The silence after his words felt heavier than the words themselves.
The marriage bomb still echoed in Lena’s head, loud and unreal, spinning her thoughts into chaos. She blinked slowly, trying to ground herself, trying to pretend that her entire world had not just shifted on its axis in the span of a few sentences.
She yawned despite herself, the exhaustion finally catching up with the emotional storm tearing through her.
Zayn noticed.
His gaze flicked to her face, sharp and observant as always, and for a brief moment something unreadable crossed his expression.
“You’re exhausted,” he said, his voice lower now, calmer. “You can stay the night.”
The words sent a cold shiver racing down her spine.
Stay the night.
With him.
In his space.
“No,” Lena replied immediately, too quickly,
