His Wife (A Contract Marriage Story) by Heer Mangtani

Chapter 49

1 don’t know how long I remained asleep for, because every time I stirred, I could sense different people around me.

“I failed her, Damien. Gabriel’s voice.

“I need to go… take care of something. A foreign voice.

“You need to go?” Gabriel sounded… angry..

Then, I faded back to sleep. The next time, the voices were different.

“You need to freshen up.” A feminine voice was speaking, I think Alice.

“I’m not moving from here. Gabriel replied. “The doctor said shell wake up any minute now.”

I wanted to wake up, but I couldn’t. I felt like I was being pulled into an unending sleep cycle.

“Is there anything I can do?” Sam was speaking.

Yeah… leave. Gabriel again.

I wanted to laugh at Gabriel’s pettiness, asking him to stop being like that towards Sam. That we had resolved everything in our past and both moved on.

I wanted to turn my body because my back felt stiff.

I wanted to turn to Gabriel, who I knew was sitting next to me, his hand often caressing my forehead. I wanted to put my arms around him and never let go.

Once, he placed a little kiss on my head, whispering, Wake up now, baby?”

After what seemed like forever or trying and failing, I could finally manage to open my eyes.

There was pain.

My stomach was hurting. My head was hurting. My throat was hurting. My back was hurting.

Everything hurt.

had saved me. But I couldn’t

my side, taking in the foreign surroundings I was at, that looked awfully like

expect me to wake up. Sof. Sofia, oh, you’re awake. Oh, thank Jesus. She paused, pressed a button, and then turned back

all I could produce was another one

her hand through my hair. “The

gave up, hoping Gabriel

He didn’t

1a

Chapter 49

not speak, just nod. He asked me if I knew who I was, what year it was, how I was taken. I nodded

had managed to swell my vocal cord. Nothing serious, nothing a few days of rest and warm water wouldn’t heal. But I need to

didn’t remember screaming that much. Just once, when the man

more. Everything was a

A pathetic, painful blur.

the doctor tried touching my throat, quite possibly to palpate any swellings, I

looking

what the man

away, and a female

then checked me, and once she confirmed that the swelling had reduced and I would

sorry. I promised myself I wouldn’t cry.” She sobbed. “I

wanted to hug her while she cried, but I didn’t want

then his wife peeked from

both said a few things, and

me, I could come stay with her for a few days if I ever wanted

although that she was just a week ago, it

Zach a little longer, and I knew he knew

side for a minute

I pleaded with my eyes, the only way I

my hand

didn’t know I went missing. He would be the first one here if he knew. I didn’t want him to know, I didn’t want

shut for so long that I started believing he’d never come, but finally, he came.

today he wasn’t. His hair was

attention.

hollow even as he stared at me.

the bed like everyone else

front of me