Natalie reacted first.
Surprise crossed her face, as though she hadn't expected me to arrive so quickly. She jumped up from the sofa and stared at me warily.
"Who are you? What are you doing barging into my home?"
Her performance was so convincing that I might have applauded if I hadn't been the wife she was trying to replace.
I gave a short, humorless laugh, strode over, and slammed the agreement onto the table.
"Natalie, stop pretending."
A flash of malice crossed her face before she quickly hid it. Then she ducked behind Owen, put on a wounded expression, and wrapped both hands around his arm. She even gave me a smug little wink.
"Owen, is this the wife you married to satisfy your family? The boring, obedient substitute you told me about?"
Owen stiffened. After a moment, he forc
