[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-bound-to-my-enemy":3,"chapter-bound-to-my-enemy-bound-to-my-enemy-chapter-48":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},1599986,2067,"Chapter 48.","bound-to-my-enemy-chapter-48",48,"\u003Cp>She chuckles. \"Come. I’ll introduce you to the other staff properly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We turn into a sitting room where two women are arranging flowers on a long table. One of them looks up first, dark curls pulled into a messy bun, sleeves rolled up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh,\" she says, eyes widening and a blush rushing up her face. \"You must be her.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Margaret nods. \"Elaine.... This is Ruth and Celia.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ruth wipes her hands on her apron and steps forward immediately. \"It’s nice to finally meet you Mrs, we were wondering when we would get to put a face to the chaos.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The chaos?\" I repeat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Celia grins. \"Don’t worry. That’s kind of a compliment around here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I laugh before I can stop myself. It slips out easily, surprising me. \"Good. I would hate to disappoint on day one.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They visibly relax instantly, ruth gestures to the flowers. \"If you ever want any other flowers instead of roses, say the word. He prefers roses. We don’t.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That tracks,\" I say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Margaret gives me a look but doesn’t argue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We move on. The kitchen is next, bigger than most restaurants I’ve worked in. A man is leaning against the counter sipping coffee, talking animatedly to someone I can’t see yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ben,\" Margaret says. \"Stop flirting and say hello.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turns, takes one look at me, and straightens. \"Ah. So you’re real.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I think so,\" I say. \"Otherwise this morning was very confusing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He laughs. \"I like her already.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Careful,\" Margaret warns. \"She’s married now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ben raises both hands. \"Purely professional admiration.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another woman steps out from the pantry carrying a clipboard. Short, sharp eyes, no-nonsense posture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is Lillian,\" Margaret says. \"She runs the house when I’m not around .\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lillian studies me for a moment, then nods. \"Welcome. If you need anything, ask. If someone gives you trouble, tell me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I will,\" I say, meaning it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As we walk, people greet me. A driver I recognize from yesterday gives a small nod. Someone else cracks a joke about surviving the first morning. Another asks if I prefer tea or coffee in the afternoons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one treats me like I don’t belong,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe because I’m thier bosses wife or maybe they are just generally nice people. Let’s just hope it’s the latter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t realize how tightly I’d been holding myself together until I feel it loosen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is... nice,\" I say quietly to Margaret as we head back toward the stairs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She glances at me. \"You don’t sound surprised.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I am,\" I admit. \"Just not in the way I expected.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She smiles, soft and knowing. \"This house is many things. Cold isn’t one of them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We reach the bottom of the staircase again.its starting to get dark out now, it’s still alittle bright though .\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I check my phone without thinking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>7:14 PM.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What,\" I say. \"That’s not possible.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Margaret laughs. \"It always happens.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I swear I just woke up.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’ve been walking and being with the other workers for for over hours now .\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I groan. \"I have to get ready.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes,\" she agrees. \"You do.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She gestures up the stairs. \"Your room. Everything you need should already be there. If it isn’t, send someone down.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Someone,\" I repeat. \"Right.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She pauses before I head up. \"Elaine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I turn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re doing well,\" she says simply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I don’t know why that hits me as hard as it does.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you,\" I say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upstairs, the hallway feels quieter than before. When I step inside, the room looks untouched since this morning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I drop onto the edge of the bed for a second and let myself breathe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then I stand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I move toward the closet, already bracing myself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whatever tonight is going to be, I know one thing for sure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’m not walking into it unprepared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I go straight back to my room once Margaret leaves me at the stairs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My eyes drift to the far side of the room, to the garment bag leaning neatly against the wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I walk over slowly, unzip it, and there it is. The dress she picked for me weeks ago, for the reception party.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My throat tightens for a second. Ivy had sent me photos, voice notes, excitement bubbling through the screen. Trust me. This one is you I swear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I lay it out on the bed, along with the heels tucked carefully at the bottom of the bag. I run my fingers over them, then straighten up before I let myself think too much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shower longer than necessary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hot water helps. Steams the tension out of my shoulders. I take my time with everything. Lotion. Hair. Skincare. My movements slow, and deliberate\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I finally step back into the room, wrapped in a towe, I slide the dress on carefully. It fits exactly the way Ivy promised, Snug and tight through the waist and hips. I have to suck in just a little to zip it all the way up, and once it’s on, bending feels like a challenge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I sit on the edge of the bed and reach for the heels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s when the knock comes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I freeze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another knock, softer this time. \" little spitfire .\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I rool my eyes heavily:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"One second,\" I call out\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I bend forward just enough to reach the strap and immediately regret it. The dress refuses to cooperat. I hiss under my breath and sit back up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The door opens before I say anything else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zane steps in slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze drops instantly to me....Barefoot. Sitting on the bed, my dress fitted too well for comfort with one heel dangling from my fingers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pauses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you stuck?,\" he asks, I can clearly hear the laugh in his voice\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I am fine,\" I say. \"You can leave.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’ve been sitting there for a while.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wow. So Observant.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His mouth twitches. He shuts the door behind him and fully enters the room anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I came to tell you we leave in the next ten minutes,\" he says. Then his eyes flick to the heel again. \"But this seems more urgent.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I said I’m fine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I bend again, stubborn, determined to prove a point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It does not work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I straighten with a sharp breath, annoyed at myself more than anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zane exhales slowly. \"Don’t do that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do what.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Pretend you’re not struggling.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I glare at him. \"Get out.\u003C\u002Fp>",1063,"2026-06-06T09:39:37.139Z",1,"novelbin.me","1810e91df7c6cd742b1ed17a008c93472f3eec63ef52b6f0079c83af29611722","bound-to-my-enemy-chapter-49","bound-to-my-enemy-chapter-47",266,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fbound-to-my-enemy-cover.jpg"]