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.”

at me while I poured myself juice

of my history with Sam, but I think a part of me liked the thought of him caring enough to

a few minutes of silence between us, “What will happen to all

asked the gardener to do some gardening voo-doo to

voo-doo? You mean

bored of them and think lilies are no longer your favourite, I will call the cleaners to clean them

slightly. “You

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

away.

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Chapter 26:

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

surprised. “Yeah, sure, we can do

asked while pouring a little too much maple syrup on the pancakes I was eating, and when he didn’t respond for too long.

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

just wanted to know more about me and

“Whatever you want

me which I pretended to ignore, knowing I would’ve be able to for much longer if kept

“Favourite musician?”

“Travis,”

“Scott?” I asked.

me a weird look. “The

like

like rock.

like slow music.” I smiled cheekily,

“Shocker,” He teased.

shrugged it

drove towards the hospital. “And I’m not. saying basic horror. I mean, the scary stuff. With

nose. “That somehow

guess. Yours is something

under my breath with a small

Gabriel laughed.