Lena stared at Zayn as if he had just announced the sky was green.
Marriage.
Her mouth opened, then closed. She blinked once. Twice. And then she laughed—sharp, incredulous, almost breathless.
“Oh—you got me good,” she said, shaking her head. “For a second there I thought you were serious.”
He didn’t smile.
Didn’t blink.
“Lena,” he said evenly, “I’m not joking.”
The laughter died on her lips.
She straightened, disbelief flashing into irritation. “You’ve officially lost all your marbles,” she muttered. “Marriage? Seriously? Why on earth would you want to marry me? A few months ago you cut me completely out of your life. You refused to see me. And now—what—suddenly you want a wedding?”
His jaw tightened, his voice firm, unyielding.
“My children will not be born out of wedlock.”
Sh
