My eyes widen as I read the file, my hands trembling on the edge of the desk. A wave of nausea washes over me, and I struggle to find words. My throat feels dry, making it difficult to speak.
I release the pendant Wade had given me, watching it fall to the floor, and cover my mouth with my hand. The contract I'm reading brings a cold sweat to my brow, shocking me with its unexpected content.
My heart sinks, and I can no longer remain seated. I rise abruptly from my chair, my hands instinctively clutching my chest as my heart races.
"No... this can't be happening," I mutter, my voice filled with denial. "It must be some kind of cruel joke," I say to myself, taking a shaky breath and feeling my limbs tremble.
My mind races, recalling something Wade had mentioned on my 17th birthday. He had urged me to let him know if something ever happened and explained why he had been so close to me in the past two weeks—to protect me and be there if the opportunity arose to kidnap me.
My hand moves from my chest to the back of my head, my heart pounding in my ears. This can't be real. I start pacing the room, feeling sick to my stomach.
A heavy weight settles on my chest, and I struggle to breathe. The one person I thought I could trust has betrayed me.
My heart sinks to the pit of my stomach, leaving me feeling empty and frightened. I hold my chest, sinking back into the chair, unable to tear my eyes away from the paper. I repeat the words of the contract, my throat constricting, but no tears come.
I close my eyes, attempting to calm myself, gripping the edge of the chair and lowering my head. Various possibilities race through my mind, but no clear answers emerge.
Slowly, the pieces start coming together in my mind, my heart racing as I reluctantly arrive at a conclusion I desperately wish wasn't true.
"No... no... no," I mutter, shaking my head frantically, tears welling up in my eyes. My hands tremble as I kneel on the restroom floor, a dark void opening up inside me.
After pretending to be in a relationship for several months, Wade will feign falling in love with Sage and ask her out, treating her with utmost care, ultimately leading to Sage falling in love with him as well.
Struggling to prevent a nervous breakdown, I press my hands over my mouth, squeezing my eyes shut. The reality I once believed in crumbles before me, leaving me sick to my stomach.
An overwhelming sense of emptiness engulfs me, as if the world around me is suddenly false and the people I trusted are no longer deserving of my trust.
Wade Callahan will need to gain the trust of Sage Sinclair's family and report every action of this plan to Isabella Sinclair, Sage's mother.
I bow my head, my eyes tightly shut, attempting to hold back the tears, but they continue to flow. I sniffle, shaking my head and wiping the tears on the back of my hand.
Why would my own mother do this to me?
What have I ever done to deserve this?
How could Wade?
Wade Callahan was never truly mine to begin with.
WADE
Isabella was once again rambling about how irresponsible I am for not taking my duties seriously and how Sage should have already been dead by now. I can't fathom how a mother can be so cruel to her own flesh and blood. Despite everything she's been through, I admire Sage for her strength.
In my opinion, abuse and neglect hinder the development of trust in children. As adults, these individuals may struggle to trust the words and actions of others, their own judgments, and their self-worth. It's no surprise that they often encounter difficulties in their academic pursuits, relationships, and personal identities.
They find it hard to accept that they were abused, normalizing the beatings that leave them unable to stand or the insults that shatter their self-image.
Family.
A term we usually reserve for those connected by blood. But that was never the case for me.
My one and only family, since forever, has been Sage.
She made me feel truly at home.
I used to believe that home was merely a structure with walls and a roof, but it's incredible how quickly it transformed into a tall green-eyed girl with the most enchanting smile.
And in that moment, I realized she had always been the only one capable of making me feel this way.
She made me feel as if I were in heaven.
She was my heaven.
Now, I know what I must do. I will tell her everything.
I will reveal everything, starting from the contract to the struggles of my childhood and the depth of my love for her.
I hope she doesn't leave, although I have my doubts. I know she loves me, but this might be too much for her to bear.
If she needs a break from our relationship, I'll accept it, as long as she returns to me.
I hope she doesn't despise me.
I will also share my plan with her and, perhaps, escape with her with the assistance of my sister.
And then, when we graduate around the age of 23, I will propose to her.
If I can't marry her, then I will resign myself to a lifetime of solitude.
I have also informed Sage's father about the contract and his wife's affair. I expected him to kill me that day, which is why I wrote the letter to Sage in case I met an untimely end. However, he expressed his pride in me for handling the situation and devising a plan to keep my beloved Sage safe.
I need to tell her everything. I know she wanted me to resolve it first, but meeting her father proved to be more challenging than anticipated. I can no longer keep these secrets from her. She deserves so much more than these lies, but it's so much harder than I thought.
She carries so much pain within her, a sadness that runs deep. The moment she allowed me to glimpse it, I realized how difficult it would be to tell her the complete truth. She's exhausted, and she has been for her entire life. I can't risk pushing her into a worse state of mind.
I simply want her to be happy.
