Esmeralda straightened, meeting Santiago’s gaze with a cool detachment. “Mr. Torres,” she replied, her tone equally formal, a deliberate choice that echoed the shift Santiago had made in addressing her as if she were nothing more than Diego’s wife. She had never referred to him by his surname, but seeing how he had chosen to ignore her earlier, she felt no hesitation in mirroring his distance.
Marcela took her seat beside Santiago, her eyes glinting with barely concealed amusement. “We meet again Mrs,” she remarked, her voice light, though her expression held a hint of smugness as she settled comfortably next to Santiago, leaning in with an easy familiarity that grated on Esmeralda’s nerves.
Esmeralda managed a small, controlled smile, one that conveyed politeness but withheld any warmth
