chapter 10

BACK in Istanbul the next afternoon, Bella stumbled as she came out of the private hospital north-east of Taksim Square. Blindly she stepped into the street.A loud honk made her fall back as she was nearly run over by a taxi driver who shouted at her in fluent, expressive Turkish. Gasping, almost crying, Bella stood trembling on the sidewalk,shivering with shock.

Pregnant.

She was pregnant with Edward's baby. Pregnant with the child she'd promised him she could never conceive!

Over the last week, she'd tried to mock her own fears, tried to convince herself she was being foolish to worry. But she hadn't been foolish at all. The doctor had just confirmed her worst fears, had been right on target.

What would Edward say when she told him?She walked down the street, took deep breaths until she stopped trembling, then climbed back into the tiny car that was used by the staff. She drove north through the thick traffic to theoutskirts of Beyoglu. They'd been back in Istanbul for only a few hours, but already everything had changed betweenthem. Edward had immediately gone to his home office and barked out orders to various assistants about the upcoming real estate deal he was hoping to have signed tonight. And all the house staff had rushed to her with their questions about the final preparations for the dinner had become his employee again. Edward had become her 'd left the lovers behind on the island. Left them behind , Bella stared out at the busy traffic, colorful billboards and old buildings of the city through the grimy glass. The car needed to be washed, she thought dimly. She'd have to tell thechauffeur's assistant when she got back…

Should she even tell Edward she was pregnant?Her great-aunt Esme words came back to her. Always be honest, child. Tell the truth, even if it hurts. Better to hurt now than twice as much later.

But Bella wasn't so sure. She'd saved five years of her salary in Europe, since she'd never taken time to travel or see the sights. She'd always told herself she mustn't be selfish— 's needs must come first. She'd told herself she would see the sights of Europe later. Somehow, that time had never what did she have to show for it? She was just five years older. Pregnant. Alone!The shaking vibration of the little car as she drove north on the old road was hypnotic.

Pregnant.

As she drove past the mansion's gate, she barely noticed the security guard's respectful greeting. She parked the car, informed the chauffeur's assistant that the car needed attention,then went into the house. Everything looked beautiful for Edward's birthday dinner tonight. Every room was filled withflowers, autumn roses from the garden supplemented with pepperberry stems and dark orange Asiatic lilies. As this was his first dinner party at his home in Istanbul, Bella had planned it with care, choosing a menu rich with the exotic flavors of the city. Even now, the Turkish cook,orders to his assistants to prepare themidye dolmasi,mussels stuffed with spiced rice, the sea

bass stew, lamb kebabs and a variety of fruits and pastries for herself had made one of the desserts. It was not a traditional Turkish recipe, so it did not fit

in with the menu, but she knew it was Edward's favorite and so she'd made it that morning anyway. For his birthday. Because she loved him. It had taken her an hour, but she'd carefully prepared her specialty dessert, caramel macadamia brownies with white chocolate 'd wanted to make his first dinner here special. But since he intended to put the house on the market tomorrow, it would also be his last. Now, looking around her, she felt a lump in 'd wanted everything to be perfect for him. She'd made his home beautiful, made his life comfortableand full of ease. She'd sacrificed her every need for his. And now it was over. Now it was done. Once she told him she was pregnant, she would lose job she loved. The man she would she go, without him to be both her albatross and her star? What would she do without him, all alone?Slowly, heavily, she started to go up the stairs to her room. As she passed the study, she heard one of his assistants say, "Mademoiselle Denali is on the phone for you, sir." Bella froze on the Denali was a beautiful French starlet famous mostly for her time spent pouting while topless, posing for the paparazzi during the Cannes Film Festival. Blond, curvaceous andcruel she was everything that most men seemed to want in a woman.

"Tell her I'm busy," came Edward's curt reply, and Bella exhaled. She hadn"t realized until then how very much, in spite of everything, she wanted him to be faithful to Cullen, faithful to any woman? She mocked herself as she climbed slowly up the stairs toher room. Had the pregnancy hormones kicked in already? She must really be out of her mind!

But he'd refused tanya Denali's phone call. Could a man change?

Could he understand that sometimes fate changed people's lives in unexpected ways— for thebetter?When she reached her room, she closed the door behind her, leaning against it for strength. Shelooked down in wonder, putting her hands on her belly as a new realization occurred to her.

Pregnant.

A new life was growing inside herEdward's child. A smile lifted her lips. A baby.

A sweet-smelling baby to cuddle in her arms, to love forever. Her parents had died long ago, and she'd been estranged from her younger sister for five years. But with this baby, she would finally have a family of her own. A reason to create a real home, after so many years alone.

