Bound to my Enemy

Chapter 204.

It’s been a few days.....a few quiet, slow-moving days since everything happened... since they pulled me out of that place.

I wish I could say things just snapped back into place after that but They didn’t. It’s been... strange being back here, safe and Sleeping in a real bed with no ropes digging into my skin, no cold floors, no voices outside the door waiting to come in and ruin everything again.

And still.....i don’t feel fully settled.

I spend most of my time in my room.

Some times I just lie there, staring at the ceiling, letting my mind wander to places I probably shouldn’t let it go.

I train with my brother Caleb...that part didn’t stop. If anything, I’ve been more consistent with it.

I train with Noah sometimes Other times, I just do it alone. It helps a little.

The medication the doctor gave me... I’ve been taking it like I’m supposed to. It leaves a weird taste in my mouth sometimes, makes me feel a bit off here and there, but nothing too bad....its better than what I was dealing with before.....Way better but even with all that...

There’s one thing I haven’t been able to stay away from.

Zane..... more specifically....Knowing how he is.

He’s still in the hospital that I know that and not because anyone here tells me....no one brings him up unless I do.

And I don’t.

I find out throughrough Margaret every day.

She still goes to the hospital to see him, to take food, to make sure he’s eating properly.

And every day.....i call her Somewhere no one can overhear me.

The first time I did it, my hand actually hesitated over the phone...like I was about to do something I shouldn’t, like I didn’t have the right to ask.

But I still called because I needed to know.

She picked up almost immediately.

"Hello?"

Her voice was the same

"Margaret... it’s me."

There was a pause then...

"Elaine?"

The relief in her voice hit me harder than I expected.

"Oh my God, child.....are you okay? I heard what happened, I....."

"I’m fine," I cut in quickly not because I wanted to be rude but because I didn’t want to get into it....nor right then.

"I just... I wanted to ask about him."

Silence for a second.

Then she understood.

"You mean Zane."

I don’t respond.....i don’t need to.

She exhales softly.

"He’s stable," she says. "The doctors said the bullet didn’t hit anything too critical. He lost a lot of blood, but he’s recovering."

My chest loosens slightly.

"He’s awake?" I ask.

"Yes," she says. "In and out at first, but he’s been awake more these past two days."

I nod to myself even though she can’t see me.

"Is he... eating?"

It’s a stupid question I know it is but i ask ir any way.

Margaret lets out a small, knowing hum.

"I make sure of it," she says gently. "Even when he doesn’t want to."

A small breath leaves me.

"Okay."

There’s a pause then she speaks again, softer this time.

"He asks about you."

My fingers tighten slightly around my phone but I don’t say anything mostly because I don’t know what to say to that.

"I won’t tell him you called," she adds carefully. "I’m not sure if you’d want that."

"Don’t," I say quickly then I soften my tone a bit.

"Please... don’t tell him."

"Alright," she agrees without hesitation.

We don’t talk much after that just a few small things Then I hang up....ans that’s how it’s been every day.

I don’t go to see him....i don’t let myself, he almost killed me...I...I can’t.

But I still vhevk, still make sure he’s alive and make sure he’s... okay and I don’t even know what that says about me.

———-

By the time the first week passes, I’m just starting to find some kind of rhythm again.

Not normal, not even close but something I can manage.

I wake up, I eat, I take my meds, I train, I sit around too much in my own head, then I sleep. Repeat.

It’s quiet here.....too quiet sometimes but I’ll take quiet over chaos any day.

That morning, I’m sitting by the window in Ivy’s room, legs pulled up slightly, phone in my hand, not really doing anything with it. Just... hoing through social media.

Then it rings.

I glance down at the screen and my stomach drops instantly.

It’s Grandpa.

I stare at it for a second....bebating.

Then I answer.

"...Hello, Grandpa."

I barely get the words out before his voice cuts through the line.

"Elaine, what nonsense am I hearing?"

I blink, straightening slightly.

"What....."

"Don’t play dumb with me!" he snaps. "You left your husband’s house!? Just like that?"

My grip on the phone tightens.

"I....."

"Do you have any idea what you’re doing?" he continues, not giving me space to speak. "Do you want to bring shame and embarrassment to this family?"

The words hit me hard and i press my lips together, trying to stay calm.

"I didn’t leave for no reason...."

"I don’t care what your reason is!" he cuts in again. "A married woman does not just walk out of her husband’s home. What kind of behavior is that?"

My chest tightens and I can feel irritation and anger rising but I hold it.

Grandpa has always been very traditional, he is still solidly tied to the customs and the way things were in the 90s. He still sees women the same way as they did then....he doesn’t believe women should work, or talk without being asked to. A woman’s worth is tied to her husband and home he believes, so hearing I left home must be very hard for him to process.

"You need to go back," he says, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Immediately."

I let out a slow breath.

"Grandpa....."

"Before this gets out," he continues, like I didn’t even speak. "Before the media catches wind of it. Before the board starts asking questions."