Page 70 of The Marriage Agreement (Agreement)

Me: Have you heard from Dele?

Osei: She’s here crying but won’t tell me what the fuck happened. What did you do?

What the fuck is going on?

Osei: Don’t come over, she won’t like it.

Fuck you, Osei. You and what army are going to stop me from speaking with my wife?

“I have to go,” I say to Dad.

“Make sure you return with Dele,” he yells to my back as I head out.

I make it to Osei’s place in record time, racking my brain on what I could have done or what I’d missed. As annoying as mydad was, he nailed it. Osei doesn’t open the door. I bang on his door, louder, until he opens it, glaring at me.

“What the fuck, Luke?!”

“Where is she?” I growl after barging my way in.

“She doesn’t want to speak to you right now.” He jumps right in front of me as I head toward her old room.

Chapter 46

LUKE

“Get the fuck out of my way, Osei!” I growl, my voice dripping with rage. I try to sidestep him, but he blocks my path. Challenge is clearly written on his face as he stands like a brick wall in front of me.

I feign a scoff, controlling the anger building inside me, because it’s clear he doesn’t understand that I’ll tear down any and every wall standing between me and Dele.Every. Fucking. Wall.

“I mean it. This is between me and my wife. Stay the fuck out.” My voice is louder, anger emanating from both of us, our nostrils flaring. He’s no match for the anger seeping into my blood right now, and he needs to get the fuck out of my way.

“It’s okay. I’ll speak to him,” I hear Dele say behind him.

“You sure?” Osei asks in a grating tone, without taking his eyes off me. I maintain my glare.

“I’m sure,” she answers and returns to the room. I move past Osei and follow her in. Closing the door, I pace, trying to controlmy anger at Osei. She sits on the edge of the bed, lacing and unlacing her hands, her nervous tell. She’s looking down at her feet. I stop pacing and draw in a long breath, then a slow exhale. I reach into my pocket and take out the black lace panty she’s left in my jacket, which had freaked my PA out when it fell out.

“What the hell happened between when you left this—” I hold her panty out to her “—and when you visited Dad today?” She looks briefly at me, then turns her face away, shaking her head.

“You can’t tell me nothing happened when Dad could tell you were upset, and you’ve clearly been crying. Not to mention the fact my brother wants to take me down for upsetting you.” I pause, and she still won’t look at me. “We agreed to always tell the truth. I need you to tell me the truth,” I say in a gentler tone, moving closer to her on the bed. My palm caresses her face. She leans into it, letting her cheek rub on my palm, though her eyes remain closed even as tears trickle down her face. My thumb wipes the tears away. I get on my knees and pull her close to me. “Ayo mi, please tell me what happened,” I whisper as she sniffs.

“Lily came to the hospital today.”Fuck!That can’t be good. “I don’t know how she did it, but she made sure I was her nurse for the supposed headache that she had. She said you guys were together two nights ago when you worked late, and you always return to her.”What the fuck?!I keep my anger controlled. “She said you told her I’m just a faster track to you claiming your inheritance.” She pulls out of my arms. “I’m sorry, Luke. I didn’t say anything to her. I just focused on work. I know we have a contract; I just got a little emotional. It won’t happen again. You and Lily are good. Just give me the heads-up next time so I don’t get blindsided.” Though her voice is calm, there’s anger at the base.

What the fuck?!

“Yes, I worked late two nights ago with five other guys and Lily; we were closing a deal. I was never alone with her. I wassurprised she came with the team, but all we did was close the deal, and she left with the team. At no point was I ever alone with her. I came home straight. I didn’t stop anywhere in between.”

“It’s okay,” she murmurs, like I’m lying and she’s willing to accept it.

“It’s not okay, I promise you. It’s just you and me all the way.” She nods, but doesn’t look at me. I cup her face. “Look at me, Dele, please.” She opens her eyes. “You are the only woman for me and the only one I want.”

“Am I enough?” she asks, a simple, weighted question. Everything about us narrows down to this fulcrum moment. I feel the weight of the question that hinges between us. My heart pounds against my ribcage. This is the moment to unveil my feelings to her. I kiss her forehead, then her cheek, inhaling her sweet smell. “You are more than enough and will always be enough for me,” I state with conviction, making sure our eyes are locked and she can read me. “Ayodele Blythe, you are more than enough for me,” I repeat.

She pulls me into a hug, and I breathe relief, feeling her relaxed in my arms. She clings to me, the way she does whenever she’s vulnerable, and my heartbeat slows to normal, just as the fire to crush Lily burns for lying to Dele.

Lily McIntyre is going to feel my anger. I want to kiss Dele, but I also know I won’t stop until she’s naked in my arms.

“Let’s go home,” I say. She pulls out of my arms.

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