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.

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 the ones lying on the

wasn’t going to be able to sleep tonight,

to my

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

this nagging feeling that something was wrong wouldn’t

entered my life to worry about it now. I talked to her again in the morning,

me.

1/3

There was

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

in the country was based. He knew my grandfather because Alister called him for a second opinion on Jim’s health

in the first stage, where it would be easy to control

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

I said work. The lie sat heavy on my

night.

far: One, he passed his hand through his

had convinced me that my grandfather would be okay. He had explained the treatment

my thoughts. I considered myself good with secrets, but all I felt

I would go to her tomorrow and bring her back with me whenever she

furrowed. “What’re

had to track you down since you wouldn’t pick up my calls.”

toneless.

“You called?” I blinked.

her shoulders, “But if I

from her phone and I did pick up the second time,

silent.

across her face was quick, and she was quicker to

you doing here? How did you even know I was here?” I ask, and then it dawns. “Ah,

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

my annoyance