Hello everyone. Thank you for reading and reviewing my story. I had worked hard on this chapter so please tell me what you think.

A\N1: Thanks to my beta MyFantasySoul.

A\N2: I don't own Twilight.

Enjoy

Summary: A car accident leaves young Edward Masen broken and all alone. Could young Bella look behind the scars? And what would happen when years after their first meeting Edward becomes a Cullen? Would that change what Bella had once thought of him? EXB related M.

Last time:

Her lips twisted a little before she stopped herself; she narrowed her eyes at me. "I will make sure you will be sorry, Masen," she threatened me with a hard voice and hard face, but I could see that she was barely able to hold her own laughter.

I was about to burst out laughing again but the sound of loud thud stopped me immediately.

I looked up to the back door of the kitchen which was pushed hard enough to hit the outside wall of the house and was met with the sight of a very livid grandma who was glaring at Bella.

Angel of My Heart

Chapter three. Broken Angel

EPOV

31stAugust 2002 -1st September 2002

It took my mind a whole minute to realize that the look on grandma's face was more than livid, it was murderous. And it was aimed at Bella who was looking back at her with slightly confused and scared expression.

I looked back at grandma at the same time her eyes met mine, the pity that coloured them made me both sick and terrified. It was a gaze she gave me once before, back at the park in Chicago after seeing the reaction I got from the kids there. I hated her pity then and I hated it even more now, because this time there was no reason for it. The fact that she felt the need to give me that look scared me to death because it made it easier for me to understand what was going in her mind.

I could easily imagine what she was thinking; I could see both Bella and me as she saw us in her head. With me red faced - which, I was sure, could be seen even under my damaged skin - and tears running down my cheeks with a look of fear dominating my features. And the look of absolute anger and rage on Bella's face - which was only part of Bella's game and mine - added the echo of her last words,"I will make sure you will be sorry, Masen". I could see where grandma's thought had gone. She would easily assume that Bella was bullying me, hurting me just like the other kids did and always will. She wouldn't be able to see the mirth in both mine and Bella's eyes through her anger and rushed judgement.

She was livid, murderously angry, and it was all aimed at Bella!

Before I could say something or try to do anything to make grandma understand, she rushed towered Bella and was in front of her in a blink of an eye, forcing Bella to take a step back so her face wouldn't smash against grandma's body. "What are you doing here, Isabella?" She sneered.

Bella took another step back, her panicking eyes met mine for a second before she turned her gaze to grandma's, "I... I'm..." she stuttered and looked back at me with pleading eyes.

"I'm asking you, Isabella! Answer me!" grandma hissed before I could say anything. Bella's small body was shaking lightly, she was so tiny, and the top of her head didn't reach grandma's hips. She looked terrified under grandma's murderous eyes and I was frozen not knowing what to say to stop this.

Her eyes met mine yet another time and the unshed tears in them snapped me out of my shock state, "Grandma, stop! She didn't..."

"No Edward." she cut me off. "This has to stop. I won't sit and watch as another one of those prudes hurt you!" She snapped before her eyes glared back at Bella.

"Ms. Masen, I was just talking to Edward." Bella whispered, looking up at grandma's face.

"Just talking!" Grandma hissed. "Do you think of me as a stupid woman, Isabella?" She took a step closer to Bella, who stepped back and was shaking her head with wide eyes.

"Grandma..." I tried again but she didn't let me finish.

"You think I didn't see the way he was looking at you with fearful eyes? That I didn't hear you threatening him, huh Isabella?" She snarled.

"Grandma, please." I pleaded, but she wasn't listening. Her eyes were throwing daggers at Bella. I was helpless. I couldn't stop what was happening and I hated my incapable body at that moment more than ever.

"We were just messing around, Ms. Masen." Bella defended in a small voice.

"Messing around?" She asked in disbelief. I could see her body freeze in rage, her eyes narrowed at Bella and I was actually afraid that she was going to slap her. My grandma was never a person who could think or act rationally when she was angry.

"This is fun for you, Isabella?" she shouted, "You think his feelings are something to play with?" she hissed taking another step closer to Bella. "Does hurting him and seeing him cry amuse you?" she said through her teeth.

