His Wife (A Contract Marriage Story) by Heer Mangtani

Chapter 81

Ten days later, me and my twins were ready to be discharged from the hospital. Aurora was growing slowly, but steadily.

When I asked Gabriel to leave or at least leave me alone, he refused. When I didn’t entertain his whims, he triple paid for a hospital room next to mine and I’m very sure he made up a fake diagnosis that he doesn’t have.

I bickered with him every step of the way. I bickered with him even on decisions I wouldn’t have otherwise, just because I could. Maybe I was angry at him. Maybe I was hurt. Or maybe it was the postpartum hormones that were making me a

mess.

Sam hadn’t visited, even when I told Alice to let him know he could. I wanted to talk to him, to demand answers, to know if my friend of so many years had really denied my children the chance of having their father in their life because he loved me. Perhaps his absence was for the best.

Gabriel cleared the entire bill of the hospital when I was busy feeding the twins, because when I asked at the counter, the lady simply smiled and said, “Oh dear, your husband cleared it an hour ago.”

Of course he did.

I grit my teeth, said nothing. Gabriel gave a toothy smile in return.

Back at my grandfather’s house, Gabriel frowned when he saw the single cot in the middle of the nursery I had hand painted.

“One?” He asked, his displeasure clear in his voice.

“Gabriel.” I try replying patiently, “I bought one because it seemed apt. They’re still very little.” Well, Sam had bought the other one but I cancelled it after Sam offered to step up and be the babies’ father. The money was refundable, and it just didn’t seem right to take from him.

“This is a cot. Why didn’t you buy a cradle?”

I stifled a groan. “Gabriel! Can we talk outside?”

He nodded, and I looked at Luna, who understood what I meant if she could keep an eye on the twins.

I gulped, walking out, and he followed. I crossed my hands before my chest. “You need to go home.”

“And leave you and my children here? Nonsense.”

“Gabriel..” I suck in a deep breath. “There isn’t enough space here to accommodate all of us. Especially not with your men following us since the moment we left the hospital.”

“Which is why I think you should take my suggestion up and come home. We have space, we can raise them peacefully.”

There is no we happening here. And even if there was, I don’t want to go to your house. It’s too huge and impersonal. It’s not fit for four people, it’s as if it’s made for a million house-staffs,” I tell him, and I think it may have been the fifteenth time in the past ten days. “I want to raise them here, and I am completely capable of doing that alone. You are obviously welcome to be a part of their lives, to visit whenever you want, and we will work out a custody arrangement when they grow up a little

more.”

He stiffens, but says nonetheless, “I can visit any time I want, you said?”

I agree, but continue eyeing him suspiciously. Is he really agreeing

he grins, “I would like to be visiting now. And just for your information, I am

1/4

12:38 Tue, Jun 4.

Chapter St

grit my teeth.

will break in. You would literally have to get me arrested me for trespassing if you want me out of

deep, frustrated breath. “Where were you all the time that I needed you? And now you’re here now that I

learnt to live by yourself?” His

knew I should just say yes, hurt him back

me feel like there were a million firecrackers inside me the moment

going to even stay?” I ask,

couch of the living room

hurt, the hollowness return, but I say nothing.

hard, and having two of them was harder because when one cried, the other slept. And when one slept, the other cried. So I had to be up all the time, covered

day and night felt the same,

and Gabriel took one of them while Luma took the other. They entertained the twins for

wasn’t using formula

too, like tonight. Despite both the babies being asleep, I couldn’t sleep. I felt this anxiety of being away from them, so I sat in their nursery,

fell. Lama had brought it up multiple times that she hated that she had a bed and her former employer was on the couch and that she would be more than happy to

how long he can

had no

heart that night, I placed a light duvet on him while going to the nursery, but that

asked in a little whisper, and for whatever reason, I didn’t feel like saying no. So I nod and

right, his legs sprawled ahead

muttered more to himself than me but it brings

happy daze.

Aurora smiled at me the other

2/1

Jun 4

Chapter 81

土

they’re going

going to make this huge album for when they’re adults and

a doting Dad.

repeats after me in

comfortable silence spreads between us, one that I

was a recording.” he says just as silently after

“Sorry?”