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!”

been calling me every other day trying to get me to live with them, so I’d shift with

clutching my heart.

don’t want to interrupt a newly wed’s bliss, do

My

true, had we come from Venice wrapped in the same bubble. But

what’s wrong?” He asks, almost carefully. “Are you not

pull back the smile. “Of course I’m happy,

hands for me to come closer, and I do after switching off the gas. “Do you dislike ine because I

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Chapter 44

kneel in front of his

you, Sofic. You gave up everything you dreamt about when you found out I had cancer. Every penny you earned went to my treatment. I only did this to

about why Gabriel agreed to get married to me, and the six

fall in love. 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

faintly.

arranged your marriage and didn’t give you a chance to find love.” He jokes,

glisten in my eyes slightly. “I miss Nana.

looking at you, Sofie. They’re so proud of their little gir being a

smile, wiping one traitor tear that slipped off, getting up. “Come”

I remembered Gabriel asking me to come work with him and

I met with Alice

on her almost-over strawberry milkshake, making unnecessary noise while doing

take it?” I ask. It wasn’t the first time she was offered a job in the city and if

hate it when people leave our town to shift to the city, you know.” She pouts, “We need to protect the integrity. The culture. The vibe. Besides, I have nobody there except

small smile. “I, for one, would love it if you