His Wife (A Contract Marriage Story) by Heer Mangtani

MIA I woke up on Alex's bed, and the other side was cold and empty My eyes snapped open quickly, because my last memory was falling asleep in Alex's arms.

While I slept too much, Alex usually stayed up at night reading files and making notes and calls, and never left the bed till I woke up.

In the past week, I had gotten used to waking up to him sitting next to me, wishinggood morning, making sure I slept well and my sleep wasn't plagued my nightmares like it had been the first few days after I was saved. I never told him about it, but he somehow knew.

I had this growing suspicion that the two weeks I hadn't allowed to see him, when I often dreamt of his touch and his kisses and him holding my hands, they weren't dreams. He really was there, sitting next to me, all night long. "Alex?" I call sleepily, but when no voice replies, I get off the bed. The bathroom was empty, and so was the walk-in closet.

This was weird. Alex wasn't here.

I quickly finish my morning necessities, and rush downstairs after freshening up into scomfortable lounge wear.

"-I loved the chocolates, thank you, and the new hair. Are you sure you can't stay for breakfast?" I could hear Sofia's voice even before I exited the hallway.

"Sometelse?" Another voice replied, "I need to help Dad with swork today. I'm interning under him for the summer, and I'm so excited-".

I zone what the girl says out when I reach closer for the duo to cin view. Sofia was hugging a huge box of chocolates close to her chest while facing a girl with light pink hair that fell to her shoulders in perfectly set curls. She was fair, about my height, and looked like she worked hard to maintain her body from her toned muscles visible because of the shorts and little top she was wearing.

She stopped talking when her eyes fell onto me, and the smile vanished from her lips.

"Oh, Skye, this is Mia." Sofia says once she reads the situation. “Mia, this is Skye. She's Gabriel's friend's daughter, and the girls used to be best friends right until high-school after which Skye shifted counties. She's finally back!" I remembered Skye alright. The girl who followed Alex like a little puppy when they were kids- Aurora's words not mine- and then left the country at sixteen when he rejected her. tic much? And I was her first love's wife.

"Alex's Mia?" Skye looked like she wanted to frown, and her gaze was disapproving.

I squirm even though I offer her a little smile. "Nice to meet you, Skye. I've heard a bit about you from Aurora." Her lips twist. "I can't believe Alex got married," she studiesagain from top to bottom, and I hug my arms closer to my chest.

"Skye. She's Alex's wife." Sofia scolds her in a stern yet affectionate tone. "Be nice and welcoming." Skye sighs and then draws a smile to her lips upon listening to Sofia. "Sorry. You just tookby surprise. It's weird that the Alex we knew ran from commitment and then boom! He has a wife." "Skye." Sofia warns.

1/3 Chapter 130 "It's okay," I smile awkwardly at Sofia. And then I bat my eyelashes at Skye innocently. "It just takes the right person, I guess." Skye's face sours. "I should leave. I'll cvisit someday else?" She quickly hugs Sofia, passeda fake see- you-around and then scrambles out of the house.

Sofia sighs before she turns to me. "I'm sorry about her. She's just... She's fangirled over Alex since she was a child." "You don't need to apologise. I understand." "You're family, okay? And if Skye tries disrespecting you again, you cto me. Clear?" She asks, and I nod, which makes her add. "But from what I saw, you can handle her pretty well." 1 chuckle under my breath. "Where," I clear my throat, "Where is Alex?" Sofia's eyes furrow. "He didn't tell you?" "Tellwhat?" "Alex left last night. There was an emergency that he needed to be there for immediately. I asked him if you knew and he said he'd call and explain everything before you wake up." Fear and anxiety grip me. "Alex left for where?" "He went back, Mia. Alex went to Philadelphia." And lefthere? What the f**k? My anger doesn't kick in until that evening when I was sitting in his room and watching Netflix. There was triple security in the house, probably for safety concerns since he wasn't here, and his phone was still switched off. That b**h leftalone and actually went back.

So much for protecting me.

Granted there were like a million guards stationed at every corner who would kill a fly if it tried to bite me, he still left.

My anger turns into worry when I try dialling him at night before I sleep and it still says switched off.

I sleep with the phone in my hand in case my husband calls, but my worry turns into utter panic when the night gets over and there was no sign of him.

So, I do the most logical thing. I barge into Alex's father's study, demanding Damien's number.

All my confidence dissipates into thin air when Gabriel Whitlock's eyes set at me, and he looks up from his file like I had offended him by walking in without permission. "Can I help you Mia?" I gulp. "It's Alex. He- He said he'd call after he reaches but it's been more than twenty four hours. I- I'm worried for him." Gabriel's expressions soften. "He does that sometimes. He gets caught up in work there and keeps his phone switched off to avoid distractions. Says distractions cost lives in his line of work.

"You're not worried?" I ask, surprised.

"I was the first few times he did that. Now I'm just used to it." 2/3 O

"I- I'm not," I say in a low voice. "I told him I was happy here, but I didn't mean it in the sense that he should leavehere and go without telling me." +5 "You miss him." Gabriel comments. I avoid meeting his eye. "Mia, I have seen the way my son looks at you. You tamed his demons, the onesand my wife spent all our life failing to chase away. He hasn't left you here. He would never leave you if he had the option. I'm sure the situation called for it." I don't m reply, the worry still gezing my heart. "When you were in the hospital after you were kidnapped," Gabriel adds, his voice turning a little playful, "Alex roamed around like a wounded puppy. I wasn't sure if his men would even take his orders after that, he was that soft." I softly chuckle under his breath. "He used to wait outside your room every night when you refused to see him, waiting till you fall asleep so he can spend the night sitting next to you." Gabriel says, "His mother and I asked him to sleep countless times because he worked all day long, but he refused to close his eyes because that's the only the got with you. At nights." I sniff, slight tears glazing my eyes. Stupid medicines and stupid hormones always makingcry. "Thank you," I whisper breathlessly. "For tellingall this." "My son is an idiot, but don't give up on him, okay?" Gabriel nods with a small smile. "And that is not to say that you should accept shit from him. If he ever mistreats you, chere, and I will fix him for you." I smile back. "Thank you," I repeat, sniffing. "Family doesn't thank each other." Gabriel reassured me. I still thank him again which gets him to sigh before I apologise for barging in and leave him alone. I had left with a lighter heart but one that still worried for my husband. Where was he? What was so important that he left like this? Read the latest chanter therel