His Wife (A Contract Marriage Story) by Heer Mangtani

Chapter 99

[MIA]

In the two days after that dinner, I baked each evening, and it was like someone had brought back life into me.

The next day, there were barely any baking materials present and I had to make do with what was, and not to forget the usual cook had gotten a huge headache with me butterflying around him, but the day after that, I went down to see all materials and equipment there.

They were just there.

And when I asked around, nobody knew who ordered them, all their mouths clamped shut.

I like to think I had somehow managed to make a friendship with Greg, the head chef. “So, baking was kind of an escape,” I tell him, after finishing my story of how I had been doing this since sixteen with minimal ingredients at first.

“I am going to take some of your pie for my daughter,” he tells me, referring to this five year old girl whose picture he had shown me earlier. “She’s a sugar monster, I swear.”

pel by

the

“I know a little girl who’s alike,” I smile sadly thinking of Jenny, of the oven indicating my pie was prepared.

Handing it to Greg to serve later, I make my way to shower the kitchen smell off and then make my way to the dining room, followed by Lana of course.

Eye roll. As if I could run away from a house whose every inch was under surveillance.

I wait in the dining room, where Alex usually joined me. Although he pretended to be disinterested and even frowned upon seeing me every single time like clockwork, I happen to think he quite enjoyed my company.

stared at me sometimes when I was talking, and I usually blushed even when I tried not to, mostly because his

think Sir’s going to be late,”

eyeing me p

knowing very well it wasn’t needed.

hopefully getting to know he was talking about a different fire altogether, and then I could tell the truth and he would hopefully let me go, and I don’t realise

[ALEX]

running later than it should have. It

It’s how I lived.

on video call on my way back

doing here?” I asked Aurora, “And

because I missed mom and dad,” she sighed. “Ronan’s out

in loose curls. My twin sister may be born at

would be here. Not there.” Aurora Whitlock was kind,

Chapter 99

at her. “I’ll

in the screen. Gabriel Whitlock used to be the hottest bachelor in the Forbes magazine, till Mom came around. He was older now, even though mom would argue he hadn’t aged a day in the twenty-five years that passed. “Don’t make

heartily. “Soon, I promise.” A visit home was long overdue any way.

Aurora shrugged, her voice turning into a whisper when dad walked away. “It’s their

“I’ve reached home. I’ll talk to

Dad,” she taunts as a way to lure me back sooner, but I just laugh and say bye to

surprised to see a sleeping Mia greeting me. Her head was buried

mess.

and yet, they couldn’t compare the girl in

still on the dining

up?” Lana’s voice fills in