"She didn't," I defended at the same time as Bella started to say, "I didn't..."

"You didn't what, Isabella?" she snapped, "You didn't mean to make him cry? Do you think I will believe that?" She took another step forward and bent down so her face was at the same level as Bella's. "Is that how you act all the time?" She snarled in her face. "It's no wonder then that you had driven your father away." The moment those words left grandma's mouth everything became dead silent.

Bella's eyes widened and I watched painfully as her face crumbled in agony, tears started to run down her face unstoppably and a small whimper escaped her trembling lips. My grandma took a step back as if she was regretting the words that came out of her mouth. Bella's head fall forward as her shoulders started to shake with her silent cries. She warped her arms around her torso tightly. I watched with no idea about what had just happened, all I knew was that grandma had hurt Bella, and hurt her badly but I didn't know how or why.

Bella's body was still shaking with her cries. She shook her head a little and wiped her tears before looking up at grandma. "I'm sorry Ms. Masen," she murmured in a broken whisper. She turned her face until her tearful eyes met mine she gave me a smile that shattered my heart to a million pieces. "I'm sorry Edward." She said before a small sob escaped her lips.

She turned around and rushed running to her backyard as I watched helplessly. I could hear her sobbing all the way there. "Bella, wait!" I shouted hopelessly. She didn't stop and I watched her disappear inside her house without looking back.

I sat there, my eyes never leaving the front of their back door, hoping that by some miracle, she would come out and come to talk to me, but nothing happened.

"Come on, let's get you inside. It was a mistake to leave you here alone in the first place." Grandma said as she lifted me from the swings seat and put me on my wheelchair.

My eyes were still frozen on the spot where Bella had disappeared. I could feel my heart shattering to pieces knowing that I would never talk to her again there was no chance for her to forgive what just happened. She did nothing but talk and joke with me, giving me the happiness I was missing for so long, and in return I did nothing but sit there and watch as my grandma hurt her. I didn't know what grandma meant about Bella's father but I knew that whatever it was, it hurt Bella deeply.

I was snapped out of my thoughts when grandma put me on the couch, I didn't realize that we were in the house until that moment. I looked up at grandma she was sitting on the armchair with a frown on her face.

"Why did you do that?" I asked her, my voice weak with the sadness I was feeling.

"I told you Edward. I was not going to sit and watch as she hurt and threaten you!" she snapped, her eyes narrowing again.

"You don't understand!" I snapped back, my voice a little higher than normal.

Grandma's eyes widened for a second before her face became a mask of anger. "I don't understand what Edward?" She hissed through her teeth, "That little freak deserved what she got!"

It took everything in me not to start yelling at her. I had to keep reminding myself that she was old, that she was my dad's stepmom, that she always did that, said things she didn't mean when she was angry and regretted it later. But it was hard. Bella didn't deserve this, she didn't deserve what she said to her, and she didn't deserve being hurt like that.

"Do. Not. Call. Her. That!" I said as quietly as I could.

"Why are you defending her, Edward?" she yelled. "Why are you taking her side when she hurt you?"

"She didn't hurt me." I pleaded with her to understand.

She sighed and rubbed her face with her hand. "I understand that you don't want to be a rat, Edward." She said looking at me with pity in her eyes. "But honey, you have to understand that it's your right to defend yourself when one of those ill-mannered kids talk down to you. And if you couldn't then it's my duty to make sure they get what they deserve for hurting you."

"She did not hurt me!" I hissed unable to stop myself. "We were messing around." I said with softer tone.

Grandma's hands pulled in fists, and her face became red with anger. "Messing around? You are using her words now Edward!" she snapped, "Hurting you is not something fun!" I opened my mouth to tell her again that Bella didn't hurt me, but she didn't let me. "I saw you crying, Edward. Do not lie at me!"

"I was crying because I was laughing!" I finally snapped.

My grandma blinked a couple of times, before she sighed frustrated, "Edward, don't lie."

"I'm not lying!" I yelled, hitting the couch with my fists. It was the first time I had ever acted like that, but she wouldn't listen and I was so angry with her for hurting Bella and with myself for not being able to prevent it.

