[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-bound-to-my-enemy":3,"chapter-bound-to-my-enemy-bound-to-my-enemy-chapter-166":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},1600104,2067,"Chapter 166.","bound-to-my-enemy-chapter-166",166,"\u003Cp>Her lips curve slightly again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re very trusting.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Stop saying that like it’s a flaw.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I didn’t say it was.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She leans forward again, resting her chin lightly against her hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But you should probably start asking more questions\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I sigh already tired of this game she is playing . \"Question s Like what?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes lock onto mine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Like why Margaret already knows who I am.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I scrabble to find something but when I latch onto a thought.....my brain immediately rejects the idea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s not.....\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Claire lifts a shoulde\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She greeted me like she’s seen me before, dismt she.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I open my mouth to argue but no words come out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She did.....Margaret hadn’t looked surprised, not even a little.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My stomach twists again as Claire watches the realization creep across my face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"See?\" she says\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s what I mean.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shake my head immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No what?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, that doesn’t mean anything.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Claire doesn’t argue and that probably makes it worse because she looks like someone who already knows how this ends.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound of footsteps echoes faintly from the front hallway and my head turns automatically towards i\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The front door opens, the sound is unmistakable as a familiar rhythm of movement follows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Footsteps crossing the marble floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I know those footsteps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Claire doesn’t even look toward the door. Ahe already knows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My pulse starts picking up... then Zane appears in the doorway of the dining room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stops stops the second his eyes land on the scene in front of him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Me standing near the table with Claire sitting in his chair\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a moment nobody moves and nobody speaks\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The air feels thic as Zane’s gaze moves from me...to Claire and Something dark flashes across his expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not surprise or confusion but Recognition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Claire smiles a small knowing smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hi, baby.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His jaw tightens immediately, the silence stretching painfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My eyes move back and forth between them, confusion rising in my chest like a wave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Baby?? Did she just call my husband baby?. Did my \"friend\" Claire just call my husband baby right in front of me?. What in the actual fuck! Is going on here?!.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I try to calm my racing mind and put on a calm persona\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You two know each other,?\" I say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It isn’t even really a question clearly they fucking do!.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zane’s eyes finally move to me, his expression unreadable while Claire leans back slightly in the chair, Still calm and completely at ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that’s when the feeling hits me... The sudden, sinking realization that I might be the only person in this room who doesn’t understand what’s going on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My voice comes out quieter now but firmer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Zane...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How exactly do you know Claire?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a long moment after my question leaves my mouth, nobody answers. My eyes move from one of them to the other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zane’s expression is completely unreadable while Claire, on the other hand, looks almost relaxed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Zane,\" I say again,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He doesn’t answer me, his eyes just stay locked on Claire\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well...\" she says softly, leaning back a little in the chair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hello to you too.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound of her voice seems to snap something inside Zane.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What the hell are you doing here?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice is low but the tension under it is obvious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Claire shrugs lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Visiting.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tis is not funny.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I wasn’t trying to be.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zane steps fully into the room now as My confusion grows thicker by the second.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Okay,\" I say, throwing my hands out slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Can someone please tell me what the hell is going on?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neither of them answers me as usual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zane completely ignoring me he says to Claire. \"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You shouldn’t have come here,\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Claire tilts her head slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh? Why not?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You know why.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She lets out a quiet breath through her nose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That was a long time ago, Claire.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That doesn’t change anything.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tension between them is so thick I can feel it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wait,\" I say quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My voice cutting through their standoff, they both look at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You two clearly know each other,\" I say slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And not in a casual way, i suppose.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Claire’s lips twitch again but Zane says nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So someone pleasr start talking,\" I continue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Because right now I feel like the only person in this room who’s completely lost.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zane’s jaw tightens as his eyes move back to Claire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You need to leave.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Claire doesn’t move\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m serious Claire, I’ll have you thrown out if you don’t.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah,\" she says calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I can tell....\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then get up.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She taps her fingers lightly against the table in a slow almost thoughtful gesture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zane’s eyes darken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No?\" he repeats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No,\" Claire says again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her gaze lifts to meet his directly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You don’t get to shut this down.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There is nothing to shut down.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Claire lets out a quiet laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Really?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zane doesn’t answer, he just stares at her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Zane,\" I try again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What is she talking about?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He doesn’t look at me and that hurts more than I expect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Claire notices.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course she does.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes flick toward me then back to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You still do that,\" she murmurs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do what?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Pretend things don’t exist if you ignore them long enough.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s enough.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Claire leans forward slightly, her elbows rest on the table now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You brought her into this life.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zane’s voice drops even lower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Claire.\" He says as a warnin\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But you still won’t tell her anything.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Stop.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My heart is pounding now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tell me what?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neither of them answers me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Claire looks at me again and something in her expression softens, like she almost feels bad for me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then she turns back to Zane.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You can glare at me all you want,\" she says quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But you know I’m right.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zane’s hands curl into fists at his sides.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you say one more fucking word.....\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What?\" she interrupts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’ll throw me out?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He doesn’t answer and Claire shakes her head slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s the problem with you, Zane.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1004,"2026-06-06T09:39:37.420Z",1,"novelbin.me","4854973df1346369eab0ae9ad985f576e779121b5858bc645e41bcfab06487b3","bound-to-my-enemy-chapter-167","bound-to-my-enemy-chapter-165",266,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fbound-to-my-enemy-cover.jpg"]