Ch 1 Hypocrisy

Edward's POV

The morning light shined brightly through the window, waking me up from the long sleep I had the night before. "Edward, darling, wake up," I heard my mother Elizabeth's voice call softly. Her voice sounded like a feathered whisper, it made you joyful to wake up.

She was in my room, re arranging it in her large dress. "Good morning, mother." She turned around with a white wide smile, her green eyes were genuinely happy to see me.

"Good morning, Edward. How are you today?"

"I'm well, how are you?" She placed the lantern back in its spot and walked over to me.

"Well, son." Her smile took on some amusement as she cradled my face in between her hands. "Now it is almost nine o'clock in the morning, you are up quite late, Mr. Masen so get ready and freshen up to start your day!" I kissed her rosy cheek before she shoved me into the bathroom herself.

In the small vanity mirror I looked at how messy my hair was. It fell over my forehead touching my eyebrows above my eyes that looked refreshed. I splashed some water onto my face, freshened up and changed, ready for whatever the day held for me—which probably wasn't much.

Being that I am only seventeen, I am still not eligible to go to war. That's the one thing I know I was meant to do, to serve my country whenever they needed me.

I've gone a total of three times to get information for recruitment but every time they would mention the simple age of at least eighteen to qualify. That was the frustrating part, knowing I was so close yet so far away at the same time to something I've been wanting since I was a child. I've wanted to follow in my brother's footsteps.

Unfortunately, I might be the only one anticipating my eighteenth birthday for that reason, because no one agreed with me.

My mother dreaded the idea like any mother would, offering me other options instead. My father—ha—he said simply he "did not create a son, for him to throw himself away and die." He had basically disowned my brother for his choice and would probably do the same to me.

Before my Aunt Meredith died she also spat on the idea, telling me to go to school and become a doctor, or do something important. As for the rest of my family, I have not a single idea where they are—but none of them would understand. I know this is what I want from myself and I'll do it—no matter what.

"Elizabeth! Edward!" I shut my eyes, holding back the groan that threatened to escape my lips.

"Father," I said simply as I walked over to the door. My mother was already over by him, with his coat and briefcase in her hands. He had a scowl on his face and terrible bags under his eyes from the overnight work he does.

Edward Sr. was a lawyer, but now does more office work during the night—which means he's never home anymore; I can't complain about that.

My father and I were very distant probably from when I was eight. I'm not sure what happened or why, but he just became an ice man with a stone heart in his chest.

Although he swears everything he does and all his overnight shifts are for his family, I know that's not true. Besides being cold towards me, he was awful towards my mother who only loved him.

When my mother asked to have another child he laughed at her telling her no, that god-forbid he had a girl and he couldn't handle another boy—he had no time for one which shattered my mother's heart. She was a very family-oriented person, yet he treated her like a simple woman, just like every man does in the early 1900s—disgusting.

"You're up late, boy." He noted I was still in my night wear.

"And you're home late, as well." I replied only to earn a cold glare in my direction.

"I don't believe I have any business reporting to you." He loosened his tie around his neck, yanking at it harshly. "I was working to support my family! To provide the very bread that goes down your throat, boy, while you sleep soundly."

His voice lowered an octave but I knew that didn't mean he had finished…if anything, he was just starting. "And what do you do? You fantasize about becoming a soldier one day. Pitiful. Just like your brother."

I stiffened when he mentioned Benjamin. Benjamin had been the eldest one by five years and went off into war. Unfortunately he was killed in action about a year later and my mother still mourned his death 'til this very day. "There's so much you can do with your life—"

"There's nothing wrong with being a soldier, father. You treat it as if it were an omen. I'd be honored to serve for my country, just like Benjamin did." I cut him off, watching him from beneath my hair, noticing my mother's lips thin out slightly. "I don't want to be anything else at the moment. Stop pressuring me into what I don't want. If I change my mind…you'll be the first one to know." I turned on my heel and walked away.

I heard him mutter under his breath before he spoke loudly, wanting to be heard. "Ungrateful child. If you hadn't babied him so much Elizabeth then maybe he would be more docile." My hands fisted up into balls just hearing him accuse her for ridiculous reasons.

"Leave her alone." She folded her hands in front of her, sighing slightly before walking away to place his belongings in the closet. As usual, he ignored my presence and grabbed her hand when she walked back into the room, kissing her knuckles.

"Elizabeth, I have a nice dinner for the both us tonight, would you care to join?" The sparkle in my mother's eyes returned and a smile graced her face. She was clearly happy, nodding her head in agreement.

"Of course, my love." This wasn't anything rare; my father did this once every few weeks to her so that she could have one night of bliss before the hell reign that would follow the next days.

Later that evening my parents had left for their dinner and my father asked me to go out with friends, in other words meaning that he wanted to spend the night with my mom. I sighed making my way out of the door and strolling along the streets.

The streetlights dimly lit the road in front of me as I boringly observed the houses, noticing the differences in patterns in each one. In many, lights were already shut indicating people were resting. These were usually the wealthy people's houses.

A huge house was guarded by a gate at the end of the street, many people exiting and entering cars. It looked as though it was a party and many were just arriving. I sighed, noticing a tall man with dusty red hair bow to a young woman who walked in and walked along side with her into the house. It's probably the owner and her suitor.

I kept my pace ahead, not liking the idea of gawking all night at a party. I'd get a lot of walking done, since I had a long night ahead of me.

A/N: A little introduction for our main man of the story Edward Masen. And if you're wondering yes this is Edward in the 1900s, and this is a rewrite of my original story the beautiful unknown.

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Ness