Disclaimer: I do not own the Twilight Saga and/or characters. I just borrow them for a little while.
A/N: Hi guys and gals! This is a new story that I have been working on. But no worries…I am not done with Salem Prep! Chapter 10 is in progress and almost done.
"What happened to us, Bella?"
"The fairytale ended," she said.
She got up and walked to the door.
"Do me one last favor Edward." She turned and faced him. "Don't make this any harder than it already is and just sign the papers."
"I can't Bella."
"Edward-"
"I can't and I won't. If there's any hope for us, I'm going to fight for it."
"After all this you really think I'm going to just forget it all and forgive you?"
"Bella, I'm sorry." His face pained. "From the bottom of my heart, I'm sorry."
"No Edward. I'm sorry that you couldn't keep it in your pants!"
"Bella hear me out!"
"Save it Edward. Sign the papers."
"No."
"Sign them!"
"Bella, I love-"
"Just sign the damn papers!"
He was silent.
"At this point, I don't care how sorry you are, or how much you love me, or how we can work this out. What I care about right now is the fact that my heart is broken! My husband, my best friend broke my heart!" she said through tears.
He was silent.
"So I ask you again, sign the papers."
"No."
"Agh! You insolent, persistent, arrogant ass! Fine! But no matter if those papers are signed or not, you are not my husband."
She yanked the ring off her finger and slammed it on top of the papers.
"Bella don't do this."
"I have no choice Edward."
"You do."
"I can't stay with you. I didn't marry a liar, an cheater, and most certainly not a man who is having a baby by another woman!"
He was silent. Her words stung like daggers. He knew all the words were true, but he couldn't face them.
"Goodbye Edward."
After she had left the office, Edward slumped down in his chair. He was a defeated man. His world had become completely unraveled in only two short months. Before the news was broken, he hadn't a care in the world.
But now, his family name was being dragged through the mud and it was all because of his one brainless, imprudent mistake. The love of his life and his wife, Bella, had to suffer from the humiliation and hurt that the man she married no more than four months ago was possibly having a baby with another woman. Said woman was Tanya, Tanya Denali. They had known each other for many years and their families were old friends. It was thought that Edward and Tanya would marry, that was until he met his Bella. They met in their second year in college during a Classical Literature class and hit off immediately.
"Dr. Cullen?" came a woman's voice jarring him from his thoughts.
"Yes?"
"You have a call on line one."
"Who is it?"
"Your sister, sir."
Edward groaned. Relations between everyone had been rocky these past two months. His family, who was always loyal, was having a hard time coping with the recent events. Like him, they all fell in love with Bella only moments after meeting her. Alice, Bella and Rosalie were all friends before he had even met her. He picked up the receiver and it felt like he was lifting a weight.
"Hello, Alice."
"Hello, brother."
"What can I do for you today?"
He was waiting for her to yell at him, to scream, to berate him. That was what most of their conversations consisted of lately and he deserved it. Why should this one be any different?
"I just wanted to check on you. How are you?"
"I'm fine and you?" he said as he leaned back in his chair.
"As to be expected," she said with a sigh.
The conversation between the two lately had been strained. Alice was torn, she loved her brother but she also loved her best friend. Cullen's are always loyal to family, but this case was hard. Edward was family, but so was Bella. Alice wanted nothing more than for this whole thing to work out for the best and that meant Edward and Bella together and happy.
"Have you talked to her?" Alice asked breaking the silence.
"She left a little while ago, actually."
"And?"
"She dropped off the divorce papers."
"Oh Edward. What are you going to do?"
"Give her what she wants and sign them."
"That's all. You're not going to fight?"
"What else can I do, Alice? I broke her heart. I betrayed her trust. You didn't see her when she walked out of my office. She-," he rested his elbows on his desk.
"You didn't see her when she walked into my office afterwards."
"What?"
"I am guessing it was after she left yours. We do only work a block away from each other."
"What did she say?"
"Not much, mostly she just cried."
His heart fell.
"What happened, Alice?"
"I had just gotten back from a meeting with my staff and Emily told me that my sister-in-law was waiting for me in my office. I thought it was Rosalie, until I saw the brown hair. I walked in and there she stood at the window, silently crying. I hugged her and the next thing I knew, she was sliding to the floor crying harder than before. I told Emily to hold my calls and I sat there on the floor with her for a good ten minutes while she cried."