Had Rose felt like this when she'd first found out she was pregnant? Bella pushed away the unbidden thought. She didn't want to think about Rose. Didn't want to think about the niece or nephew she'd never met. The child must be almost five now, probablywith brothers and sisters. And Mike Newton as their father…She'd tried not to think about MIke for years. But to her surprise, the thought of him no longer hurt her the same way. Because she'd never really cared about him? She'd worked for him for only a few months before he'd proposed to her. She hadn't known him half so well as she knew perhaps it was because her relationship with Mike seemed so laughably in the past, the crush of a schoolgirl long ago, compared to the enormity of being pregnant with Edward's could she tell Edward the news?Straightening her shoulders, Bella went to her closet. She pushed through all the plain,serviceable clothes and pulled something out of the back, covered by plastic. Taking it out, shestared down at a sexy black bustier last time she'd worn this, she'd been an engaged woman. Her sister had been visiting for a month from college, and had insisted they go shopping. "You're so lucky," Rose had said wistfully. "Going from a live in housekeeper to a rich man's wife." "I love him," Bella had replied, smiling. But she'd allowed Rose to talk her into spending an entire paycheck in one splurge on the dress for their engagement party. Bella had hoped to look pretty for Mike,and try her best to impress his friends. Then a few weeks later, an hour before their engagementparty began, her nineteen-year-old sister had asked to speak to her privately."How could you?" Bella had gasped a few moments later. "You're my sister. How could youdo this to me?"

"I'm sorry!" Katie had cried. "I never meant to get pregnant. But I can't believe you even love him. If you did, you wouldn't have kept him at arm's length, refusing to sleep with him until youwere married! Who does that anymore?"

"I do," Bella had choked out, and grabbing her purse, she'd run from the house. She'd run as far away from Miami as she could, all the way to Paris.

She'd nearly thrown the dress in the trash five years ago. But instead, for some reason, she'd kept it. Now, the sexy black dress was the one item of clothing from

her old life, before she'd been afraid of love, before she'd disappeared from the world to walk the earth like a ghost.

As she put on the dress, Bella told herself she had no illusions that Edward would love her; hewould certainly never marry her. She only prayed he might love and accept their coming that was the reason the only reason! that she put it was a little loose from her weight loss over the last few years, all the time she‟d spent without time to exercise or sit down and eat meals or take care of herself properly. But when she added abelt, the dress still looked nice. She brushed her dark hair, leaving it tumbling and lustrous down her shoulders. She took off her black-rimmed plastic glasses and put in contact lenses. She was out of practice after wearing glasses for so long. She added some mascara to her lashes and somedeep red lipstick on her mouth, then surveyed herself in the mirror for the effect. After so many years, she almost didn't recognize looked prayed it would help. Because she was she went downstairs, she could hear the first guests starting to arrive outside. She saw Edward at the base of the stairs and stopped, gripping the polished wood of the railing. She closed hereyes as she took a single calming breath, her hand on her belly. Could this night be anything likeher deepest dreams? "I'm pregnant, Edward," she would graeen eyes would widen. He'd gasp. Then he'd take her into his arms. "I am glad," he'd say fiercely. "Of course I want this baby. And I want you. You are the only woman for me,cherie." Looking down at her, he would lift her chin and whisper tenderly, "I love you, Bella."

"Bella."

She opened her eyes to see Edward looking up at her from the bottom of the stairs. He was frowning at her as if she'd dyed her hair purple and dressed like the Easter bunny.

"Why are you dressed like that?" he demanded, coldly surveying her from head to toe.

It wasn't quite the reaction she'd been hoping for, but she tried to smile as she walked down the stairs carefully, on her four-inch black patent high heels.

"For the party," she said. She stopped one step above him. He still wouldn't smile back at her."For your birthday," she tried again. Instead of looking pleased, Edward scowled. "You are going to attract attention like that."

A servant should always be had given up her chance at a college scholarship to stay home and take care of her little sister and ailing great-aunt. But her aunt had left Bella a small inheritance, which she'd used to attend butler school to become a certified household manager.

You are not a person to your employer. You are a tool in his service. Serve invisibly. Never invade your employer's privacy or force yourself upon his notice. To do so will cause embarrassment to you both.

Now, Bella stiffened. "You don't like my dress?"

He glared at her. "No."

It seemed almost impossible to believe just that morning, she'd been in his arms. They'd been naked together in the amazing Greek mansion overlooking the Aegean. Now, when she needed his attention the most, he'd suddenly become distracted. Distant.

Was he already thinking about Tanya Denali, who was already on her way? Had he already forgotten Bella completely?

"Go change," he said coldly. "The guests will arrive any moment."

He seemed completely disinterested in her. Just as he'd promised two days ago, their little affair had apparently cured his desire for her. He'd had his fill of her. He was done. He was ready to move a deep breath, she told herself it was irrelevant if he cared for her. She had to think about their unborn child. Edward had to know she was pregnant. For their baby's sake.

As he turned to leave, she grabbed his wrist.

It took every ounce of her courage. "I need to talk to you."

He stared at her hand on his wrist. She released him as if he'd burned her.

"I want you on the plane to Buenos Aires tomorrow," he replied icily.

"Buenos Aires?" she whispered, staggered. He no longer wanted her in Paris? "Why BuenosAires?"

"You'll take over my house there." He gave a single dismissive nod, already turning away."Now go change your dress."

Bella felt a stab of could not have said it more plainly. He no longer saw her as anything but a servant.

And the truth was that even in Greece, when she'd imagined herself his cosseted mistress, she'd still been his servant. Serving his needs in bed, rather than in the household. And now that he was done with her, he expected her to simply return to being invisible, to being the plain gray ghost that vanished into the hundred-year-old woodwork of the he cared nothing for her but as his invisible servant? She gritted her teeth.