"I don't need your games. Game over," Wade declared firmly.
FLASHBACK 7 years ago: Age- 17 Note: Read ALL the scenes because many of them have changed from the other POV. . . .
"Happy 17th birthday, Sage," Wade exclaimed, jumping and embracing her tightly. He felt an overwhelming happiness as his girl was in his arms. Although he was thrilled that she was here, there was a lingering feeling in his heart that something was about to happen.
"Oh my god, Ade, leave me. I can't fucking breathe," she exaggerated, being the drama queen that she was. "Wade, are you deaf? What's wrong with you?" she said seriously when he didn't let go and continued hugging her tightly.
He didn't want to move away. He didn't want her to see him cry. He felt like a coward for being unable to share his emotions with her.
As he held her, tears silently streamed down his face, wetting her neck. She lifted his head, surprised by the sight she never expected. Her Wade was crying, tears flowing silently.
Seeing the love of her life cry like this clenched her heart. Wade had always been a strong person, never shedding a tear during the four years they had been together.
"Ade, what's wrong? Why are you crying so much? Did your son-of-a-bitch dad do something again? I swear to God, this time I'll kill him if he said something rude to you," she said softly, pain reflecting in her eyes.
He felt an overwhelming sense of guilt. She cared so much about him, willing to do anything for him, even if it meant risking her own life. She loved him deeply, and he loved her just as much. He wanted to reveal everything about his plan to her, but he knew that if she found out now, she wouldn't be able to stay with him. He had to sacrifice himself for her well-being, even though he wished it could have been their shared world.
"Nothing happened, Sage. I'm fine," he quickly wiped his tears away, forcing a painful smile as he looked at her.
"Bullshit! Do you expect me to believe that, Ade? You've never cried in front of me before. Please, love, tell me what's wrong. You're making me worried," she pleaded, holding his hands in hers.
"It's really nothing, sweetheart. Don't worry," he reassured, giving her a forced grin that melted her heart. She loved him so much.
"Wait, before we go out to celebrate, I need to tell you something, okay? Whatever happens in the future, just know that I care about you deeply, and I promise nothing will ever happen to you. Do you understand?" he spoke with a serious voice, a departure from his usual demeanor, but he needed to ensure her safety.
She simply nodded, unable to comprehend his sudden change in behavior.
"I need words, babe," he said with a tinge of anger, not directed at her, but at himself.
"Of course, Ade. You already know that you and Dad are the only people I can turn to whenever I have a problem. I don't really have a choice, you know?" she replied with a smile.
Why do I keep messing up?
"No, that's not what I-" he was interrupted as she took his hand and led him to the gates of her mansion.
"Okay, so what did you get me?" she clapped her hands excitedly and sat down on his bed.
"First, you show me my gift," he smiled softly and lay down in her lap, his face buried in her stomach. She ruffled his hair and placed a soft kiss on his forehead.
"Wade, get up, let me go and get your gift," she grumbled, trying to push him away while he just tightened his hold on her. He mumbled a small "later" before drifting off to sleep. This had been the best sleep he had in ages. After sleeping next to Sage, it was like he couldn't sleep alone again.
She made herself comfortable on the bed and scrolled through social media, his head still on her lap, gripping her tightly in a good way.
After around forty minutes, he looked up to see her completely immersed in doing something on her phone.
"Sage," he called her, making her abruptly drop the phone on his head. He winced in pain and mumbled a small "ouch." Sage panicked and cupped his head in her hands, examining it properly, mumbling sorry repeatedly.
"Does it hurt?" she frowned and looked at his face. He bit his cheeks to stop himself from grinning like a fool and gave a small nod. She went to get up when, as if it was a reflex, he pulled her again, now closer to him.
"You know you can always kiss it better," he grinned, showing his award-winning smile, to which she replicated with a small smile of her own.
She quickly pecked his forehead, making him give her a stink eye.
"On the lips, darling," he said, coming closer, but she put her hand on his mouth, pushing him back. "Wade," he faked anger, looking at her.
"Yes, my love?" she smiled and caressed his hair, a content smile on both their faces.
My love, he liked the sound of that.
"Okay, now can we open our gifts, please?" she whined and pulled him up. He nodded and went to get his box.
"Okay, so we both are gonna close our eyes and then hand each other the gift, okay? I will count to 3 and then only you can open, alright?" She eyed him carefully, knowing he would cheat.
