#Chapter 176: Pulse

Aria The world erupted into chaos around me, a deafening roar of fury and movement as the protesters surged forward. Hundreds of voices shouted, feet pounded the pavement, and bodies pressed together in a wild rush toward Bella’s father. I caught a fleeting glimpse of him, his face twisted with rage and fear as the crowd swallowed him whole. Hands reached out, pulling him down into the sea of people, his shouts drowned out by the collective outrage. He disappeared beneath the swell, but I barely noticed. My world had narrowed to the man bleeding out in my arms. Darren lay crumpled on the ground, his chest a mess of crimson where the bullet had torn through him. My hands pressed against the wound, but the blood kept seeping through my fingers and staining the delicate silver wedding band I wore. Tears streamed down my face, blurring my vision as I sobbed over him. “No, no, no,” I whimpered, clutching him tightly. “Darren, please. You can’t leave me. You p