew heavier, each passing moment filled with unspoken thoughts. When they finally reached the mansion, Lily’s phone pinged, breaking the tension.

"M-Mira, I’m sorry, but I need to go," Lily said, feeling a wave of guilt wash over her. But deep down, she knew it was what Mira wanted—some time alone to process everything.

How had she not thought of it? Mira was so focused on divorcing Zamian that she had completely overlooked the fact that pregnancy lasted nine months. Even a child would have thought this through. But with everything going on—her father’s debt, the contract marriage—it had all clouded her mind, and she missed the bigger picture.

But the truth was, it was partly her fault. She was the one who had asked him to give her four months’ notice, not realizing the gravity of her situation.

Mira nodded at Lily. "Take care," she said softly, her heart heavy.

"You too," Lily replied with a smile, but the warmth in her eyes was tinged with concern before she left the car.

As Mira entered the mansion, she was greeted by Nana, who was busy organizing some items in the foyer. "Welcome back home," Nana said cheerfully, looking up to meet Mira’s gaze.

Mira nodded her thanks before asking as they both walked into the mansion, "Do you know where my husband’s office key is?"

Nana, who was filled with questions, hesitated before responding. "I’m not the one in charge of Mr. Zamian’s key—that would be Mr. James."

Mira nodded with a smile, appreciating Nana’s willingness to help. "Could you help me call Mr. James?"

Nana nodded and left to fetch him. It didn’t take long before James arrived, looking slightly out of breath but still composed.

"Good Afternoon," Mira greeted him, trying to mask her inner turmoil.

"Good to see you, Mrs. Mira. How are you doing?" James asked, his tone professional yet warm.

"I’m doing fine, thank you," she replied, then added, "Could you please give me the key to my husband’s office?"

James looked surprised by her request and fell silent for a moment, as if processing the implications of her inquiry. "Yes, of course. Let me go get it."

Mira nodded as he went to retrieve the key, her thoughts racing with uncertainty. She could sense the tension in the air, and a nagging worry began to form in the back of her mind.

"If I may ask, Mrs. Mira, are you looking for something?" James inquired, suspecting that Mira might be searching for something significant, given her request.

"No, I just need to check on something. You don’t have to worry," Mira replied, attempting to reassure him while masking her own unease.

"Umm, Miss Mira, I’ve been calling you. It seemed you were busy." He rubbed the back of his neck, clearly unsure of how to continue.

"Oh, I’m really sorry. My phone was on Do Not Disturb," she apologized, embarrassment creeping in.

"Oh," he muttered, his face betraying a hint of concern. He paused for a moment before speaking again. "I wanted to ask if you’ve spoken to, um... Mr. Zamian today?" The mere mention of Zamian’s name made Mira’s heart skip a beat.

"No, is there a problem?" she asked, her voice tinged with worry.

"No, nothing serious. I was just wondering if you could call him when you have some free time," James said, though something about his demeanor seemed off to Mira. Still, she tried not to dwell on it, thinking she might be overthinking things.

"Okay, I will," she said before heading upstairs, her mind racing with unanswered questions.

As she climbed the staircase, the weight of her thoughts pressed heavily on her shoulders. Mira entered Zamian’s office after the door scanned the key, lighting up green as it acknowledged her presence. She opened the door and quietly closed it behind her before flicking on the light.

Walking over to his desk, she opened the drawer and began searching for the contract papers. As time passed, frustration bubbled beneath her surface. She felt as if the walls were closing in, ready to give up the search. But then, her eyes caught sight of a golden paper holder nestled among the clutter.

With a sense of urgency, she pulled it out, opened it, and sighed in relief. As she sank down onto the floor, the contract in her hands, she finally allowed herself to breathe. It wasn’t until she sat down, the weight of the world on her shoulders, that she realized just how tense she had been.

Mira began reading the contract carefully, her eyes skimming over the words. As she read through the document, she noticed it was exactly what had been sent to her in the email. So, what was wrong? She finished reading and turned the paper over, but the back was blank. As she closed the folder, the blank paper shifted, revealing something written on it:

The two parties cannot have a divorce if they have not signed the Divorce Agreement.

"What?" Mira exclaimed, her voice louder than she intended. She continued to read, her heart racing faster with each line. The more she read, the worse it got.

If the two parties sign the Divorce Agreement after four months, Party A—Zamian—still retains rights over Mira because she is carrying his child. This means he has care over her, and she will continue living with him. The only difference is that they cannot engage in intimacy unless both parties agree.

"He can’t be serious," Mira muttered, shaking her head in disbelief. Why hadn’t he sent her this part of the agreement? Why had he hidden such an important clause from her?

Why?

"Gosh, I’m so stupid," Mira whispered painfully, the weight of the realization crashing down on her. She felt trapped in a web of her own making.

But the question lingered: if she followed this agreement and gave Zamian the child, would he take care of the baby? Would he show the child any fatherly love, or would he continue traveling, leaving the child alone with a nanny to care for? Mira smiled bitterly at the thought; she would never let that happen. She wouldn’t allow her child to grow up in a home devoid of love and care, Mira’s parents had always shown her love, but their relationship was fraught with competition over who could love her more. This constant rivalry sometimes led to heated arguments. Tragically, they lost their lives in an accident while they were quarreling on the road. The thought of her own child not receiving any love at all was unimaginable to her. She couldn’t bear the idea of her child growing up in an environment devoid of affection, like she had witnessed with her parents.

Determined not to let despair consume her, Mira took a photo of the contract for her records before she began rearranging the papers as she had found them. Just then, something caught her eye—a familiar glint on the floor.

"Penny?" Her eyes widened further. It was the penny she had left that day in the forest.

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