His Wife (A Contract Marriage Story) by Heer Mangtani

Chapter 63

Time doesn’t heal. That saying is a lie.

Being surrounded by people doesn’t make grief better. It isn’t a distraction, not if you really love the person you lost. Not when you’ve lost the only remaining member of your family to cancer. Not when you’re contemplating every decision you made wondering if you were wrong to leave him alone after you got married.

When I was in the city after I just got married, I missed him. But it didn’t consume me because I knew he was alive and well and surrounded by people who loved him and I visited him often too.

Now, it consumed me.

He was dead.

“Sophia, sweetheart.” Leila placed her hand on my shoulder, pulling me out of my thoughts. I blinked away the tears before turning back to look at Gabriel’s grandmother, who had been staying here with me since the past six days. Six days.

That’s how long it had been since I lost him.

1 gulped the lump away. “Yes?”

“Are you okay?” She asked. “You’re lost in your thoughts again.”

“Just thinking about him,” I murmur, a breathy whisper.

“I think about him a lot too.” There was sympathy in her eyes I didn’t want, because that’s how every eye in this town eyed me when I stood beside my husband and watched my grandfather’s coffin being buried into the ground in a spot he had picked out not long after he found out he had cancer.

I nodded, trying to smile and fail.

Six days had felt like six months, and they would have been six years if not for Gabriel. He held my hand so tight through every moment because the second he left me, I felt like I would collapse.

The first two days. I couldn’t eat. I would throw up everything I had.

“He was a good man, Sophia. And he raised a good girl.” Her hand reached out to me, and this time I managed to pull a smile even as fake as it was. I and Alister are always here for you. We are your family, okay?”

I nod, the smiling inching forward a little.

“Is there anything he would like us to do? I know he wasn’t very religious, but he spoke very passionately about a few charities. We have made donations there in his name, but if there’s anything else….” her voice fades.

I shook my head. “You’ve done so much. Thank you.”

“Nonsense. Family doesn’t thank each other, and that’s what we are, right?”

1 nod. My grandfather wasn’t very religious, he believed in Jesus in his heart, but that was about it. Nonetheless, we had a prayer meet, a ceremony in the church and the priest did all the necessities. I’ve been going to the church every day, lighting up a candle, but leaving my town and going back to the city doesn’t feel right just yet.

I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to this house, even though I knew would have the keys and I could visit any time. It just would never feel the same as it did earlier, and I wasn’t ready to face that.

done. And because I did, so did Gabriel, and even his grandparents stayed back. They had known my

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Chapter 63

day he saw

So had L

read out Grandpa’s will. There are a few documents I have to sign tomorrow, but except that, there’s nothing holding me back here. I

leave today because of an emergency at work, but I and Gabriel are here for as long as

at her. “I should check

nods and smiles back as I head upstairs and to my room.

SINGLE thing right? A SINGLE” He yelled, his eyes flickering to me at the entrance, “You know what? Don’t piss me off. I’ll do it

to me in long strides. His hands held my shoulders, rubbing it.

nod. T’m

He glares.

lawyer read his will

his chest, engulfing me in his arms. I breathe in his scent, the only thing keeping me sane

inherited a house in

didn’t know you

I was too young to understand it, but I guess my Dad must’ve

would

problem, isn’t it?” I look up

a little kiss on my lips and then pulls away.

at his t-shirt. “I missed more

this,” He kisses

remind him. “Your grandmother is

e into his arms.

turning me, moving my hair to one side and kissing my neck, and removing the trousers I was wearing as his hand wraps around my mouth,

first time in the last four days that I had forgotten my grief,

eating and all the energy that I had, I had

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go home if you want, you know?” I

leaving you

won’t be alone, because Leila

know you want to mourn but everything in this house is making you

what the lawyer sends tomorrow. I

we’ll go when you’re

out

kisses my forehead.

lips, and I didn’t have to

be alone. I’ll call Alice over and Leila is there

to pay their respects.” He groans, And, I’m not leaving without you. What’s

forearm.