His Wife (A Contract Marriage Story) by Heer Mangtani

Chapter 26

“Looks like the sleeping beauty finally woke up.” Gabriel commented upon seeing me as I descended, still mesmerised by the hundreds of lilies around me,

“How long have you been waiting for?” I asked in nothing more than a mumble, eyes still looking around. This was something right out of a fairytale.

It did feel a lot like I was still dreaming.

“Something a little over an hour,” he replied, not taking his eyes off me.

“All of this… Finally taking my eyes of the flowers when I reached the table, I looked at him. “You did this

“Who else, freckles?” There was a feeble smile playing on his lips “Well, I paid for it. It’s the workers who did it, but eh.”

“Gabriel… this is…. you didn’t have to… L… I fumbled, unable to find the right words.

“I believe your note clearly said you aren’t as low maintenance as five’ roses. They were fifteen, by the way. And I had no idea you didn’t like roses. He cleared his throat. “This high maintenance enough for you?”

My smile reached my ears as I took my seat on the table next to it. “More than enough.”

“Good. Consider this my thanks for meeting me halfway.” His smile was nowhere near as big as mine, but it was something It was genuine. “And, I have taken the day off work.”

“To spend it with me?” My eyes widened.

“Yes, well, I figured I’d make it up to you for bailing on you the last time I promised to get to know you.”

1 knit my eyebrows in confusion.

“At your grandfather’s, you know? Last weekend.”

“Ah.” I clicked my tongue, “When you got jealous of Sarm and ran from there. And then hid yourself in work for the rest o the week.

He frowned. “I don’t get jealous.”

head at me while I poured myself juice

Sam, but I think a part

a few minutes of silence between us, “What

gardener to do some gardening voo-doo to make sure they last a

You mean

do start wiling and you get bored of them and think lilies are no longer your favourite, I will call the

eyes widen slightly. “You will simply

press those flowers and make those lame paintings..” He paused, “Yeah, I was

away.

1/3

Chapter 26:

Gabriel, I don’t want to make those “lame” paintings. And they’re not lame by the way, I contemplated the urge to roll my eyes at him, “I was thinking make we could donate them to a hospital. I saw a

looking surprised. “Yeah, sure, we can

the pancakes I was eating, and when he didn’t respond for too long.

get to know you, and you want to spend it by going to a

to know more about me and my life

shrugged, “Whatever you want

than once, I saw him stealing glances of me which I pretended to ignore, knowing I would’ve be able

“Favourite musician?”

“Travis,”

“Scott?” I asked.

a weird look.

you like early 2000s

like rock. What

I smiled cheekily, “And

“Shocker,” He teased.

shrugged it off. “Favourite

we drove towards the hospital. “And I’m not. saying basic horror.

scrunched my nose. “That somehow brings you

guess.

under my breath with

Gabriel laughed.