"Fine, fine," he huffed, raising both his hands in surrender, chuckling slightly. They both opened their eyes and blinked several times to see if they were not dreaming. Both of them had a signed copy of Codex Seraphinianus by Luigi Serafini.
They both screamed in joy, and Sage ran to Wade, wrapping her arms around his neck, squeezing him in the process. "Oh my god, Oh my god, I love this book. I love this book so much, Wade," she quickly corrected herself from blurting out the L-word.
He smiled and wrapped his hands around her waist, pulling her closer. "How did you get the book? There was only one copy made yet." She asked curiously as she was informed that only one copy had been finalized in Dubai and it would take at least 2 more years for the book to be officially published.
"I have my ways, babe," he smiled, kissing the side of her head and putting her on the bed. He sat down on both his knees near the bed and held her hand softly, caressing it.
"Thank you so much, Sage," he said, smiling, looking at their hands. Before he could say anything further, he got a message from his mom telling him to get back home. He sighed in defeat and stood up quickly.
He kissed her forehead, gently running his fingers through her hair. "Bye, love you," he whispered before quickly sprinting out of the house.
"Bye, love you," she replied softly, a smile lingering on her lips.
Love you.
Wade loves her.
Today marked Wade Callahan's 17th birthday. The Callahan's House was adorned with twinkling fairy lights, elegant chandeliers, and a grand stage that captivated the attention of the guests. No expense had been spared for his party, as befitting of a Callahan.
Wade, however, grew increasingly restless with each passing second, unable to spot Sage anywhere. While the rest of her family was present and appeared to be enjoying themselves, Wade sensed the falseness behind their smiles.
Amidst the chatter, more guests arrived, and Wade's agitation grew. Each minute without Sage by his side felt like an eternity. He had grown so accustomed to her presence that the mere thought of her absence unsettled him.
Suddenly, all the lights went out, enveloping the room in darkness. The air filled with screams and raised voices, but Wade paid no heed to the electricity malfunction. He cared only about the absence of Sage. Flashlights flickered to life as people tried to make sense of the situation. Amidst the chaos, his father's voice boomed, disheartened by the flaw in his perfectly planned event.
After a few seconds, the lights flickered back on, only to start a disconcerting pattern of uneven flickering, as if it had been intentional.
As if things couldn't get any worse, loud noises erupted from outside, reminiscent of firecrackers. The sounds grew louder, and concerned guests ventured out to investigate, only to discover that all the doors were locked from the outside. They were trapped. Panic gripped the room as the realization set in. The noises weren't firecrackers; they were bombs, small yet capable of causing extensive damage over time.
Wade's heart raced, a premonition of impending danger. He retreated to a corner, clasping his hands tightly and closing his eyes, praying that Sage remained unharmed.
"When I was 13, I had my first love," he mused to himself, the memory offering solace amidst the chaos.
As if Wade could read his mind, the main gateway to the stage opened, and there stood Sage, a cake in her hand, with Justin Bieber's "Baby" playing in the background.
There was nobody that compared to my baby, And nobody came between us or could ever come above.
Suddenly, all the lights turned on, the sound of bombs faded away, and pure silence engulfed the hall. Some people stood there, grinding their jaws, while others wore amused expressions. It was an uncomfortable silence, at least for Wade. Sage and his three other idiotic friends seemed unfazed, as if they had done something as normal as popping balloons.
She had me going crazy, oh, I was star-struck, She woke me up daily, don't need no Starbucks.
There stood Sage, wearing a very thin-strapped white silken dress that reached her knees. It wasn't Wade's style, but damn, she looked so beautiful. She also wore a lot of necklaces that added to her aesthetic appeal. Wade thought to himself, "Geez, what good deeds did I do in my last life to be able to call her mine?" as he watched her ascend slowly from the stairs, her full focus on the cake she was holding.
She made my heart pound and skip a beat when I see her in the street, And at school on the playground, but I really wanna see her on the weekend.
"Ew, Isabella, what is your daughter wearing?" an old lady, whom Wade recognized as one of his dad's mistresses, spoke. She made two significant mistakes: first, speaking as if she had any worth in this place, and second, speaking about his Sage. That alone was enough to put Wade in an angry mood. No one, including himself, could disrespect her like that.
He noticed how Sage's face dropped at that comment, but she quickly put on an emotionless facade, which he knew she only did when she was hurt. He saw her pass the cake to Damien and whisper something to him. Then she put on a confident facade and walked up to them.