My grandma's face was a mask of surprise and anger. "She was threatening you." She said in a calm voice but I could see that she was fighting the need to scream at me.

I gritted my teeth and took a deep breath. I had already crossed the line, I shouldn't have let my anger get to me like that. It was unusual for me to snap at her like that, even if she wasn't listening to me. I had no right to act the way I did, no matter what, I still owe her so much. I shouldn't go and act like ungrateful spoiled child just because I couldn't make her listen and understand.

I took another breath and sighed. "I'm sorry grandma, but please listen to me," I pleaded with her, my eyes begging her to listen.

Her face softened and her body relaxed, she took a deep breath and released with a sigh of her own, before nodding her head.

"Bella didn't hurt me grandma," I said. She tried to interrupt me but I gave her a pleading look and she nodded with a heavy sigh. "We were truly just playing and messing around." Her eyes narrowed at my words but I kept talking not giving her a chance to say anything.

"We were sitting and talking, grandma!" I could hear the awe and wonder in my own voice and I hoped that grandma heard it as well even if it was beyond humiliating for me. "Bella told me something about herself when she was younger, and I found it funny and started laughing. I teased her a little about it and she teased me back. When you came and saw us, we were playing. Even when she threatened me, it was all a game. Both of us were playing, she didn't hurt me and I didn't hurt her." I said as I locked my eyes with grandma's. "If you had waited a moment, you would have heard us both laughing," I murmured.

I kept my gaze on grandma's face, pleading with my eyes for her to believe me. Her eyes wandered around my face for some time. I knew she was searching for some sign that I was lying but she found none.

"You are telling the truth." It wasn't a question.

"I'm. I promise."

Grandma sighed heavily and rested her back on the back on the armchair. "Isabella didn't make fun of you?" she asked with a soft tone. I could hear the regret in her voice.

"No." I shook my head.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, her hand came up and she run it over her face couple of times. She was recovering from her anger. I had seen this before, soon she would truly understand what she had done in her anger and like always, she would feel awful about it.

She continued to take deep breaths for some time. I could see her grimace a couple of time as she murmured under her breath.

My mind wandered back to Bella I wondered if she was better now, if she had stopped crying. Or if my grandma's words still hurt her. I felt awful that I couldn't be there to comfort her like she comforted me. But I wouldn't be able to help her even if I was with her if I didn't know what the problem was.

"What did you mean about Bella's dad?" I asked, breaking the silence. I didn't want to go behind Bella's back but I hoped that grandma would give me at least a hint of what the problem was.

She looked up at me with a strange expression on her face. "It's not my story to tell," she said with a thoughtful tone. She was silent for a moment before she spoke again. "But I guess since everyone around here knows, then it won't be wrong to tell you."

I looked at her pleading with my eyes I wanted to know, to understand exactly what had happened. That way I could guess if Bella would ever forgive me and talk to me again or not.

Grandma hands were rubbing her temples, she looked into my eyes and sighed. "Isabella's parents are divorced. Her father had packed his things and left without a word last Christmas," She frowned. "Renee - Isabella's mother - sent him the divorce papers after that."

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. Bella's dad had left her, which must be really painful for her. I could remember her avoiding talking about him on the swing. I didn't notice it before but now that I know, it seemed obvious. But that didn't explain what grandma said or Bella's reaction to it.

"Why did you blame her for his leaving?" I asked with heavy heart, something told me that whatever was the answer it would horrible.

Grandma grimaced and rubbed her temples harder. "Everyone in the neighbourhood does," she murmured.

"What?"

She looked at me with pity-filled eyes, I knew her pity this time was for Bella but it still annoyed me. "I know it's not fair for her. And I'm sure most of the people around here know that as well. But they are shallow people who don't care about anything but gossip," she frowned.

I look at her completely confused and slightly angry, that didn't explain why they blamed her for it.