But once I disclose the entire truth, things between us will never be the same.
I open the bedroom door, catching sight of Sage sitting at the desk with her back to me. Her laptop is open but pushed aside, and her head is tilted down as if she's examining something on the table.
After removing my shoes, I'm ready to collapse onto her bed. I'm already exhausted. We didn't get much sleep last night because we ended up playing board games until five in the morning—pretty cool, I know.
Being back here with her brings me immense joy. I run my hand through my hair and make my way toward the nightstand.
"Did you finish your work?" I inquire, recalling that it was her plan.
I glance up at her, still seated quietly in the chair, unable to see her face. "Baby?"
"Did it hurt?" she finally speaks up.
"When I fell from heaven?" I joke, chuckling, aware that it's one of her pickup lines.
"No, when you—" Her voice cracks, and she covers her mouth with her hand. Her voice sounds fragile and uneven, hinting at her distress. Instantly, my stomach churns. Standing at the other side of the room, I simply stare at the back of her head.
"My mother was the only person in my life whom I truly hated, someone who never made me feel safe. It's as if I wanted to love her, but her actions prevented me from doing so. I have never truly hated anyone since then," she speaks softly and slowly. "Until I met you."
My heart races, and an odd sensation settles in my chest. What did I do to upset her? She seemed perfectly fine before I went to her mother's room.
"I trusted you."
Her additional comment halts my movement, and uncertainty engulfs me.
She doesn't say anything more, and my chest feels heavy. In a hasty decision, I continue walking around the bed toward her.
"Sagi, tell me—"
"It's Sage to you," she interjects, her voice louder than before, laced with bitterness.
My heart sinks. She has always been my Sagi; I'm the only one who calls her that.
I stand directly behind her, attempting to ask her what the hell she's talking about. But as I glance over her shoulder to the table she's fixated on, I see something that catches me completely off guard and has nothing to do with the assignment she was working on.
Her assassination contract.
My heart plummets to my stomach, and a wave of sickness washes over me as my eyes fixate on the unexpected sight.
"Wait...," I stammer. "W-What is this?"
My gaze shifts from the licenses and settles on her profile. Tears streak her cheeks, her eyes bloodshot as if she's been crying since I left. She appears pale and exhausted, with swollen bags under her eyes. Her attention remains fixed on the contract, seemingly in a state of shock.
"I didn't love you, Wade. I loved my Ade, the one who would take me on ice cream dates when I was on my period, the one who would let me rest in his lap for hours and talk about the books I read or how much I despise my mother. I loved the Wade who would kiss my forehead and look at me like I was his entire world. I loved the Wade who gave me this ring." She points to the promise ring I bought her just two days ago.
Slowly, she slides the ring off her finger, as if still processing my betrayal.
She steps closer to me, and a solitary tear falls down my face. My legs refuse to move, and my lips remain sealed.
How am I supposed to tell her that I never intended to harm her?
She places the ring on my finger and calls the guards to remove me from her house.
"Wade Callahan, you were never mine," were the last words I hear before the guards drag me downstairs and into the living room.
As if my senses return, I quickly push the guards away and rush toward her descending the stairs.
"Get out right now," she yells, tears streaming from her eyes, finally regaining her composure. "But..." I attempt to speak, but she doesn't allow me to.
"I said get out right now, Wade Callahan, if you want to stay alive." Her body trembles, and the tears continue to flow. Her voice cracks, and her throat is hoarse from yelling.
I hate seeing her like this. Why couldn't I tell her earlier?
"Please listen, mi amor. Please let me explain, Sage. Please, babe, this isn't what you think." My throat feels dry, and my voice emerges raspy. Tears flow uncontrollably from my eyes, showing no signs of stopping. I am willing to beg and even kiss her feet if it means getting another chance.
She finally meets my gaze, and the way she looks at me is unlike anything I've ever seen before.
I'm not speaking to my Sage Callahan now; I'm talking to Sage Sinclair.
She removes my hands from her face and takes a step back. She begins, "Wade Callahan, this is my final warning. Leave this place and remove yourself from my life forever."
No, no, I can't leave now. How will I survive without her?
"Don't you dare show me your clown face ever again. And if you ever try to come back, then..." She pauses and retrieves something from her back pocket. My eyes widen as I see her pointing a gun at my head. She speaks again before I can react, "Leave now before I end up putting an end to you, babe."
And the next thing I know, I am forcefully thrown out of her house.
Now, who will read me her romantic novels and discuss how attractive Harry Styles is?
Who will wrap her arms around me and hold me until I feel secure enough to face the harsh reality?
Who will taste my new recipes?
Who will kiss my forehead and tell me how proud she is of me?
Who will nag me when I neglect to eat properly?
Who will save me from myself?
Who will prevent me from giving up?
Who will be my rose in this thorny world?
Without Sage, there is no Wade, and there never will be.