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 bed- it was my sanctuary all these years, which was why I never even asked Lily to move in wi me. But now, it was filled with reminders of Freckles. Her scent, her vanity, her clothes, even

able to sleep tonight,

my laptop and quietly left to my office; might as well work

truck when Freckles told me she wasn’t coming back home, that she needed a few more days to bask in the memory of her grandfather

this nagging feeling that something was

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

me.

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on wark either. There was something dooming playing in my

at home and collecting my grandfather’s cancer reports from Dr.

in the country was based. He

things that Alister said, of it still being in the first stage, where it would be easy to control preferably without

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

asked me where she was, and I said work. The lie sat heavy on my

night.

he passed

convinced me that my grandfather would be okay. He had explained the treatment plan, and been honest about the side

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

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

eyebrows furrowed. “What’re you

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

toneless.

“You called?” I blinked.

her shoulders, “But if I did,

stay silent. I would’ve told her that my grandfather did call from

silent.

flashed across her face was quick, and she was quicker

I was here?” I ask, and then it dawns.

I followed him here when I overheard him talk to you

blink my