Who is this woman that she has such an effect on my husband?

I’d think they were ex-lovers or something, but it seems they don’t know each other.

But Remi’s drilling stare unsettles even me. Is he enamored with her beauty or something?

“I hope just good things,” I pitch in, hating how the tension grows rapidly within our circle, a bubble that might burst at any second, and God knows what will happen next.

“Well, my father wasn’t pleased to find out he now owns Amalia’s shares, but that’s business.” Her dry reply sends more havoc my way.

My brows furrow.

The shares. That’s what he wanted all along from Amalia? No wonder he’s this tense.

That’s probably why everyone now knows about my twin and me too.

“I have to go and congratulate Atlas on this amazing party, or else.” She rolls her eyes and wraps her scarf tight. “It was nice to meet you both. Congratulations on your wedding.”

“Thank you,” I manage to say.

She spins around and gracefully moves to the main room as I face my husband.

“Why were you so rude to her?” He stays silent, still staring at the place she was standing, and I grab his elbow, shaking it a little bit. “Remi?”

The rest of the dark four emerge from the party room, conversing about something; however, their attention is on us.

Then it dawns on me.

They are expecting an explosion.

Remi finally snaps out of his trance, but the coldness envelops him even more, if the deadly energy and don’t-fuck-with-me attitude is anything to go by. “Santiago!” His friend comes closer. “I’m leaving. Take Penelope home once the party is over.”

He turns around, heading straight to the exit, and I grab his hand, halting his movements. “What do you mean you’re leaving?” He pauses while I continue. “I’m going to go with you then.”

“No. You will stay.”

Is he kidding me right now? He dragged me to this place and now wants to hightail his ass out of here for the vultures to wonder why my own husband deserted me on the first day of our marriage?

“Amigo—”

“Alejate de eso!” Remi warns him to stay out of this, and Santiago’s eyes narrow, but he rolls his lips. Then my husband address me again. “Enjoy the evening, and I’ll see you at the penthouse.”

Taking a deep breath, I rein in the fury threatening to erupt inside me at his weird behavior and try to find a reasonable explanation for it. “Where are you going? Did something happen?” Maybe Amalia was extra rude to him and they have another problem with Lachlan?

“None of your business.”

“I have a right to know! I’m your wife.”

Hollow laughter, sadistic in its nature, sends freezing cold into every cell of my body, rocking off the walls as he peels my hand away from him and frees his arm from my hold. “Wife? Since when? As you so love to eloquently put it, you’re my captive. So, my captive—” He leans closer, and it takes everything in me not to step back from the onslaught of fury radiating from him and not get lost in the hurt slowly swallowing me whole. “—know your fucking place and do as you’re told.”

Who is this vicious man throwing daggers at me, wanting me to bleed? I don’t recognize him.

Santiago barks, “Show some respect to your wife, Remi!”

How ironic that he is the one who comes to my defense while my husband is intent on tearing my soul into pieces if I don’t comply with his wishes.

I guess his obsession was short-lived after all, and he already grew bored.

“Save it, Santiago.” He pushes through the doors and marches outside without so much as a backward glance or an apology as the wind whooshes over me, breaking goose bumps on my flesh, but I barely register it in my mind.