I wanted you

CALLIE

His eyes softened as he looked at me and then he repeated it, a bit more quietly this time. “I’m sorry, Callie.”

I was silent, unsure of how to respond. Tony, apologizing? It was… unexpected, but as his words sank in, a wave of anger crashed over me.

"Sorry?" I shot back, my voice rising. "You think you can just walk in here, say 'I'm sorry,' and that somehow makes this all okay?"

His expression shifted, a flicker of confusion, of hurt, in his eyes. But I was past caring. The dam had broken.

"Do you really think 'sorry' cuts it? You forced me into this marriage, Tony! You manipulated me, threatened me. You put a gun to my head…." my voice broke, but I forced myself to keep going, letting every ounce of anger I’d bottled up pour out.

"You threatened to kill my dog. And now you think an apology is going to make me feel… what? Grateful? Forgiving?"

He opened his mouth, looking as if he wanted to respond, but I wasn’t done.

"You don’t get to stand there and act like this is some noble, tragic thing. It's like you're sick in the head, Tony.

His expression shifted, and he let out a heavy breath, running a hand over his face. "Yes, Callie," he said. "I’m sick."

I shot him a side-eye, crossing my arms. "Pardon?"

He shook his head slowly. “I’m actually sick, Callie. I don’t know how long I have left."

For a moment, the room fell silent. I could feel my pulse hammering as I watched his face, waiting for some hint that this was another twisted game, another manipulation, but then he held my gaze.

“What are you talking about?” I finally managed to say.

“A chronic illness,” he continued quietly. "I’ve been hiding it. But the truth is, I might not… survive this."

A stunned silence filled the room. I didn’t know what to say, didn’t know if I could even believe him.

He took a deep breath. “That’s why I did all of this. I needed someone I could trust with… everything. My businesses, my estate. By marrying you, it gave you the legal right to control it all if I… if I’m gone.”

He looked down, his fingers drumming absently on the edge of the bed. “I know you’re capable. I’ve watched you handle your father’s business. I knew you could do it.”

“So… what, you thought you’d drag me into this mess, hand over your life’s work, and that I’d just… play along?” My voice was shaking, emotions I didn’t even understand churning inside me.

“I know I went about it all wrong. But this was the only way I knew. I didn’t want anyone else. I wanted… you.”

I took a step back, crossing my arms tightly, trying to shield myself from the strange mix of anger, pity, and… something else that threatened to break through.

I didn’t know what to think, didn’t know if I could even trust the words coming out of his mouth.

"Tony," I began, forcing my voice to stay steady, "you can't just play with people’s lives like this. Not even because you're scared."

He nodded, letting out a shaky breath. "I know, Callie. And I’m sorry. I should’ve told you the truth."

Silence settled between us, and for the first time, I could see the man behind the armor, the man who had been hiding his pain and his fear.

But even that glimpse wasn’t enough to erase what he’d done.

"I don’t know if I can forgive you, Tony," I whispered, more to myself than to him.

He nodded, accepting my words with a quiet resignation. “I understand. I just wanted you to know why… why I needed you.”

Tony’s gaze drifted to the floor, and he took a step back, as if giving me space to absorb everything. Then, with a deep breath, he met my eyes again. "You’re free, Callie," he said quietly.

"If you want to leave, to live your life however you want, you can. I won’t hold you here."

I blinked, stunned by his words. After everything he’d put me through, this felt… surreal. He'd gone to such lengths to trap me here, and now he was letting me go?

"But there’s one thing," he continued, his voice hardening.

"The business. That’s my only request. Take it seriously. If… if I don’t make it through this, it all falls to you, Callie. And I need to know it’ll be in good hands."

I scoffed, crossing my arms even tighter. "So, you’re just going to drop your entire empire on me and expect me to run it like some sort of last request?"

He looked at me, a flash of something like regret in his eyes. "I know it’s unfair. But you’re the only person I trust to handle it." He paused, searching my face. "I don’t have anyone else, Callie."

Tony’s gaze softened, and he took a step closer. "You don’t have to leave, Callie," he said.

"You can stay… stay married to me, keep the life you have now, and still do whatever you want. I won’t cage you anymore. I just want you to know you’re free."

I felt my pulse quicken as I listened to him. “So, what? You want me to pretend like everything’s fine now? To play the role of your wife without the chains?”

“Our deal is still on, Callie. I haven’t forgotten. I’ll still take care of your brother and that ex-fiancé of yours.”

My mind raced with questions, with a hundred reasons to turn away from him… but one look at his face, at the raw vulnerability hidden beneath that mask of control, left me rooted in place.

"Think about it, Callie," he whispered. "I’ll give you whatever you want. Freedom, power, protection. Just… stay."

I felt a knot form in my throat. I opened my mouth to respond, to finally give him the answer he deserved….

And then, a sharp knock sounded on the door.

Tony’s eyes darkened, his jaw tightening as he turned to look toward the entrance.

He hesitated, then stepped forward, opening the door.

A muffled voice drifted in, sounding tense, urgent. "Sir, we’ve just received a message. It’s… about her brother."

My heart skipped a beat, my blood running cold as Tony glanced back at me.

And then, as if delivering a final blow, he muttered, “Callie… I think you should hear this.”