He felt like he couldn't breathe, his head hurt, his heart was racing. He took off his jacket and loosened his tie.
"Edward, I don't care how or what, but you have to fix this. Bella is a strong woman but I don't think she can handle this. This is just now; think about what she will be like when that baby gets here in a few short weeks? I can't lose her Edward, not again. You two may not be together, but she is still my best friend."
His heart panged when she said not again. He tried many times to push out the memory of the months that they were separated. It was his last year of medical school and he had put his all into it, neglecting those around him; most of all his fiancée Bella. When they had put their engagement on hold, she cut all ties with the Cullen's and Hales, which included Alice and Rosalie. It was six long months of no Bella, no soft hugs, no smell of strawberries and freesia when he hugged someone. It almost broke him, but Tanya had been there when he needed her. She had been someone that he could talk to and she listened and gave advice when needed. He loved her, but he could never love her the way that he loved Bella. The night she left was the one and only time that he slept with her. He thought he was so careful; that he did everything that he was supposed to do to make sure that nothing like this would happen. He and Bella reconciled a few weeks later that and less than three months after, they were married. He never told Bella of his night with Tanya; therefore she remained ignorant to the fact. That was until Tanya called one day while he was at work to ask him to lunch.
"Dr. Cullen?"
"Yes, Miranda?"
"Call on line one."
He picked up the receiver.
"Dr. Edward Cullen."
"Dr? You finally did it, E."
There was only one person that called him E and he had not seen her since she had snuck out of his bed the last night she was there.
"Tanya! How are you?"
"I'm okay. You?"
"Good!"
"How is the family?"
"Everyone is great! Bella is well too."
"Bella? Are you two still friends?"
He chuckled.
"I could say we are more than friends. We got married a few months ago."
"Oh?"
"Your sisters were at the wedding and they said you were out of the country."
"That I was."
They were silent for a moment.
"So, look E. I wanted to invite you to lunch with me. Are you free?" her voice sounded hesitant.
"Actually, I am! I work downtown so do you want to meet at the café on 32nd and Oak?"
"Sure! That will be fine. Give me fifteen minutes."
They hung up the phone and he walked out telling his secretary that he would be back in an hour. Picallily was a short walk from his office and he got there in no time. The cooling summer air made sitting outside bearable so he grabbed a table and ordered a drink. He was looking down at the menu when he heard the clack-clack of heels that stopped in front of him. He looked up to see a woman dressed in a pale green dress with a short coat and her strawberry blonde hair cascaded down her back. Her dark sunglasses hid her eyes, but he knew it was Tanya. She smiled and he stood kissing her on the cheek. That was when he noticed it, her large protruding belly. How could he miss it? He was a doctor after all.
"Tanya," he said as he pulled out her chair and helped her sit down.
"Nice to see you too E," she said sarcastically.
"You're pregnant?"
"Really? Is that what this is?" she said jokingly.
"When? How? Who?"
"Can we just enjoy a meal first? I'm famished."
They placed their orders and waited.
"How are your sisters?"
"Kate and Irina are well. Irina just started her third year and Kate graduates in the fall."
"Please send them my greetings and congratulations."
"I will."
The waitress came and brought their food. As she left, she congratulated Tanya on her baby. They finished the meal and sat in silence.
"It's yours," Tanya said breaking the silence.
Edward jumped back, almost falling out of his chair.
"It can't be. It's been-," he counted up in his head.
"Seven months," they both said at the same time.
"We were careful. We did everything by the book to make sure nothing like this would happen."
"I know."
"It can't be. I'm sorry Tanya, but it can't be."
"It can't or it won't be?"
"It can't. I have a wife and I-"
"E. I'm not asking you for anything. Have I ever asked you for anything? No. I know that you love Bella and that you are happily married. Trust me I know. I would kill to have someone look at me the way you look at her. I only came to tell you that: A. I am pregnant. B. The baby is yours. I don't need anything from you, a law degree is good for something," her voice sneered.
"I'm sorry Tanya. It was rude of me to assume that-"
"Stop. It's alright."
They sat in silence.
"So what do we do now?" Tanya asked.
That night he went and talked to his parents, they were less than thrilled.
"How could you be so careless?" Carlisle yelled.
His mother, Esme sat on the couch rubbing his back and hugging him as he cried silently into her lap.
"Carlisle, can't you see he is suffering enough?"
"Actually darling, I don't think he has suffered enough."
"Carlisle."
