Forbiddenly Bound To You
Chapter 96: You’re So Rude!

Chapter 96: You’re So Rude!

Mira’s body froze. She wanted to believe that Zamian was really there, hugging her from behind, but a part of her doubted it. Her mind raced with a mixture of disbelief and fear. She could feel his presence, but what if it was just a cruel figment of her imagination? What if, like a dream, he vanished the moment she reached out to him? Slowly, carefully, she raised her hand, her fingers trembling, and placed it on his large palm. His warmth was undeniable.

She turned her head to look up at him, her breath hitching in her throat. Zamian stood there, looking as real as ever. She blinked once, then twice, her gaze flickering with uncertainty. For a brief moment, she caught a look of confusion in his eyes, but it disappeared just as quickly as it had come. She hesitated, then gently pulled her hand away from his, her voice soft and unsure.

"Bend closer," she whispered, barely able to speak above a murmur.

Zamian obeyed her request, his lips curling into a small, tentative smile. Was she going to kiss him? The thought crossed his mind, and he leaned in, his heart fluttering in anticipation. Just as his face drew near hers, Mira’s hand shot up, and she pinched his cheek—hard.

"R...real," she stammered, her words barely audible as her hands flew to cover her mouth in disbelief.

Zamian froze, taken aback by the gesture. His heart clenched painfully, an unfamiliar ache that almost took his breath away. The fact that she needed to confirm if he was real or not struck him in a way he couldn’t fully comprehend. Damn. He had thought she might kiss him, or at the very least, hug him. But this? This uncertainty, this hesitation—it hurt more than he was prepared for.

Not knowing how to respond, Zamian swallowed hard, his hand instinctively moving to scratch the back of his neck. Was he nervous? He couldn’t remember the last time he had felt this way.

"Happy baby shower," he said awkwardly, trying to keep his voice steady, though it came out more strained than he intended.

Mira’s eyes widened in surprise. That was when she noticed the soft bunny toy he was holding in his other hand, a cute pink bow tied neatly on its head. A gift? Had he brought her a gift? Her lips parted slightly, caught between shock and confusion. How had he known about the baby shower? Had he been thinking of her all this time?

Zamian’s voice faltered as he tried to explain. "I... I wanted to come earlier, but... I’m sorry. My wife, if you d...don’t..."

Before he could finish his sentence, Mira grabbed his face and pulled him into a kiss—a deep, desperate kiss. Of course, he hadn’t expected that. Well, maybe he had, in a distant corner of his mind, but not like this. Her lips were forceful, her actions intense, as if she were punishing him for the pain he had caused her. His eyes widened, and before he could react, she slipped her tongue into his mouth, bold and unyielding. Just as he began to kiss her back, she bit his lower lip—softly but firmly—and then pulled away.

Zamian was left speechless, his heart racing. His lips tingled where hers had been just moments before, and he was unsure of what to say. It felt like the kiss had been a release of all the pent-up frustration she’d harbored. But even then, there was something unspoken, something lingering between them that he couldn’t quite place.

Mira, who appeared calm on the outside, was anything but. Her mind was racing with thoughts, her emotions swirling like a storm inside her. Now that he was here, the question that plagued her thoughts was simple: Would he sign the divorce papers? Was that why he had come?

She turned her face toward him, her lips trembling slightly as she forced a pout. "Your gift is beautiful," she said, her voice low. "But baby girl won’t accept it."

Zamian’s eyes widened at her words. "Hmm? What do you mean?"

Mira let out a small sigh, her eyes dropping to her growing belly. Her hand instinctively rested on it, feeling the weight of the child inside her. "She wouldn’t accept it," she repeated. "She’s really mad at you. So, so mad."

Zamian’s gaze followed hers, landing on her swollen stomach. It had grown noticeably since the last time he had seen her. His heart squeezed in his chest, the reality of it all hitting him harder than before. This was his child. Their child.

