Bound to my Enemy novel Chapter 206

Chapter 206: Chapter 206.

Evening settles in quietly and We’re all in the living room.

Lucas is on his laptop, something work-related, his focus sharp but not fully there. Noah’s stretched out on one of the couches, scrolling through his phone. Ivy’s beside him, half watching something on TV, half talking to him about it.

And me....I’m curled slightly into the armchair, a book open in my lap wjen the front door ooens. The sound cutting through everything as One of Lucas’s security men rushes in right after, breath a little uneven.

"I’m sorry, sir...." he starts, looking straight at Lucas. "I couldn’t stop him...."

But I already know I don’t need him to finish that sentence because I’ve already seen him.

Zane.....he is Standing right there in the doorway like he owns the air in the room.

My heart stutters...actually stutters, lik it forgets how to beat for a second before slamming back harder. I don’t even realize I’ve stood up until I’m already on my feet.

He looks... different now.

His shirt fits a little looser across his torso, and I can see the stiffness in the way he holds himself. His movements aren’t as fluid as they used to be. He is still injured and recovering.

And yet....He’s here.

His eyes find me almost instantly, like they’ve been searching for me the moment he stepped in and everything else in the room disappears for him.

For me too, if I’m being honest...and frr a second, no body says anything.

Then he takes a step forward.

"Why didn’t you come home to me?"

His voice isn’t loud but it hits but it hits me straight to the chest.

I blink, caught off guar but he keeps going before I can even respond.

"I got shot," he says, his tone tightening, something raw slipping through. "And you didn’t even come see me at the hospital."

My throat dries up.

"I..."

"You didn’t care to check in on me," he cuts in, his eyes locked on mine, sharper now. "Not even once."

That’s not true but I don’t say it because the way he’s looking at me right nw....He believes it.

"While I was there," he continues, voice rougher now, "laid up, dealing with that...."

He gestures vaguely to his side, like the wound isn’t even the point.

"I got shot in the process of trying to rescue you."

Something that almost sounds like... hurt creeps im his voice.

"And you couldn’t even show up."

The room is dead silent behind me but I can feel my brothers watching.

"You don’t get to stand there and act like I didn’t care," I say finally, my voice quieter but steady.

His jaw tightens.

"Then what did you do, Elaine?" he asks.

And now....Now I feel it...th anger rising back up and d hurt underneath it.

"I checked," I say, my voice sharpening slightly. "Every single day."

He pauses for a second, not expecting that.

"I called Margaret," I continue. "I asked about you. I made sure you were alive. That you were eating. That you weren’t...."

I stop myself my voice almost cracking on that last part.

"I just didn’t come," I finish.

His eyes don’t leave mine.

"Why?" he asks.

One word.

I let out a breath bcuse now we’re here, right where I didn’t want us to be.

"Because I didn’t know what I’d do if I saw you," I admit, quieter now. "Whether I’d be relieved... or furious."

The truth hangs there between us.... uncomfortable

"And I’m still not sure," I add.

His expression shifts slightl but it doesn’t last bcus the tension is still there with every thing that hasn’t been said yet.....Still sitting right under the surface.

"Don’t act all high and mighty."

The words leave my mouth before I can stop them.

Zane’s expression tightens instantly, something dangerous flickering behind his eyes....but I don’t back down nor this time.

"Zane," I continue, my voice steadier now, even though my heart is starting to pound, "I’ll ask you the same question I asked that day."

I take a step closer, not too close just enough. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

"The one you couldn’t answer."

His jaw sets.

"Have you been the one poisoning me?"

Silence and for a split second, it’s like the whole room freezes.

Zane blinks like the question didn’t even register at first.

"What?" he says, low, confused. "No."

He shakes his head slightly, brows pulling together.

"Why would I do that?" he asks, almost like he’s trying to make sense of it himself. "That doesn’t even make sense."

I don’t move.

"So you deny knowing my housekeeper, Mia?"

Now his confusion deepens.

"Who the fuck is Mia?" he snaps, irritation starting to creep in. "And what’s up with all these questions?"

His voice rises slightly.

"Why would I poison you?" he adds, frustration bleeding through now. "Who fed you that lie?"

My chest tightens but I hold my ground.

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