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.

in wi me. But now, it was filled with reminders of Freckles. Her scent, her vanity, her clothes, even the

wasn’t going to be able to sleep tonight, I realise,

my office; might as well work

wasn’t coming back home, that she needed a few more days to bask in the

feeling that something was

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

me.

1/3

either. There was

home and collecting my grandfather’s cancer reports

the country was based. He knew my grandfather because Alister

in the first

heart was beating louder with every passing

asked me where she was, and I said work. The lie

night.

knew so far: One, he

grandfather would be okay. He had explained

bit after he left, lost in my thoughts. I considered myself good with secrets,

heard her voice, heard her tell me she was doing fine, but none of that was enough. I wanted her to come 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 light sound. Taken out of my

furrowed. “What’re you doing

down since you wouldn’t pick up my

toneless.

“You called?” I blinked.

“But if I did, would

her that my grandfather did call from her phone and I did pick

silent.

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

did you even know I was

doesn’t know. I followed him here when I overheard him talk to you in

my annoyance