[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-bound-to-my-enemy":3,"chapter-bound-to-my-enemy-bound-to-my-enemy-chapter-234":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},1600172,2067,"Chapter 234.","bound-to-my-enemy-chapter-234",234,"\u003Cp>And freeze when I see Zane.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Relief hits me so hard it’s almost painful. He’s already moving toward me fast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Elaine.....I went back but couldn’t find you...i thought...i thought they took you away.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then his arms are around me and for a second....just one....i let myself sink into it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My body leans into his without thinking, my fingers gripping the front of his shirt as if I need to confirm he’s actually here and alive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re okay?\" His voice is rough, low, edged with something I don’t hear often from him..worry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I nod against his chest, still catching my breath. \"I’m fine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s not entirely true but it’s enough as he pulls back slightly, his hands still on my shoulders, his eyes scanning my face, my body, like he’s checking for injuries I might be hiding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What the hell were you thinking?\" he snaps suddenly, the relief shifting quickly into anger. \"I told you to stay put.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I roll my eyes immediately. \"Yeah, and wait to die quietly? Not really my style.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His jaw tightens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You could’ve gotten yourself killed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I didn’t,\" I shoot back, a little sharper than I intend. \"Actually, I handled myself just fine, in case you didn’t notice.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There’s a beat of silence, then I exhale and shake my head, pushing past it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Here,\" I say, turning slightly and holding out one of the guns I grabbed from his office. \"Take this.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He takes it without hesitation, his fingers brushing mine briefly as he checks it quickly, efficiently. I realize my other hand is empty and mt stomach drops instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No.No, no, no.....\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The second gun...\" I whisper, more to myself than to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zane’s eyes snap back to mine. \"What?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I....\" I swallow hard, panic rising again. \"I dropped it. When that guy grabbed me. It’s still out there.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Elaine....\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I have to go back for it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The words come out fast, urgent, already decided.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His grip tightens slightly on my arm. \"No. You stay here...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I am not standing here unarmed while there are people in this house,\" I cut him off, my voice firm despite the fear still sitting heavy in my chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I don’t wait for him to argue, don’t give him the chance to stop me. I shove the gun more firmly into his hand, making sure he has it, then turn on my heel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Elaine.....\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I’m already moving, going back out. Because leaving that gun out ther..... that’s not an option.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I see it almost immediately, lying just a few feet away from where I dropped it. Refilef hits me so fast it nearly makes my knees weak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There you are. I move toward it quickly, my steps light but urgent, i crouch, reaching for it then.....\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Drop it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My entire body locks, the voice cutting through me like a blade. My breath catches as I slowly straighten, every muscle going rigid as I turn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aaron.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a second, my brain refuses to catch up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stands a few feet away, dressed in black like the others, his posture relaxed in a way that makes it worse. More dangero...and deliberate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My throat goes dry instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Aaron...?\" My voice comes out softer than I expect, edged with disbelief. \"What are you doing here? I....I thought you were locked up.\" Okay maybe it would be a good thing for me not to remind him he was locked up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He doesn’t answer though....His eyes drop briefly to the gun at my feet, then back to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Slide it,\" he says calmly. \"Gently.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My heart starts pounding again\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fuck.! Fuck.! Fuck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I need that gun. There’s no way I’m giving it up....not now, not to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So I try to stall him for a bit t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How did you even get out?\" I ask, forcing my voice to stay steady, even though my pulse is screaming in my ears. \"What are you doing, Aaron? What is this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He tilts his head slightly, studying me now, really looking at me. Then, almost lazily, he glances past me for a second before returning his attention fully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I guess all that training with you stuck huh?,\" he says, voice almost thoughtful. \"You killed two of my men.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A chill runs down my spine and My stomach twists.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fuck! He knows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze sharpens suddenly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Slide the gun to me, Elaine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His tone drops to something more dangerous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’r not going to like what happens if you don’t.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My fingers twitch slightly at my sides and I take a small step, barely noticeable...trying to inch closer. Just enough.....\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re already surrounded,\" he continues, his voice almost bored now, like he’s explaining something simple. \"I’ve been released. My men are all over this house. There’s no escape for you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My chest tightens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Or your husband.\" He adds and The way he says it makes my stomach drop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I swallow hard, forcing myself to keep talking and keep him distracted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I thought you liked him,\" I say, watching him carefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something flickers in his expression but it’s gone just as quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I did,\" he admits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A pause. Then, colder:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But there’s a way constant torture changes people..... especially by the one you loved.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My stomach turns and I take another tiny step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My foot almost brushing the gun now...just a little more....Just one second...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What do you think you’re doing?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice snaps immediately....All attention back on me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I freeze vompletely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Slide the fucking gun, Elaine\" he says, all\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>all pretense gone now. \"Now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before I can even react.....Before I can decide... a sound cuts through the tension.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soft creak of a door and We both turn instinctively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s Margaret.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She stands at the staff entrance, her eyes wide, confusion barely forming on her face as she takes in the scene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything slows for me....\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No.No no no.....\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Aaron...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three shots ring out in rapid successioon and ii watch in absolute horror as Margaret’s body jerks.....and she drops to the floor.\u003C\u002Fp>",994,"2026-06-06T09:39:37.420Z",1,"novelbin.me","9fe2ad5d86a9cc4216ab484d258d575c0e970b6462a85393c5e24da7f12efb65","bound-to-my-enemy-chapter-235","bound-to-my-enemy-chapter-233",266,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fbound-to-my-enemy-cover.jpg"]