[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-bound-to-my-enemy":3,"chapter-bound-to-my-enemy-bound-to-my-enemy-chapter-58":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},1599996,2067,"Chapter 58.","bound-to-my-enemy-chapter-58",58,"\u003Cp>I shouldn’t go looking. I know that but I stand and leave the kitchen anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The noise leads me down a corridor I haven’t fully explored yet. The bar room is dimly lit, just one lamp on, casting a warm glow across dark wood and glass shelves. Zane is there, seated at the counter, jacket off, sleeves rolled up. A glass sits in front of him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I take a step back trying to be sneaky, maybe he hasn’t seen me yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Elaine,\" he says without turning around. \"You can come in.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tsk so much for slipping away and being sneaky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I move forward reluctantly and stop a few feet behind him. \"Why aren’t you sleeping?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He doesn’t answer, just lifts the glass, takes a slow sip and sets it back down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I fold my arms. \"Do you enjoy ignoring questions in general , or is it just mine ?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A corner of his mouth twitches. Not a smile but something close. \"What are you doing here? It’s late \"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I was hungry.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glances over his shoulder. \"At midnight?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I didn’t realize there was a curfew for being hungry.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turns fully toward me then, eyes steady, assessing. \"Aren’t you going to sleep with me? Like consummate our marriage?.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Okay I don’t know where that’s coming from but I have been in his house and sleeping under he’s roof for two days now, it’s only fair I know what to expect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He eyes me. \"Is that what you came here for?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No,\" I say quickly. \"I came down here because I was curious I heard a sound and decided to follow it. But since you seem committed to pretending that conversation doesn’t exist, I figured I’d ask something else.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pushes back from the counter and stands. Slowly and deliberately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every instinct in my body goes on alert.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He circles behind me, close enough that I can feel the heat from him. I don’t move, I don’t dare breathe either. His fingertips brush the side of my neck and my skin reacts before my brain can stop it. Goosebumps ripple outward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gathers my hair into his hand and pulls it back into a loose ponytail, tugging just enough to force my head up. I meet his eyes in the reflection of the mirror behind the bar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Warm amber and a cold expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice is low when he speaks . \"You don’t get to dictate the terms of this marriage little spitfire.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I swallow. My mouth is dry and my heart is pounding so hard it feels like it’s rattling my ribs. \"I didn’t realize marriage came with ownership clauses.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He studies my face like he’s deciding something, then he lets go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sudden release almost sends me forward. I steady myself against the counter, legs weak, breath shaky despite my effort to hide it. He walks back to the decanter and pours himself another drink.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>hem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room feels different now, somehow smaller\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What the hell are you doing?\" I ask quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He takes a sip before answering. \"Thinking.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"About?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He doesn’t look at me. \"How this is going to work.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I let out a bitter laugh. \"You choked me and threw me on the floor yesterday. If that’s your version of working things out, we’re already wayyyyy y past the point of discussion.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His jaw tightens. \"You shouldn’t have slapped me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You shouldn’t have said what you said.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence stretches between us again,thick and uncomfortable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\" I left my piano at my house, when your men were packing my stuff they convinently left it out.\" I say finally. \"I want it back.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sets the glass down. \"Tomorrow, maybe you’ll get it tomorrow.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s not an answer.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It is,\" he says. \"Just not one you like.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I straighten, forcing my shoulders back even though every part of me wants to shrink. \"You don’t scare me Zane.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looks at me then. Really looks. \"You should stop lying to yourself.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I don’t respond. There’s no point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I turn and walk out of the room before he can say anything else. My steps are slow but steady. I don’t run. I won’t give him that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back in my room, I close the door softly and lean my forehead against it for a second longer than necessary. My hands are shaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I climb into bed without bothering to turn the lights off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sleep doesn’t come easily, but eventually, exhaustion wins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>————————————————————\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stay in my room most of the day. I lie on the bed scrolling through my phone, not really reading anything. I open apps. Close them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By evening, my stomach growls loud enough to annoy me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I sit up, rub my face, and check the time. It’s six thirty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s when my phone rings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I frown at the number. I don’t recognize it, but something tells me to answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Elaine\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hey,\" the voice says, a little unsure, a little bright. \"It’s Claire.... from high school? We met at the the reception and exchanged contacts.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I blink. Then I smile even though she can’t see me \"oh hi Claire.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hi,\" she repeats, like she’s relieved I remembered. \"I didn’t know if you saved my number or not.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I did,\" I lie not wanting her to feel bad. \"I just... haven’t texted yet.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s okay,\" she says quickly. \"I figured things might be hectic you know married life and stuff.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s one way to put it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She keeps talking before I can fill the silence. \"Listen, I’m going out tonight. Nothing crazy. Just drinks, music. I was going with a couple friends, but one bailed. I thought maybe you’d want to come.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My first instinct is no.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s automatic. I open my mouth to say it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I.... Uhmmm \"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You don’t have to,\" she adds, like she hears it coming. \"I just thought I’d ask.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I lean back against the pillows and stare at the ceiling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m not really doing anything,\" I admit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Exactly,\" she says. \"Neither am I. That’s the point.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I glance around my room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What time\" I ask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Seven,\" she says. \"I’ll come pick you up.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then hangs up before I can change my mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which leaves me wondering how she knows my house and where to find it.\u003C\u002Fp>",1046,"2026-06-06T09:39:37.420Z",1,"novelbin.me","5ec1bce08cbd2a4557cdb843e2eb20d6c9e547e66c443f035531f19f03181cbd","bound-to-my-enemy-chapter-59","bound-to-my-enemy-chapter-57",266,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fbound-to-my-enemy-cover.jpg"]