Chapter 70

CHAPTER 70

ZAYN

I watched Marigold's face shift from awe to disbelief as she stared up at the grand colonial-style house. I knew I had made the right decision. Her eyes were as wide as I'd ever seen them, and for once, she seemed completely speechless. I couldn't help the grin that spread across my face as I handed her the keys.

I knew full well this was probably overwhelming for her. Hell, it was a lot for me, too, but seeing her reaction made every minute of planning worth it. She was stunned—and that was just from the outside.

Her hands gripped the keys tightly, like she was afraid if she loosened her hold, this would all disappear. "Zayn… this is… this is…"

"Crazy?" I offered, trying to help her form a sentence.

"Insane," she corrected, laughing as she shook her head. "But also perfect."

I put an arm around her waist and pulled her closer, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Wait till you see the inside."

She raised an eyebrow. "This isn't enough to knock me over? You're going for a complete KO, huh?"

"You know me—always overdoing it," I teased as I led her toward the front door. I took the keys from her and unlocked the door. The big, beautiful, heavy front door. Just opening it felt dramatic. I loved every second of it.

The minute we stepped inside, the grand chandelier hanging in the foyer caught her eye. It was something out of a magazine—a glittering, sparkling centerpiece that would make even the most jaded person weak at the knees. It was definitely the overkill she was expecting from me.

"Wow," she breathed, craning her neck to take in the crystal and gold that made up the chandelier. "I've never seen anything like it."

I chuckled, pulling her further into the house. "That's just the beginning."

Marigold gawked up at it, her mouth hanging slightly open. "Are we moving in here or filming a movie?"

"Both," I joked, gesturing around the foyer like I was presenting it for a commercial. "I'm thinking reality show. Something like The Hoert-Zayn Dynasty: House of Drama ."

She burst out laughing, smacking my arm lightly. "You're ridiculous."

"And yet, you love me," I said, smirking.

"I do." She paused, still staring at the chandelier in awe. "I seriously love this. This is so much better than I could've imagined. It's stunning. I think I could just live in the foyer."

"Just wait," I said, taking her hand and guiding her deeper into the house. "Let me show you some of the real hidden gems."

We started with the basics. Well, what should have been the basics, but in this house, there was nothing basic.

"Ready to see the kitchen?" I asked. I knew she was going to love it. It was one of the reasons I bought the place.

"Holy crap," she muttered under her breath, her eyes roving over the sleek granite countertops, state-of-the-art appliances, and the gigantic island that was probably bigger than most New York apartments.

"I figured this would be a good spot for us," I said, opening the fridge—which, naturally, was stocked with champagne and essentials. "Plenty of space for you to cook a feast. And, if you're feeling lazy, the oven does all the work for you."

"Oh, perfect," she said, eyes twinkling with sarcasm. "I was just thinking how great it would be to press a button and have dinner magically appear. This kitchen is so extra , Zayn."

"You haven't even seen the formal dining room yet," I pointed out, motioning for her to follow me.

We stepped into the dining room, which was every bit as extravagant as the rest of the house—a long, polished mahogany table that could seat twenty people or so was the focal point. I insisted on buying it from the previous owner and they were all too happy to sell it to keep from having to move it.

A massive chandelier hung overhead, because of course it did. There was nothing demure about this house. Every detail had been thought of.

Marigold raised an eyebrow at the table. "How many people do you expect us to have over for dinner? The entire Yankees team?"

"I was thinking more along the lines of Thanksgiving with the entire extended family. Yours, mine, and anyone else who wants to show up."

She laughed, shaking her head. "I might need that magic oven if there is that kind of dinner party."

"And look," I continued, leading her into the more casual dining area. I stopped and let her take the room in. "We also have this room if we're just having a quiet meal. You know, on the off chance we're not feeding an army."

She nodded appreciatively, taking it all in. "Okay, I love that you gave us options. Very considerate of you."

"I'm nothing if not thoughtful," I said with a wink before guiding her through the rest of the house.

I showed her where my home office would be. It had floor-to-ceiling bookshelves that I had every intention of filling. A massive mahogany desk that screamed serious businessman was in the room. Another holdover from the previous owner .

"Your office is just down the hall. It was designed to be bright and airy with huge windows that let in natural light."

I knew she'd love it the moment she saw it, and I wasn't wrong.

"This is perfect," she said softly. "You really thought of everything."

"I had to," I said, wrapping an arm around her. "You're going to need a place to escape from me sometimes."

