His Wife (A Contract Marriage Story) by Heer Mangtani

Chapter 140

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| didn’t think a happily-ever-after could exist, especially not in the kind of world Alex lived in.

But happily ever afters were overrated. The prince slays the dragon, saves the princess and they live a blissful

life? It’s not exactly that simple.

Mine, somehow, was. My prince killed my dragon and saved me. So what if my prince was a mafia prince?

He kept his word. When his Uncle held a party the following week, at which he announced Xander and Hannah's

marriage and mine and Alex’s, he held my hand with a smile on his lips and then even draggedto the dance

floor.

He didn’t pretend to hatefor my own safety so that others don’t viewas a weakness to exploit him like |

had almost guessed he would.

“I didn’t know you danced,” | mumbled while my hands snaked around his neck and his lingered on my waist in a

seductive touch, fingers tapping on the bare skin in the little side-slits of my dress.

“I don’t,” his nose brushed against mine. “You make me.”

| smiled when he placed a soft kiss on my lips.

I was in a bliss when in a corner, | noticed Hannah and Xander. She looked like she wanted to murder him and

f**k him at the stime, while he had the kind of smirk on his lips that toldgetting on her nerves is his

favourite pastime.

“I heard there was a wedding and you were waiting at the end of an aisle,” | grumpily frown.

“There was. And then walked in the most stunning bride in this world.” Alex flirted back.

| glared. “I'm talking about Hannah.”

“Who said I'm not?”

“Alex!” | hit his chest, and a laugh escapes him.

| would be mad if | wasn’t so taken back from his laughter. He rarely laughed so heartily, almost never in a public

scene.

“Hannah always belonged to Xander. She just didn’t know it then Alex tells me, swirlingaround.

“I don’t care about that,” | frown more. “I care that you lockedup in a room for a week while the whole

mafia-hood was. prepping for your marriage with Hannah. And she walked down the aisle for you.”

“And got left at the altar,” Alex reminds me. “Because | only had intentions of marrying one woman. She's a

short girl, dark hair, grey eyes, and is a custom-made gift from G**d for me.”

“A custom-made gift from G** for you.” | repeat, rolling my eyes playfully. “Aren't you just a delight today?”

“Every day, baby.” He kissesagain. “And just so you know, you are the most stunning bride | have ever laid

eyes on. No other girl compares.”

“You mean it?”

“Yes, wife. | mean it.”

| finally smile, and then he kissesagain, our fingers entwined

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Chapter 140

“Let's slip out so | can show you how much | mean it?” He offers, and | bite my lower lips.

Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt

“Okay,” | grin like a giddy teenager, and then we slip out with his hands entwined.

11

A week later, we fly back to the city to Alex’s parents. The last time, we left in a rush and | didn’t quite get to

thank them for being so hospitable and lettingstay with them, so we visited them again.

“Wow. You have a wife and suddenly you're visiting more in six months than you did in the past six years, Sofia

says with glee while she hugs her son when we reach.

“Welccompany, | hope, mama.” Alex replies, hugging her back a little awkwardly but a lot more happily.

“Not that-much.” Gabriel glares at his son. “I need twith my wife too.”

“You have three kids, and all of them live in separate houses. | am sure you don’t mind the company sometimes.

Alex hits back.

“Ronan crashes here every day,” Gabriel grumpily says, “Why did he buy that f**g penthouse? It was a dent, you

know? He spends more than he earns.”

“Disown him.” Alex suggests seriously.

“I just might.”

The father-son duo continue talking absurdly as they head towards the bar and Sofia shakes her head.

“You see what | put up with for twenty-five years?” She tells me. “Twenty-five whole years of this nonsense, Mia.”

| laugh. “You have a good family.”

“I know,” she smiles affectionately. “And now, you're a part of it too.”

“Thank you for acceptingso warmly, Sofia.” | tell her. “You rootedand gavea sense of belonging

when | felt like | had lost everything after | was kidnapped. | couldn’t exactly appreciate it then for what it was,

but words will never be enough to thank you for what you did for me.”

“Shut up and never thankagain did for you what | would have done for Aurora because you're my daughter

too now, okay?”

I nod, hugging her.

