His Wife (A Contract Marriage Story) by Heer Mangtani

Chapter 131
[MIA]
I had no idea how many days had passed since I was saved, or how many days it had been since I left the hospital and Alex
brought me to his house.
The guards that I hated now gave me a comforting feeling when I saw them stationed everywhere, but the relief was soon
replaced by anxiety when I remembered that my kidnapping could have been an insider job. At least that’s what I heard Alex and
Damien talk about when they thought I was asleep at the hospital.
“You look better today,” Sofia caresses my hair when she visits me this morning after I wake up, just like she had every day since
I was saved.
Sleep still lingered in my eyes despite a cold shower, side effects of the strong painkillers I was prescribed. “Thank you,” I pass
her a meek smile even though I didn’t feel like it. “I’m sorry you have to be here because of me.”
“I like being here,” She reassures me. “This is the most time I have spent with my son in so long. Besides, it’s good I got to know
his wife.”
Sofia watches me intently, as if keen to see my reaction when she called me his wife. I give none, or at least try not
to.
“How long has it been since I got out of the hospital?”
“Tenth day today.”
“Oh.” This means that Sofia and Gabriel had been here for over two weeks. Because of me. In a world that was dangerous as
much as their son tried to keep everyone safe. I try not letting the guilt consume me.
I still wasn’t ready to talk to Alex. I was so, so angry at him. I wanted to kill him and cry in his arms at the same
time.
“When are you returning?” I ask in a small voice.

“Sick of me already?” She teases.
“No.” My eyes widen slightly. “No. 1- I just...”
Her eyebrows furrow affectionately. “What is it, Mia?”
“I- If it’s not too much imposition,” my eyes lower to the bed, the sky blue satin sheets suddenly seeming attraction. “I- I was
wondering if I can come with you.”
“To our home?” She asks carefully/
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16:29 Thu, 18 Jul G M
Chapter 131
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I nod slowly, reluctantly. “I- I can’t stay here.” My voice breaks a little, tears r i m m i n g my eyes. I hated how weak I felt. “I feel
scared all the time. Just for some time.” I quickly add, “I promise I won’t be a burden. You don’t have to give me any of your time
either, you can live your life. I- I just- I’ll just stay quietly, I won’t be in your way at all.”
“Hey. Stop crying.” Sofia holds both my hands in hers, and for the first time in the past two weeks, I don’t flinch
away from her touch. “You’re not a burden. Not to me and Gabriel, not to Alex, to nobody, okay?”
I hesitantly nod.
“You’re married to my son, Mia. You’re my daughter now. Of course you can come with me, and you can stay for as long as you
need. I’ll call my housekeeper and ask her to prep the guest room. Scratch that, I’ll ask her to set up
Alex’s room. Is that okay?”
I nod with gratitude-filled eyes. “Thank you so much.”
“You don’t have to thank me at all.” She reassures me. “It’s your home as much as Alex’s. Which reminds me,
convincing him to take you...”

The hope that lit up in my heart died out a little.
“Absolutely not!” Alex’s strong voice reverberates in my room which seems smaller than I remember.
I try breathing his presence in, and the gentle reminder that I was the one screaming at him to get out every time
he tried to talk to me resurfaces.
Even though Sofia was in the room too, Alex’s eyes stay fixed on me. A little narrowed too. “You talk to me for the
first time in ten days, and it’s a request to leave?”
Guilt coats my voice. “I’m not leaving,” I retort, “Just- I need to get away for a little while.”
“Who will protect you there?”
“Who protected me here?” The question escapes me before I can stop myself.
I freeze.
Alex just stares at me, his poker face dropping for a second to flash the hurt before it neutralises again.
“Alex...” I mumble and then shut up. What do I even say?
“You know, I’m just going to step out to grab some coffee.” Sofia kindly interrupts, and then leaves before I could stop her.
2/4
Thad been using Sofia as a shield to avoid Res, and he knew thuat
His eyebrows raise and he sits on the bed reluctantly, as if he was doubtful would start screaming at him to get off
and out of the room.
I don’t. 1 just stare at the sheets, refusing eye contact.
“Do you really believe I can’t protect you, Mia?” He asks in a small voice.

1 look up with some reluctance. “I-I think you can protect me,” I word carefully. “But I also know that what happened... happened.
1- I’m not over it.”
“I know.”
“I want to get away for some time, where I know I’m safe,” I quietly add. “Joking with Ronan, pranking you, spending time with
your mom and Aurora... for those two days, it’s the closest I came to being a part of a family in so long.”
“Very well.” He nods.
My eyes snap to him. “You’re not going to fight me over it?”
“Mia, baby...” his voice trails, helplessness gnawing its way out. “I’ll do whatever it takes to bring happiness back t your life,
okay? Whatever it takes.”
“Including divorcing me?”
His gaze softens. “Do you want a divorce?”
I don’t know what stops me from lunging at the opportunity. Maybe it was the fact that I was seeing him properly after nearly ten
days, hearing his voice, sitting close to him. Even though he wasn’t touching me, every part of m
burned for him.
But the more logical part of me also knew if I let that happen, it would take us days to fall back into the old patte I wasn’t sure I
was ready for that to happen yet, or ever.
If this marriage was to work, if there was a little chance, he needed to treat me like an equal. Not somebody he
blackmail.
“Can I go with Sofia?” That’s all I say in return to his question.
He nods. “We can.”
“You’ll come too?” I couldn’t hide the surprise in my voice.
16:30 Thu, 18 Jul GN

“I’ll follow you wherever you go, Mia. To the f**g end of the Earth if you me want to, I’ll be your shadow.”
Tears rim my eyes at his words, how I kept falling for him when that men put his weight above me making its way to me. I keep
feeling the urge to extend my hand and hold out to him, but I don’t.
I just let him sit next to me, and hope that would be enough for now.