A/N: OOC and predominately in Bella and Edward POV.
Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight. All characters belong to Stephanie Meyer
So I am aware there are mistakes, even when I've tried my very best with the grammar. I've never done the whole beta thing but if you have tips on how I can get one, or if you are one? Give me a holler! I'd appreciate the help!
(Do me a favor, if you're going to give me constructive criticism? Log in. A pet peeve of mine is someone that leaves a mean review anonymously. I know my story isn't perfect; I'm aware because I'm not an editor or do I major in English lol)
Marriage of Hate
Chapter 1
Edward Masen POV
That I was hot, tired, and hungry were the only things I could think of at the moment. I've been riding on horse back for almost a week and was able to catch a glimpse of Willow Estate. The very place I ran away from when I was a very young man. The hell I grew up in and had sworn I'd never step foot in again. See, I was born in this land to a young servant girl who's name I wish I could tell you, but I can't because I never had the pleasure of knowing her. She was taken far away as soon as I was born by the man who owned this estate...my father. I never even knew her name. Edward Cullen Sr. was forced by his wife, to rid of the woman who had bore a child with emerald green eyes. You see, Edward Cullen was the only man on the entire estate with emerald green eyes.
There were countless servants on this estate and each and everyone had an important role and it was like this that the estate ran properly. It was a well known fact that I was the son of the owner, but it made no difference in my world. I was simply dubbed a "bastard". I was just another servant on this estate. I'd wear the same clothes for days and would constantly walk around bare foot. When I reached my thirteenth year of age, I found myself being punished for the smallest of reasons by our master. Yes, I knew growing up that the man whipping me was my biological father, but I was taught to call him "master" and "sir", just like everyone else.
When I felt like I could no longer take the abuse, I would find refuge in our church. To keep up with appearances, we were encouraged to attend Sunday Mass and it is there that I would have long hour talks with Father Carlisle. It was Father Carlisle who had always encouraged me to grow up and make something of myself and be as successful as I could be. At the age of 16, I decided to leave this hell and live in the catholic church where I worked for my food and clothes. While living there I found my passion for medicine. I would assist at the clinic, where the town's poor seeked attention because they were too poor to go to a modern clinic. It was then that I had decided that I would be a doctor. I decided I would not work for money because I knew these people had no way of paying but I didn't care. It was self satisfaction to help the people that had helped raise me. I always welcomed to be paid with a cup of coffee or a bowl of chicken soup non the less.
Reaching the house that was more like a mansion, I was able to make out a childhood friend at a distance standing under the high arch way at the front entrance door, "Edward! Father Carlisle has been waiting for you! He's in the masters room and asked me to escort you in there at once when you arrived".
I was glad to see she was given a higher position in the household since she was the one greeting me. I dismounted my horse and made my way towards her. Being as tired as I was I didn't stop for pleasantries, "Very well Tanya, lead the way". Making our way inside everything looked different. The furniture was covered in white linen sheets, as if the home was being unoccupied. When I was a child I had made my way into the house looking for my 'Nana' because I was hungry. I stopped to admire the grand piano sitting on the edge of the living room when Edward Sr. walked down the elaborate beautiful stairwell just as I pressed down on a note. He gave me whipping so I'd never forget. And he succeeded because to this day, I have kept my dirty hands off beautiful objects. As Tanya and I were making our way to the third floor I caught her giving me sideway glances when she thought I wasn't looking. I had to admit, she looked nothing like a servant. She was wearing well tailored clothes and wearing her strawberry blond locks in a elegant style. Her dress of course was not like the expensive and modern dresses being worn in the city but she sure was not hard on the eyes. I inwardly smiled when I caught her looking at me for what seemed to be the fourth time.
When we reached a set of deep cherry wood double doors at the end of the hall on the third floor Tanya delicately knocked three times and we waited. Moments later Tanya's father stepped out and instantly came into my personal space and pulled me into a hug. "Edward son! So very good to see you!"- "You too Peter" He took a step back but kept a hand on my arm and the other cradling the side of my head. It felt foreign to be greeted this way. I went straight to the point, "Is Father Carlisle inside?"
"Yes" said Peter. "He's trying to wake up the old man, enough for him to sign the will and recognize you as his son. We're really hoping he does, Tanya and I have nowhere else to go if the estate is sold. Imagine all of the people with nowhere to go Edward!".
"I pray it doesn't come to that..." I was cut off by the doors opening to Father Carlisle. "Edward my son" he breathed "Father Carlisle ...you have no idea how happy I am to see you again" I said hugging him. "It's been too long young man, have you forgotten where you came from?" inquired Father Carlisle "No never!" I said all too fast. "Well its a good thing you never have to leave for a long period of time, that is if you chose to live on this estate from all the estates you now own" he said with a small smile.
"What are you saying Father Carlisle !? Did he recognize me as his son?" Father Carlisle's face was swelling with joy each second that passed "Yes he did" he said very happy. Since I was a child Father Carlisle had been trying to get Edward Sr. to recognize me as his son. Of course his wife didn't allow it.
Immediately I began to see all the clinics and orphanages I would build with my new inheritance. I turned to Father Carlisle "Has he passed?" "Yes, almost instantly after he signed".
"Well its no time to grieve, we need to turn this house around as quickly as possible! The workers will build better stable homes for their families. This old house needs some serious maintenance" I looked around the long dark hallway "Get more light in here. I want this the people of this estate to be one large family. Children need to run and laugh without the fear of being punished for running into the gardens. The workers and their families will get medicine when its needed. I would like to get started right away" I turned to look at their faces and they were holding on to my every word.
"I'll get started on supper with the ladies. Anything you prefer sir?" Tanya asked. "Anything would be wonderful Tanya, thank you" She quickly walked down the hall as if she was refraining from running excitedly and I smiled. Peter spoke ,"I presume there will be no funeral seeing as no one would attend so ill just make the arrangements for the burial". "Thank you Peter, it's much appreciated".
Father Carlisle informed me that I needed to travel to Benicia, California to get paperwork in order with the banks and make sure all the lands were under my name. I would ask my friend Benjamin Cheney to make the trip with me. This was a new journey for me and I was desperate to get started.
