AVA'S POV
My breathing turned uneven as I stared at the man standing before me. He wasn't joking. There was nothing playful in his expression, nothing that suggested he wasn't completely serious.
"W-What?" I breathed out. "How can you even say that?" He held my gaze but didn't respond.
I shook my head repeatedly, refusing to accept whatever twisted proposal he was offering. "Um... no. I…I can't. I don't even know you."
"It's not going to be an actual engagement." He raised a brow. "I already told you why I'm suggesting this."
"But I can't." I took a step back. "All this..." I gestured toward him. "It's too much for me. I don't want to do this. I can't do this."
Kade furrowed his brows before thoughtfully stroking his chin. "You have two choices," he said without hesitation. "Either y
