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.

blushed even when I tried not to, mostly because his gaze took me back to the time he was between

Sir’s going to be late,” Lana

eyeing me p

I’ll wait,” I reply, knowing very well it wasn’t needed. Alex and I were plain old

fire six months ago, hopefully getting to know he was talking about a different fire

[ALEX]

Grey, with a meeting running later than it should have. It can get

It’s how I lived.

talked to her on video call on my way back home, with Mom and Dad also

I asked Aurora,

I missed mom and dad,” she sighed. “Ronan’s out for a business dinner. I

My twin sister may be born at the same time as me,

she frowns. “If you missed me, you would be here. Not there.” Aurora Whitlock was kind, generous, and polite.

Chapter 99

smile at her. “I’ll come home

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 me

heartily. “Soon, I promise.” A visit home

walked away. “It’s their twenty-fifth anniversary this

talk to you later,

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

room while removing my coat, surprised to see a sleeping Mia greeting me. Her head was buried in

mess.

side, and yet, they couldn’t

on the dining table, I shake my

Lana’s voice fills