I couldn't help myself. This is the chapter I have been waiting for you to read! I want to thank you all for the continous favorites, and reviews.

Also, I know as a writer that not everyone will enjoy your work. It's the risk you take. These characters are who they are, and I love them. As do many of you! So, be ready for a twist!

Chapter 10:

Surprise

When it came time for Charlie to meet my new boyfriend the tensions were high. As we knocked on Charlie's front door together, broccoli cheese casserole in hand, I hadn't even taken notice to the fact that I had stopped breathing entirely. My dad knew I was dating someone and that I would be bringing him here. The surprise for me, was that I would be meeting my dad's girlfriend as well. He hadn't told me much about her which wasn't unlike him, so I was insanely curious. Just then, Charlie opened the door and smiled.

"Baby!"

"Hi, dad!" We hugged tightly as he ushered us into the house and took the casserole. I noticed his face fall as soon as he took in Edward.

"Dad, this is-" An unfamiliar voice cut me off.

"Edward?" My eyes flew to a woman standing behind my father in the kitchen. A beautiful tall blonde woman. My lungs jumped out of my chest and ran far away from me as I stood frozen in place.

"Irina?" Edward asked slowly.

"You two know each other, huh?" My dad asked with a chuckle. Irina walked slowly up to us and I watched with horror as my dad snaked his arm around her small waste.

"This is my baby Bells, sweetheart," Charlie said to Irina. She smiled at me awkwardly.

"Hi," She said as she extended her hand for me to shake. I didn't reply. I couldn't move. There were three things insanely wrong with this scenario. One, she was Edward's ex-wife, and I suddenly became incredibly jealous of her. Two, her age. She was at least ten years younger than Edward, making her almost fifteen years years younger than my dad. Three, she was breathtakingly beautiful and dating my father.

"Bella, where are your manners?" My father scolded. I shook my head slightly and regained my composure. I extended my hand and shook hers briskly.

"Come in, have a drink," Charlie offered. I ran to the bar and poured a large class of vodka taking a long sip. Edward and Irina followed suite. The awkward air was stifling. We made our way back to the living room with our large drinks and took a seat. Edward put his arm around my shoulder, but I shrugged it off. I was angry with him, with my father, and with Irina. I swallowed half my drink and could already feel the fuzzy effects from the alcohol. Charlie was looking at Edward with a death glare in his dark brown eyes. He looked good otherwise. Better than good if I was being honest. He wore new clothes, still plaid shirts and jeans, but new. Irina in comparison was a joke. She wore a red cocktail dress with tall heels and her hair was slick and smooth down her back. Hell, in comparison to me it was a joke. Here I sat in my favorite pair of jeans, sneakers, and a flannel button up. My hair was just as long as hers but much more untamed. It saddened me that Edward was the only one here that could stand firmly in comparison to her. He made his linen shirt and khaki pants look like wedding march material. I sighed and went for another drink, downing half of it before sitting back down in the awkward silence.

"So, uh, would someone like to start with what the hell is going on?" Charlie asked bemused. I couldn't take my eyes off of his arm around her shoulders on the opposite couch. It looked unnatural. What could someone like Irina want with a good man like my father?

"No one?" He hedged looking to his silent girlfriend.

"I'll do it, dad!" I all but slurred. I stood up and almost fell back over.

"Bella," Edward warned.

"No, I think everyone is curious here, honey." Edward sighed preparing himself for the worst.

"So, daddy this is my boyfriend, Edward. He's forty two years old and I'm only 23. This lady here," I sloshed my drink in her direction messily," Is Edward's ex-wife! Daddy, you're forty five... And hey, she's young too! Weird isn't it?" I said beginning to laugh. I couldn't control my laughing as it went on and.

"This situation is just too much," I said between bouts, "We're like a soap opera triangle." I plopped down onto the couch satisfied.

"What exactly are your intentions with my daughter, Edward?" Charlie asked seriously. I looked to Edward who was staring at me angrily. As soon as he opened his mouth to reply, I stopped him.

"Ha! No, no, no, Dad. That doesn't matter anymore."

"Regardless of his age, I'm still your father, Isabella."

"I bet you'll feel pretty awkward when Irina's dad asks you the same thing," I spat.

"How can you judge us by age when you're doing the same thing?" Irina asked politely.

"Oh, it's not age, dear," I replied just as polite, "It's the fact that you're a cheater, and no dad of mine is going to get his heart broken by some thirty year old." Irina's eyes grew wide and shot over to Edward angrily who shifted in his seat uncomfortably. I didn't care.

"Bella!" Charlie yelled.

"Dad?" I asked after another sip of vodka. "Was matter?" I slurred. "Not comfy?"

