His Wife (A Contract Marriage Story) by Heer Mangtani

Chapter 6

A middle aged lady opened the door with a smile on her face, an apron covering the dress she was wearing and her hair, that I had thought would be set to the last pins, was just tied behind in a messy bun.

“Gabe!” The smile on her lips only widened as they set on her son and she immediately pulled him into a hug.

“Mom.” He greeted her back, actually putting one of his hands back around her.

At least he hugs. Or makes a half-a*sed attempt at a hug.

As she pulls away, she looked at me. “And you must be the secret girlfriend he never told us about? Oh, Gabel” She swatted his forearm, “She’s gorgeous.”

“I guess?” I whispered as she pulled me into a hug I didn’t expect and I looked at Gabriel. He gave absolutely no expressions.

“Oh, come in!” She made way for us.

“You have a lovely home, Mrs. Whitlock.” I smiled at her.

“Call me Else.” She corrected. “And I’m very disappointed in the two of you.” She looked at me crossly and then her son. “Who doesn’t invite the groom’s parents to the wedding?”

My mouth fell open. “You weren’t invited? Oh-Oh. I’m- I’m so sorry, I didn’t.” I was stuttering, and I looked to Gabriel who just rolled his eyes.

“It’s okay.” His mom cut me off, “Gabriel explained everything to me, about how you had to get married in a rush because of your grandfather’s health. He’s promised me a proper wedding after a few months, one in which family is invited, not just businessmen. Right, Gabriel?” Her tone wasn’t questioning. It was demanding.

“Yes, Mom.” Gabriel replied, no hesitance whatsoever. Where’s Dad?”

“He’s in the kitchen. Why don’t you help him lay the table while I talk to my daughter-in-law here?”

“Mh-hm.” Her son nodded, disappearing inside but not before giving me a look. It was a glare mostly, one that said ‘If you f*ck up, I’ll un-alive you and feed you to the vultures.

*So Sofia, dear, sit with me. Before I could move, she had already pulled me on the couch in front of her. “Tell me everything about you. What do you like to do?”

I was at loss at where to start from, so I just smiled at her. “A lot of my time went in working to provide for my grandpa’s treatment,” I told her, “But before that, I used to love baking. And I paint. I have commissioned a few pieces in Brooklyn.

“I’m a painter,” Her eyes sparkled, “That’s how I and Gabriel’s father met actually. In art school.”

I’d love to see what you’ve painted someday

too. Only if you show

My smile widened. “Deal”

older version of him, just softer and his eyes were blue while Gabriel’s

to her husband who set the plates on the table before turning to us completely, “Never could I have imagined he would end up with a girl who likes painting. And I’m

the much needed colour in his life. Kalph stepped towards us, giving me his palm. “Nice

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III

Chapter 6

Sofia, I’m Ralph.”

“I’m

at to meet you.”

didn’t tell us anything about you and we want to

to his parents? He knew nothing

Gabriel and Ralph headed to the dining table, his Elise ushered

heard from my father you studied in Seoul

transferred there after my parents passed away. They met and fell in love in that school, and I guess being there felt like my way of being close to their memories.” I gave them a small smile. “I did my college here, and then I worked as a financial analyst

“Oh, wow,

lot of hard work,” Elise smiled as she lifted the lids off a few dishes, passing them, and

once his mom started talking about stories from his childhood, he

to leave, Gabriel talked in small whispers with his

used to play here all the time.” She told me, her eyes set at a basketball set that in the corner of the lawn. “He was a kid, you know. Just like any other ten. And then one day, just overnight, he grew up. And he wore ties and moved out and learnt business, and the kid

her voice slightly cracking when she looked to me, forcefully smiling again. “Take care of

a reassuring squeeze and she

wife home now, hm?” He tells his mother as he steps

he doesn’t hold

my lower back, just a feathery touch.

let my smile fall in shock, and goosebumps rise on the bare skin of

I was wearing the cloth separating my

in my stomach, I wondered how it would feel

No.

couldn’t think of me naked with Gabriel. A naked

Just no.