[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-bound-to-my-enemy":3,"chapter-bound-to-my-enemy-bound-to-my-enemy-chapter-138":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},1600076,2067,"Chapter 138.","bound-to-my-enemy-chapter-138",138,"\u003Cp>For a few seconds after Zane finishes speaking, I just stand there staring at him because my brain feels like it stalled halfway through processing what he said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Your brother funded the operation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The words echo in my head in a loop that makes less and less sense every time I hear them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No,\" I say again, quieter this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zane doesn’t move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’s watching me with that same hard look, like he expected this reaction and it’s only confirming something he already believes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re wrong.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The words come out firmer now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shake my head slowly, trying to push away the picture he just painted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of my planning an attack and funding something that ends with someone dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zane’s sister dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It doesn’t fit..... it doesn’t fit anything I know.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You don’t know them like I do,\" I say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zane’s expression doesn’t change.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I know the people involved.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That still doesn’t mean...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It means exactly what I said.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frustration starts climbing up my spine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No. It means you think it means that. But it doesn’t, I know it doesn’t\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes narrow slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s not the same thing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I drag my hands through my hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is insane.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My voice bounces off the walls of the training room, louder than I meant it to be.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zane doesn’t even flinch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re telling me my brother... anyone od them ...just decided to what? Secretly fund some assassination attempt against you?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s ridiculous!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Because I know them!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zane tilts his head slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You think you do.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stare at him like he just insulted my entire family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I do know him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Peopl are rarely what they appear to be.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s rich coming from you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A flicker of something crosses his face at that, but it disappears just as quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You asked for the truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No,\" I snap. \"I asked why you were acting like a psycho during training.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And you got your answer.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah, except your answer is insane.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room falls quiet again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I can feel the anger bubbling under my skin now, hot and fierce.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not just anger... confusion too and fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because a tiny part of my brain keeps replaying the certainty in Zane’s voice. He doesn’t sound like someone guessing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sounded like someone who believes every word he just said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But no that’s not possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They wouldn’t...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My chest tightens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shake the thought away immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I need to fo see them,\" I say suddenly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zane’s brow furrows slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To who.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My brothers.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His expression hardens almost instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The answer is so immediate I let out a disbelieving laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, that wasn’t a question.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes it was.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, it wasn’t.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I step closer, my heart beating harder now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m going to see them tomorrow.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zane’s gaze sharpens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, you’re not.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Watch me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Elaine it’s not safe...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No,\" I cut him off. \"You don’t get to drop something like that and then expect me to just sit here and accept it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice lowers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re not leaving this estate.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I will if I want to.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You don’t get to decide that!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His jaw tightens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I absolutely do.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anger flashes through me so fast I actually laugh again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"God, you’re unbelievable.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re not going anywhere.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I am going somewhere,\" I snap. \"Tomorrow.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His stare turns cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re not walking into a situation that could get you hurt.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My family is not going to hurt me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You don’t know that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I take another step toward him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You don’t know them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I know what they’ve done.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No. You know what you think they’ve done.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zane runs a hand over his face, clearly losing patience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This conversation is over.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh no it’s not.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, it is.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re not locking me in this house like a prisoner.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m protecting you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I didn’t ask for that!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice sharpens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You don’t have to.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I do when it means I can’t even see my own family!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You think they’re innocent?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then prove it another way.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I will prove it by talking to them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re not going to see them until I say it’s safe to leave the estate again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something inside me snaps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don’t care about your security rules!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The words echo through the training room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zane goes completely still.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don’t care about your enemies,\" I continue, my voice shaking now. \"And I definitely don’t care about whatever twisted vendetta you think my brother has against you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes go dark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You should.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why? Because you said so?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Because I’ve seen what they’re capable of.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And I’ve seen what you’re capable of.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That hits him see it in the slight shift of his shoulders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Elaine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m going tomorrow,\" I say firmly. \"Whether you like it or not.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You won’t make it past the gate.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Try me. Fucking try me Zane.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a second we just stare at each other. The tension between us feels like it could snap the room in half.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally Zane speaks again, his voice dangerously calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you leave this estate tomorrow without my approval....:\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What?\" I challenge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His jaw tightens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You won’t like the consequences.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I laugh again, but there’s no humor in it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You mean like the consequences you already gave me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes flicker.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Because I’m still recovering from that, by the way.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Or are you planning to cuff me to the bed again?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And fot the first time since the argument started, Zane looks genuinely irritated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Enough.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m going.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, you’re not.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Watch me Zane. Fucking watch me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a moment it looks like he might physically block the door. Instead he just stands there, staring at me like he’s memorizing every stubborn inch of my face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fine,\" he says finally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the word doesn’t sound like agreement. It sounds almost like a warning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do whatever you want.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I will.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I turn toward the door before he can say anything else. My head feels like it’s spinning trying to make sense of everything.\u003C\u002Fp>",1001,"2026-06-06T09:39:37.420Z",1,"novelbin.me","7c3d474c3c3c4998ed68ff98ae741e6b858fd6d27149617e23bdf0310fb12cb1","bound-to-my-enemy-chapter-139","bound-to-my-enemy-chapter-137",266,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fbound-to-my-enemy-cover.jpg"]