His Wife (A Contract Marriage Story) by Heer Mangtani

Chapter 91

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My ruined cupcakes sat on the wooden counter, along with the white handkerchief with a crest weaved into one of its corners, a reminder of what a disaster last night was.

I was taking them from my bakery to my apartment for my visit to the hospital today, specifically to a very special girl.

Alina used to be my best friend. Ever since she and her parents died in a fire six months ago leaving her seven year old sister Jenny bed-ridden with severe bronchial issues and numerous complications that I couldn’t wrap my head around but. needed observation all the time, I visited her every week, mostly with my cupcakes that she loved the most.

And now that the last batch was ruined and I couldn’t bake more since I’d run out of batter and frosting, I would have to visit. Jenny empty handed.

She didn’t mind though, and her face lit up all the same upon sering me, flashing her dimples which had become a rare sight these days.

I’m sorry I couldn’t visit yesterday. I tell her after we spend the hour playing board games, “Some idiot customer at the bakery made my day a little harder. I spare her the details of how he came in drunk, ordered I bake him a wedding cake that same evening, and wouldn’t leave till I called the cops

She smiles. “I’m so happy you came today, you remind me of Alina.”

I smile back, it not reaching my eyes. Partly because of the mention of my dead best friend, and partly because her dark and usually glowy skin looked pale today. Her breaths were shallower, and she had a persistent cough.

Tears had welled up in Jenny’s eyes, quickly shifting from a smile to a sob. “I miss her.”

“I miss her too,” I tell Alina, the tightness in my chest returning.

goes on to talk about her parents, her sister, their dog- everything she lost in the fire. I try not to cry in front of that strong

of medicine and falls asleep holding my hand, and then I finally let the heaviness in

was unable to drink my tears away and they threatened to turn into a sob, I quickly walk

bathroom on this side of the wing is under maintenance,” she tells me kindly, “You’ll have to use the one on the

rush from there, not wanting to draw the attention if

bathroom door shuts behind me. I missed Alina. I missed her parents, who were the only parental figures I had. I missed my parents. I had experienced enough loss for a lifetime, and

walked out of the bathroom, focusing on my breathing and not the

Fair that I dreaded

that would lead me out of the administration wing, when a voice stops me right in my tracks. I wasn’t a nosy person, but it

Bakshi. I would apologise if I made you think you had a choice, but I didn’t and you don’t. There was a loud, clear and strong emphases on the word have, “If there is one thing that

Remember that fire you covered for us a few months ago? If you even attempt to cross us, we’re taking your hospital down, and that will be just the f*cking beginning of your worst

next.”

beating loud in my chest, so loud that the other dialogues

and so does the f*cking

part that knocked the senses

and her parents were treated here, and they

though every logical part of me believed there is no reason the Bratva would have any business in covering up their death, the rest

calculative move on my part when I open my phone

button.

Bakshi, I think his name was. “Mr. King,

you just say unethical? The previous voice replied, amused as if on the verge of laughter. There was even more power in it than earlier if it was even possible. “Where were your ethics when you took

Six months ago.

Fire.