"Right, baby girl?" Mira said softly, her voice trembling with a mixture of sadness and resignation. As if in response, the baby kicked—hard—causing Mira to gasp in surprise.

"Oh, you see?" she exclaimed, startled by the force of the kick. She tried her best to keep her composure, but the shock was evident on her face. Before she could say anything else, she felt Zamian’s hand on her belly, gently resting over the spot where the baby had kicked.

Her eyes widened in disbelief, her breath catching in her throat. He looked at her, his face softening with a genuine smile that made her heart skip a beat.

"So, what can I do to make our little girl and my lovely wife happy again?" he asked, his voice tender and filled with emotion.

Mira’s lips quivered as she struggled to contain the emotions flooding through her. A wave of happiness surged in her chest, but it was quickly followed by a heavy sadness and a torrent of other feelings she couldn’t quite place. She wanted to tell him to stay, to say that she didn’t want the divorce—that she wanted them to be a family. But she couldn’t bring herself to say it. She felt selfish even thinking it.

"I don’t know... We’ll talk about it privately," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. She had meant to say more, to tell him how she truly felt, but the words wouldn’t come.

Zamian nodded, his hand still gently caressing her belly. Mira turned her face away, her cheeks flushing pink with embarrassment. She couldn’t handle the intensity of his gaze, not when she felt so vulnerable.

"Don’t look away," Zamian said softly, his hand moving to her chin to gently guide her face back toward him. "You look so pretty, my darling."

Mira smiled weakly, her heart aching with the weight of his words. For a moment, she allowed herself to believe that everything could be okay. But that fleeting hope was shattered when Zamian spoke again.

"I’ll be going back," he said, his voice strained with nervousness.

Mira’s eyes widened in shock. She hadn’t expected him to say that. She had thought—no, she had hoped—that he was going to stay for good this time. Why was he leaving? Her lips began to tremble visibly, and she turned her face to the side, barely able to ask the question that lingered on her tongue.

"When?" she whispered, her voice cracking with the effort it took to hold back her tears.

"T... tonight," Zamian replied, the words heavy with regret. He hated himself for saying it, for causing her this pain. But he had no choice. This wasn’t easy for him either. She was too good for him—he knew that. He had caused her so much suffering, and the guilt weighed heavily on his conscience. If only she knew the risks he had taken just to see her, just to be by her side. They were both in danger, but he was determined to protect her, no matter what.

"But I’ll leave after you fall asleep," he added softly. "I’ll stay until you’re asleep."

"Then... I won’t sleep," Mira said, her voice trembling with emotion. She regretted the words as soon as they left her lips. She couldn’t help it—she didn’t want him to go. She didn’t want to be left alone again. But even as she said it, she knew it was futile. Her resolve crumbled, and the tears she had been holding back spilled over. Suddenly, she broke down, sobbing uncontrollably.

Zamian’s eyes widened in shock. He hadn’t expected this reaction, though he should have. "Mira, I promise I’ll come back as soon as I’m done. Just give me a month, please. Just one month. Hold on a little longer, I beg you."

Mira’s fists pounded against his chest in frustration. Though her punches weren’t painful, they were filled with all the hurt she had bottled up inside. Zamian stood still, letting her hit him, knowing that he deserved every bit of it. If this was the only way for her to release her pain, then he would take it.

"You’re so rude! So rude!" she screamed, her voice hoarse from crying as she continued to hit him. Zamian gently wiped her tears away, his heart breaking with every word she spoke.

"I’m sorry," he whispered, repeating it over and over, his voice full of remorse.

"Tell me, what do you want? Just tell me, please," Zamian begged, his voice filled with desperation as he held her trembling hands.

Mira looked up at him, a broken smile playing on her lips—a smile that tore at his heart. He had never seen her look so devastated.

"Do you want to know what I want?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don’t want a divorce. I want us to be a family, Zamian. I want you to stay."