Denise Richards and husband Aaron Phypers spotted having a tense lunch in Malibu

Despite it being a beautiful sunny day, Denise Richards and husband Aaron Phypers were huddled in a dark corner of the Carbon Beach Club restaurant in Malibu on Thursday.

‘There were five or six tables available outside on the patio overlooking the beach and ocean. It’s prime seating for everyone who goes there,’ an onlooker tells DailyMail.com.

‘But they obviously wanted to be inside away from everyone. Aaron was doing most of the talking and Denise was giving him her full attention. They appeared to be having a serious conversation that continued later in his truck.’

The couple, who have been married for 17-months, then ran errands, first to the bank and then to the post office.

‘Denise’s expressions were tense,’ says the source. ‘She clung to Aaron’s arm and kept her head down.’

Denise Richards and husband Aaron Phypers were spotted out at lunch at the Carbon Beach Club restaurant in Malibu on Thursday

'Denise's expressions were tense,' says the source. 'She clung to Aaron's arm and kept her head down'

'Denise's expressions were tense,' says the source. 'She clung to Aaron's arm and kept her head down'

‘Denise’s expressions were tense,’ a source tells DailyMail.com. ‘She clung to Aaron’s arm and kept her head down’

Sources tell DailyMail.com that the couple appeared to be having a serious conversation that continued later in his truck

Sources tell DailyMail.com that the couple appeared to be having a serious conversation that continued later in his truck

The couple, who have been married for 17-months, then ran errands, first to the bank and then to the post office

The couple, who have been married for 17-months, then ran errands, first to the bank and then to the post office

The couple, who have been married for 17-months, then ran errands, first to the bank and then to the post office

Despite it being a sunny day, and there being available tables outside, the couple sat in a dark corner at the Carbon Beach Club restaurant in Malibu

Despite it being a sunny day, and there being available tables outside, the couple sat in a dark corner at the Carbon Beach Club restaurant in Malibu

What a difference a day makes.

Just the night before, the pair were dressed to the nines, and all smiles for photographers as they hit the red carpet at the 60th Anniversary Party for the Monte Carlo TV Festival in West Hollywood.

The night before the sighting, the pair were all smiles on the res carpet at the 60th Anniversary Party for the Monte Carlo TV Festival in West Hollywood

The night before the sighting, the pair were all smiles on the res carpet at the 60th Anniversary Party for the Monte Carlo TV Festival in West Hollywood

The couple dressed California casual for their Malibu lunch date. Denise, 48, wore a Guns N’ Roses rocker tee, a trendy Aviator Nation sweatshirt, jeans and sparkly sneakers. Her hair was still blown out from the previous night.

Aaron, 47, showed off his fit physique in a tight T-shirt and ripped jeans. Both wore their most important accessory, wedding bands.

Last year Real Housewives of Beverly Hills focused on ‘doggie-gate.’

The plotline stemmed around the allegation that cast member Dorit Kemsley had given her Vanderpump Dogs rescue pup (named ‘Lucy Lucy Apple Juice’) to a friend who later dropped it off at an animal shelter rather than returning it to pal Lisa Vanderpump’s adoption center, as is required in the contract.

The RHOBH ladies spent the entire season arguing over whether it was Lisa herself or someone else who had leaked the news to the media.

Thanks to Denise and former cast member Brandi Glanville, the scandal meter will be off the charts when Season 10 premieres in April.

Last month, DailyMail.com broke the exclusive news that sources revealed Denise Richards and Brandi Glanville had engaged in a sexual relationship for several months, ending in the middle of 2019.

The source alleged that Brandi was upset with Denise after being told by the Wild Things actress that she and Aaron were in an ‘open marriage.’ She reportedly later found out that wasn’t the case.

This comes after DailyMail.com broke the news last month that Richards and co-star Brandi Glanville had engaged in a sexual relationship for several months

This comes after DailyMail.com broke the news last month that Richards and co-star Brandi Glanville had engaged in a sexual relationship for several months 

Brandi was allegedly upset with Denise after Denise told her that she and husband Aaron were in an 'open marriage.' She reportedly later found out that wasn't the case. The drama is likely to dominate the new season of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, premiering in April

Brandi was allegedly upset with Denise after Denise told her that she and husband Aaron were in an ‘open marriage.’ She reportedly later found out that wasn’t the case. The drama is likely to dominate the new season of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, premiering in April 

The showdown happened on a cast trip to Rome in late November, multiple production sources explained. The fallout between Richards and her castmates is expected to play out in the upcoming season, which will premiere early this year. Pictured: RHOBH cast members (l-r) Garcelle Beauvais, Sutton Strackein, Erika Jayne, Kyle Richards, Dorit Kemsley, Teddi Mellencamp, Lisa Rinna and Denise Richards

The showdown happened on a cast trip to Rome in late November, multiple production sources explained. The fallout between Richards and her castmates is expected to play out in the upcoming season, which will premiere early this year. Pictured: RHOBH cast members (l-r) Garcelle Beauvais, Sutton Strackein, Erika Jayne, Kyle Richards, Dorit Kemsley, Teddi Mellencamp, Lisa Rinna and Denise Richards

The other cast members got wind of the affair while filming in Rome and reportedly confronted Denise about it.

While Denise has denied the romance with Brandi, 47, it will likely be the focus of the new season.

Fan favorite and former RHOBH cast member Brandi Glanville has posted tweets that support the lesbian fling storyline.

After Denise asked fans what her tag line should be for the new season, Brandi shot back with the crass: ‘I might be married to a man but I’m still allowed to eat p***y,’ before deleting it later on.

Denise and Aaron were the darlings of the popular Bravo reality show last year, with their hastily planned Malibu wedding providing her introduction to viewers.

This year they are in the eye of the storm.

The ‘reality show curse’ has destroyed many marriages, including those of RHOBH alumni Adrienne Maloof, and most famously Taylor Armstrong.

Denise was previously married to Charlie Sheen, 54, from 2002-2006 and they co-parent daughters Sam, 15, and Lola, 14. In 2011 she adopted special needs daughter Eloise, 8.

Aaron was briefly married to actress Nicollette Sheridan, 56.

‘Denise is no stranger to scandal, but whether Aaron can handle all of this is yet to be seen,’ says a source. 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk