"Did you ever love me, Wade? Was any of it ever real?"
"No."
Has anyone ever told you that you are worth nothing? That they wish you were never born? That you were a fucking mistake?
Has anybody ever told you that their life would have been much better if you weren't there? That they would be happy without your presence?
Someone has told me all of that, for eighteen fucking years - and trust me, for a while, I'd also believed my dad when he said all that. That maybe, just maybe, no one would have to suffer if I wasn't born, or if they would have aborted me earlier itself.
But they didn't do it, so why am I the one that is suffering?
Why does it matter what they think of me? What gain am I getting from listening to them? Who the fuck cares about their goddamn mindset and opinions?
They never made me feel safe, they never made me feel wanted.
But one person did, and I pushed her away.
Once she was gone away from me, I had realized one thing. Fuck everyone, as long as my baby is in my arms and as long as she is happy - nothing, fucking nothing matters to me.
But it was too late 6 years ago, and God has given me one more chance to redeem myself and maybe get her back as well. Lovers or not, as long as she is happy - I don't care about what anyone thinks of me.
So now that my wife is standing a few steps away from her, her eyes pleading for me to say something, anything - I decide what I want to do with my life, with her.
"No, Sage. I didn't love you."
"As it was written in the contract, I was toying with you since we were thirteen."
"Every single kiss, every single touch, every single ounce of affection I ever did was purely fake. It was never real. You were never really my type and it felt annoying to deal with you honestly."
"But I did everything, for my father. So I tolerated your annoying and crybaby ass for 5 years, and now again I am stuck with you."
Sage clenches her jaw at my words and her eyes shut like she physically cannot handle all of this at once. It's like she didn't even have the words to respond to me anymore and she couldn't look me in the eyes. But if she did, she would know - she would see the glistening tears in my eyes and she would fucking know.
Her movements stutter as she reaches for the table's edge, her eyes closed, but before she can catch it, I stretch my arm and wrap it around her waist, causing her to stumble into my chest.
Her eyes open as she stares at me with hatred, her hands trying to remove my arm from her but I tighten my arms around her waist and pull her closer to me. Her chest brushing mine with every breath we take and her eyes red from keeping the tears in.
"Did you really think I would say something like that?" I whisper, and her eyes slowly look up to mine in confusion.
"Did you really expect me to say that I never loved you, when all my life the word 'love' has only been used for you?" I say, loud enough for my father to hear on the call.
I don't give a fuck if the call is getting recorded or not, and if I get killed for this - it will be alright. Because I know that at least I could tell her that fuck yeah I loved you all throughout, baby.
"W-what do you mean?" her voice is laced with pain as she speaks slowly.
I bring myself closer to Sage, caressing her right cheek as I speak lowly, "I loved you, Sage, I loved you so fucking much. You were the only reason I was ever alive, you were the only one that ever gave me hope that everything could be better. And no matter what happened, as long as you were by my side - I was okay."
"I thought I could pretend to be in love with you but I realized that I was never fucking pretending. I loved you before I even saw the contract of your assassination. I loved you, the moment you walked up in my class with that bright yellow dress of yours when we were 13. You said that the yellow dress reminded you of sunshine and happiness, for you it was simply a dress that got you happy. But for me, there was only one person that was equivalent to happiness - it was you, you were the only sunshine in my life, baby."
"Wade ," she pleaded in that soft voice of hers, "Please don't lie to me now. If I find out that all of what you said now is a lie, I would not be able to handle myself anymore, I would die, Wade."
"Shh, Don't cry, baby." I console her softly, cupping the back of her neck and bringing my forehead to hers. The phone dropped from my hands to the couch in the process but I couldn't care less.
Sage stared at me, the look on her face breaking my heart into a million little pieces. It's like she couldn't believe what I had said, and she was not ready to trust me.
My heart is breaking every second I keep looking at her face.
I put my hands down when I see her shift uncomfortably in the position that we are, and I don't miss the shocked look in her eyes when I turn my back to her for picking up my phone, but as soon as I turn back to her, I pull her into my arms once again but this time, she wraps her arms slowly around my figure and I swear I could feel my heart burst out of my fucking chest.
"Son, you really thought you were that clever? Lying to my fucking face? Do you really think people in the court will believe you?" My father spoke through the phone, which was in one of my hands while the other was wrapped around Sage's figure.
When I didn't say anything, he continued, "Leave the people in court, do you really think you will even get a lawyer that will fight for you in the court? with this little evidence? No one would want to fight for the side that is already losing, son." Richard chuckled humorlessly.
But every word he said was true.
Why would anyone want to get involved in this family fight? Clearly, my dad is a fucking pussy who would do anything just to get people on his side, and that's what he's been doing for the past years. He knows he has a lot of people in the mafia(s) by his side - including most of the lawyers working in the mafia.
We really don't have anyone that could help us.
We are already losing.
"Did he say lawyer right now?" Sage questioned, I didn't even notice when she moved away from me.
