His Wife (A Contract Marriage Story) by Heer Mangtani

Chapter 35

Gabriel wearing a crumpled white shirt over black track pants that he wore to bed, and I was sure a few buttons mismatched because he was wearing them hastily on the way to open the door of our villa. As I stood behind the shut door of one of the empty rooms at the ground floor searching through the luggage to find something I can put on to rush outside, all I found myself thinking of was the voice outside.

A voice I recognised.

A voice I dreaded.

I put on the first thing my hands got on- a loose olive green cotton dress

with a bra who’s lacy straps were very visible

and did not match the vibe of a frock, I passed my fingers through my hair to tame my frizzy locks a little before rushing

outside.

And sure enough, the voice belonged to the same man I thought it did..

Arthur Geller.

He was in Venice.

He was at the house we were staying in.

“Oh, there is the wifey.” Arthur’s eyes narrowed on me effortlessly as if he was searching for me in the first place, and I could sense Gabriel stiffen. He didn’t have to turn back for me to know his jaw was locked. “I was vacationing in Venice and when I heard the two of you are here, I thought maybe I could drop in and apologise for how things went down between us. I hope you don’t mind, Sofia,

“If you want another black eye, I suggest you talk to me. Not her Gabriel’s voice was calm, but not in a welcoming way. In a cold way, in a way that predators are calm before attacking their next prey, and that was scary.

“Understood, Romeo. Arthur seemed unaffected as he stepped forward and put his hand on Gabriel’s shoulder. By then, I had frozen where I was, a good ten feet away from the two of them. I had no interest walking any closer, but I couldn’t just stay inside without seeing that Arthur really was here. In Venice. In the little bubble I and Gabriel had made in the past couple days.

Despite Gabriel’s threat, Arthur’s eyes found me again. “I must say, Mrs. Whitlock, you really have your husband around your little finger. The Gabriel I knew would never take a vacation from work.

shrugged Arthur’s hand off his shoulder, stepping towards him. “I said,

mean as an old friend of yours, she deserves some appreciation for doing even

wrap

I could practically see every muscle, every

That name seemed

have five seconds to disappear from my eyes. Or

1

sore topic? I’m so sorry, I didn’t know.” Arthur didn’t even try to feign being apologetic. He

barely blinked, and Gabriel’s fist was on Arthur’s

Gabriel Whitlock. Gabriel pushed Arthur. “You understand what that means? My wife.

you

at her again, let alone try

place where no

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Chapter 35

find you

didn’t comprehend before Gabriel shut the door on his face, and turned to me. And then, I left out the breath. The next breath I took went in, but didn’t. I couldn’t feel it. I felt breathless. There was no air in my lungs, and the deeper

but couldn’t q felt his touch on my arm, a

“I-“Words dried out.

instructed, “Come back

him. My vision had

focused on my breath till I could feel it again, till my vision cleared and I could

“I’m okay.” I muttered.

this happened before?” A

in the early months

had a panic attack.” His frown just deepened. “I’m going to

wasn’t- It wasn’t

Then what triggered it?”

from him. “I don’t

Gabriel still didn’t sound too happy. “Promise to tell me