"At least I don't look like a lamb sent to be fed to fucking lions." No one was dumb enough not to understand the double meaning of the sentence.
"She knows she's got me dazed 'cause she was so amazing," Wade thought.
"Sage," her mother warned, gritting her teeth. "She's not wrong. I wonder why Ade even likes you," her mother spoke loudly enough for everyone to hear. Her own eyes widened when she realized what she had said.
And now my heart is breaking.
"Out," Wade said loudly, trying his best to control his anger and refrain from punching them in the face.
"Excuse me?" her mother spoke, bewildered, glaring at Wade.
"Both of you," he pointed to Isabella and the mistress, "get your fucking ugly asses out of my house before I punch you in the goddamn face," he said, coming closer to Sage and holding her hand tightly. He could feel all the stares, but he didn't care. Nothing was more important than her. It had always been that way, and it would always be that way.
His dad quickly came and whispered that he would take care of it, making him simply nod in acknowledgement. Wade gently took Sage's hand and led her to his room, knowing she was confused.
"Are you okay?" Sage asked as soon as they entered his room, and he quickly locked the door.
"I guess? I mean, I should be asking you that, yeah?" he said, making her sit on the bed next to him.
He saw her shrug and avoid his gaze, which only made him angrier with those who had hurt her with their comments. He knew those words hurt, they hurt like shit.
His calloused hands, adorned with rings, reached for her face, turning her gently to look at him. She wasn't crying, but he could see the sadness on her face.
"Why did she say that?" she asked him in a hoarse voice, as if she was trying to hold back her tears. His heart broke into a million pieces. She didn't deserve this.
He placed a quick kiss on her closed eyelids and wiped away the small tears. Bringing his hand to her head, he gently pulled her closer, making her head fall on his shoulder. He protectively held her tightly in his embrace, murmuring sweet words.
"Sage," he said softly, pulling her away and looking straight into her eyes.
"Yes?" she replied in the same tone.
"Will you marry me?" he whispered, his forehead against hers, gently locking eyes with her.
"H-huh?" she stuttered, pulling away.
"You don't want to get married or what?" he asked innocently, a sweet smile playing on his face.
"No, that's—" she started but was interrupted by him.
"Oh, so you don't want to marry me?" he feigned sadness and looked away, preparing to get up from the bed.
"No, that's not what I mean," she said, quickly holding onto his arm before he could stand up.
"Oh, so you want to marry me, huh?" he replied, now smirking. He pulled her closer, placing her on his lap and wrapping his hands protectively around her waist.
"Ade, I hate you," she said through gritted teeth, glaring at him.
"Love you too, babe," he said, pecking her lips and giving her a wink.
"You should have seen your face; it was like I asked you to die for me or something," he joked, noticing that she was still angry.
"I swear to fucking God, I will kill you," she said, narrowing her eyes at him and biting her inner cheek to stop herself from smiling.
"But actually, you will have to cook for me and all, you know?" he said mischievously.
"And why should I cook for you?" she tilted her head, a small smile playing on her face.
"Well, because you're my wife. Aren't wives supposed to do these kinds of things?" Wade said with a teasing glint in his voice, which quickly disappeared when he saw her glaring at him.
"Fine, fine," he huffed playfully. "But don't you think Sage Callahan sounds cool?" he teased, grinning from ear to ear.
"J-just shut up. Come on, we're going downstairs," she said, getting up and extending her hand for him to hold.
They descended the stairs, seeing that only his family, her dad, and all their invited teenagers and young adults were left in the room.
"Do you remember how you said a few months ago that no one loved you and everyone used you for your money?" Sage said softly, making Wade nod in agreement.
"Well, now look at this and realize how many people love you," Sage said, turning on the projector. A video started playing.
The video began with their class teacher saying, "Wade, dear, you might act like a tough boy, but I have seen you soften towards your friends and help everyone. So, my boy, just live your life and don't worry about what others say. I love you, dear."
Then a recording of his basketball teammates appeared, standing together. "Wade, we know we might act like assholes at times, but thank you for always keeping the team in place and helping us regardless of our behavior. Thank you for being the best captain. We love you, Wade."
Then a recording of his classmates all standing together appeared on the screen. "Wade, what can I say? You've always been causing trouble and pranking everyone. You have this 'bad boy' facade, but did you think we wouldn't understand the boy behind all this show-off? It's the kind boy who helps teachers take notebooks to the staff room and stays up late cleaning the classroom in case someone needs help. We might not show it, but your silly pranks and stupid jokes brighten our days. So, we love you, Wade."
