“Then that’s what you should do.” Ethan’s smile is neat and perfect—the kind designed to inspire confidence and relief.
“Thanks for understanding. I know the way I want to do it makes things more complicated.”
“It’s all billable.” He winks.
I finally pick up the noodle plate and serve Ethan some. “This looks so good. You should try it.”
“Well, this is cozy. When did you become so familiar with my wife, Beckman?”
I glance up. Ares is standing at the side of our table with an expression so dark and gloomy, it wouldn’t shock me if it started to thunder and rain inside the restaurant. Bryce and Josh are behind him and waving tentatively at me, then they throw Ethan an ugly look. All three are in black suits—the lawyer uniform!—and are obviously here to enjoy their lunch.
“It’s business,” I say.
“While serving food to each other?” Ares’s stormy blue eyes are still on Ethan as he speaks.
“He was helping me eat.”
Ethan raises his eyebrow slightly at my explanation. I cringe inwardly. I should’ve phrased it better. Now it sounds like Ethan’s been feeding me like a baby.
Since I don’t feel comfortable discussing this with Ethan and my brothers-in-law present, I stand up, loop my arm through Ares’s and drag him away. His expression is still taut, but he seems to thaw a bit.
“If you were craving dim sum, you could’ve asked me,” he says finally when we reach the relatively deserted hall to the bathrooms.
“But you’re busy, and I didn’t want to disturb you.”
“You’re my wife. You’re supposed to disturb me.” A mix of shocked realization and agitation crosses his face. Why is he so upset about my being considerate?
“That isn’t what we agreed to,” I remind him. He has so many important clients and cases. The little conditions to our temporary marriage of convenience might be so minor they just slipped his mind.
The muscles in his jaw bunch together. Maybe he hates being told he’s mistaken about something. Heisa lawyer, after all.
Then I remember something I’ve been meaning to tell him. “By the way, Soledad came by yesterday. She said she was pregnant with your baby. You might want to check up on her.” I mentally pat myself on the back for sounding so placid.
But instead of thanking me for letting him know, Ares looks at me like he wants to scream. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
“I was planning to, but you came home late. Not that I’m blaming you for working late, because things happen. And this morning you left for work early, and I didn’t want to bother you, since whatever case you’re working on must be critical. But if Soledad is that important, I’ll text you as soon as possible next time.”
“Next time? Is that all you have to say?” He sounds terrible, like somebody’s dragging the words from the depths of hell.
“Um…” I shift back and forth.
She said I was a substitute. Am I? Who do you see when you see me? When you said you wanted to be my knight, did you mean your true love or me? What happens if you find her before we get what we want out of this marriage? Do you care for me at all, even a little bit?
Except all the questions sound so clingy and ridiculous, the kind you might ask your real husband, in a real marriage. “Yeah. I guess…?” I say, trying to sound as neutral as possible. I’ve already given up on changing enough to be the ideal wife he spoke of, but I should do what I can.
He looks at me with all the agony in the world, his complexion paler, his eyes losing the gorgeous spark that never fails to mesmerize me. I don’t understand why, but somehow it feels like I’m at fault. “I’m really fine, Ares. You don’t have to worry about me.”
I shouldn’t have added that. His beautiful face crumbles, like he’s a man whose last hope has been dashed.
Chapter Thirty
Ares
Instead of going home, I stay away for the next few days. I text Lareina to let her know, praying she shows a hint of unhappiness…a tinge of disapproval. Even Akiko, as supportive as she is of Dad’s career, sighs a little when he has to pull all-nighters.
–Lareina: Thanks for letting me know! Hope you have a productive evening!
I stare at the text, then read it again, slowly. Then glare at the two sunny exclamation marks.