"I don't understand! What could have been going through your head that night! We talked about this over and over again! You are a smart boy Edward Anthony. Where was your head that night? Maybe if you had stopped thinking with the wrong body parts you wouldn't be in this predicament that you're in now! Did you think of that? Did you think of Bella?"
He only cried harder into his mother's lap.
"I'm done," his father said as he stormed out of the living room into his study.
His mother continued to rub his back and quiet his tears. After a few moments she spoke.
"Edward?"
He muffled a reply.
"Sit up."
He sat up and hung his head in his hands.
"Listen. I am not saying that I agree with your father on his actions, he will be reprimanded. But he is right. What were you thinking? Wasn't seven months right before you and Bella resumed your engagement? This is telling me that you cheated on her."
At the mention of Bella he let out a choked sob.
"What do I do mom?" he asked.
"You have to step up and take responsibility for your actions. You chose to sleep with Tanya and this is the consequence of your carelessness."
He groaned; his head was spinning.
He felt his mother stand and heard her walk away.
"Edward?"
He looked up at her.
"You have to tell her. You have to tell Bella. Don't let her find out from someone else. Maybe you can salvage something of your marriage."
Pain ripped through Edward's chest, his body chilled and he felt light headed.
"Son?" Esme said as she rushed to his side.
He clutched his stomach and gagged. Esme ran to the kitchen ad took the bucket from under the counter. She made it just in time as he retched into the bucket.
"Carlisle!" his mother called out.
His father came rushing into the room and upon seeing his son, ran to get his medical bag. His mother wiped his mouth as his father checked his vitals.
"I'm fine. Just a panic attack."
"Just! Edward you scared me half to death," protested his mother.
"Stay the night and go home in the morning," his father said putting his instruments away.
Two days later he called a family meeting with everyone except Bella.
"You did what?" Emmett roared.
"Edward!" Jasper yelled.
Edward hung his head when he heard an outburst from his brother-in-law, Jasper. He never lost his temper nor raised his voice.
"You son of a-," Rosalie began.
"Rosalie Lillian! That kind of language is not tolerated in my house," Esme said sternly.
"Yes Esme," Rosalie said.
"How could you do this to Bella, Edward?" asked Alice in a small voice.
It was so like Alice, she thought of everyone but herself.
He kneeled on the floor so that he was at eye level with her.
"Alice."
She turned away.
"Ali, hear me out. I didn't do this to hurt Bella. I love her and you know that. I promised to never hurt her and I meant that. She is the air that I breathe, the sun in my sky, and my everything. I promise you I never, never meant for this to happen. But now that is has, I don't know what to do. What do I do? "
She looked at him, but she was angry. Yes, the Denali family had been old friends, but that meant nothing when it came to the well being of her family and that meant Bella.
"What do you do?"
Edward nodded.
"You tell her and deal with the consequences."
As she stood, for once she towered over him. She stared deeply into his eyes and he hoped that she was forgiving him. But her eyes narrowed as she looked down at him.
"I hope she throws you out on your ass, Edward. I hope she makes you grovel and beg and plead. I hope she makes you cry and feel pain, because that's how she's going to feel. I hope that she makes you feel everything that she is about to feel. She is about to find out that the love of her life, her best friend, and her husband is having a baby with another woman. She is about to feel alone, betrayed, hurt, shame. I hope you-"
"Alice you don't know-"
She stepped toward him and he stood and took as step back. Alice rushed towards him, but Jasper grabbed her around the waist and held her tight.
"I know my best friend Edward! How could you do this?"
He had no answer. He looked down at the floor.
"Tell her."
"I can't Alice."
"Tell her or I will."
His head shot up.
"You will do-"
"So help me Edward. If she doesn't hear it from you, then she will hear it from me. Don't let her find out any other way."
He never got the chance to tell her. A week and a half after that, he was having a surprise dinner with his siblings for Bella's birthday, but she was running late. When they heard her car approach, they turned off the lights and hid and moments later the door flung open.
"Surprise!" the group yelled.
But the look on Bella's face stopped the merriment. She walked in and closed the door and sat her bag by the table. The entire room was silent. One look in Bella's eyes and he knew. Somehow she had found out about Tanya and the baby. His heart slowly began to break.
"Bella?" Edward's voice broke the silence.
"You," she said pointing a finger at him.
She slowly looked around the room at each and every person as anger, betrayal and hurt filled her eyes.
