His Wife (A Contract Marriage Story) by Heer Mangtani

Chapter 64

I didn’t know if he was the culprit for lying, or I was the culprit for letting him.

Gabriel left.

And I left him. I pretended to be okay. I pretended to smile at him, to kiss him goodbye at the door. He called after he” reached, he called that night, and I pretended to be perfectly okay when he told me he was at home, when all I wondered was if Lily was lying next to him in our bed.

She called, and he left.

I was more important than his impending work, but not her.

I pretended that didn’t break my heart the way it did,

I signed the papers the lawyer brought me, dodged the calls from my work friends probably asking me why their boss has returned to work but not me, and then told Gabriel I needed a few days more over here to say goodbye to the last memories of my Grandfather.

And I did. Now that Alister and Gabriel were gohe, I could go through the things of my grandfather lying around and put them in his wardrobe. I didn’t have the heart to give them away or donate them just yet, but maybe someday. Maybe.

It was three days since Gabriel left, and he called every day- some times even thrice a day. I picked each one, pretending things were completely okay between us when I was swimming in a pool of self doubt.

Over thinking became my best friend on the journey back home. That call, her name, it all seemed like a reality check I wasn’t ready for, especially not after my grandfather died.

I wanted to preserve things the way they were, but I knew I couldn’t. It had been six months since we were married.

Our six months were over.

Gabriel didn’t know I was coming back today because I hadn’t planned to. It was when I realised how much I had been sulking here and that any answer I get after going home couldn’t be worse than the assumptions I had made that I decided to head home.

I called Gabriel before leaving, but his phone was switched off.

For the rest of the way, I was hit with a wave of grief for locking my childhood house, the keys feeling heavy in my bag.

When I reached, I assumed Gabriel would be at work.

“You’re back?” Luna asked as soon as she spotted me while I was going to my room, and before I could reply, she flung into my arms. “I missed you.”

the hug. “I missed

The house doesn’t feel the same when you’re

her a small smile, not telling her how this was technically the last day of my marriage. This was the day I had dreaded for months now. “Has Gabriel

nights,” she replied. “He seemed

he barely got any sleep when he was with me, I couldn’t sleep a lot. Sorrow does that to me. It keeps me awake with a fright and fear I can’t shake. “Has he…” I hesitated. “Has he got anyone home when

1/3

|

seemed confused:

The discomfort was clear in my

eyes widened, and she broke into an expression

she been coming

Luna shook her head. “Nobody liked her here any

asked. I wasn’t a distrustful person but her previous panic made me suspicious. And not to forget, if Gabriel can lie

her head faster. “Swear on

I sigh. “Okay.”

“Is everything okay?”

“Just tired. I’m going to head to my room,

number again to tell him I’m home, but his phone was still switched off. I didn’t have his new assistant’s number (since Peter was still on leave), so I

one in the group who would

wasn’t his, it was Liv’s. I face palmed almost as soon as I heard her voice.

It’s me,

It’s Soph. Soph is calling. Ethan, you ididi, you couldn’t save her number?” Her voice was muffled

“Liv, you there?”

at your call. He tried snatching the phone. I won.” She

everything later.” I promise, “I need to talk to Gabriel and his phone is switched off. Can you please, please, please head to his office and make

was silence for a few seconds on the other end. “Sophie.. I can’t do

Liv, I promise I’ll ask Gabriel to give you ten minutes extra. It’s just really

“No, you idiot, it’s not that. Of course I would sacrifice my lunch break for you. It’s just

“Oh.

I mean, he did drop in for an hour or so a couple days earlier. Wait. Her voice turned muffled again. “Guys, when did boss conte? You sure?” It turned loud again. “Like three days ago,

really had lied. Every day I asked him how his day was, every day

I hadn’t cried since the past three days threatened to make their way back and I took a deep breath. I had cried so