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.

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 filled with reminders of Freckles. Her scent, her vanity, her

to sleep tonight, I realise, not

up my laptop and quietly left to my

a few more days to bask in the

feeling that something was wrong wouldn’t leave

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

me.

1/3

on wark either. There was

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

the most famous oncologists in the country was based. He knew my grandfather because

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

I waited minutes, but my heart was beating louder with every passing second. So, I called my grandmother, who told me Sophia was

I said

night.

here’s what I knew so far: One, he passed his hand through his blonde

would be okay. He had explained the

I considered myself good with secrets, but

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 thoughts, I looked

“What’re you

to track you down since you wouldn’t pick up

toneless.

“You called?” I blinked.

if I did, would

call from her

silent.

that flashed across her face was quick, and

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

followed him here when I overheard him talk to

blink my annoyance