Chapter 164 Harmful

• As Ethan stood there, watching the car drive through the gates, a searing pain suddenly ripped through his chest, throwing him off balance. His steps faltered, and he nearly stumbled from the intensity of the sensation. “What’s happening?” he questioned, perplexed by the overwhelming agony that engulfed him. He and Hazel had never been mated; their marriage had been a result of her manipulation. He felt no genuine emotions for her, so why was he experiencing such excruciating pain?
• Confusion and unease swirled within him as he tried to rationalize the inexplicable pain. “Ethan, I’m here,” Bella’s voice called out, reaching his ears from where she stood nearby. The sound of her voice momentarily broke through the disorienting discomfort. “Right, Bella,” he muttered as he stared back at her smiling face as be walled towards him as if reminding himself of the current situation. “I have a mate now. She’s my responsibility.” He repeated the thought like a mantra, attempting to anchor himself and regain control over the unsettling turmoil that had seized him.
• “Are you okay?” She asked quietly as she moved to embrace him.