His Wife (A Contract Marriage Story) by Heer Mangtani

Chapter 2 I believer in fairytales. I believed in true love like the one my parents had, and hoped to find that for myself someday. I knew my parents would have wanted that for me, and not forto be trapped into a loveless and forced marriage done for my grandfather's sake.

With every minute of silence I spent in that car, I could sense my own dreams of the future breaking and being left behind.

The silent torture of an hour (that seemed like an eternity) ended when the limousine stood in front of a house so huge, it was a mansion.

Housemaids and butlers stood at its entrance as if waiting for us, and Gabriel was out of the door the second the car stopped.

Two housemaids helpedout of the car because of the size of the dress I was wearing, and I politely smiled at them.

"Welchome. Mrs. Whitlock. They both giggled like shy schoolgirls.

"Thank you 1 mumbled and when I looked ahead, Gabriel had already disappeared inside the house." I sighed sadly, trying to hide my disappointment as I held my head high and walked in by myself behind him, taking in the extravagance of the Polish floors and chandeliers and perfectly kept flowers in vases.

Speople had a home. Gabriel Whitlock had taken a page out of a Vogue magazine and simply brought it to reality.

It was so beautiful. I hated it.

I could see Gabriel walk up the stairs, and shaking my head. I simply followed him while one of the housemaids carried my trail for me.

At the end of the stairs, when I took the right behind him, he turned with his hands crossed in front of him, looking atwith irritation. "Where do you think you're going?" "I'm following you to our room." "Our room?" He looked like he wanted to laugh, "You think we're going to share rooms?" I blinked. "We're not?" "My room is at the end of this hallway. Yours is at the end of that He pointed in the opposite direction.

The remaining shreds of any hope of a more cordial relationship between us died. "Good," I pretended to be relieved, "I was dreading sharing a room." 1 *Like I said to your grandfather, you would have no complaints. The smile he drew to his lips was forced and sarcastic. "Luna is going to be with you at all times. She will escort you to your chamber." Escort Chamber? What was he, royalty? Nonetheless, I just nodded.

"Oh, and..." He added, "I was hoping I could cto your room. He paused, checked his watch, and then looked up.

Thirty minutes. To talk "To talk.

1/4 Chapter 2 Again, I nodded.

As Gabriel turned around and left, I let Luna guideto my room. He wasn't joking when he said my room is at the end of the hallway. I had to cross five other doors to reach mine.

Tll be right outside if you need anything," Luna said, "Just call for the." My eyebrows knit. "So you'll just be standing outside?" Yes, "Doing what?" "Waiting, Mrs. Whitlock." "Waiting for...what?" "For you to call me." I wondered if she was joking but her face didn't move a muscle. But...why?" "So that you don't feel the need to go out of your way to do anything yourself." "Like get water for myself from the kitchen? I joked.

"Exactly. She agreed.

I opened my mouth to say something, anything, but then shut it again immediately. "Thanks." I just entered my room, leaving her outside in a guarding stance.

Everything in this house was weird.

This room was bigger than the apartment I struggled to pay rent of every month, but at least it was pretty. Like a show- piece.

It tookten minutes to get out of my wedding gown, and then I got in the tub to soak myself in hot water. I stayed there for an awfully long time, scrubbing out the expensive make-up from my face till the freckles they had spent so much tcovering were visible again.

I had promised myself I wouldn't think about how sad I was once I was already married, since what was already done couldn't be undone, but I couldn't help it. I knew a lot of girls wouldn't consider marrying a man as rich as handsas Gabriel as torture, but I did.

My mother was from a rich family in Seoul and my father was there on scholarship. She knew he didn't have a lot of money. but she loved him and left her family for him any way. They were the epitof love forgrowing up, and I was sure they'd be just in love today if a car crash hadn't stolen them fromyears ago, 1 got my dark eyes, dark hair and Asian features from her.

I liked money just as much as the next person, but I didn't use it as a driving force in life.

