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

to sleep tonight, I realise, not without her next to

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

a few more days to bask in the memory of her grandfather before she could leave her hometown, unsure when she’d think she

feeling that something was wrong wouldn’t leave

working, 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

me.

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wark either. There was something

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

most famous oncologists in the country was based. He knew my grandfather because Alister called him for a second opinion

still being in the first stage, where it

didn’t pick up. I waited minutes, but my heart was beating louder with every passing second. So, I called my grandmother, who told

where she was, and I said work. The lie sat

night.

evening. I met Lily’s Uncle. He not only agreed to meeting me in an informal setting, but insisted on it. Ten minutes down, here’s what I knew so far: One, he passed his hand through his blonde hair very often. Two, he said ‘well’ every time he went on to explain a concept I

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

in my thoughts. I considered myself good with secrets, but all I felt was the urge was to talk about this to someone, that someone being

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

eyebrows furrowed. “What’re

since you wouldn’t pick up

toneless.

“You called?” I blinked.

her shoulders, “But if

would’ve told her that my grandfather did call from her phone and I did pick up the second time,

silent.

across her face was quick, and she was quicker to hide

know I was here?” I ask,

him here when I overheard him talk to you in

blink my annoyance