E.P. w/OpenVPN ??

[every-proxy]

a) Android 15 on RedMi Note 13 Pro 5G

b)  Android 13 on Redmi Note 10 5G

Both have a Mobile Data plan. (from 2 different Carriers)

When I only use the Mobile Data on either phone acting as the Primary (with hotspot turned ON), the other phone acting as Secondary I connect to the hotpost of the Primary, add the Manual Proxy IP of one for the IPs that show up in EveryProxy's IPv4 list. 
(e.g. 10.69.209.67, 100.206.221.82, 10.19.147.52 <-- this is the IP of the Gateway for the Hotpsot)
on the Primary AND the secondary works fine.

HOWEVER when I run OpenVPN client connection on either phone as the Primary I get no Internet connection.

I have tried without and with E.P. Network Bridge.

Thinking perhaps it was OpenVPN, I tried with Proton VPN, as this was used in the E.P. Documentation,  I followed the steps as outlined and EVERY time I engage the VPN client on the Primary, the Secondary looses Internet connectivity.

As a "secondary" I have also tried my laptop.  Same result: no Internet when Primary has its VPN on. 

Please instruct me on why this is occurring and how to fix.

thanks!

fwiw, I've also followed the instructions of a bunch of YT vids and still, not working.

I'm unclear how my case is so different.

TIA for the solution.

~mikes