Next, Emily and Damien appeared in the recording. Damien began, "Okay, okay, I know what everyone is thinking. Damien and Wade are enemies, so what is he doing here? But I just wanted to say that I don't hate you. You're just a son of a bi-" His sentence was cut off when Emily hit him on the head in the video.
Damien cleared his throat and continued, "Okay, fine. Thank you for helping me cover all the smoking incidents from my dad and for always passing the answers to me during exams. If you weren't here, I would probably be homeless and failing. So, thanks, Wade. I love you."
Then Grayson appeared on camera, smiling widely. "Okay, so I haven't really prepared anything because Sage told me literally two minutes ago that we're doing this. But thank you for not treating me differently and always having my back when people made racist comments about me. It was fun to see you get more riled up than I am when some fucker said, 'Go back to China.' Anyways, you already know this, but I love you, Wade. No homo though."
Finally, Sage stood alone in front of the camera, wearing a wide grin. "Okay, okay. Now, did you see how many people love you? Well, unfortunately, I'm one of them. Okay, I've never said this before because I was scared, but here we go. I love you, Wade. So damn much, and you know it. You've always been there for me when my parents weren't. It might sound depressing, but if you weren't there, I might not be alive today. You made me feel alive. Because there is no Sage without Wade, and without him, I'm like a drop of water in the sea."
The video ended, and everyone clapped, engaging in conversations with each other.
"Are you crying?" Sage exclaimed loudly, making everyone turn to look at them.
"N-No, why would I cry?" Wade quickly wiped away the tears that he didn't even realize had fallen on his face.
"Sure," she teased him and wiped away a tear that was still visible on his face.
Dear Sage,
Date: 25th July 20xx
If you're reading this, it means that I may no longer be with you. I know, I know, this seems like such a cliché, but that's who we are. Writing a letter before sacrificing myself for you? It's like you're living the life of a princess at this point.
First of all, wipe those tears from your face. You know how much I despise seeing them. And please, for God's sake, fix your hair before leaving my room. I know you enjoyed it when I tied it up for you because you were too lazy to do it yourself, but now you'll have to manage on your own, babe.
I'm sorry for not informing you earlier, but believe me, I wanted to. However, I knew you would either distance yourself from me or go to extreme lengths to keep me locked up just to ensure my safety.
If I were still here, you would be crying and begging me not to do this, and I really didn't want to see that sadness in your eyes. Trust me, it would break my heart.
Now that I'm gone, you are finally free.
Come out to your parents, take that flight to India you've always dreamed of. Learn new languages and meet new people who will show you a better reality of this world.
Indulge in those chocolate donuts, and don't worry about your weight. Study hard and pursue your dream of becoming a lawyer. Embrace your dad with a hug and give your mother a firm slap if she deserves it. Remove toxic individuals from your life and strive to become a better person, Sage.
My beautiful Sage,
I hope you find someone who makes your heart race, someone who always brings a smile to your face. I hope they never give you any problems and treat you better than I ever could.
Yes, you loved me, but don't let that prevent you from loving someone else. Because, my darling, our love was synonymous with chaos, everything that love shouldn't be.
Find someone who makes you feel at home.
And never blame yourself if anything were to happen to me. Trust me, none of this is your fault, and it never will be.
Don't hold me responsible for making this decision. I would willingly sacrifice myself a million times over if it means ensuring your safety.
Because without Sage, there is no Wade, and Wade without Sage is like a flower in a garden.
Just so you know, I'm writing this before spending the night at your house. So don't scold me if I hold you a little tighter or kiss you a little longer because perhaps this will be our last time.
Yours forever, Wade
6 years ago: Age- 18
SAGE
It has been two days since my 18th birthday, yet I don't feel like an adult. What truly defines adulthood? Is it having a job or the ability to mature?
To me, being an adult is just a term thrown around to either hold people accountable for their actions or excuse them from responsibility. For example, if she drinks now, it's fine because she's an adult. But if she cries, it's seen as wrong because she's supposed to be an adult.
The word "adulting" is often used to describe mundane tasks like doing laundry or paying bills on time. But if completing these basic tasks is what being a grown-up is all about, then our definition of adulthood is setting the bar pretty low. Is there more to being a mature individual than simply aging out of your teenage years and knowing practical skills like changing a tire or cooking?
My mind was interrupted by the incessant talking of Wade, who sat across from me on the bed. His legs were crossed, and his eyes shifted between my face and the documents he held in his hands.
