His Wife (A Contract Marriage Story) by Heer Mangtani

Chapter 1

Sofia’s PoV

I wiped tears from the corner of my eyes, hoping nobody saw me weep, and that the mascara didn’t run because of my unending tears. I was miserable, still in disbelief believe that the first time I was going to see my husband-to-be was when I’d walk down the aisle, and he would be waiting for me at the end of it.

At least, I hoped he would be there, and that he wouldn’t elope. Not because I wanted to particularly marry him, but because being stood up at the altar in front of the whole world would be very humiliating.

“Ms. Baker?” As I fixed the princess-y Versace wedding gown one last time, one of the three women who had followed me since the moment I had stepped into this mansion today called me, and I looked up at her.

“Yes?”

“Your grandfather is waiting for you outside. It’s time.”

It’s time. It’s time to get married to a man you don’t know.

Nodding, I glanced at myself in the mirror one last time making sure no tear stained my make up, and then left the room and walked down the stairs to the long wooden doors from which I was supposed to walk out. The dress was trailing behind, and the four inch heels I was wearing were uncomfortable.

I felt suffocated, as if I would breakdown again any moment.

“Sofie!” My grandfather’s eyes lit up when he saw me, and mine softened looking at him all decked in his blue tux. It’s all for him, I reminded myself, he needed the money.

“Grandpa,” I smiled softly at him, hurrying to reach him before he walks to me. He used to be tall and fit once, but years of chemotherapy had sucked the strength the out of him.

“Oh! You look beautiful!” Tears glistened in his eyes. “I wish your parents could see you like this.”

I gulped the lump forming at the back of my throat as I held his hand when I reached him. “Are you happy, grandpa?”

“Very.” He beamed, “You will be taken care of when I’m gone. Gabriel is a good man.”

I nodded. I wasn’t happy, but he didn’t need to know of that.

whisper as I wrapped my hands around his arm and we stood in front of the

ready as I’ll ever

stood on both sides of me when I stepped out and onto the aisle, every eye on me. Some hushed

in. Deep breath

the meticulously planned extravagance all around me that the Whitlock family had spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on, the person

Gabriel Whitlock.

knew of his brown eyes and dark hair, his lopsided smile, his broad, muscular shoulders and his graceful stance,

for this to be a fairytale-come-true, not a nightmare of a marriage

was a frown on his face when he looked up, which changed when he saw me. An emotion I couldn’t decipher flickered in them, and I squirmed under his scrutinising

cameras flashed more than ever as my grandfather placed my

and mine felt so small in his. Oh, what a

little that I wasn’t sure he

jaw clenched, and then

time, and my cheeks were still flushed with embarrassment when the

turned to me,

Baker, take Gabriel Whitlock to be your lawfully

was suffocating. The outfit I was wearing costed more than

tall heels I was wearing. One of his hands brushed my lose locks away and held my cheek as he bent down to gently place his

barely

as quickly, he moved away as if he wasn’t supposed to kiss me in

* *

reception

I was ushered back inside by my

Gabriel cannot wait to get to know you,” My grandfather

from behind, a charming but formal

good care of my

never have the chance to complain.” He didn’t even look at

squeezed him tight. “I’ll visit

Gabriel’s grandparents, who happened to be his friends from college. I had met them a few times before.

we begin walking outside, getting me