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.”

shook his head at me while I poured

but I think a part of me liked the thought of

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

I asked the gardener to do some gardening

laughed. “Gardening voo-doo? You mean he used

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

widen slightly. “You will

flowers and make those lame paintings..” He paused,

away.

1/3

Chapter 26:

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

“Yeah, sure, we

maple syrup on the pancakes I was eating, and when he didn’t respond for

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

said you just wanted to know more about

shrugged, “Whatever you want

once, I saw him stealing glances of me which I pretended to

“Favourite musician?”

“Travis,”

“Scott?” I asked.

weird look. “The rock

you like early 2000s

like rock.

I smiled cheekily, “And

“Shocker,” He teased.

shrugged it off. “Favourite

that contains horror.” He replied, keeping his eyes on the road as we drove towards the hospital. “And I’m not. saying basic horror. I

my nose. “That somehow brings you

me guess.

under my breath with a small

Gabriel laughed.