Lately, he had become more affectionate and talkative than ever. When I say "affectionate," it's not in a sexual way. He understands our boundaries. By "affectionate," I mean that he hugs me more often, and we've been sharing the same bed for the past two weeks at his insistence.
Both of us have experienced physical and mental abuse for years, so the topic of sexual intimacy has always been sensitive for us. We made a mutual decision not to progress further in that regard, as it could trigger painful memories from our past. Our comfort and well-being were more important than any pressure to lose our virginity.
Yes, there were challenging moments, but our love surpassed the need for physical intimacy. We didn't need to have sex to make each other stay.
Suddenly, the bedroom door swung open, revealing my mother with her fake smile, as if she owned the place. My mother had gotten involved in some dealings with the Russian Mafia, and soon, Wade would have to work with her.
I still remember how Wade's mood plummeted for nearly a week when he found out about this arrangement. He refused to eat for almost a day, staying in bed the entire time. Only I was allowed in the room, and I had to take care of him. It was quite an experience, seeing an 18-year-old man acting like a child. I had to make pasta for him because he refused to eat anything else.
Sometimes he can be quite immature, but I admired his ability to contain his anger and not kick my mother out of the house. If the situation were reversed, with me and his father, I would have certainly taken drastic measures.
"He'll come, you can leave," I said, not even bothering to look at my mother's face. She wasn't worth my attention.
As soon as she left the room, Wade pulled me onto his lap. His hands wrapped around my waist, and he rested his head in the crook of my neck. I could feel his warm breath against my skin, sending pleasant shivers down my body.
"Baby, do I have to go?" he asked with a soft, muffled voice.
"Unfortunately, yes, babe. If it were up to me, I would go with you, but this is something you need to handle on your own." I planted a gentle kiss on his head, and he responded with a tender kiss on my neck.
He then let me go and pulled me up, giving me one, two, three pecks on the lips, mumbling a quiet "I love you."
It had become his habit to say "I love you" at least once a day. Initially, it felt strange, as if something terrible might happen, but now it had become my favorite part of the day.
And as always, I replied with an "I love you more."
I never said "I love you too" because "I love you more" held so much more emotion and power, perfectly expressing the depth of my love. The softening of his face, the sparkle in his eyes, and the shy smile with a hint of blush on his cheeks were worth it. He was worth it.
"Damn, now I don't want to go," he sighed, leaning in to pull me back into his arms. But I quickly pushed him away, causing him to tighten his grip on the folder he was holding.
That was strange.
He smiled gently at me, then rushed outside, causing one of the papers to fall from the folder. I furrowed my brows and picked up the paper.
MISSION: ASSASSINATION OF SAGE SINCLAIR
First Mission of WADE CALLAHAN.
Date of Assassination: 27th July 20xx - Sage Sinclair's 18th birthday.
Executed by: Wade Callahan and his team.
Associates:
Isabella Sinclair - Mother of Sage Sinclair.
Emily James - Russian Mafia operative.
Damien Johnson - Russian Mafia operative.
Young associates of the Russian Mafia.
Mission Arrangement:
1. Up until the age of 15, Wade Callahan and the other undercover Russian Mafia operatives will establish themselves as close friends of Sage Sinclair.
2. When Sage turns 15, Emily James will pretend to be infatuated with Wade, while Damien Johnson will feign affection for Sage, causing tension and conflict within their circle of friends.
3. Wade will convince Sage to enter into a fake relationship with him, creating a barrier between Emily and Damien's influence on them.
4. Over the course of several months, Wade will pretend to develop genuine feelings for Sage, treating her with care and earning her love in return.
5. It is crucial to maintain the secrecy of Maxwell's true identity as a member of the Russian Mafia. Failure to do so will result in Maxwell's life being at stake.
6. Physical intimacy is allowed within the context of their relationship,
7. ensuring the use of protection.
8. Wade Callahan will earn the trust of Sage's family, particularly Isabella Sinclair, to gather valuable information. He will report all progress of the mission to Isabella.
9. Prior to Sage Sinclair's 18th birthday, she will be abducted and held captive in the chambers of the Russian Mafia.
10. The Russian Mafia will exert pressure on the French Mafia, compelling them to surrender all their assets and personnel.
11. Once the contract is finalized, Wade Callahan will execute the assassination of Sage Sinclair in front of her family, thereby ending the conflict between the two mafias.