I took a very long run today, and it was very invigorating. I also burned a lot of calories, which is always good! Too bad I came home to find my husband and his friends, the man-child brigade, dancing around our living room, jamming out to Avril Lavigne. They are all 27 year old straight males.

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BPOV

"So, you're dating Carlisle Cullen?" The blonde girl, Lauren, asked.

"Yes." I said slowly, not sure where this was headed.

"What are you, like a golddigger or something?" Lauren snickered. "I mean, he's really, really attractive, but he's like 50 years old."

"He's 45." I corrected her, rolling my eyes.

"And you're what…23, right? The same age as your boyfriends children?" The brunette, Jessica, raised her eyebrows and took a long sip of her drink.

"Those sort of things don't matter to us." I said in what I hoped was a strong voice. "And it really is none of your business."

"Well, we came over here with the intention of helping you." Lauren said sharply. "Your precious boyfriend is a player. He cheated on his wife, and since their divorce, he's had tons of girlfriends. It doesn't matter how young you are, you're just like all the others. He's going to drag you along for awhile, then get bored and break your heart."

"It's none of your business." I said again, although my heart was beating fast.

Was this what Carlisle had been hiding from me? The fact that before their marriage went downhill, he had cheated on her?

"Fine. Just remember; we warned you." Lauren sniffed, and the two of them turned away and flounced off to join the rest of the party.

I stood still, practically frozen in place. Why hadn't he told me about something as serious as this? He had always implied that the divorce was Esme's fault, and that she had broken his heart. Was it really the other way around? I jumped when I felt someone come up behind me, and I whirled around, my heart racing.

"Whoa, calm down!" It was Edward.

"I'm sorry." I said, trying to catch my breath. Edward furrowed his brow, looking concerned.

"Is something wrong?" He asked, glancing out into the crowd. "What did Lauren and Jessica say to you?"

"Why did your parents get divorced?" I blurted out. Edward hesitated, his eyes darkening slightly.

"They weren't happy." He said gruffly, not making direct eye contact with me.

"Is that all?" I persisted, gripping his arm. "Because Lauren said-" Edward cut me off, his features drawn and serious. Despite this, I couldn't help but notice he was still extremely attractive.

"I was a teenager when it happened." Edward said sharply. "I don't know the details, nor do I want to. All I know is that everything was fine, and suddenly one day my parents were in the middle of the messiest, most spiteful divorce this town has ever seen." I couldn't tell if he was lying or not; I didn't know him well enough. "If you really want to know all the gory details, you'd be better off asked Carlisle for answers, not me." I was stunned at his behavior, and a little hurt. I hadn't meant to offend him.

"I'm sorry-" I began, reaching out to touch his arm. But he moved away, his eyes searching the crowd of people nearby.

"Don't be. I can take care of myself." He said, then turned abruptly and made his way through the throng of people back to where his siblings, mother, Rosalie, Jasper, and Victoria were standing. They were all looking in my direction, and when Edward rejoined them, I saw their expressions turn to confusion.

Victoria looped her arm around Edward's, whispering something in his ear. His annoyed expression didn't change in the slightest.

I tried to ignore them, and looked desperately around the room for Carlisle. I needed to talk to him; I needed to know the truth.

I knew it wasn't really any of my business; Carlisle hadn't even known me back them. I had been 17 years old when he and his wife had gotten divorced.

But I needed to know if the man I was in love with was really the kind of person who would cheat on his wife. Because I could easily see our relationship go that way, despite our difference in age and the time in which we had known each other. Before tonight, Carlisle had never given me the slightest reason to doubt him. Now, my mind went back to all the nights he worked late and all the opportunities he's had to cheat on me.

I wanted an explanation.

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This chapter is short, but I'm teaching an art class tomorrow at six in the morning! Ugh! I can't believe I agreed to this…I must have been feeling very generous and awake when I did.

Xoxo- Melodyella aka Mellie