I nodded simply, my thoughts constricting making me not able to speak.
"For the mafia war?" she questioned yet again, shocking me.
I had no idea this mafia war was so well-known that even she was aware of it. I assumed my father's entourage was keeping it a secret.
But I'm guessing Enzo is wise enough to gather all of the information and alert Sage before anything horrible happens. After all, the Russian mafia can never be entirely trusted by them.
"Yeah but I promise it's not-" I spoke quickly, trying to explain to her that what she heard on the phone wasn't true but she cut me off.
"Can I talk to your dad?" She asked, extending her hand for me to give her the phone.
"Um-" I wasn't very sure of this idea, I don't want him to say anything that hurts Sage.
As if you already haven't hurt her enough.
I hand over my mobile to her and she gestures for me to take a seat on the couch which I hesitatingly do.
"Richard," Sage starts, way too calmly.
Oh no. Something bad is about to happen. Angry Sage is okay, but the one that's calm? Definitely not.
"Daughter," Richard says amusingly, he used to call her that whenever she used to come over to our house, saying that he would love if Sagebecame his daughter-in-law in the future.
Well, who would have thought that his fake wish would actually come true?
I saw pain flash in Sage's eyes and her lips turned into a thin line when she heard Richard call her that but she composed herself and spoke again.
"So... I heard that you are planning for a mafia war." she said casually as if she's asking him if he wants coffee.
What is this girl?
My dad chuckled yet again on the phone while Sage's fist turned into a ball at the side.
I softly pulled her near me and opened her fist, intertwining my fingers with hers gently.
Her gaze turned towards me and her face turned a little shy as she looked away.
I think I just saw her blush.
"Yes, I am planning a mafia war, daughter. And that requires for my son to kill you." My dad's voice broke our moment as Sage glanced up at the screen again.
"I am aware." Sage started, "but that won't be necessary."
Richard murmured something to someone beside him and then asked, "Why? Are you planning to kill yourself?"
My eyes widened in rage as I got up, going to take the phone from her hands but she didn't look bothered by his statement. Rather, she was very calm.
"Sage," I spoke softly, "give me the phone back, baby. I am not letting you speak with this bastard," I seethed with anger.
"Wade. Calm down," she spoke sternly, glancing at me.
"But-" I started but suddenly she put her hand on my cheek, gently caressing it.
"Please sit down, love." she said quietly.
That was enough for me to sit down but this time, I held her hand tighter.
"No. I won't kill myself. Because Wade will be winning the case."
My heart shook at her words. What is she even saying?
"You do know that for winning your husband needs a lawyer, right?" Richard said the exact words that were on my mind.
Sage seems unfazed and bored of him.
"And you do know that your daughter-in-law is one of the biggest mafia lawyers, right?" My wife spoke, amusement visible on her face.
Daughter-in-law? Who is my dad's daughter-in-law?.. oh. She is talking about herself. Wait, what?
Did she just say that she will fight for me, for my mafia? After all, I have done to her, why is she doing this to me?
"You wouldn't dare," Richard spoke angrily on the call.
"Sage, you wouldn't be able to fight the lawyers that we have. It'll be very embarrassing for you when you show your face to the world for the first law case you lost. Why are you risking your career for that stupid son of mine?" Richard said, using one of his best manipulation tricks - making people think they are weak so they back down before the fight even starts.
I can't handle this anymore. I leave her hand and stand up suddenly, causing her to turn her attention to me and try to snatch the phone out of her hands.
Keyword: Try. It doesn't work, of course.
"Richard, you seem to have a lot of confidence in yourself." Sage starts, taking a deep breath and turning away from me.
"I will make sure he wins, Richard. I, Sage Callahan vow to fight for Wade Callahan against Richard fucking Callahan."
"And you know all damn well, that whatever happens, a Callahan never breaks their vow right?" She asked amusingly, sensing the inner turmoil that she has put my father into.
Only she can sound so confident with her limbs and hands slightly shaking.
"Now listen to me, okay?" She spoke and I nodded my head. "I don't care if you think that I deserve someone better than you, I only want you. Got it?"
My breath hitched as she came closer to me and wrapped her arms around me, pulling me into a tight hug. Her hands found my hair as she caressed them gently and my hands automatically moved towards her waist, holding onto her tightly as if my life depended on it.
I suppose I lost faith in God after being molested; there was no purpose in believing that there was someone who could save me. But if God exists and he has given me another chance to prove my love for Sage, I will be forever indebted to him.
"Sage?" I spoke after a while into her neck and she moved a little in my arms, my lips probably feeling ticklish on her neck as I spoke gently, not moving away from her.
"Yes?" she questioned, her voice came out a little breathless.
"Are you really going to fight the case for me? I asked, a little scared of her answer.
"For us." she corrected and moved away, making me see her face.
I could feel my heart skip a beat as I looked at her face, she looked like she was in peace, like she was truly happy.
"Shit, don't say stuff like that again. I might fall in love."