His Wife (A Contract Marriage Story) by Heer Mangtani

Chapter 72 One. And. A. Half. Month. Later.

"You're thirty-three weeks pregnant, Luna's voice chimes through my earphones, because I get too tired too fast to be able to hold the phone to my ear, "You shouldn't be out all by yourself. What if you have contractions?" Thirty-four, I wanted to correct her, but I don't because it would only freak her out more. I chuckle while adding strawberries to my grocery cart. "I'm just at the supermarket, and I'm completely okay. I remind her, "If everything goes well, I'm not due for another few weeks." Anytafter the thirty-sixth week is considered okay, my doctor had told me, but we prefer waiting till the fortieth week.

I could almost hear Luna frowning through the phone. "If you were really craving strawberries and that st*pid whipped cream so much, you could've told me. I would pick sup for you after work." "You already do too much," I reply, "Besides, I'm already done here. I will bill this and be hin like the next fifteen." "Hm.." She buzzes, "My shift is almost done. I'll see you home? "See you" I disconnect the call, putting on sold Beyoncé music, letting it play through the earphones as I walk through. the aisle of junk foods, and the urge to grab a packet of cheetos overcomes me.

I couldn't though, because it wasn't a necessity, and it definitely wasn't healthy for the babies. I was awfully over budget and despite the little job that the old couple who owned the lodge had offered me, to make calls to previous customers and gather feedback. I think Sam had something to do with it, because I had mentioned my finances to him in passing the day he cshopping with me, and one week later, this couple offereda job out of good will, something I can do from hand earn a little extra money.

I didn't complain at all. I jumped at it. The money wasn't a lot, but I surely needed it. Who knew giving birth in America was so expensive? I didn't It was takingtens of thousands of dollars, and that was leaving aside the anticipatory NICU stay one of my babies would need because of the complications I had been facing.

The gesture was kind. Too kind even.

But I was still on thin ice with Sam. Things weren't completely okay between us after what he said, but he had made effort in the past few weeks to earn my forgiveness and I had no option but to let go of it. But I couldn't forget it, so I putting as much safe distance between us as I could, making sure he never oversteps.

What he said still stung, but more because of the fear of his words being true.

Was I really being selfish? Lost in my thoughts, I accidentally bump my cart into something.

Someone, I realise, when I steady myself.

The familiar stranger's eyes widen when they set on me. "Soph... Sophia?” I stare at Alice, my surprise nowhere near the shock she was experiencing, her mouth open, her eyes flickering from my face to my belly before she sprang into my arms, bursting into tears.

Confused as I could be, I put my arms around her, holding her close. "Alice... I missed you." I didn't know why she was crying, but hearing her sob made tears rise in my eyes.

1/3 1 blinked them away when she pulled away. She sniffed, holding my face between both her palms as if I'd disappei left. Im so happy you re okay." Alice, you knew I was okay.. I reminded her softly. "Sam told you, remember? And you told him I had hurt you and you didn't want to talk tofor sometime." She blinked. "What?" "Sam... he... he said he told you I was here." She stares atblankly before shaking her head. "Sam completely cutoff in the past month. I... I took a job in the city remember? He stopped picking up my calls, he dodged my texts and I thought he's taking your disappearance hard, we all are. I chere to meet him. Look." She held up a Ben& Jer*y*s, waving it in front of my eyes. "It's his favourite. I was just going to his place... to check on him." "But... he toldthat I shouldn't call you because you asked for that for space. I was rambling, and she just stared at blankly before her expressions turned into one of a sympathy I didn't understand.

"Nooo," She winced, almost painfully, "Did he call Gabriel? "Gabriel?" I blinked, my heart beating so fast I could hear it pumping "Sophia, I'll explain everything, but we need to call him. Now""No, we don't, my voice was small, “I called him. I left him a voicemail telling him I'm pregnant. He never called... Alice. He never reached out. He didn't care."

"No. No. No. Soph, Gabriel asked us to call him, bothand Sam, if you ever contact us." She spoke so fast, I thought I was mishearing: Ithink... think Sam thought if he doesn't call Gabriel, maybe you two have a chance again. I don't know, okay? Maybe that's why he cutoff, and asked you not to call him. I don't know, I'm just guessing....... L. I don't think I was understanding what she was saying, I didn't want to think she meant what she said. I felt a tug in me, a pain that spiralled to my core.

L. Ouch "Yeah... Yeah. I know it hurts. We need to..

"No." I stopped her self talk, "My... I kept a hand on my belly, feeling the source of the pain. It happened again. Stronger. "Ow," I winced: "Are you okay..." Alice worriedly eyed me, holding my arms like would collapse. "Are you in labour?

I shake my head, gripping my belly tighter. "I was prepared for this. It's most probably Braxton H*cks, that's probably like a false labour. It's usually painless, but of course it's painful for me.

I stopped speaking when Alice's eyes widened so much it felt like would pop gut, whichient like thex was about the stI fe something very wet trickling against my inner thighs. "No," I gasped.

"F*ck. You're in labour. We need to get you to the hospital, now" 3 X