[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-bound-to-my-enemy":3,"chapter-bound-to-my-enemy-bound-to-my-enemy-chapter-134":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Bound to my Enemy",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1600072,2067,"Chapter 134.","bound-to-my-enemy-chapter-134",134,"\u003Cp>\"I still should have been able to co come see you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hey.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her tone turns slightly firmer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You called and you check in, that’s what counts. Plus I’m doing better now so don’t bother too much.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before I can respond, another voice suddenly shouts from somewhere behind her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is that El?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ivy groans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh no.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The screen suddenly fills with a familiar face leaning into the camera from the side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Elaine!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Caleb,\" I sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My brother beams at the screen like he just discovered something exciting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You abandoned your family, how could you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I am married Caleb,\" I correct.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Same thing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another voice joins in from behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Move, idiot.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Caleb gets shoved sideways and now Lucas is in view, squinting at the phone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hey.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hi.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You look alive.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you... I think?.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucas nods thoughtfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Caleb pops back into the frame again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You owe us dinner.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"For what?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"For disappearing on us.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ivy sighs loudly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Can you two not ruin my call for five minutes?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No,\" Caleb says instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucas smirks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Absolutely not.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I laugh despite myself. The familiar chaos feeling good and normal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We talk for another ten minutes, bouncing between random topics and sibling teasing until Ivy finally groans dramatically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright, that’s enough of you people,\" she says.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You people?\" Noah protests, having joined the call awhile ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I will call you later,\" Ivy tells me quickly. \"Before these three start wrestling in the background again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Deal.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Love you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Love you too.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The call ends and for a second I just sit there staring at my phone, a small smile lingering on my face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It feels good knowing Ivy is doing better today..... better than yesterday at least.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I push myself off the bed and head downstairs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The house is unusually quiet in this morning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sunlight spills through the large windows in the hallway, casting warm light across the wooden floors. Somewhere in the distance I can hear faint clattering coming from the kitchen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That must be Martha.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The smell of coffee and something sweet baking reaches me before I even enter the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I step into the kitchen and immediately spot Martha moving between the counter and the stove with practiced ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She glances up when she hears me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, good morning sweetheart.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Morning.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I walk in and lean against the island, just watching her cook while we talk about random stuff, then something catches my eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flowers, there’s flowers everywhere by the far end of the kitchen not just a few, the entire far counter is covered in them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>White lilies, roses and small clusters of baby’s breath tied together neatly, then several bouquets already arranged in glass vases.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I blink.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Whoa.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Martha stiffens slightl as I walk closer, studying the arrangements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"These are... a lot.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She doesn’t answer right away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are we hosting something today?\" I ask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still nothin so I glance at her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Martha’s expression has shifted slightly, it’s more carefu careful now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s... not my place to say.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That only makes my curiosity spike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What do you mean?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She adjusts one of the bouquets, avoiding my gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s something personal.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"For who?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Martha.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She sighs quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I really shouldn’t.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now I’m even more intrigued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Please?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She hesitates for another second then finally looks at me\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s for today.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That part I figured out.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her lips press together briefly, then she says quietly,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Today is the day Mr. Zane’s sister died.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The words settle heavily in the room as I stare at the flowers again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly they make sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The white lilies, the careful arrangements and the sheer number of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How long ago?\" I ask softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Martha shakes her head slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don’t know all the details.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I look back at the bouquets there must be a dozen of them at least.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All carefully prepared and for the first time since I woke up this morning... i realize why the house felt so quiet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a moment after Martha speaks, the kitchen feels strangely quiet\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today is the day Zane’s sister died.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I look back at the flowers again they feel... heavy somehow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I run my fingers lightly along the edge of the counter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How old was she?\" I ask after a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Martha hesitates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m not sure exactly,\" she says carefully. \"But she was Young. Younger than Mr. Zane.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That doesn’t tell me much but I nod slowly anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And these are for...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The memorial,\" she answers quietly. \"Some will be taken later.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I glance at her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Does he go every year?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her tone suggests that’s all she’s willing to say and honestly, I don’t push it. Something about the way she said it makes it clear this isn’t a conversation people in this house have casually.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So instead I reach for one of the stools and sit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is there breakfast?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Martha exhales softly, clearly relieved by the change of subject.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She moves around the kitchen with the kind of quiet efficiency that only comes from years of doing the same work. A plate appears in front of me a few minutes later .....eggs, toast, some fruit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t realize I was hungry until the smell hits me again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you,\" I say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re welcome.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She returns to arranging the flowers while I eat and for a while the only sounds in the kitchen are the quiet scrape of my fork against the plate and the soft rustling of stems being moved between vases.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My mind keeps drifting back to what she said. Zane has a sister or..... had one, probably around my age too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I try to imagine it, the version of him that existed before whatever happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did he look the same? Was he already this cold? And controlled? Or did something about losing her turn him into the man he is now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shake the thought away and focus on finishing my breakfast. There isn’t much I can do with that information anyway. Zane isn’t exactly the type to sit down and talk about his feelings over coffee.\u003C\u002Fp>",1006,"2026-06-06T09:39:37.420Z",1,"novelbin.me","c29bb197d24949bd3df36e2f1d889336363635b07a386e53e897b163369b5bbb","bound-to-my-enemy-chapter-135","bound-to-my-enemy-chapter-133",266,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fbound-to-my-enemy-cover.jpg"]