His Wife (A Contract Marriage Story) by Heer Mangtani

Chapter 78

SOPHIA

3 days later:

“I know he’s just born, but he looks just like Gabriel,” Alice sighed dreamily, pointing at the glass of the incubator.

Tired as I was after a labor that lasted almost eight hours, I smile Even two days of rest wasn’t enough after that, because I spent every minute worrying about my little ones who were both in the NICU for being born early. The doctor reassured me saying the incubators were just a precaution and they were both going to be just fine, but I worried.

And, I was exhausted already.

As if understanding what Alice was saying, he blinks his brown eyes that he undoubtedly gets from his father. It wasn’t just the eyes, but also the nose, the jaw… two days old, and he looked just like his father already.

“He does, I pouted. I carry him for eight months and he comes out looking just like his father?

Well, at least I had my little girl. I smile at the thought, watching her sleep peacefully. She was the tinier one, the baby whose growth was restricted.

“You can name her Alice after me, you know.” My best-friend teases, “I would absolutely be honoured.”

1 giggle.

“I did think of names when I found out I was pregnant. I tell her “I’m just having doubts now.”

“Take your time.” She talks to me while cooing at the baby inside the incubator. “I can’t wait to hold you. Yes, you! I’m going to spoil you so much all the time. I love you”

1 giggle again. I was so utterly exhausted and I think this was the first time in the past two days that they were both resting. but I didn’t feel like sleeping. I wanted to bask in the quiet moments with them, in the loud moments with them, in everything, every second.

It still felt unreal that I had two little ones.

“I think I’m just going to go with the names I have thought.”

Alice’s eyes twinkle. “Finally, I wouldn’t have to call them baby boy and girl.”

my

repeats after me, “That’s

deepens. “And

Baker Whitlock.” She smiles,

hospital policy is for new mothers to stay for forty-eight hours after delivery for precaution,” My doctor tells me, his wrinkled face displaying a rare smile. “Since it’s been two days and you and your little boy are both doing perfectly fine, we can discharge you. Your little girl, however, we would like to keep her in the

in my chest the moment his words register. “Why? Is she not okay?” I ask, fear

reaches mine, and

1/3

tells me, “But as you know, her growth was restricted in your womb. I just want to

passing him a half

I assume you wouldn’t want to

shake my head. “Of course

shifted to a room for another week

I had much choice. I wouldn’t have minded sleeping on the little couch in this NICU room for the rest of the week, but Alex needed space too. Once he is out of the incubator, I couldn’t make

just two days old after

to keep the room so that Alex can have his little baby bed, me this hospital bed while Aurora stays in the incubator so

this room and the birth with Gabriel’s card which he had thankfully not blocked yet, but I was sure he would have done that now that I made a

have savings. Alice says, as if reading my mind. She sits in front of me on my hospital bed, and

I tell her, my

filling with tears. “You went through all this alone. I wasn’t there for you. I was your best friend and I promised you I would be by your side pomatter what and you had to go through all this

long when I was too tired to

She asked in a

have that money. If I need more, I’ll ju a loan or something.” I try playing it off as no big deal, but I would be lying if

called again. This would be his fifteenth call in the last three days, She sighs, “If it were up me, I would cut him off and never speak to him again.

know,” I bite my lower lip. “Do you really think he did that? That Cabriel really asked him to call me and he didn’t because he thought he had a chance

line up with him offering to step up, but to be this conniving? To deprive my children of a father and me of my husband just because it was him who was selfish and wanted me?

at Sam, and if her theory was

thoughts. “Yes. Just call him tomorrow. The visitation hours are over

to have gotten cranky. Luna was sitting next to them, watching them dotingly. I smile at her before I get Alex out

ter 78

15

asleep during that, and placing him back in the incubator that he