Hey y'all, here it is! I was surprised by the response to the last chapter! Wow! I hope you all enjoy this one. A lot happens, and its all pretty fast, but I hope you enjoy it still! Thanks so much to those of you who reviewed--You're the BEST!

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Twilight...sigh

Bella felt her hopes shatter as Edward said those words. He needed to explain...that meant that this really did have something to do with him. He wasn't denying...He was explaining.

"Explain?" Bella almost screamed at him, "What could there possibly be to explain? The fact that you lied and said that you would take care of things? The fact that you're still tearing down the center?"

"No, Bella," he said desperately, stepping towards her again. She took another step back, holding her arms out in front of herself to keep him away. "Please, you have to listen to me...It's not like that. I had a plan."

"Really? Did that plan involve seducing me and distracting me while you finalized the deal?"

"No, that isn't it at all," Edward said, advancing once more and placing his hands on Bella's shoulders to hold her in place. "Everything I did was for you, this is all for you."

"For some reason I find that hard to believe," Bella snapped, pulling away from him once again. She was furious...after all of the trust she had put in him. She trusted him with her program, her music...her heart. Why had he just thrown it all away? "Tell me, Edward...do you hate music that much? Are you so hellbent on pushing music aside that you are going to tear down something that means so much to so many people?" Edward was shaking his head back and forth, trying to get Bella to listen to him, but she wouldn't stop. She had to let him know everything she was thinking. "Why did you quit playing Edward, huh? Did you just give up? So now you just hate it and you're going to tear down everything to do with it?"

"Bella..." Edward began again, even more serious after her accusations.

"What? Can't admit that I'm actually getting close?" She knew she was pushing him and could tell that he was getting upset, but maybe that was what she wanted. She felt betrayed. It was time for him to hurt a little bit too.

Edward's calm resolve snapped quickly and his eyes bore into Bella's coldly, "My mother almost died."

This admission startled Bella and she stepped back, placing a hand over her mouth. She was still very angry, but this was not at all what she expected.

"Thats right, are you happy now? She almost died. I was away at school, too selfish and focused on my music to come home for even a day. She was nearly on her deathbed when I finally came home. Thank God Carlisle was able to save her...if he hadn't been, I would never be able to forgive myself."

Bella felt her anger dissolving as he finally spilled the secret he had been holding inside of him. A moment that should have been special between the two of them was now ruined because she had been so stubborn. She wanted to reach out to him, but she knew it was not the time. Bella may not have been as angry as before, but she was still hurt.

"I almost let my music get in the way of my life, so I quit. I'm too afraid it will take it over again," Edward admitted, finally looking up at her.

"But, Edward...Now you're letting business take over your life," Bella said cautiously. If it hadn't been for his love of business, in her opinion, they would not have been in this mess in the first place. Of course, they might not have met either...

This hadn't been the right thing to say. Edward was frustrated again.

"That just the thing, Bella! If you would just let me explain, please, I'm not letting it take over my life--"

"Edward, there really is no explanation...Its just good business...Trick the girl into falling for you, distracting her while you carry on with your business..."

"It wasn't a trick. It was all real. Bella, I love you." His eyes widened at his admission.

Her heart was pounding. Did he just say that? Did he really just say that? What was he trying to do...distract her? Did he think that she was that easily swayed? She sighed, "Edward--"

He cut her off with his lips on hers, pulling her to him tightly. Bella struggled against him, trying not to enjoy the feeling of his perfect lips pressing so wonderfully against hers, especially after what he had just told her. She couldn't believe it. She had to clear her head. It was just another part of his game..You're still angry, she reminded herself.

Her anger was the only thing that allowed herself to push him away. "Please leave," she said firmly. Right now it didn't matter that he had things to say, that he had just quite possibly admitted that he loved her, that he was pleading with her to give him a chance...She needed space and time to think.

The hurt that crossed across Edward's face lightened her anger even more. She knew he had to feel betrayed. She had pressed him all week for the answer he had finally given her, an answer that he gave hoping she would forgive him, and she was telling him to leave. But she was betrayed too. What was she supposed to think?

"But, Bella...you haven't given me a chance--"

"Edward, there will be time for you to explain later, but for now I just need you to leave me alone...please."

