[BL] CRAVING HIM: Addicted to His Voice Chapter 156: Through Every Fear, With You

~Evric’s POV~

Then sothing suddenly popped into my mind, and I turned to Zayn’s friends, my voice tight with concern. "Wait... can soone tell ... how did this happen?

How did Zayn end up eating shellfish?"

The group exchanged uneasy glances, and I felt the tension rise. Everyone knew Zayn’s allergy was serious, but no one seed ready to explain how it had happened.

Before anyone could speak further, the nurse ca back, asking us to step outside for a mont.

Once we were out, Dean spoke first. "Nantam was careful to serve Zayn’s food separately," Dean began, his tone calm but precise. "He knows Zayn’s allergic and tends to be a bit cautious, so he made sure nothing could mix or go wrong."

I looked at him, urging him to continue.

Dean continued, "I rember Zayn ate a little before he stood up to use the restroom. He seed fine at the ti."

I nodded slowly, letting the information sink in. "So he was fine before he went to the restroom?"

"Yes," Dean confird.

Nantam added, his voice slightly tense, "It was only after he returned from the restroom that he started choking on the food."

I turned to Dean, my voice tight with urgency. "But he only started choking after he ca back from the restroom. That ans... soone must have tampered with his food intentionally."

Dean frowned, running a hand through his hair. "It could’ve been a mistake. There was a lot going on at the table, maybe soone didn’t realize."

Nantam shook his head firmly. "No. There’s no way it was a mistake. I made sure Zayn’s plate was separate, and there was absolutely no shellfish near it. Nothing at all."

My heart sank. "Then... that ans soone did this on purpose. Soone deliberately put shellfish in his food."

Dean looked around, his brows knitted in confusion. "Maybe... but who could do sothing like that?"

Without thinking, my mind shot straight to Nicki. The suspicion burned hot and imdiate, I turned to him, my voice low and icy. "Tell ... You don’t know anything about this, right?"

Nicki didn’t respond. He couldn’t deny it, couldn’t speak.

Everyone around us started to murmur in confusion, wondering why I was accusing him specifically."

I raised my voice this ti, anger bubbling over. "Nicki! Tell you don’t know anything about it!"

Silence stretched between us, and I couldn’t hold back any longer. I struck him hard across the mouth, letting my anger take over.

Mr. Karl quickly grabbed my arm to restrain , and Dean stepped forward as well, trying to calm the situation.

"My heart pounded as I leaned closer, eyes blazing. ’Nicki... tell you had nothing to do with this. Tell you know nothing!’"

Dean asked, "What’s going on here?"

Karl motioned for everyone to stay back. "We should step outside the hospital and talk first, then co back inside once everything is settled," he said, keeping a protective hand on .

Once we were outside, I didn’t even give him a chance to speak. I couldn’t control myself. I swung again, landing a sharp, stinging blow across Nicki’s face. "Nicki, you’re a wicked soul! I’ll have you arrested for this attempt on Zayn’s life! You devil!"

Guilt washed over him instantly, and everyone around us watched, stunned.

I stepped closer, my body trembling with fury, my voice low and sharp. "This was between you and , Nicki! Why did you have to target him? He’s innocent! Just pray he’s okay... because if anything happens to Zayn, Nicki..."

Before I could finish, Dean’s voice cut through sharply. "Can soone explain what’s going on here?"

I stayed silent, letting the tension hang. Nantam finally turned to Nicki, his tone firm. "Nicki... what is going on?"

Nicki hesitated, then admitted, voice trembling slightly, "Evric... he’s my ex. We dated back in school."

"What?" Nantam and Dean’s mouths fell open simultaneously.

Nantam ran his hands through his hair, disbelief written all over him. "Evric... he’s your ex? The one you’ve been running after?"

Nicki nodded reluctantly.

Nantam’s voice softened, but still carried frustration. "Nicki... you can’t be the reason Zayn is on that bed."

Nicki turned to his brother, guilt overtaking him. "I’m... I’m sorry," he muttered, only to be stopped by Nantam’s firm grip.

Nantam shook his head, disappointnt etched deeply on his face. "You’ve crossed a line, Nicki. Innocent people are not to be hard because of your past."

I turned to Nantam, my chest heaving with anger and disbelief. "I didn’t do him wrong," I said, my voice tight with frustration. "He was the one acting recklessly while he was with , and I... I did nothing to him. How could he harm soone I love?"

Nantam’s expression softened, his eyes filled with understanding. His voice carried a gentle plea. "Evric, I know. I might not have known you were his ex, but I’m aware of what he did."

Karl stepped closer, his hand resting protectively on my shoulder. "Evric... you need to calm down. Focus on managing this situation carefully. Think about Zayn first."

Dean chid in, his tone cautious. "Zayn can’t find out the truth now. He can’t even know that Nicki is your ex. It would affect your relationship more than you think."

Nantam placed a hand on my arm, his voice gentle yet pleading. "Please... for the sake of Zayn, just let this slide for now."

I ran my hand through my hair, the weight of the situation pressing down on . Dean and Nantam spoke almost simultaneously, their voices overlapping in urgency. "Evric... just let this slide. Focus on Zayn."

I shook my head, frustration tightening in my chest. "There’s no way I’ll take action against Nicki without Zayn finding out. won’t let him co between and Zayn... I just can’t."

Karl’s grip on my shoulder tightened slightly. "You can’t let him find out like this. It will have long-term effects on your relationship with him."

I looked at Karl, my voice wavering. "And are you begging because of Nicki?"

Karl shook his head, his eyes steady. "No. I’m begging you because I want you to protect your relationship with Zayn. I know how much you love him."

I turned to Karl, my voice trembling. "You know how seeing Zayn like that scared ... I was so terrified... what if..." Tears welled up and spilled down my cheeks before I could stop them.

Karl imdiately wrapped his arms around , holding tight. "Hey, Evric... don’t say more," he murmured, patting my back soothingly. "You should be grateful he’s fine now. Just focus on protecting your love with him, okay?"

I pulled back slightly, nodding, trying to steady myself. "Okay," I whispered.

Then I turned my gaze toward Nicki, my voice sharp and unwavering. "For now, I’ll let this slide. But mark my words, I will get back at you. And don’t you ever dare get close to my man again."

Without waiting for a response, I turned and walked away with Karl, leaving Nantam and Dean standing there in stunned silence, unsure how to react.

When we got back inside the hospital room, the soft beeping of monitors filled the quiet space. Zayn was already asleep, his chest rising and falling slowly, his face pale but peaceful. I gently slid onto the chair beside him and took his hand in mine, feeling the warmth of his skin against my own.

My heart ached seeing him so vulnerable, and I couldn’t help the anxious thoughts racing through my mind. Every little twitch of his fingers or flutter of his eyelids made lean closer, as if my presence could shield him from everything that had happened.

I brushed a loose strand of hair from his forehead and whispered softly, though I knew he couldn’t hear . "It’s okay, Zayn... you’re safe now."

I just sat there, staring at him on the bed, my mind a mix of worry and exhaustion. The soft hum of the monitors and the quiet rhythm of his breathing filled the room. Hours slipped by, the world outside the hospital fading into shadows.

As it got later, I told everyone else to go back ho, insisting I would stay with him. Mr. Karl lingered, concern written all over his face, but I shook my head. "It’s fine. You should go back to your family," I said firmly.

No one wanted to leave, yet all of us couldn’t stay inside the small room together. So, reluctantly, they settled outside in the waiting area, leaving alone with Zayn.

The night dragged on, silent and tense, until finally, just past midnight, I felt a slight movent.

Then I heard it, a quiet, barely audible whisper.

"Babe..."