"Good thinking," she teased, nudging me. "I'll probably need it more often than you realize."

I chuckled, loving the way she bantered with me. I led her through the guest rooms, all six of them, the formal living room, the sitting room, and the family room, which all had different vibes but somehow fit together perfectly. She kept giving me these looks, like she couldn't believe this was real.

"And now," I said dramatically, leading her upstairs. "Are you ready for the place where the magic happens?"

She laughed. "I'm not sure how much more excitement I can take."

I opened the double doors that led to our bedroom. It was massive with vaulted ceilings and a fireplace that would make even the coldest winter nights cozy. But it was the bathroom that really took the cake.

"Oh my God," she gasped as we stepped inside. The bathroom was practically a spa. Marble everywhere, a massive soaking tub that could fit both of us comfortably.

I was already thinking about all the ways we could test that theory.

The walk-in shower with multiple rain showerheads really excited her. But it was when I showed her the matching walk-in closets that were big enough to be their own bedrooms that I really took her breath away.

"I'm pretty sure I could live in this closet," she said, stepping inside and spinning around. "Do I even have enough clothes to fill this?"

"Not yet," I said, leaning against the doorframe. "But that's easily fixable. We'll just have to go shopping. My treat."

She rolled her eyes, but I could tell she loved the idea. "Of course, your solution is shopping. I'd expect nothing less."

I smirked. "You're welcome."

"This is all so much, Zayn. I don't even know what to say. This is just wild."

"Are you ready to see the rest?"

"There's more?"

"Outside," I said. "The backyard. You're going to love it."

"Lead the way," she said.

I led her out to the backyard, which was my favorite part of the whole house. The look on her face when she saw it was priceless.

"Oh. My. God."

The backyard was like a resort. A giant pool stretched across the yard, with lounge chairs lined up perfectly next to it. There was a hot tub, of course, and an outdoor kitchen complete with a bar and a fireplace. String lights crisscrossed the space, giving it a magical vibe, even in the daytime.

"You've got to be kidding me," she breathed, walking toward the pool. "This is incredible."

"I figured it would be great for entertaining," I said, casually leaning against the outdoor bar. "You know, if we ever wanted to throw a party."

Marigold turned to me with a huge smile. "Incredible."

That was when it happened.

"Surprise!" dozens of voices shouted all at once.

Marigold jumped a good foot into the air as she spun around to see where the voices were coming from.

People had been hiding in the garage and in the bushes. A lot of people, I realized now that I was watching them all file into the backyard. Her father, Elaine and Carlos, and almost my entire family. They were all there, grinning like idiots, watching her in her moment of shock.

"What the heck is happening?" she asked, her voice a mix of confusion and excitement as she turned to me.

I gave her a small smile, my heart racing in my chest as I reached into my pocket. Before she could figure it out, I was down on one knee, looking up at her, the love of my life.

Her hands flew to her mouth, and her eyes went wide.

"Marigold Reed," I began, my voice shaking just a little. "From the moment I saw you at the airport, I knew you were something special. You stuck out like a sore thumb, in the best way possible. As beautiful as you were ferocious. And really a hot mess."

She let out a nervous laugh, tears already forming in her eyes.

"You scared me a little," I continued, grinning up at her. "And to be honest, you still do. But according to my dad, that's good for me. Keeps me on my toes."

Laughter rippled through the crowd. Marigold shook her head, still trying to process everything. I knew I was throwing a lot at her, but I also knew she could handle it.

"I love you, Marigold. More than I can put into words. You've been my anchor, my biggest supporter, and everything in between. I don't want to spend another day without you by my side."

Her breath hitched. Her eyes locked on mine.

"So, here's my question," I said, pulling out the ring—the one I'd been dying to give her for weeks. "Will you marry me? Please say you will spend the rest of your life with me as your husband. Will you be my wife?"

For a moment, the world stood still. Then she let out a choked laugh, tears streaming down her face as she nodded.

"Yes," she whispered, then louder. " Yes! "

The crowd erupted into cheers as I stood and slid the ring onto her finger, my heart nearly bursting with happiness. Marigold threw her arms around me. I lifted her off the ground, spinning her around. She laughed and cried all at once.

We were surrounded by everyone we loved, but in that moment, it felt like it was just the two of us.

"I love you," she whispered, pressing her forehead to mine.

"I love you more," I replied, kissing her softly.

And just like that, our forever began.