As soon as that thought crossed my head, I felt like a hypocrite. had married for money after all.

When the steam in the bathroom felt suffocating, I got out wrapping one towel around my body, and another around my hair.

My soul left my body when I opened the bathroom door, and found my new husband sitting on the edge of my bed.

His eyes darkened when he looked up at me, but he remained unfazed at my half-naked state.

2/4 Chapter 2 "You're late." He commented, "It's been forty-two minutes." I did not even remember he was going to come. It tooka moment to let go of my shock and glare at him. "Did nobody teach you how to knock before entering a woman's room?" Technically, you're in my house. The room is mine." I rolled my eyes, holding the towel tight around me. Would you have even entered the bathroom if it was unlocked?" Gabriel got up from the bed, unbuttoning the jacket of another crisp suit he had changed into. Conveniently ignoring what I asked, he placed a black card on the bed.

"What is that?" I asked It's an Amex. No limit I kept staring at him.

He looked irritated. It's for you? "I can take care of myself." I had married for money, yes, but so that his grandparents can cover the bill of my grandpa's cancer treatment. I didn't want anything from him, especially not the shiny black card with his non it "Can you buy a Chanel bag to gift my mother for the lunch we're supposed to have next week?" "She's your mother. You can buy it." "It's my money. Technically, I am buying it." He grumbled. "You're just the one choosing it I ignored what he said the sway he had ignored ine earlier. If that's all. I would really like to change into something more appropriate than a towel" "You have a walk-in wardrobe, and you chose to get dressed in the room? He raised an eyebrow, looking at the outfit placed on my bed. "Old habits die hard, I guess. Or in your case, poor habits.” "Excuse me"" My voice was loud as 1 took a step towards him. "I have been nothing but kind to you since the moment I met you I was forced into this arrangement just as much as you were and if you cant- "Were you though? He cutoff.

"What "Were you forced into it, Sofia? He was being a jerk. "You better believe I wasn't dying to marry a man I didn't know, let alone an arrogant prick like you"

"You really want to pretend you're sad about marrying into money? He A om snickered. A house bigger than you could ever dream Housemaids at one call: Anything you could ever wish for, you can buy with this card" "You are unbelievable I shook my head, wanting not to cry at the assumptions he'd made aboutwithout taking the ellunt to know the even a hitle "I'm aho a millionaire," he clarified. 'So use that datnn card when you need something" "If there's nothing else you want to say, leave I spat out He looked atwith a hatred I had done nothing to deserve before saying. This arrangement will List for six months." ||| Chapter 2 "What arrangement?" "Our marriage." There was a silent pause on my end. "Oh"

"After six months, I will divorce you and pay you a hefty sum in alumni so you can live comfortably on my money for the rest of your life? M Gabriel's voice was bitter and full of a hatred 1 had done nothing to earn. "You will use my card till then. You will carry my nwith grace. You will live in my house and smile within public when necessary. But inside, you may do as you please" "And why would I do that for you?" I fumed. "I can live without your money, so why would I make public appearances with you or not go embarrass you in front of the world? 1. Owe. You. Nothing." "You don't want to play this gwith me, freckles. One corner of his lips raised into a lopsided smile, “You don't want to know how low I can stoop to get what I want.

1 gasped in disbelief. "Are you serious right now? Are you threatening mel "I am simply stating facts When I threaten you, you'd know." "Leave." I seethed.

He stared at me.

"LEAVE"" I couldn't care less if my voice echoed the hollow walls of his mansion and his staff heard us arguing.

All I wanted was him away from me..

"Six months. He repeated, and left without looking atagain.

Once he was gone. I stared at the bland white walls of my new room and they stared back atjust as blankly. The The moment he was gone. I crippled toknees and let the tears and tiredness I had been holding back wash over me. My house might be just the size of the room allotted toin this mansion, but it was at least a home. Unlike the beautiful golden cage I was trapped in for the next six months.

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