He sighed in defeat and walked towards the door, turning one last time to face her. Bella avoided his eyes the best she could. She knew that she would crack if she saw the sadness in them once more. It was hard enough to tell him to leave...actually watching him leave was nearly impossible.

Holding herself steady against the counter, she sighed in relief when Alice passed Edward while he was walking out. She didn't know how much longer she could hold back her tears, and the fact that Alice was arriving comforted her to no end.

The door shut behind Edward and Bella could hear Alice's cautious steps coming towards her. "Bella, what happened? Are you okay? Why was Edward upset?"

Bella could only shake her head and hand Alice the notice and the contracts before sliding down the wall and putting her head in her hands, finally allowing her tears to fall. She could feel Alice's hands rubbing soothingly across her back as she read the notice.

"This has to be a mistake," Alice said, astonished.

"No, its not," Bella blubbered, "He didn't deny it. He wanted to explain why he did it. He wasn't denying anything."

"Did you let him explain?"

"Well...no. I was too mad. I asked him to leave. I told him we could talk later. But he shouldn't have to explain! There shouldn't have been anything to explain in the first place! He told me he wouldn't tear down the center..." Bella's tears were drying up and she was making excuses now, embarrassed that her anger had affected her so much.

"Edward made you a promise, Bella. He wouldn't go back on that...He's entranced by everything you do. He wouldn't hurt you."

Bella sat up and looked at Alice intently, more tears suddenly springing to her eyes as she confessed one more thing, "He told me he loves me."

Alice didn't look surprised, "Bella, I already knew that. Go call him...Get him to come back over. He looked distraught when he left here."

xXxoOoxXxoOo

Edward was packing his hotel room. He had to leave. He knew Bella would forgive him once she knew why he still planned to tear down the center, but he wanted to give her space. She didn't need to be around him right now.

He was going to tell her before he left, that much he knew. But he couldn't tell her in person. He was going to write her a letter, include the plans for the center. He knew if he saw her once more that he would never be able to leave town and give her the space she desired. That would only make things worse...

Edward thought back to the confession he made just before he kissed her. Yes, he did love her...He was sure of that.

She didn't believe him...He was sure of that as well.

The words poured out of his heart as he sat down to write his letter. He told her everything, his hand couldn't move fast enough. Finally the letter was finished and he packed it with his things to leave the room. His phone was ringing as he left, but he was in such a rush to give the letter to Bella that he ignored it.

xXxoOoxXxoOo

"Why won't you answer?" Bella spat at her phone, frustrated. She wanted to talk to Edward desperately. She had no idea what his plans for the center were, and she was embarrassed that she hadn't shut up enough this morning to let him talk. What if the plans were actually good?

What if she had frustrated him so much by not listening that he didn't want to talk to her anymore? Was this it?

She was just about to pick up the phone and call again when Alice entered her office.

"He won't answer," Bella sighed helplessly.

"I don't think he's going to," Alice said quietly. She handed Bella a large envelope.

"What is this?"

"Edward dropped it off."

Bella's heart stopped at the mention of his name.

"He was here? Why didn't he come back to see me?"

"He wanted me to give this to you. He said he wanted to give you space. Read it, Bella. It might answer all of your questions."

Alice sat down on the piano bench as Bella began to read the letter, pacing across the room slowly. It took her ten minutes to get through the entire letter and before Alice could stop her Bella was flying out of the center, rushing to her car.

Bella knew he had to be somewhere near. He had just been at the center only ten minutes ago. He couldn't have gone very far.

Her search was hopeless, ending at the airport just in time to see his beautiful bronze hair disappear through security into a room where she could no longer follow. Of course that would be her luck. Her attempts to call his name went unanswered.

Bella hurriedly picked up her cell phone, calling his number even though she knew his phone would be turned off soon to get through security. If she was lucky, he would answer let her explain...not that she deserved the courtesy, but she knew he was gentlemanly enough to supply it.

She wasn't lucky, and was disheartened when his voicemail picked up.

"Edward? Its Bella. I can't believe I didn't listen to you this morning. Please, call me back when you get home." She paused for a moment, feeling the words she was about to say building up in her chest.

"I love you, too."

So there was Edward's big secret! Trust me, we'll hear a lot more from him in the next chapter...Let me know what you think!