Mask'Charade Chapter 22 Edward (BPOV)

BPOV

Panting heavily, I hurry into the house and slam the door behind me. With my eyes shut tightly, I lean against the door, letting my body slowly collapse, until it reaches the hard floor.

I feel the bile rise in my throat, but I will myself not to throw up. Silently counting down from a hundred seems like the only thing that succeeds in regulating my breathing, let alone settling my nerves; because at the moment, I can't seem to focus. The only thing I see each time I close my own, are the eyes of a stranger. Only he's not.

The amount of pain I'd felt, when he'd called me 'his business associate's wife' was crippling, and I'd thought that was the worst thing I could ever have imagined him saying, but when he'd asked me to leave, it felt like he was banishing me from his life forever.

I thought I'd known about everything that troubles him, but I'd never known the severity. Maybe, I just didn't want to know.

Everything about this man was too good to be true.

As I'd looked into his eyes, and with each word spoken from lips that used to kiss me so passionately, I'd been crushed.

I'd wanted to shake him and scream at him, until he reappeared as the man he'd been yesterday.

Reappeared. My God.

I gather myself up from the floor and quickly grab my laptop from the side of the sofa. I know exactly what I need to search for, but something keeps me from typing the words.

My hands hover over the keys shakily, before I slowly begin typing. Each encounter I've shared with him begins to play out in my head, like a made-for- television, drama.

I see his face, I hear his voice, as my typing picks up speed. Tears blur my vision, but I quickly wipe them away to focus on the screen. My eyes move swiftly, yet carefully across the word and the information relating to it.

Depakote….

It echoes in my head repeatedly, before I'm able to clearly understand what I'm reading. The conversation I'd had with Alice a while back, suddenly enters my mind…

"It's one of the medicines my mother takes…"

I read a little more, as some things become clear, but others still remain as perplexing as hell.

…used to treat seizure disorders, certain psychiatric conditions, manic phase of bipolardisorder, and to prevent migraine headaches.

The more I read, the more I keep comparing Alice's words to those on the screen.

"She doesn't take it for migraines…"

I shake my head, realizing that I should've paid more attention to things he'd said in the past. My thoughts are a jumbled mess of his and Alice's words, as I try to decipher them.

"You're going to be my protector….who's going to protect you from me?"

….It's specifically prescribed to stabilize her mood disorder.

"Mood disorder….migraines…" I read out loud, hoping to get a better understanding, but it doesn't make any sense. Ned definitely has migraines and some mood swings, but today he'd been someone else entirely, his brother, Edward.

I re-read the symptoms that the drug is prescribed for, and my eyes zero in on two specific words.

"Psychiatric conditions….?"

There's a word at the end of the paragraph, accompanied with a link. I'm skeptical and terrified at the same time about venturing down that path. I can't even believe that I'm thinking this, but what else could possibly explain Ned's behavior. I take a deep breath and click on the link.

With every word I read, things start to add up. I can't stop the thoughts that are now swirling in my head. A strangled sob leaves my mouth, as I finally make all the connections. I quickly close my laptop and flop back onto the couch, staring at the ceiling.

"Ned…" I whisper with anguish, letting my eyes drift closed to keep the tears from spilling over.

I can't believe this is happening. I'm angry at myself, because maybe I've known it all along. It's funny how everything comes flooding back at once. Before I had been so blind; Rose-colored glasses, they are a bitch. My world is crumbling around me, and it's only going to get a hell of a lot worse.

A knock at the door startles me, and I race to answer it, anticipating seeing his face, but I'm dead wrong.

"I'm glad you're here. We need to have a conversation. May I?" She asks, making her way inside, but I stop her.

"No….not until you confirm something for me."

"What's that?"

"M.P.D. he has it, doesn't he?"

"Bella…." She sighs heavily.

"Answer the question, Liz."

"I'm sorry, but I can't do that."

"Why not?" I become angrier with her by the second. I know that she knows more than she's letting on.

She takes it upon herself to step inside, anyway. "Edward is my nephew. My loyalty is solely to him and I will not disclose any details about his health without his permission."

"You're speaking as if he's your patient." I retort icily.

"I am speaking as his family and I will not discuss that topic with you any further." She says more forcefully. I know deep down that she's absolutely right and I don't want to seem like I'm prying into his personal business, but surely she must understand my concern for him and his health.

I close the door, even though I'm still not satisfied with her answer, but I am curious to hear what she has to say.

"What is it you want to talk about?"

"Well, it's more of a favor I'd like to ask of you."

I cross my arms and wait for her to elaborate. She has some nerve after flat out dismissing legitimate questions I had for her.

"I would like to ask for your discretion in this matter, as far as Edward is concerned….at least until I've had a chance to really talk with him."

"Where is he now?"

"He went to the office."

The office…Christ. I've never even seen his office.

"How…how is he….I mean after I left?"

She shrugs and sits on the sofa. "He's….Edward….just lagging a few weeks behind."

"Lagging a few weeks behind!"

I'm livid. I can't believe she's just said this with a straight face.

"Bella, please make no mistake. I fully understand the severity of what's happened today, but to me, the man we were just with earlier is my nephew. It's how he always is, a little brooding, gentlemanly and a workaholic."

"But he's not the man that I know."

"I understand that, and this is why I've come to ask you to keep the relationship you have with him quiet, until I can ease him into things."

"Ease him into things…great." I exhale heavily and run my hand through my hair in despair. "I don't see how that is going to work, Liz….I mean….I'm pregnant for God's sake!"

"I'm aware of that and not to sound insensitive or like I'm meddling, but I imagine since you're married, that there's a possibility that the baby could be your husband's?"

I don't respond, but I'm sure my expression gives her all the answers she needs. She nods and rises from the sofa, preparing to let herself out.

"I can keep quiet about the baby….for just a little while, but I can't stay away from him."

"You're going to have to try hard for the moment." She asserts.

"What am I supposed to do in the meantime, Liz, act like we've never met? It will be impossible. We're in business together. He's involved in my restaurant."

"How's he involved?" She frowns.

"He's part-owner and the financial backer, and aside from that, his wine collection will be sold in the restaurant."

She makes her way back over to me.

"He's financially backing your restaurant?"

"Yes."

Something in her eyes and demeanor changes.

"Well, isn't that just convenient for you."

"Excuse me? I narrow my eyes at her. "What are insinuating?"

"Nothing. As far as the restaurant goes, I'm going to have to ask you hold back on that as well, and note that I will find a way for Edward to cease all financial transactions, until we get a chance to sort everything out. You understand why I need to do that."

She leaves, and I don't utter a word against her insinuations. She doesn't know a damned thing about me and Ned, and what we mean to each other.