His Wife (A Contract Marriage Story) by Heer Mangtani

Chapter 74

GABRIEL (continued…)

That night, I called Sophia for the first time since arriving home I went in for a quick shower, and called her while getting dressed for bed. She picked up, but seemed so distant… like there was something playing on her mind.

“Are you sure you’re okay, Freckles?” I asked for the fourth time in that one conversation. I am still seeing you tomorrow, right?”

“Hmm..” She buzzes a little sleepily, but mostly she was just distracted. “How’s your work emergency thing going?”

“Bad,” I reply, truthfully. Alister had colorectal cancer. I was planning on picking Sophia up tomorrow, but instead, I’d have to take a trip to his doctor. To tell her this was on the tip of my tongue, but only the promise I had hastily made to my grandfather before leaving- the one to not tell this to anyone until he tells it to my grandmother in person this weekend- stopped me. Besides, Sophia just lost her Grandpa to cancer. I doubted she wanted more cancer news, “Why do you soundl so busy?”

“I’m not. I was just almost asleep when you called.”

“Oh, sorry, Freckles.” I say with no remorse, a sihall smile making its way to my lips. I needed to hear her voice.

“That’s okay.” She stays quiet for a few seconds before adding, “Are you at home?”

Tam

“Are you going to sleep now?”

‘Soon, I tell her, yawning.

‘Hm. Okay. Goodnight, Gabriel.

“Goodnight, Freckles.”

I miss you, I wanted to add, but didn’t, partly because it was too cheesy, more than I’d ever been, and partly because she disconnected the call so quietly after I said goodnight, you’d think her hand was burning from holding the phone.

I conclude I was thinking too much into it.

move in wi me.

be able to sleep tonight, I realise, not without

left to my office; might as well

to bask in the memory of her grandfather before she could leave her

this nagging feeling that

sore from falling asleep while working, but I’d done this too many times before Freckles entered my life to worry about it now. I talked to her again in the morning, told her I was at work, and made sure she was okay. She

me.

1/3

There was something dooming playing in

before most of my employees were in, showering at home and collecting my grandfather’s cancer reports from

the country was based. He knew my grandfather because Alister called him for

first stage, where it would be easy to control preferably without radiations that would kill

waited minutes, but my heart was beating louder with every passing second. So, I called

and I said work. The lie sat heavy

night.

knew so far: One, he passed his hand through his blonde hair

that my grandfather would be okay. He had

myself good with secrets, but all I felt

back home. If she doesn’t, I would go to her tomorrow and bring her back with me whenever she was ready. I toy with that idea while playing with my phone when I heard a

eyebrows furrowed. “What’re you doing

down since you wouldn’t pick up my calls.” She replied making herself

toneless.

“You called?” I blinked.

raised her shoulders, “But if I did, would you

her that my grandfather did call from

silent.

face was

doing here? How did you even know I was here?” I

here when I overheard him talk to you in the morning

my annoyance