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.

my room, my bed- it was my sanctuary all these years, which was why I never even asked Lily to move in wi me. But now, it

sleep tonight, I realise, not without

to my office; might as well

back home, that she needed a few more days to bask in the memory of her grandfather before she could leave her hometown, unsure when she’d think she had the

but this nagging feeling that something was wrong wouldn’t

asleep while working, but I’d done this too many times before Freckles entered my life to worry about it now. I

me.

1/3

couldn’t concentrate on wark either. There

slipped out before most of my employees were in, showering at home and collecting my grandfather’s

I flew to Chicago, where one of the most famous oncologists in the country was based. He knew my grandfather because Alister

things that Alister said, of it still being in the first stage, where it would be easy to control preferably

flew back, I called Sophia, who didn’t pick up. I waited minutes, but my heart was beating louder with every passing second. So, I called my grandmother, who told me Sophia was

was, and I said work. The lie sat heavy on my

night.

far: One, he passed his hand through his blonde hair very often. Two, he said ‘well’ every time he went on to explain a concept I didn’t know. And three, he was

grandfather would be okay. He had explained the treatment plan, and been honest

after he left, lost in my thoughts. I considered myself good with secrets, but all I felt was the urge was

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

furrowed. “What’re

you down since you wouldn’t pick up my

toneless.

“You called?” I blinked.

“But if I did, would

did call from her

silent.

that flashed across her face was quick, and she was quicker to

even know I was here?” I ask, and then it

I followed him here when I overheard him

my annoyance