[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-bound-to-my-enemy":3,"chapter-bound-to-my-enemy-bound-to-my-enemy-chapter-33":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},1599971,2067,"Chapter 33.","bound-to-my-enemy-chapter-33",33,"\u003Cp>Elaine’s POV\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is a dinner,\" he says. \"Not a battlefield.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I look past him. Suits. Dresses. Smiles that don’t reach the eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Funny,\" I reply. \"Everyone looks armed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His mouth curves, just barely. Not a smile. Something close\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he can say anything back, a clear, sharp sound cuts through the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clink. Clink.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A spoon against glass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The noise ripples outward, conversations tapering off in uneven waves until the hall settles into something quieter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I don’t need to turn to know who it is.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My grandfather has always had a way of commanding a room without raising his voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"May I have your attention,\" he says. Like he doesn’t have it already.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zane’s gaze flicks past me, toward the head of the room. His jaw tightens a fraction, like he already knows what’s coming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I step half a pace away from him, instinct more than intention, and turn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My grandfather stands near the long table, glass raised but untouched. He looks exactly the same as he always does. Straight-backed. Controlled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucas moves closer to me again. Not touching. Just close enough that I feel the heat from his arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ivy appears at my other side, eyes wide but bright, like she’s bracing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you for coming on such short notice,\" my grandfather continues. \"I won’t take much of your time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A lie. Everyone here knows it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This evening,\" he says, \"is about family. About unity. And about the future.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I feel Zane shift behind me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There have been discussions,\" my grandfather goes on, \"that concern the Whitmore family and our own. Discussions that have now reached a conclusion.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A murmur ripples through the room. Quiet and curious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I keep my face still. Ivy’s fingers twitch near mine\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It is my pleasure,\" my grandfather says, \"to formally announce the engagement of my granddaughter, Elaine, to Mr. Zane Whitmore.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room reacts all at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gasps that aren’t quite . Heads turning toward me, then toward Zane, then back again like they’re watching a tennis match.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I don’t move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I don’t look at Zane.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stare straight ahead and breathe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucas swears under his breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ivy’s hand closes around mine this time. Tight and Solid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My grandfather lowers his glass. \"Dinner will be served shortly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And just like that, the announcement is over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sound rushes back in. Voices overlap. Someone laughs a little too loudly. Someone else claps, unsure if they’re supposed to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I turn slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zane is already watching me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well,\" I say quietly, because if I don’t speak now I might not at all. \"That was efficient.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes flick to my hand still clasped in Ivy’s, then to Lucas, who looks like he’s one wrong breath away from exploding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You didn’t seem surprised,\" Zane says.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ve had practice,\" I reply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucas steps in before Zane can respond. \"We need to talk.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zane’s gaze shifts to him, sharp now. Old tension hums between them, thick enough to feel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I imagine we will,\" Zane says calmly. \"Not tonight.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucas lets out a humorless laugh. \"You don’t get to decide that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zane doesn’t rise to it. He looks back at me instead. \"You okay?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The question catches me off guard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucas stiffens. Ivy’s grip tightens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I meet Zane’s eyes. \"Does it matter?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes,\" he says. Simple and firm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I study his face, looking for the angle, the trap. All I find is patience. Controlled. Dangerous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m fine,\" I say. \"For now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He nods once. \"Good.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, quieter, meant only for me, \"We’ll talk after dinner.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I didn’t agree to that,\" I say just as quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His mouth tilts. \"You didn’t object either.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I don’t answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Servers begin moving through the room, setting plates, pouring wine. The evening shifts gears like nothing monumental just happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucas leans down toward me. \"We’re not done,\" he murmurs. \"This isn’t over.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I know,\" I say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ivy looks between us. \"Can we sit we start a scene?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Too late,\" Lucas mutters, but he steps back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zane gestures toward the table. \"Shall we?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hesitate, then nod.\u003C\u002Fp>",671,"2026-06-06T09:39:37.139Z",1,"novelbin.me","514bf39459a6c0132aad67f38cca06695c063c874ca9cb1c9996998c76741dee","bound-to-my-enemy-chapter-34","bound-to-my-enemy-chapter-32",266,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fbound-to-my-enemy-cover.jpg"]