Dinner was made of friendly jabs, lots of laughter and Italian cuisine. Aurora was at her apartment that night and

Ronan was at a friend's place, which left just the four of us.

Somewhere along the meal, Alex held my free hand over the table very subconsciously while engaged in a

conversation with his father, and that gesture made Sofia and Gabriel exchange a knowing smile.

| didn’t think Alex noticed it but let's be honest, he’s Alex. He's always noticing. And for all | know, he did it on

purpose to let his family know that things were okay between us.

In the kitchen when | was helping Sofia clear up, she looked atwith a tearful smile.

“Alex was a great boy growing up, you know? All his mischief was limited to outside the house, never inside. He

protected his siblings valiantly, but when he was sixteen and told us he felt like something was missing in him, |

couldn't help but feel like | had failed a little.” She tells me. “And then he left to a dangerous world to find what

he was lacking here, and | thought maybe it wasand Gabriel, you know? Maybe we did something wrong.”

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Chapter 140

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My lips twist and | wanted to tell her that her son had a psychotic dysfunction in his brain which was absolutely

not her fault and that she seemed like the best mother someone could ask for but | shut up and let her finish.

“But | think what he was missing was you.” She finishes, and my lips part in surprise.

“He looks at you the way his father looks at me, like he would burn the rest of the world to keep you warm.” She

finishes.

“I love him just as much, I tell her.

“I know.” She presses her eyes reassuringly. “Because you look at him the way I look at Gabriel too.”

After dessert, Alex pullsfor a long drive.

“Without security?” | question him, not minding it at all.

“Am | mad?” He givesan offended look. “They're following... just discretely.”

| laugh. Somethings never really do change.

“Where are we going?”

“Just driving around,” he says a little too suspiciously for my liking, but I enjoy the cold air and loud music till we

stop in front of a house.

Hook at him in confusion. “Where are we?”

“This was a gift toby my grandparents when | turned eighteen,” he tells me.

“Oh, wow. We're staying here tonight?”

He nods, and I follow him into the house. It was big, but much smaller than the one back in Philadelphia. It had

two floors, six rooms, an outdoor pool area, a backyard, an indoor pool, and a gym.

“All the furniture’s so modern and

warm,” | tell him after his little tour

was over and we stand in theuge

DEE ERR eetohd-Aoor that had

alteldscope to see the stars overhead

on summer nights. “Your

grandparents were way ahead of

their tto get this made seven

years ago.” The content is on

novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

“They gavea bare house, cupcake | got this made.

“Fishing for compliments?” | raise an eyebrow.

He chuckles. “I got this done in the two weeks we were separated

“Oh, really?” | eye him. “How come?”

“You toldthe city makes you happy and my world is dangerous. | planned on giving you this house to live in,

if you decided to divorce me.”

“Wow. | deadpanned. “This was my alimony?”

He chuckles. “Let's just call it a gift.

Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm

“So, why'd you bringhere?” | ask

with a smile that neutralises om

area CRI

ybu're os ingaway again, telling

something like that? The content is

on novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

“Now, do | look like a man who can live without his wife?” He pullsclose.

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Chapter 140

“Then what are we doing here, husband?” | mumble. “You really gothere to spend the night?”

“No, | got you here to show you our future home.” He smiles.

I blink. “What?”

“I know you want kids, and | know you don’t want to raise them in a world that dangerous.”

“Alex, I'm not pregnant.”

FD

“I know. Letfinish.” He glares. “If you can compromise and agree to stay withthere because you love me,

then | can leave the mafia for you.”

My lips part in surprise. “What?”

“| have a business that's legal, and we

use it to fund the illegal ones. Nico

has been helpinglegalisehat

cgmpletslioT00 %. So whenever you

say the word, we can just leave with

no ties to the world we'd leave behind

whatsoever.” The content is on

novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

“Alex.. | gasp. | know how much you like it there. You'd really just leave it for me?” x

“Whenever you say the word,” he promises. “Even now.” INORRIED

ABOUT

“Not now,” | tell him. “Maybe someday.” YOUR

HEARING

“Someday it is, then, 2?

—

“I love our future home. Duwrioadouriree

take the first step

“I was really hoping you would.” And then he seals his lips with mine again. fo £