Chapter 11

Bella gets on the lift hesitantly. It is about to close when Edward keeps his hand between the doors. Bella is taken aback to see him. Edward keeps looking at her. Someone walks in and pushes Edward towards Bella. He keeps his hands around her but does not stop staring at her. He apologizes to her, "It is too crowded." Bella is highly uncomfortable. She heaves a sigh of relief as she steps out of the elevator and watches Edward go up. How did he come here?

Carmen is shocked to hear her husband speak of Rose and Alice's weddings, "Both of them are just 22!" Eleazar reasons that they were 21 when they got married. She reasons it was a different time. He replies that he has spoken to the groom's family already, "We will do engagement right now and the rest can happen in a year's time. Till then she will complete her studies too." She asks him if he has asked Rose and Ali once. He asks her if she wants another 2 Bella in the house, "We gave Bella whatever she asked for including the right to make her own decisions. She just broke my expectations every time!" Carmen insists it isn't right to punish Rose and Ali for what Bella did wrong. He announces that the decision has been made, "Inform Ali and Rose." Saying so, he walks away. Alice asks her mother what her father was saying. Ali and Rose is shocked to hear her father's decision. Her mother tells them that the groom's family will come to see her. Ali and Rose is in disbelief.

Leah begins the meeting. People complain that they have lost their money. Bella asks Leah to explain to them but Mahi says they are furious, "They want the firm to close down." Bella calls Belke Jake's dream but Leah acts helpless. Bella addresses everyone. Her and Jake's photo is displayed in the background on the projector. She shares her introduction with them, "This photo was taken on our wedding day. Our family was against this wedding so we had a simple one. Our bond was really strong though." A lady points out that maybe this is why Jake was found with someone else. Bella continues, "This company was Jake's dream. I promised not to come between his dreams ever. He promised to take this company to great heights one day so I will be proud. This company is also a relation who ties you and us like wedding; a commitment; a responsibility to be taken care of both partners in all the highs and lows. Jake isn't here but I am only asking for a chance to take this company to where you all imagined it to be. It was Jake's life. I promise to give my all to it to make it reach the top. No one would lose anything. Just give me one chance." Edward gives his support to Bella. Leah and Bella are surprised to see him walk inside the meeting and take the centre seat, "She is right. This company cannot shut down. In fact, I wont let it happen! You must be wondering who I am. I am Edward Cullen, the co-owner of the company!" Leah and Bella's eyes widen in shock. Edward walks out of the meeting room.

Emmet and Jasper reaches Mussorie, "Dad may try to hide it but we will find out the truth; we will find out what Dad is trying to hide." Rose is driving scooty and Ali is in the back seat and is disturbed by thier mother's words. They collides with Jasper and Emmet and ends up scolding him, "You don't seem to belong here. Where are you from?" He tells her he is from Mumbai, says sorry to her and begins to walk away. She turns to go but hears him asking someone the location of Siddiqui House. She thinks him to be the prospective groom chosen by her father and misguides him. He thanks her and goes in another direction. She waves at him after sending him to bus stand. She thinks he will be dropped in the middle of Dhaualti jungle now. He will forget everything about marriage!

Edward comes to Jake's cabin, "You ruined my life. I will destroy everything that belongs to you! Now you will go through what I went through. I will ruin your name and everything! I will destroy everything!" Bella notices the torn painting in his hand, "What did you do?" He tells her he found it to be too irritating. She calls him rude and pathetic, "Did you not realise anything by going to jail? Keep a tab on your mindless tongue for once. Atleast try!" He tells her to be quiet, "Why do you keep threatening about police every time? You might be the one going to jail today. I have a surprise for you. He gives her the papers of the company." She is in tears after reading it. Edward tells Bella he is exaggerating the truth by calling himself the co-owner, "In reality, I am the owner. Everything here belongs to me and I can do anything to them! Till the time you return my money to me, I am your owner too! I own you!" He notices the look on her face, "Does it happen only when I come in front of you or otherwise too? You conveniently ignored what you saw in super market. How will you ignore the fact that my wife donated 5 crores in your husband's company? Which new lie will you tell yourself now? I remember your cheater husband whenever I see your face! He isn't here so you have to bear it!" She asks him to let her go. He asks her if she is running away again, "you can try but you cannot escape from the truth. I told you I own you. You cannot go anywhere or even breather without my permission! I will destroy your husband's dream! I will make you pay for my every pain till you accept the truth!" She runs out from there teary eyes / in panic.

Bella pours water over her face and calms herself down. Edward's words echo in her mind. Bella calls her mother. Carmen picks the call but is unable to talk as her husband comes just then. He asks Carmen about Rose and Ali. She tells him she will be home soon. He repeats that he does not want another 2 more Bella in the house. She tells him to not say anything at any time without giving it a thought. She begins to talk about Bella but he does not want to hear her name in the house anymore, "She is living her life the way she wants to! I am talking about my other daughters. Ask both of them to be home and do some favour on me or she can become another Bella." He leaves. Bella breaks down hearing everything on the other end. She disconnects the call. Her mother calls her back but Bella does not respond. Leah pats at Bella's shoulder, "Did Tanya Cullen invest 5 crores in brother's company? Your eyes seem different. Did doubt gets replaced by love?" Bella begins to mumble when her phone rings. Leah does not want Eleazar to pay it off in one go as she would not get the insurance amount then I will have to make Bella trust brother and love him. She talks positively to Bella, "It's okay. It's a huge amount. Tanya might have avoided telling her husband. Other shareholders have also invested in the company. We doubt Tanya Cullen just because she is a woman?" Bella hugs Leah, "Thank you! I don't know what all I was thinking! Jake never wanted to trouble me. He loved me very much which is why he dint tell me of this huge investment. I tried cooking for him one day. I got hurt while cutting onions. He barred me from going in the kitchen as he dint want to see me hurt." Leah asks her what Edward Cullen was saying to her. Bella does not mind whatever he says, "I wont let Jake's dream break." Mahi agrees to support her. That Edward Cullen knows nothing. Bella thanks her again.

Jasper and Emmet are back to the same place, "Those girl messed up real bad with us." Jasper asks a guy about Siddiqui House. He offers to take him to Eleazar's Home as Eleazar is his neighbour only. Jasper and Emmet thanks him profusely.

Rose gets her mother's call. She assures her she will reach soon. She thinks how to handle father now as the groom disappeared. It is safe to return though.

Edward keeps his feet on Jake's photo. Bella ignores it. She picks up the stuff from the floor as Edward messes with Jake's another photo. She takes it out of his grasp. He notices her trying picking the canvas under his feet, "You are still loyal to that cheater?" He removes his feet himself, "When will you change?" Bella says, "I know you feel that my Jake and your wife had something." He reminds her of Tanya's name, "You should have gotten accustomed to her name by now." She accepts that he is right to be upset as his wife put his money without telling him even then it is his money after all! Where is the smartness in destroying it? Aditya replies that it isn't about money. It is about trust and love, "I loved my wife very much. It was no deal. I wouldn't have given her this much amount if I cared about money. When I can give her 5 crores for the sake of love then I can burn them too! I am having fun. In fact, I will destroy everything that is associated with your cheater husband's name. I will enjoy the most when I will see it all burning down to ashes!"