Alice moved closer to Emmett and whispered in his ear.
"Be ready to grab her, she usually would not be happy if she hurt him but now she could care less"
Emmett nodded and as he did, Bella rushed forward screaming. He grabbed her around her waist and held her effortlessly.
"How could you?" she screamed at him.
He stood and said nothing.
"Are you deaf! Answer me, dammit!"
"Who told you?"
"Tanya! I saw her today in the bookstore. Seven months!" she said through the tears.
"Bella, I was going to tell you!"
"When? After the baby was born? When the little pitter patter of feet was running around the house?"
He was silent and she relaxed. Emmett loosened his grip on her.
"When did you find out?"
"Almost two weeks."
She was rushing forward then, but this time Jasper grabbed her.
"Two weeks, two fucking weeks!"
Edward flinched at her words. Bella rarely cussed and when she did, she was mad.
"Bella I-," he began.
"How could you? What were you thinking Edward? How could you do this to me? To us?" she choked through tears and hoarse words.
Alice moved over to comfort her and Bella fell into her arms sobbing.
"Bella-"
Alice shot him a look and he stopped talking. After a few moments, Alice helped her stand as she sniffled the last of her tears.
"Bella, please. Hear me out."
She turned to look at him, her body shaking with sobs. If his heart had not been broken before, it was in pieces now. Seeing his Bella cry, in pain or just sad was hard for him and now he was the cause for it.
"I'm sorry, Bella."
"I'm sorry? That's all you have to say? Some pathetic "I'm sorry"?" she released her hold on Alice.
Emmett stepped behind her incase she decided to try and harm Edward, not that he minded.
"I don't have words to-"
"Save it. I don't want to hear. You betrayed my trust and even though we were taking a break, I still expected you to be faithful." She stepped forward and Emmett stepped with her.
"You lied to me for months. I was nothing but faithful to you when we were separated."
"I-"
"I'm not finished," she said as she took a step forward and Emmett followed.
He stood silent.
"You lied to me, you betrayed my trust in you. You have destroyed us."
"We can work this out,'' he said when she paused.
"Oh yeah? What? You, Tanya, the baby and me? Or better yet you, the baby and me?"
He was silent.
"Well try this on for size. How about you, Tanya and the baby?"
His head shot up.
"I'm done Edward," she said as she walked toward the stairs.
Alice and Rosalie followed her up the stairs. He slid down to the floor and held his head in his hands.
"You fucked up bro," Emmett said.
"Big time," said Jasper.
The two men moved to sit on the couch as he sat slumped against the doorframe of the living room. He heard footsteps as they came down the stairs, he looked up and the sight brought a choked sob from his lips. Each of the girls had a bag in their hand as they came down. The boys stood and Edward looked at the ground as Bella passed by him. He couldn't let her leave. He needed her to look him in the eyes and she would know how sorry he was. He reached out and grabbed her wrist and pulled her to him. He enveloped her body in tight hug and a passionate kiss that he put all his love and his heart into, in hopes that she felt it. What he felt was her hands pushing him away. Reluctantly he let her go and as she stepped back she glared. The next thing Edward knew a sharp stinging sensation had formed on the left side of his face, Bella had slapped him.
"Don't you ever, ever put your hands on me again," she said through her teeth.
That night had been on of the few times he had seen her, until today.
"Edward?" Alice's voice snapped him out of his daydreaming.
"Yes?"
"Did you hear me?"
"What? No! Sorry, Alice."
"Never mind," she sighed.
"I will call you later," He said in attempt to get her off the phone.
He sat at his desk with his feet propped up as he rubbed his temples. He had been getting a lot of headaches lately from the added stress of everything that had been going on. He was constantly tired, nauseous, or in some kind of physical or mental pain.
"Dr. Cullen?"
He groaned. All he wanted was a few moments of quiet.
"Yes, Miranda," he said through his teeth.
"Line one."
He picked up the phone.
"Dr. Edward Cullen."
"Edward! This is Gabriel."
Gabriel was one of his colleagues and also a classmate of Edward who now worked the hospital across town.
"Gabriel! Good to hear from you. To what do I owe this call?"
"Do you know a Tanya Denali?"
Edward jerked.
"Yes, she is a friend."
"Well she has you listed as her emergency contact."
"Yes."
"You better get down here."
"Why?"
"She's been in an accident and we are prepping her for an emergency C-section."
Pictures are on my profile.