[BL] CRAVING HIM: Addicted to His Voice Chapter 277: Between My Son and My Soul

~Zayn’s POV~

era savored the mont, leaning back in her chair.

"One: Break up with Evric."

"What?" I shouted, scrambling backward as if she’d struck . "era, no! That’s not a choice!"

She didn’t react to my denial, moving imdiately to her second point.

"Two: Sleep with . Tonight. A final night. To confirm what you’re truly throwing away. You give this one night, and then you can go back to your boyfriend, and I will give you access to your son."

I shook my head violently, the shock wearing off and the fury returning. "era, no! I can’t do any of this! That’s emotional blackmail! You can’t ask to choose between my love and my child! This is disgusting. Can you please—"

I stopped, seeing the resolved look in her eye. She was serious. This was her final, terrible, and utterly cruel power play. I had the DNA results, but she still held the child. My heart was pounding a painful rhythm of love, guilt, and absolute moral outrage. The clock was ticking toward my eting with Evric, and era was demanding I betray him before I even saw him.

"Cross breaking up with Evric off the list," I said through gritted teeth, making it clear it wasn’t negotiable.

era smiled, a cold, predatory curve of her lips. "Are you saying you choose to sleep with ?"

"I can’t sleep with you! I don’t even know..." I trailed off, the reality of my loyalty to Evric crashing over . I tried to find a way out, scrambling for an excuse. "I don’t even know if I can still do it, era."

She leaned closer, her eyes gleaming. "You don’t have to know," she purred. "I can teach you again."

"era, please, I can’t do it! My boyfriend will be so hurt if I cheat on him. Please, you can’t ask this of ."

era didn’t care. She was completely unmoved by my anguish. In a last-ditch effort, I threatened her. "I have the paternity test now. I will go to a lawyer and sue you for parental rights. I will bring the law into this, era, and you will lose everything!

She laughed, a sharp, unpleasant sound. "Go ahead. Bring it on. But until a court order forces to, you won’t get to et your son. You won’t know his na, and you won’t see his face. We both know the law moves slower than a snail."

The air went out of . I sat on the floor, softly begging her, pleading with her for hours, promising her anything she wanted money, support, attention, but she stood her ground, saying no. She only repeated the two options.

Ti dissolved into a blur of helplessness and frustration.

At last, just as the final light faded from the sky, era glanced at the clock and smiled. "I’m ready to take you to see your son. And this ti, I already went inside to dress up, to et Evric."

I checked the ti. It was nearly 9:00 p.m. I had less than three hours left.

"I have been begging you since morning, and you refused," I said, my voice thick with exhaustion. "Why now?"

"Because this is the ti I am ready," she shrugged, standing up. "Are you ready to et him?"

"We should do that tomorrow," I said quickly. "I had sowhere important to be tonight. We can et him first thing in the morning."

era’s eyes narrowed. "Is that place important than your son?"

"Stop it, era! Stop conversing like that!" I warned, the cold anger returning. I refused to let her weaponize my child against Evric.

I ignored her, walking toward the front door. I put my hand on the doorknob and twisted. It didn’t budge.

The door was locked.

I whirled around. "Why is the door locked, era?"

She held up a small, shiny key, dangling it lazily. "Because I’m not allowing you to step outside."

"era, open this door now, and don’t get angry," I warned, taking a threatening step toward her.

What followed was a brutal, drawn-out battle of wills. era was deliberately provoking , trying to push to the breaking point, hoping I would lash out and assault her so she could claim self-defense and solidify her victim status. But I held onto my patience, knowing that losing my temper ant losing everything. The minutes stretched agonizingly—9:30 p.m., 10:00 p.m.... 10:36 p.m. I knew the drive to the hotel would take at least forty-five minutes, likely an hour with traffic. I was going to be late.

Finally, the fear of losing Evric, coupled with the sheer frustration, snapped my control.

"I will count to three," I thundered, my voice ricocheting off the walls. "If you don’t open this door, you will regret it. You know exactly what I’m capable of, era. Don’t push ."

At "three," era’s resolve finally broke. She rushed to the door, unlocking it quickly. She stepped back, her eyes wide, and spat out her final warning. "If you step out that door, Zayn, you should forever forget about and your son."

I opened the door, the cool night air hitting my face like a reprieve. "So be it." I stepped out, not looking back.

"You are a bad father, Zayn!" era scread. Her voice followed down the hallway, crying, screaming, a torrent of desperate, hateful noise.

I stumbled into my car and slamd the door, shutting out the last of her voice. I drove a short distance from the house, pulled over, and broke. The tears ca hard, shaking through under the crushing weight of the choice she had cornered into.

After several long minutes, I wiped my face with trembling hands, drew in a rough, steadying breath, and turned the car toward the hotel.

By the ti I reached the opulent reception desk, the clock on the wall read 12:11 a.m. I was minutes late. The lobby was hushed, lit by soft gold sconces. Mr. Kael, was waiting discreetly near the elevator bank.

He approached without hesitation, a small, knowing smile playing at his lips. "Zayn," he said softly, handing the key card. "He’s waiting for you."

Then, with a teasing glint in his eye, he added, "Rember— you don’t kiss and tell. Ever."

I smiled, muttering a quick thank you, and practically sprinted toward the nearest elevator. My heart pounded against my ribs, a wild mix of panic and fierce anticipation driving upward.

I ran down the hallway, found the door, and swiped the card.

When I stepped in, it was like walking back in ti. It was the sa room, the expansive skyline view, the dark wood, the subtle scent of expensive cologne. The only difference was that this ti, I knew exactly who I was coming to et, and I was making a definitive choice, not stumbling blindly into my destiny.

The room was dimly lit, shadows playing across the sleek furniture. I saw Evric sitting on the edge of the low couch, turned toward the door, just as he had been the first night. He was immaculate, devastatingly handso, and completely focused on .

"Evric," I whispered, the na a prayer. My voice cracked. "I’m sorry for being... does it still count? I—"

Before I could finish the fragnted apology, Evric was on his feet. He closed the distance between us in three long strides, walking not toward , but moving behind , closing the door softly and silently, sealing us inside.

His arms wrapped around from behind, pulling flush against his solid chest. His chin rested on my shoulder, and his voice was a deep, warm rumble right against my ear.

"You’re here," he murmured, his breath brushing against my hair. "That’s all that matters."

His grip tightened, possessive and utterly reassuring. "Zayn, the last ti you walked into this room, you were searching for sothing you couldn’t na. This ti, you made your decision. You fought for your truth. You walked in knowing exactly who you are and who you want to be. You walk in as mine."

He turned gently in his arms so I could face him, his hands resting on my waist. His eyes were dark, filled with an intensity that took my breath away.

"Now listen to . I’ll touch you, claim you, and own you in every way you deserve. Because from this very mont, you are mine alone, and I’m never letting you go. No matter what happened today, no matter what shadows you left behind. We start fresh, right here."

He lifted one hand and gently brushed his knuckles along my cheek, his thumb catching the lingering tear track near my face.

"The last ti I t you, I did not introduce myself." He leaned in, his voice dropping to a husky whisper that was both formal and incredibly intimate.

"Hello, it’s nice to et you. I’m Evric Draeven."

The mont he said that, every ounce of composure I had shattered, and I burst into tears, unable to hold them back.