"I think maybe I should take Bella home," Edward announced standing up and reaching for my arm that I yanked it away from him.

"You'll be going nowhere with my daughter," Charlie threatened.

"What?!" Irina and I said together in shock.

"That's right," Charlie steamed, "My daughter will be going nowhere with a pedophile who uses then leaves his women!" Charlie stood up and got in Edward's face. Edward shot his eyes to Irina who looked ashamed. I stood up to stand between the two men protectively. Which man I was trying to protect, I wasn't sure.

"This is so fucked up," I yelled.

"Please, calm down everyone," Irina asked in her high voice. She stood and touched my father's bicep lovingly. I looked to her hand and almost threw up my alcohol. Charlie relented and took her hand in his. The control she had over him was infuriating. Edward grasped my arm and pulled me backwards, knowing what I had just seen.

"You're marrying the adulterer?!" I screamed in shock.

"And you want to marry the pedophile?" Irina spat with venom.

"Bella, this is not how I planned on telling you," Edward began hesitantly. He came towards me but I backed away stumbling over my own feet.

"Wait, what?" I glanced at Edward who was staring at Irina with burning eyes. My head grew dizzy and then blackness ensued as I fell and fell until I wasn't falling anymore.

My head was foggy and I couldn't hear anything clearly. Maybe there was no sound at all. The thumping in my brain was subsiding with each breath until finally I was able to open my eyes. Edward was sitting next to me with his head in his hands. For the first time in my years of knowing him, he actually looked his age right now. Worn lines adored his face in particular spots. One could see a few grey hairs sprouting in his mess of copper, and he looked tired. Events of the evening flooded back to me as I took in the space surrounding me. I slowly sat up in my old room at Charlie's house.

"Bella," Edward said relieved.

"Hi," I croaked out. Edward put his hand to my forehead carefully.

"Do you feel, okay?" He asked worriedly.

"Ouch," I said as I rubbed a sore spot on the back of my head.

"Yeah, you hit the coffee table on the way down."

"I passed out? How embarrassing!" I whined while throwing myself back onto the bed which only furthered the throbbing lump.

"Don't be embarrassed," He soothed as he rubbed his hand over mine. The last time I can remember him saying that to me was when I was naked in front of him at the hotel. I wished badly to be back there right now in that room with him. It felt like so much had changed too soon.

"How long was I out?"

"Only an hour."

"An hour? Shit, Charlie-"

"Is downstairs with Irina."

"Irina," I breathed defeated.

"I'm so sorry, Bella."

"For what exactly?" I asked sitting back up and leaning against the head board. "The questions are endless, Edward. For not telling me her age? That younger women is your thing? Love them then leave them because they're too young to care or understand?"

"Do you really think that?" He asked hurt.

"No," I whispered immediately. "I mean, I don't really know, Edward."

"Well, I'm not going to be able to change the way you think, Bella."

"You won't try? Don't you think I deserve some explaining?" I asked hurt.

"What is there to explain? You know everything."

"Now I do," I finished quietly. Edward's green eyes began to turn gray as he looked into my brown pleadingly for a long moment.

"I guess I should be going, then," He said angrily rising up from the bed.

"So, that's it, huh?"

"What's left? You think what you do of me, no matter how wrong you are. You are always so quick to believe what other people tell you."

"You're not going to defend yourself against her accusations?"

"I shouldn't have to!" He yelled. I cowered at his voice. I had never heard him yell before. Until now, I thought he was incapable.

"So, you wont fight for us? Then you don't care about me at all, Edward! I have all the answers I need now, thanks to you. You're a coward. I cannot believe how easy it is for you to just walk away." My voice betrayed me with cracks as tears welled in my eyes.

"Never once did I say it would be easy," He answered in a whisper.

"But I suppose you think it's a good thing that I never said yes, huh?" I stated through hot tears that I allowed to fall freely. I sniffed my nose and wiped my eyes ashamed.

"No, the good thing for you is that I never asked," He replied quietly. He took my hand and kissed it, then left me alone in my room. I slammed my head back against the head board welcoming the pain it brought. Any pain other than this was bearable. I waited until I heard his car start before I got up. I made it downstairs with no disasters and gathered my coat.

"Bella?" Charlie asked from behind me, "You're leaving?"

"Yes," I replied through sobs, not turning to face him.

"You don't have your truck."

"I'm walking, and I'll call Alice to come get me."

"Let me take you."

"No," I snapped. "Edward left, you should be happy now. Go enjoy your fiancé." I left him with that as I opened the door and began to jog away from my father's home without my central beating organ. How does one live without their heart?

I know you're probably so mad at them all right now, but it was a shock, right?! Such an intense situation...