His Wife (A Contract Marriage Story) by Heer Mangtani

Chapter 41 Later at the gala, I found myself on the dance floor, even though I didn't want to be. I was forced by none other than my husband, who after dinner ctoand stood there with his hand extended.

Speople gushed, others whispered.

I couldn't refuse with the number of eyes on us, so I kept my hand in his. And then I circled my hand around his neck while his' found their way on my waist, holdingclose as he swayed withslowly to the music.

"You don't dance, 1 mumble. A quiet observation, a statement I remembered him make the last twe were here.

"I do with you. He twirledwhen I wasn't expecting it, and heldbefore I could stumble.

I bury my head in his chest. "Lily's watching" "She can." I blink. "Are you trying to make her jealous?" "I don't have a any reason to." "Then why did you react like that looking at her, like you were santelope caught in headlights?" "I'm sure you could find an example more suited than callingan antelope." He smiles, but he's the only one amused. He pauses when I don't take the bait for a topic change, and then answers, "Things are a little more complicated than you think." I pull away from him and he reluctantly letsgo. "Then make simple, because the emerald in my wedding ring isn't my birthstone. It's hers." He pauses. Looking into his eyes, I could see no surprise in them "You knew that." My voice was soft but accusatory as I try keeping my expressions neutral for the sake of the eyes on us. "Because this ring, it was never meant for me. It's hers?" He remains silent again, and its weight felt heavy on my shoulders. I pause waiting for him to deny my accusation, my guess, but it never comes, A humourless chuckle escape my lips, not out of anger but just hollow sadness. "I'm wearing her ring? You bought this ring for her?" A small nod. "I did, but that was long before I knew you, Freckles Maybe I should feel angry, but I don't. I just feel sad for myself, and also for the man in front of me. “You were going to propose to her? He doesn't nod, but he doesn't have to. His eyes hold answers he couldn't giveverbally.

I blink quickly, looking away from him, drinking away the tears threatening to make an appearance.

1 let his hand go. I couldn't hold it anymore, not even for pretence. I felt so sad for him, all ready to propose to the obvious. love of his life, having to forcefully marryinstead. And I felt sad for me, thinking we have a connection that extended past sex, falling for him.

Moments pass and I selfishly take them to compose myself before I can look at him again. "Is there more to it or is this the whole story?" "Can we go home?" He pleaded. Gabriel never pleaded. He ordered. He demanded. He conquered. He rarely made requests, 1/3 12:33 Tue, Jun 4 Chapter 41 and he never pleaded.

I look around us, at scouples dancing, others in their own conversation, seven leaving. I didn't want to go home, I didn't want to go to a place where every wall remindedof how naive I had been to fall for him. "I won't make a scene." I promise.

"I'm not worried about that, Freckles." "Then what is it? Why can't you just tellhere?" "This isn't the place." I knew that. Logically, of course I knew that. People had ears. Even when they were pretending to do their own thing, they were interested in gossip. in rumours, in the next big scandal. And I and Gabriel had been nothing short of rumours and theories and scandals when pictures of our wedding hit theand nobody knew who I was or where I'd cfrom.

I nodded.

I didn't want to be held by him, but 1 let him put his hand on my waist as we walked out. I didn't want to be in the car with him, but I let him open the door to the car forin front of media standing outside and smiled like the pretend wife he always wantedto be.

I took comfort in the silence between us in the car, staring out at passing city lights while the driver drove. Gabriel didn't like music, but I didn't miss the gesture when he asked the driver to switch on the radio, letting Ed Sheeran's voice fill the absence of mine.

I stared out of the window for the entirety of the journey, barely waiting for the car to halt when I'd opened the door and exited It was a form of suffocating I didn't expect, being in such close proximity with him now. Maybe I was overreacting, but I just needed tto process what I was feeling.

We had just climbed the stairs to the first floor, leaving the ear shot of most of the staff when he said, "Cto my I didn't want to go.

1 nod any way, and then follow him.

room.

"Freckles," He says as soon as the door shuts, and then turns towards me. "I want you to know that met you, knew you." at this was all before I even "All? You mean your relationship with Lily? You wanting to marry her? You buying a ring to propose to her and then slipping it onto my finger like I was a replacement for her- which I probably was to you, wasn't I?" "All of that, yes." His tongue slightly licks his upper lip, the hesitance in his expressions awfully clear. "And..." "And?" I ask. I didn't think my heart could take any more than it already was holding in.

"And when my grandfather toldI had to marry his friend's daughter if I want to inherit his skakes in the agreed when he kept the condition that six months after the date of marriage, he will sign the papers." company.

My eyebrows furrow. I knew that. Not the exact details, but Gabriel had mentioned in passing that he agreed to the marriage for inheritance of the company.

"So." He added, "I asked Lily to wait." I took a reflexive step back.

Gabriel was quick to take a step towardsand when I took another one belund in a 'don't-touch-me' gesture, he paused. "I 12:33 Tue, Jun 4 RO Chapter 41 80

broke up with her and Hasked her to wait if she can. I told her I won't talk to her, won't meet her but when the six months. end and I get the divorce... "You'll return to her." I finish his sentence and if my heart wasn't broken before, in the most tic fashion, I could feel it break now.

Oh, I really had been naive.

"It was all before I knew you, Freckles Any words he said seemed like an attempt to conceal a bullet hole with a bandage: "1 didn't think I would-"

"Please can you not?" I whisper, and my voice must ve really been broken for him to actually stop "I just need to be alone for the night, process all this, and then you can finish whatever you were saying. Okay?" I don't give him the chance to finish. "Please letbe tonight.

I turn, and leave.

He doesn't follow me.

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