His Wife (A Contract Marriage Story) by Heer Mangtani

Chapter 44

SOFIA

Alice was right, the night really was like old times, Mrs. Riley and my grandfather brought up stories of the st*pidity we had. done as kids while I prepared dinner. Alice only pretended to help but she played with cutting one capsicum till the end of the dish, Sam had volunteered but I refused. He used to be the designated helper earlier, but that was more because of our own inside jokes and giggles, and less because I needed help. We could be friends him and 1, but I had no interest in taking back the friendship to what it used to be. I couldn’t, not when my heart was crying for a certain someone who was absent from my life.

I looked at the door every little time with eyes that were obviously of longing if Alice noticed it, hoping and wishing that Gabriel walked through it.

I thought I came here for space, but now I’m realising I came here to see if he would care about my absence. I thought I invited Sam over for old’s sake- and I did, but also because I wanted to see if it would tick him off like it did last time. A crazy part of me wondered if the driver I had brought with me would let him know of my shenanigans- but that thought was just like the rest of me- delusional.

He did not care.

So, everything was like old times except for me faking a smile and my thoughts and attention often focused at my phone. and door, and then being met with disappointment.

Sam and Mrs. Riley both left a little past midnight, and after freshening up, I and Alice sat in my room with a sappy movie. At some point, the tub of ice cream was shut and the bottle of wine opened. Alice shed tears, cursed her ex boyfriend, and I hugged her till the rage overthrew the sadness and she was convinced she’s better off. Then, I opened up about my situation. with Gabriel, the honeymoon, Arthur, and even Lily. By the end of the story, Alice even wanted to call Gabriel and curse him out, and I had stop her wine-drunk self.

Wes

slept just before the sun came up.

Alice still went to work the next morning, albeit groaning and complaining about it, waking me up in the process.

“Why don’t you come stay with me and Gabriel for some time, Grandpa?” I offered while stirring the pot of soup and my grandfather sat on a chair, passing me the condiments as we prepared lunch together.

“I like living here, Sofie,” he replied. “I’ve lived here all my life. I want to die here, not in a city”

I turned around with lips parted to glare at him. “You’re not dying!”

have been calling me every other

clutching my heart.

laughed. “Now I don’t want to interrupt

My

come from

almost carefully. “Are you

smile. “Of course

come closer, and I do after switching off the gas. “Do you dislike ine because I got you

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Chapter 44

I kneel in front of his chair. “And

cancer. Every penny you earned went to my treatment. I only did this to make sure your future is secure, you know? If you choose

didn’t know about why Gabriel agreed to get married to me, and the six

My only thought process was getting you married to someone who could take care of you before I’m gone, But you can divorce him if he’s making you unhappy, you know? Whenever you want. I will stand by

faintly.

if she was here and found out I arranged your marriage

in my eyes slightly. “I

They’re so proud of

tear that slipped off, getting up. “Come” I help him

out to companies, again. I remembered Gabriel asking me to come work with him and me promising I would consider, but it didn’t seem right

I met with Alice

slurped on her almost-over strawberry milkshake, making

time she was offered a job

when people leave our town to shift to the city, you know.” She pouts, “We need to protect the integrity. The culture. The vibe.

for one, would love