Novels by Rejoice Ugwu

Marcus's POVThe bachelor party was the next day, a promise of chaos wrapped in neon and bass.Emily had insisted on separate celebrations… “girls’ night out, boys do boys’ things.”But Ethan had vetoed anything too wild. No strippers. No blackout-level debauchery. Just a private rooftop lounge downtown brodered sleek glass railings the caught city's lights. Low leather booths, servers in expensive tuxedo's, and a DJ spinning deep house that vibrated through your bones.The venue was one of his offshore buildings. Or one he was planning on buying soon. I couldn't really remember.I arrived and blamed traffic… leaving out the part where I’d spent an hour staring at my reflection trying to look like I wasn’t unraveling.Black button-down, sleeves rolled, dark jeans that hugged just right. It wasn't anything flashy. Fit the dress code on the invitation just right as well.All I had to do was steer clear of him the entire night.But the moment I stepped out of the elevator, I felt him.Et

Marcus' POV.*Don’t let him touch you again.*Not a suggestion. Not even a threat. Just fact. Like he really did own me.I exhaled hard, shaking my head and trying to shake *him* off too.Faileed woefully.Dropping onto the bed, the laptop balanced on my thighs, towel barely hanging on. The screen glowed blue against the dim room, rain still lashing the windows to help my drown out my thoughts.Focus. Outfits. Pink. Coordinate. Easy.I opened the browser tab Ethan had left ready… a high-end menswear site with curated collections. Everything screamed money and precision.I scrolled. Charcoal? Too dark against pink. Navy? Safe, but boring. Blush tones, soft rose, ivory with subtle sheen… Ethan in pale colors felt wrong, like putting a blade in pastel wrapping.But I clicked anyway, and three pieces caught my eye:- A slim-fit ivory tux with faint silver threading . It was elegant, modern and would make his shoulders look lethal under ceremony lights.- A light taupe suit for the bachelo

Marcus' POVThunder cracked out of nowhere. One second, sunlight. The next—this.Fuck.Even nature was acting up, forcing the drive home to become anything but comfortable.Every red light stretched forever. My hands shook on the wheel, replaying Jake’s thumb on my wrist, Ethan’s mouth on Emily’s, the half-open curtain and that thick outline burned into my brain.I needed to get to Mom before the rain hit harder. She hated missing her evening meds… said it made her feel like the illness was winning.I wasn’t about to let that happen.By the time I pulled into the driveway, fat drops were already smacking the windshield. I sprinted inside, shoes squeaking on the marble.Up the stairs. Down the hall. I paused outside her door, smoothed my shirt and ran fingers through my damp hair before knocking softly.“Mama?” I eased the door open.The room smelled like lavender and the faint metallic tang of her oxygen tank.She was propped against pillows, eyes closed, breathing shallow but steady.

Merlina’s eyes were still wide when Ethan’s arm stayed draped over my shoulders a second longer than necessary. His fingers kept brushing the nape of my neck… deliberate and slow, before he finally lifted it.The absence of his heat felt like losing gravity.“Uh… sure” She cleared her throat. “Try not to break him” she joked.Ethan’s mouth curved. Not quite a smile. More like acknowledgment of an order already followed. “I’ll bring him back in one piece.”He didn’t ask if I was coming. He simply turned and started walking toward the exit, expectation clear in every measured step. I scrambled after him.Outside, the afternoon sun hit like a spotlight. Ethan’s black SUV waited at the curb… sleek and tinted, the kind of car that didn’t need to announce money because it reeked of it.He opened the passenger door for me without a word, and I slid in to feel the leather cool against my thighs. The door shut with a solid, expensive thud.Circling to the driver’s side, he folded himself behin

Marcus' POV“Is it weird that i think about my brother-in-law fucking me, Merlina.”The words slipped out before I could stop them. Low, sharp, and very, very real.I’d buried it for months, maybe longer, telling myself it was nothing but a reckless thrill I’d never act on.But now it was out, and saying it aloud felt like handing someone the match to burn everything down.A match just landed in the hands of my best friend, Merlina.I froze, straw clamped between my teeth, and sucked hard on the slushie as if it could rewind time.She didn't hear me, right?“Are you crazy, Marcus?”Her voice sliced across the table, louder than intended, drawing a few stares. She stared at me like I'd grown a second head, steak knife paused mid-air.“I didn't hear that right, right?”I laughed, a forced, nervous chuckle. “I’m joking. Come on, where's your sense of humor?”Her eyes narrowed. “Didn't sound like a joke.” She set the knife down and rested her eyes on the steak in front of her. “He's marry