His Wife (A Contract Marriage Story) by Heer Mangtani

Chapter 41

Later at the gala, I found myself on the dance floor, even though I didn’t want to be. I was forced by none other than my husband, who after dinner came to me and stood there with his hand extended.

Some people gushed, others whispered.

I couldn’t refuse with the number of eyes on us, so I kept my hand in his. And then I circled my hand around his neck while his’ found their way on my waist, holding me close as he swayed with me slowly to the music.

“You don’t dance, 1 mumble. A quiet observation, a statement I remembered him make the last time we were here.

“I do with you. He twirled me when I wasn’t expecting it, and held me before I could stumble.

I bury my head in his chest. “Lily’s watching”

“She can.”

I blink. “Are you trying to make her jealous?”

“I don’t have a any reason to.”

“Then why did you react like that looking at her, like you were some antelope caught in headlights?”

“I’m sure you could find an example more suited than calling me an antelope.” He smiles, but he’s the only one amused. He pauses when I don’t take the bait for a topic change, and then answers, “Things are a little more complicated than you think.”

I pull away from him and he reluctantly lets me go. “Then make simple, because the emerald in my wedding ring isn’t my birthstone. It’s hers.”

He pauses. Looking into his eyes, I could see no surprise in them

“You knew that.” My voice was soft but accusatory as I try keeping my expressions neutral for the sake of the eyes on us. “Because this ring, it was never meant for me. It’s hers?”

He remains silent again, and its weight felt heavy on my shoulders. I pause waiting for him to deny my accusation, my guess, but it never comes,

A humourless chuckle escape my lips, not out of anger but just hollow sadness. “I’m wearing her ring? You bought this ring

for her?”

nod. “I did, but that was long before I knew you,

angry, but I don’t. I just feel sad for myself, and also for the man in

doesn’t have to. His eyes hold

from him, drinking away the

all ready to propose to the obvious. love of his life, having to forcefully marry

I can look at him again. “Is there more to

home?” He pleaded. Gabriel never pleaded. He ordered. He demanded. He conquered. He

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Chapter 41

and he never pleaded.

dancing, others in their own conversation, some even leaving. I didn’t want to go home, I didn’t want to go to a place where every wall reminded me of how naive I had

not worried about that,

is it? Why can’t

“This isn’t the place.”

Logically, of course I knew that. People had ears. Even when they were pretending to do their own thing, they were interested in gossip. in rumours, in the next big scandal. And I and Gabriel had been nothing short of rumours and theories and scandals when pictures of our wedding hit the net and nobody knew who I was

I nodded.

didn’t want to be held by him, but 1 let him put his hand on my waist as we walked out. I didn’t want to be in the car with him, but I let him open the door to the car for me

between us in the car, staring out at passing city lights while the driver drove. Gabriel didn’t like music, but I didn’t miss the gesture when he asked the driver to switch on the radio, letting Ed Sheeran’s voice fill the

out of the window for the entirety of the journey, barely waiting for the car to halt when I’d opened

exited

in such close proximity with him now. Maybe I was overreacting, but I just needed time to process what I

floor, leaving the ear shot of most

want

any way, and

room.

then turns towards me. “I want

this was all before I

a ring to propose to her and then slipping it onto my finger like I was a replacement for her- which

licks his upper lip, the hesitance in his expressions awfully