[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-bound-to-my-enemy":3,"chapter-bound-to-my-enemy-bound-to-my-enemy-chapter-187":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},1600125,2067,"Chapter 187.","bound-to-my-enemy-chapter-187",187,"\u003Cp>\"...and act like everything was fine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His jaw clenches so hard I’m wondering how he hasn’t broken a tooth yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Instead of doing what I actually wanted to do.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There’s a pause.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Which is Punch the shit out of you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room feels colder as he takes a step closer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And I hated you,\" he says.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I fucking hated you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My chest tightens painfully, because I never saw it not even once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You should have died that day you knw,\" he continues.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice quieter now and almost thoughtful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In that car.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My stomach drops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The accident,\" he says, watching my reaction closely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"By the bridge.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything in me goes still.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You remember it, don’t you? I mean how can you forget you had tremors passing that bridge again\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My throat goes dry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That wasn’t...,\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, don’t look so surprised,\" he cuts in, a smirk tugging at his lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes. I orchestrated that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The words hit like me like a slap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My breath catches.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You... what?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But you survived,\" he goes on, like it annoys him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"By some miracle, you survived that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He shakes his head slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We couldn’t even find you after.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My mind is spinning now, trying to piece things together, trying to understand how deep this goes. The whole accident felt sus and I remember questioning him after but I didn’t put much thought into it cause I trusted him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And then,\" he continues, \"I started getting the feeling you were catching on.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes narrow slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So I had to back off a bit and wait.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Waited.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His lips curl agai\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"For the right time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gestures around the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And look at you now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My stomach twists violently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You walked right into it, you walked right into the trap I set for you. You stupid stupid bitch.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My hands tighten against the rope, the earlier relief gone, replaced with something much darker.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That waitress?\" he adds casually and my heart drops again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes,\" he says before I can even speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That was supposed to be you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room feels like it tilts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But she just had to step in front of the shot.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His tone is irritated and annoyed, like ke her death was an inconvenience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The stupid bitch.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A voice cuts in from the side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hey.\" The man who loosened my ropes earlier steps forward slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The boss wanted her alive. Why would you order her to be shot diwn?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aaron’s head snaps toward him fast, his expression darkening instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don’t tell me what to do,\" he snaps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice sharp and fangerous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You think any of this would have happened without me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man doesn’t respond but he doesn’t back down either as Aaron takes a step toward him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s because of me,\" he says, jabbing a finger toward his own chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Everything.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then his gaze flicks back to me and the look in his eyes.....It’s worse now because there’s no hiding it anymore and no pretending.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My head is still spinning, for everything he’s saying nd everything he’s admitting like it’s normal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stare at him, trying to piece it together, trying to understand how all of this fits. It doesn’t, none of it does.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So what now?\" I ask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My voice comes out steadier than I feel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What’s the plan, Aaron?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I swallow, my throat still dry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Because I don’t get it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My eyes stay on his.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You tried to protect me back there.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I gesture weakly with my hands, the rope still tight but looser than before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"At the ice cream shop... in the car...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My brows pull together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You were dragging me out, shielding me....\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My voice tightens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I even shot one of them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My stomach twists.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You were there,\" I continue, quieter now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So what is this? Why do all that just to bring me here?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aaron watches me for a second then he huffs out a small breath. Almost amused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah,\" he says.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You did.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There’s no praise in it, jus acknowledgment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ll have to deal with that later.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My stomach drops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The ones you killed,\" he says casually.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ll have to answer for that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like it’s an inconvenience, nothing more. My fingers curl slightly against the rope, cold anger creeping in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But I didn’t have a choice,\" he continues.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I had to protect you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I blink.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s the part that doesn’t make sense, nt after everything he just said, noot after all this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He tilts his head slightly, like the answer is obvious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Cameras.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There are surveillance cameras in that shop.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My chest tightens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And you think Zane won’t check?\" he adds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course he will. Of course Zane will tear that place apart looking for answers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aaron takes a step closer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I needed him to see it,\" he says.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To see me protecting you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something cold slides down my spine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To see me doing my job.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His lips curve slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And Doing it well.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stare at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re insane.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He ignores that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Because when you’re gone...\" he continues, almost like he’s talking to himself now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ll still be there.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My stomach twists.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ll be the one he trusts again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes flicker with something dangerous as unnderstanding hits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You think this will make him come back to you,\" I say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s not even a question, it’s a statement and it sounds as ridiculous out loud as it feels in my head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He doesn’t even deny it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I let out a short, disbelieving breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re delusional.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His jaw tightens slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you think Zane will ever love you,\" I continue, my voice firmer now despite everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Like that...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The slap comes so fast I don’t even see it coming until pain explodes across my face as my head jerks to the side, a sharp ringing filling my ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a second, everything goes blank thn it rushes back. The heat spreading across my cheeek, the metallic taste in my mouth where my teeth must’ve cut into something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Shut the fuck up,\" Aaron snaps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My head hangs slightly to the side, my breathing uneven.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slowly, I turn back to face him, my cheek throbbing and eyes burning with unshwd tears.\u003C\u002Fp>",1027,"2026-06-06T09:39:37.420Z",1,"novelbin.me","718f338a400475d221ae83dd2272f26faf043ca826666e6a438c9979c25bbd51","bound-to-my-enemy-chapter-188","bound-to-my-enemy-chapter-186",266,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fbound-to-my-enemy-cover.jpg"]