[BL] CRAVING HIM: Addicted to His Voice Chapter 264: Choices and Consequences

~Evric’s POV~

The driver moved through the quiet night streets, but I wasn’t seeing any of it. All I could see was Zayn’s face, the shock when he noticed , the panic when he pushed era away, and that broken look he had in the car.

I had just driven away from the man I loved after telling him he needed to choose between and era. And honestly... I was terrified.

The risk I had just taken was astronomical. My heart was a frantic, wounded bird beating against my ribs, screaming that I was making a terrible mistake, that I was handing Zayn back to the life he was supposed to have.

But I had reached my limit. I could no longer handle the constant bla.

Ever since Zayn and I started this relationship, the world hasn’t stopped pointing fingers at . He was straight before Evric. Evric corrupted him. Evric is the reason Zayn beca gay.

Those were the whispers, an invisible pressure that wrapped around my throat every day. Yes, I was the one who made the first move. Yes, I was persistent, because I knew what I felt for him was real. I was his first man. But our love was real—mutual, honest, and chosen. I never forced him into anything. I never made him choose .

Yet sohow, everyone—even era—painted as the villain who pulled him off the "right" path, as if loving was a mistake he had been tricked into.

I was tired of feeling like a parasite feeding off his confusion.

Tonight, hearing era say out loud every cruel thing she thought about us, the "perfect family," the "beautiful children," the life I could never give him, hit harder than I expected.

For the first ti, I realized I hadn’t truly given Zayn the space to choose his own future. I was always there, close, constant, comforting. I beca the easy place for him to fall, the person who held him, protected him, and made him feel safe. But maybe, without aning to, I made it hard for him to see what he really wanted beyond .

This is the only way to prove them all wrong.

If Zayn chooses to leave after this, if he weighs the comfort era offers against the uncertainty of a life with , then maybe the world was right, and I was guiding him down a path he didn’t truly want. It would break , but I would have to respect his choice.

But if he cos back? If he walks into that room on the final day and chooses , knowing the price and knowing his other options, then I will have the only proof I need. His choice will be pure. It will be his own. And then, no amount of whispering or public shaming will ever make question our love again.

I rested my head against the cold glass of the window. The weight of the choice, whether he would pick or not, felt like a lifeti of tornt, but I had to stay strong. I needed Zayn to choose freely... or not at all. That desperate gamble was the only thing keeping my sanity intact.

The next morning, I was forcing myself to focus on a market report when my phone buzzed. Zayn’s na lit up the screen. My heart jumped instantly, breaking through the discipline I was trying so hard to maintain. I answered on the second ring.

"Morning, babe," I managed, trying to keep my voice flat.

"Morning, baby," he replied. "Listen, I just got a call again from the police. They need to co in for so questioning regarding Nantam."

I tightened my grip on the phone. "Alright, babe... just be careful."

"I will," he assured . "But there’s sothing else, Nicki and Dean ca to the house yesterday after you dropped off."

I felt a sharp rush of cold possessiveness. "Are they the reason behind whatever decision you’re about to make?"

"No, babe. Actually, it’s the opposite," Zayn said. "They ca to beg for rcy. They weren’t trying to force anything on anyone. They both apologized—for everything Nicki put through. Dean even begged on behalf of both of them because he knows Nicki played his own part in Nantam’s madness. I think Nicki finally realized how serious all of this is."

"And second," Zayn continued, "I called Evans right after I got the police notice, just so I could speak to him first. I told him I was ready to put this whole thing behind ."

I held my breath, listening as he recounted the conversation with my brother. Evans told him to follow his own judgnt. If Zayn wanted Nantam to face the consequences, that was his right, but if he chose to show rcy, that decision was entirely his.

Zayn’s voice was steady as he repeated his words to Evans. "I told him, ’I have no reason not to show rcy. I have far more important things to focus on than wasting ti on this.’"

A wave of emotion hit . This wasn’t about anything, it was Zayn choosing peace, choosing to move forward. This was the strength I had always admired.

"Then Evans said sothing else," Zayn continued. "He told that no one is allowed to bail Nantam out except him. I assured him I wasn’t going there to bail him out, I was only going to close the case."

After he hung up, I waited for hours, unable to work, imagining the choice he was facing. The core of my ultimatum was to make him consider the alternative, and now the universe was providing him a clean slate with his friends and an easy way out of the drama.

Later, I called him back. "How did it go? Is everything finally over?"

"It’s over, babe," he confird, sounding lighter than he had in weeks. "I already did my part. I managed the situation."

He explained that he had walked into the station and denied everything. He told the investigators the report was untrue, claiming it was fueled by stress over his mother and the painful breakup with his partner. He told them he was only "seeking attention" at the ti.

"I took back every accusation he made," Zayn said quietly. "I pushed them to close the case. It’s finished now."

My relief was overwhelming. He granted Nantam rcy and, in doing so, proved to the world that he was strong enough to move past the damage.

But the final twist was even though everything was already set, the arrangents, the permissions, the plan, Nantam remained in detention. The only thing left was for soone to co and bail him out. When Evans tried to step in to help, Nantam, proud and stubborn, refused. He wouldn’t accept assistance from Evans, even though it was the only way out. His arrogance kept him trapped, proving that even a mont of genuine rcy from Zayn couldn’t save Nantam from himself.

The rest of that day, I didn’t call. I had to adhere to the agreent, no matter how much it hurt. Instead, I sent a simple text, asking if he was ho safely.

Zayn’s reply ca quickly: Yes, I am. And Kai is leaving in the morning, back to where he ca from. He said he’s done with everything he ca for.

I texted him back: Alright, baby. We talk for a while before I give him my best. I love you.

Then we exchanged goodnight ssages, each ending with a heart emoji.

The next morning, I couldn’t resist. I called to check on him, to hear his voice, to make sure he was okay.

He didn’t pick up.

Instead, I got a text: Busy. I’ll text you later.

I tried to tell myself he was just protecting the boundaries I had set, honoring the separation. But as the afternoon wore on, and my calls went straight to voicemail, panic began to replace reason. Was he avoiding ?

All day, the phone remained silent.

It was late, almost midnight. I couldn’t stand the uncertainty anymore. I needed to hear his voice, or I would go insane. I called again, fully expecting to hear the dial tone, when suddenly—

"Hello," Zayn answered. His voice was flat, casual, with absolutely none of the sweet words we usually exchanged. No "babe," no "my love." Just a detached greeting.

"Zayn, finally!" I felt a wave of frustrated relief wash over . "I’ve been calling you all day. Why aren’t you picking up? Is everything—"

Before I could finish the sentence, a second voice—sharp, unmistakable, and female—cut through the background noise.

"Just tell him to stop calling you already!"

My blood turned to ice. It was era’s voice. Before I could even breathe, let alone ask what the hell was going on, the line went dead.