The Chase

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight. This fanfiction is for entertainment purposes only. I also do not own the novel, A Long Fatal Love Chase, by Louisa May Alcott that inspired me to write this story.

Summary: For two years, he had watched her from afar. He had waited for the perfect opportunity to make her his forever. Bella Swan had always wanted adventure. When she meets the mysterious Edward Cullen, is she getting more than she bargained for? Once Bella learns a dark secret about Edward, she flees, but he chases her because he can never let her go.

Author' Note: Thank you to those of you who read, reviewed, and added this to your favorites. I loved the reviews I got so much that I was inspired to write another chapter quickly. Reviews make me write faster, so if you want more chapters quickly keep reviewing and if I get time I will update ASAP. Now on to Chapter 3… I hope you enjoy! Please read and review!

Chapter 3 – Confessions

That I feel myself surrender
Each time I see your face.
I am staggered by your beauty,
Your unassuming grace.
And I feel my heart is turning,
Falling into place.
I can't hide
Now hear my confession.

You are the air that I breathe.
You're the ground beneath my feet.
When did I stop believing?

Cause I feel myself surrender
Each time I see your face.
I am staggered by your beauty,
Your unassuming grace.
And I feel my heart
Falling into place.
I can't hide
Now hear my confession.
I can't hide
Now hear my confession.
Hear my confession

"Confessions" – Josh Groban

Bella is unsure what is going on. Why is her father so upset? What had this man done to upset her father so? Edward led her out onto the front porch. It was still raining and a cool mist blew onto the porch making her shiver. Edward notices immediately and drapes his coat over her shoulders. His warm hands come into contact with her cold skin and she shivers again, though not from the cold.

"Thank you, Mr. Cullen."

"Edward, please." He insists.

"Edward." She says quietly.

She waits for him to take the lead and explain. He takes a deep breath and clears his throat before he looks her in the eyes. The intensity in his eyes frightens her and excites her.

"Isabella, I want to be honest with you. You deserve my honesty." He takes a deep breath and then continues. "I have been keeping tabs on your for quite some time now. You fascinate me."

Bella gasps and steps back slightly in confusion. This gorgeous man wants her? Why? What could she possibly offer him? She was also concerned with herself for not being appalled at the idea of him watching her. She couldn't find herself feeling any other way, but pleased.

"How long have you been watching me?" She asks in a whisper.

He smiles at her. "A while." It was not a straight answer, but it sent tingles up and down Bella's spine. "You are an intriguing woman, Isabella. While other young women are busy obsessing over their looks, you turn to books. While other women are obsessed with clothes, you are out enjoying nature and not caring what happens to your clothes. You are a rare jewel and I have been coveting you."

While Bella knew she should be creeped out by this man, she was not. She was…flattered. This gorgeous man had been watching her. She wondered how she had never noticed him before.

"How old are you?" She asks boldly.

He answers her immediately in his warm, melodic voice that draws her in enticingly. "I am thirty. And you?"

She responds immediately as well. "I am twenty-two."

He grins at her. "Not too much of an age difference then, huh?" Bella could do nothing, but nod.

Edward leans over and pushes a stray hair behind her ear and Bella feels her pulse race immediately just from his simple touch.

"What about my father? Why was he upset?" She asks quietly.

Edward sighed. He didn't want to expose all her father's faults, but he knew she needed to know some of it. "All I know is that your father has been in financial trouble. His old accountant robbed him blind and stopped paying the bills. Your father has been trying to cover those losses and he has been struggling to make any headway."

Bella feels tears fill her eyes. How had she not known about her father's struggles? Did he not trust her? Did he not value her opinion? She could have worked and help him.

Edward seems to read her mind because his next response soothes her slightly. "Your father did not want you to know, Isabella. He was quite ashamed. James only promised to help him fix it if he got you and of course your father refused."

Bella shivered and not in a good way. James Hunter had always given her the creeps. "That would explain why he has been following me around when I am in town." She says softly.

Edward's rage is barely kept at bay. That monster is still around his Isabella. He would not stand for that. James would pay. "What do you mean following you?" He inquired immediately.

Bella shook her head and sat down on the small porch swing and Edward sat down beside her, but still leaving a little space between them. He didn't want to frighten her off..not yet.

