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.

at 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 was

tonight, I realise, not

to my office; might as well work if

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

feeling

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 sounded better

me.

1/3

couldn’t concentrate on wark either. There was something dooming playing in my

out before most of my employees were in, showering at home and collecting my grandfather’s cancer reports from Dr. Grant who

was based. He knew my grandfather because Alister called him for a second opinion

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

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

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

night.

he passed his hand through his blonde hair very often. Two, he said ‘well’ every time he went on to

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

good with secrets, but all I felt was the urge was to talk about

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

furrowed. “What’re you doing

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

toneless.

“You called?” I blinked.

shoulders, “But if I did, would

did call from her

silent.

face

know I was here?” I ask,

I followed him here when I overheard him talk to

blink my annoyance