[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-bound-to-my-enemy":3,"chapter-bound-to-my-enemy-bound-to-my-enemy-chapter-44":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},1599982,2067,"Chapter 44.","bound-to-my-enemy-chapter-44",44,"\u003Cp>\"You married me,\" I remind him again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m starting to think that was a mistake.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I lean one hip against the foot of the bed. \"You don’t get to regret it yet. It’s been less than five hours.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Give me time,\" he says. \"I’m still itchy\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He watches me with that sharp focus he always has, like he’s cataloging every movement. \"You enjoyed it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Did I enjoy you losing control?\" I correct. \"Yes I very much did.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He exhales slowly. \"You’re going to be a problem little spit fire.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I smile. \"Stop calling me that and I already am.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A nurse knocks lightly and steps in, checking his vitals, adjusting something on the IV. Zane answers her questions with clipped efficiency. I step back, giving space, once again aware of the ridiculousness of my dress, the fact that I’m standing here married and barefoot in a hospital room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the nurse leaves, Zane looks at me again. \"They cancelled the reception.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I heard.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My mother is furious.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That makes two of us,\" I say. \"My grandfather promised speeches.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zane almost smiles, or atleast what I assume is a smile because of how crooked it was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You should go,\" he says after a moment. \"Your brothers are hovering.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They always do.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Still,\" he adds, quieter now. \"I won’t die tonight.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Disappointing really\" I say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze flicks to mine. \"You’re not afraid of me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, I’m not\" I say honestly. .\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’ll fade.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I straighten, smoothing my dress. \"Don’t bet on it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I turn toward the door, then stop. \"Zane.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Next time you ban something from a party,\" I say lightly, \"maybe make sure your bride doesn’t know why.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He watches me go,his expression unreadable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I step into the hallway, Lucas is already there, arms crossed, eyes sharp. He takes one look at my face and snorts\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What’d he say.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That this marriage is going to be hell.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucas grins. \"Good.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I glance back once at the closed door behind me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the first time since this started, my anger isn’t the only thing burning in my chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That worries me more than anythin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the time the doctor says he’s cleared to leave, the night has settled deep outside the hospital windows. Everything feels quieter now. E\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucas stretches first, like he’s been holding himself together on pure adrenaline. Noah checks his phone. Caleb paces once, then stops, then again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Okay,\" Lucas says, clapping his hands softly. \"Let’s get you out of here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Relief hits me instantly. I grab my shoes off the floor already turning toward the door. My body moves before my brain can catch up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucas is halfway there when he pauses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slowly, he turns back to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s when I know.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And I stop walking\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room feels too bright all of a sudden and too small.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noah’s expression shifts first. The humor drains out of his face, replaced with something......Something sad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh,\" he says quietly. \"Right.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Caleb swears under his breath\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucas drags a hand down his face. \"Shit.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I don’t turn around. I don’t need to. The weight settles in my chest, heavy and sharp and final.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’m not leaving with them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I can’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I swallow, my throat tight. \"I forgot,\" I say, hating how small my voice sounds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucas steps toward me immediately. \"Hey sunshine ....\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I know,\" I cut in. \"I know.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Married.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That word sits ugly in my mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noah comes closer and rests a hand on my shoulder. \"You don’t have to pretend you’re okay.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m not pretending,\" I say. Then quieter, \"I just don’t want to cry in a hospital hallway.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Caleb exhales slowly. \"You shouldn’t be alone tonight.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I laugh, sharp and humorless. \"Too late for that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucas looks like he wants to argue. Like he wants to drag me out anyway and deal with the consequences later. I know that look. He’s worn it my whole life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this time, there’s nothing he can do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noah squeezes my shoulder gently. \"You call. Any time. Middle of the night, anytime Iat . Doesn’t matter.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Caleb nods. \"If you even feel uncomfortable for one second, you call.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucas pulls me into a hug before I can say anything. It’s tight and protective, the kind of hug that feels like home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re not stuck,\" he murmurs into my hair. \"I don’t care what papers were signed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My chest aches. \"I know.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pulls back, cups my face briefly. \"We’ll come get you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I nod, blinking fast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They leave together. I watch their backs disappear down the hallway. Noah glances back once. Caleb lifts a hand in a small wave. Lucas doesn’t look back at all. I know if he does, he won’t leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The doors slide shut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The silence afterward is loud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stand there for a long moment, arms wrapped around myself, staring at my reflection in the glass. Wedding dress wrinkled. Hair half-fallen. Makeup faded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is my life now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I turn back toward the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zane is awake when I step in, sitting up slightly, his jacket folded on the chair beside the bed. A little color has returned to his face. Too much, honestly. He looks annoyingly fine for someone who just had an allergic reaction .\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re still here,\" he says.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Unfortunately,\" I reply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes flick to the door. \"Your brothers?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Gone.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He studies me for a moment. \"You don’t look thrilled.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I let out a slow breath and sit down in the chair beside the bed. \"You mean about being married to a man who landed himself in the ER before the reception?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A corner of his mouth twitches. \"You’re enjoying this.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I don’t deny it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The doctor comes back in briefly, gives instructions, clears him officially. Papers are signed. Words are said. None of it sticks in my head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At some point, exhaustion creeps in quietly. I don’t even realize how tired I am until my eyes start burning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You can sleep,\" Zane says eventually. \"They’ll wake me if they need to.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hesitate, then lean back in the chair. \"Just for a minute and I’ll be up.\" Whe he doesn’t answer I let my eyes shut\u003C\u002Fp>",1028,"2026-06-06T09:39:37.139Z",1,"novelbin.me","1a296c9a00a63b50d2933245afd2399a131df541e53c628b6fb07b0f799367a6","bound-to-my-enemy-chapter-45","bound-to-my-enemy-chapter-43",266,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fbound-to-my-enemy-cover.jpg"]