"For the past several weeks, every time I have ventured into town he has been following me around when I run my errands. He does not try to speak to me and I pretend I don't see him, but I wish he would stop following me. He has always made me feel…" She pauses unsure of how to say what she wants to say and Edward covers her trembling hand with his own and jumps in immediately.

"Has he ever touched you? Has he ever threatened you in any way?" Edward's voice is calm, but she senses the turbulence buried just beneath the surface, dying to crawl out.

Bella looks down at his hand on top of hers. She doesn't really know this man and is unsure how she should answer him. He seems trustworthy, but she doesn't know him very well.

"Edward, can we table this discussion for a little while. What did my father have to agree to in order for you to help our family?" She asks him bluntly and he is surprised once again by her forwardness. He has not let go of the issue with James. He now knew that his suspicions were right and that James had done something that made Isabella uncomfortable. James would pay, oh yes. James Hunter would pay.

"Your father and I have come to an agreement, Isabella. I desire your hand in marriage. If you accept my hand, and marry me then I will pay off all of your father's debts and give him enough money to live comfortably. It would be considered a dowry of sorts."

He stops speaking when he sees her expression turn from inquisitive to angry. "You just think you can buy me, Mr. Cullen? I assure you that I am not for sale!" Bella is beyond furious that her father would even contemplate such an offer without her consent.

She stands up to walk inside, but Edward grabs her hand gently and pushes her up against the wall. Bella's breath catches in her throat at his close proximity. She unintentionally inhales his scent and almost leans in to kiss him. He is looking at her with nothing but devotion in his eyes.

"I know you are not for sale, Isabella. However, I saw a chance to make you mine and if you consent to the marriage I promise to cherish you every single day for the rest of our lives."

Bella takes another deep breath to try and clear her head. Edward's closeness is fraying her control…she is losing her grip on her anger.

"Just give me a chance to prove it to you, Isabella. I will be a great husband to you. You will be able to see the world. We will travel on my boat anywhere you wish to travel. We will spend months at sea and also in different countries. My business is easily managed on board the boat. Wherever you wish to go, I will take you. I am quite fond of adventure."

Bella found herself getting lost in the intensity of his eyes. She knew that this was crazy, but she had never done anything this impulsive before. She was going to agree to marry a complete stranger. She was going to marry this mysterious man who had basically been stalking her for who knows how long. No matter what though, she could not deny the pull she felt towards this man. She wanted him. She wanted him more than she had ever wanted any other man, even more than Jacob. She shook her head to clear her thoughts of Jacob away. He had no plans to come back and she had no plans to move where he had settled. Her relationship with Jacob was just a friendship now and no reason to hesitate now.

She looks up into Edward's emerald green eyes and finds her voice. "I accept your proposal."

Edward's face morphs into a breathtaking grin and he kisses the back of her hand in a graceful manner. "You will not regret it, my Isabella."

She just nods. "I am tired and I want to go to sleep. When shall I see you again?"

Edward's smile widens. "I will be here with breakfast at nine."

She smiles back at him before handing him his coat and hurrying into the house, closing the door quickly behind her.

Edward cannot keep the smile off of his face. He walks away from the house and into the rain, not caring that his clothes are getting soaked. He makes his way back to the docks and encounters Jasper, his best friend and personal assistant, getting the boat ready for the night.

"Did you get what you came for?" Jasper asks with a small smile, knowing that Edward always got what he wanted.

"Oh yes, Isabella Swan and I will be married as soon as possible. It is imperative that we wed soon before anyone tries to derail my plan to keep her forever."

Jasper nods. "Do you foresee an interruption?" He asks curiously.

Edward shakes his head. "Not soon anyway, but I am not taking any chances…not with Isabella…not anymore. The last time he had waited he had almost lost her to another man.

Isabella Swan would be his very soon. Very, very, soon.

I would love to know what you all thought of this chapter. I hope you enjoyed it. The next chapter will be the wedding preparations. It is going to be a very quick wedding. Why would Edward want a quick wedding? What is he hiding from? Or who is he hiding from? Remember that this is a dark Edward and he is hiding some secrets from Bella. What could those secrets be?

Thanks again for all the reviews! You all rock!

Bookworm 722 –