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.”

his head at me while I poured myself juice

teasing him. I don’t think he was jealous of my history with Sam, but I think a part of me liked the thought of him caring enough to be

softly after a few minutes of silence between

some gardening voo-doo

voo-doo? You mean

rolled his eyes, “But when they do start wiling and you get bored of them and think lilies are no longer your favourite, I will call the

widen slightly. “You

you want to dry press those flowers and make those

away.

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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 children’s hospital a few streets away when I was getting

surprised. “Yeah,

when he didn’t respond for too long. I had to leave them and look

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

just wanted to know more about me

He shrugged, “Whatever

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

“Favourite musician?”

“Travis,”

“Scott?” I asked.

gave me a weird look. “The rock

you like

like rock. What about

music.” I

“Shocker,” He teased.

shrugged it

replied, keeping his eyes on the road as we drove towards the hospital. “And I’m

scrunched my nose. “That somehow brings

does.” He replied, “Let me guess.

1 mumbled under my breath

Gabriel laughed.