Grandma saw the question in my eyes and answered it. "Renee and Charlie fought a lot in the last couple of years, so no one was surprised to know that they are getting divorce. However, no one had expected Charlie to just leave like that without a word or even a goodbye," she said. She looked down and sighed. "When Charlie left, Renée wasn't in the house but Isabella was. Nobody knows exactly what had happened, all they know is that all of a sudden Charlie had thrown his bags in the car and drove away with Isabella standing on the front door's step watching him leave.

When Renée came home, she asked Isabella what happened. Isabella didn't say anything but 'daddy left and won't come back'… that was all. She wouldn't tell anyone what made him leave or if he said anything to her before he did." Grandma took a deep breath and looked me in the eyes. "The neighbourhood started to blame her after that. Everyone came up with many ridiculous ways that would cause him to leave the way he did. And the fact that all of Renée's and Charlie's fights were about Isabella, didn't help ether," she finished and let out a breath.

I sat there without moving trying to understand what I just heard. I had known before that whatever the story about Bella's dad was was painful for Bella. But I had never imagined it this painful. I would have never guessed that he left without a word while she watched him drive away. I couldn't even begin to understand how that felt to Bella. I lost my parents yes, but they didn't leave me on their own, they were forced to. And I knew that they died loving me, that I would always be in their minds.

But Bella's dad left her on his own. He hurt her without caring. He stopped loving her, and everyone blamed Bella for it!

I couldn't believe what that little innocent girl had been through. I couldn't believe how much pain she endured, how much pressure was put on her tiny shoulders. She didn't deserve this! She was smart, kind, funny and so beautiful. It wasn't fair for such an angel to be tortured like this. But most important was that she was so brave. After everything she's been through, she still had it in her to talk and laugh with me. Her soul was still so kind and selfless that she felt the need to comfort me. Nothing those cold hearted people did was able to break the beauty of her heat and soul. She was truly an angel.

"Dinner is ready, Edward." Grandma's voice snapped me from my thoughts.

I looked up and saw her standing in the living room door she was looking at me with worried expression on her face.

"I'm not hungry," I murmured.

"Honey, you have to eat." She said as she came to stand next to me.

I shook my head, "Can I go to sleep, please?" She gave me a look but before she could say anything I said. "I'm just nervous about tomorrow." It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the whole truth ether.

She sighed and nodded. "Fine, but tomorrow you will have breakfast before going to school."

"Ok." I said nodding my head. I just wanted to be alone.

Grandma carried me to my wheelchair and pushed me to my room, before helping me into my bed. She made sure that the bag, which was attached to my ankle, wasnotfull before wishing me goodnight.

I didn't sleep well that night. My thoughts kept drifting back to Bella and everything grandma had told me. The image of Bella's crying face kept haunting me every time I closed my eyes.

I wasn't lying when I told grandma that I was nervous about tomorrow. I kept thinking of what would happen when I went to school. What would the kids do? What would be the reaction from the teachers when they see me? I knew what the kids reaction would be, but what about the teachers? Would they react badly? What about Bella? Would she speak to me tomorrow? Or would she ignore me? Would she be angry and yell at me? I knew she wouldn't make fun of me she was much better than that. But my grandma had hurt her because of me, would that make her hate me?

I really hopped not. It would kill me if Bella hated me now. Because at this moment I wanted to know her and be her friend more than ever, more than anything I had ever wanted.

I barley slept for two hours before grandma woke me up and helped me take a shower. She helped me put my pants on before she left me to finish getting dressed and went to make some breakfast. I finished dressing the best I could before putting my school bag on my lap and pushing my wheelchair toward the kitchen.

Grandma had made some eggs, but I didn't feel like eating even if I was starving. My stomach was filled with butterflies and I was starting to feel sick.

The doorbell rung causing grandma to frown. I could hear her murmuring under her breath about who would visit now as she made her way to the front door.

A silence followed soon as soon as grandma opened the door it was as if she was shocked to see who was standing there. She started to murmur in low voice which I couldn't hear. This made me curious. I pushed my wheelchair toward the front door wanting to know who was there. When I was close enough to see who was at the door I stopped pushing and looked up. I froze in shock when my eyes met the ones on the door.

There on the step of the front door was Bella, standing with a shy look on her face.