All Chapters of Bonds at War: The Untouched is Mine: Chapter 101 - Chapter 110

ARDENAgain, like how I felt in her office at the United Factions, I felt light. Her counseling room in this office was a far cry from the stiff wooden panels and pristine files one would expect from a practicing politician. Thin beige curtains let sunlight filter in through delicate embroidery, a potted plant in the corner looked like it had been watered diligently, and two mismatched chairs rested near her desk. Everything about the space felt strange and gentle at the same time. I didn’t feel as if I had walked into a trap, and that surprised me more than anything. I sat down slowly, careful not to rearrange the scattered papers on her desk. The walls displayed her certificates and commendations, and a small photo frame on a shelf captured a much younger Bethany smiling. She looked like someone who had once known a great deal of joy.Bethany closed the door behind her and gave me a look before sighing. I swung my feet because the chair was too high, and she sighed even deeper. “Y

ARDENI didn’t want to go. Every part of me screamed to turn around and run in the opposite direction. Elite didn’t feel like a school anymore; it felt like a theater—a stage where the scripts had been written long before I arrived, and I was only just realizing I was part of a play I had never auditioned for. But I still went. Because something in my gut told me there would be answers waiting for me. The bleachers were full, students murmuring with curiosity, when he appeared. Mr. Winters. His gaze swept past the crowd, finding me instantly, like a wolf sensing blood in the snow. Then, he smiled as though he had been expecting me. He held a microphone and wore a wide smile. “Good morning, Elite.” The crowd responded on cue. He continued, “First of all, I want to congratulate all of you. The campaigns are going splendidly! We’re gaining traction faster than anticipated. The support from students has been overwhelming. This is what progress looks like.” “For Elite!” someone sho

CADEI turned at the sound of my name. "Mr. Winters." He walked slowly, hands clasped behind his back, posture stiff with authority. His voice, when it came, was smooth yet chilling. “This is just the beginning,” he said, and I found it ironic that the two of us thought the same thing. I tilted my head slightly; my pulse didn’t even quicken. I’d expected him to act like this already. “The beginning of what?” I asked. “Your downfall? Yeah, I figured.” But Mr. Winters merely smiled. “No,” he said. “Yours.” He took another step forward, just shy of invading my personal space. His breath smelled like scotch and rot. “This is the start of your downfall. Of everything.” “You should be glad you have your parents,” he added with a smirk. “Because quite frankly, you’d be six feet under if you didn’t.” I reached into my pocket and clicked a button. Mr. Winters didn’t notice. He lifted his chin, his voice dropping to a hiss. “Everything you’ve worked for will go to waste. This is wh

ARDENCade stood tall in the center of the clearing, his back straight, daring anyone to look away. Despite the guards holding me back and the crowd forming an ugly ring of judgment around him, he showed no signs of backing down. Nothing could stop him now. I could see it in his posture—that quiet, thunderous determination. He had made a choice. He would be heard. It broke something inside me to witness how they looked at him. The same people who had praised him before, who had bowed their heads in reverence when he passed by, and who once praised his mere existence—they were now looking at him like he was dirt beneath their shoes. All because of a name. I hated it. I hated the hypocrisy. How quickly people could forget everything you’ve done the moment they learned who you were not. They saw Cade stripped of a title and suddenly disregarded all the moments he had carried them, protected them, and fought for them. It was disgusting. And so very cowardly. But he didn’t shrink. Not

ARDEN I could hear the others whispering about my identity. Who was this girl who came forward to defend Cade Callahan? In their eyes, I was just a nobody. Their voices weren’t even trying to hide their doubt. Mr. Winters let out a small breath. “What nonsense are you talking about? Cade Callahan running as the Praetor? That cannot be.” But the murmurs grew louder, prickling through the clearing. I felt Cade reach out for my hand, intertwining our fingers before pulling me closer to him. It hadn’t been long since we last saw each other, but I already missed him. “Arden,” he whispered, leaning in even closer while giving my hand a gentle squeeze. “What is happening?” I squeezed back but didn’t look at him. I kept my eyes focused forward, my heart pounding from nervousness, yet my voice remained calm. “Trust me,” I whispered back. “Please.” Then I turned to face the crowd, holding my ground. “There are no contraindications,” I said clearly, addressing everyone present. Mr. Winter