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.

tried not to, mostly because his gaze

to

eyeing me p

reply, knowing very well it

ago, 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 when sleep takes over

[ALEX]

meeting running later than it should have. It can get exhausting, balancing

It’s how I lived.

her on video call on my way

here?” I asked

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

curls. My twin sister may

“If you missed me, you would be here. Not there.”

Chapter 99

at her.

screen. Gabriel Whitlock used to be the hottest bachelor in the Forbes magazine, till Mom came around. He

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

whisper when dad walked away. “It’s their twenty-fifth anniversary

reached home. I’ll talk to you later, okay? I’m

alone while I’m with Mom and Dad,” she taunts as a way to lure me back sooner, but I just laugh and say bye to her

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

mess.

had woken up to supermodels by my side, and

the dining

her up?” Lana’s voice fills in from