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Chapter 21. -Bella's POV

We walked back into the building with our hands to ourselves and I caught Rose and Alice eyes as we took our seats. I smirked and let out a giggle at their faces before falling into laughter.

I don't know what came over me but i kept laughing, maybe because It felt like a weight has been lifted off my shoulder.

"What's funny?" Edward asked smiling.

I shook my head chuckling, "Your sister" I said nodding my head to where she stood with Rose staring intently at us.

"Oh" he said nodding his head. "want to make her stew more?" he smirked.

I looked up at him and nodded wondering what he had in mind.

"When she asks, and I know she will, tell her I told you not to share anything with her."

I raised my eyebrows at him amused.

He shrugged, "she's likes being in my business, this way she'll have to come beg me"

I let out a chuckle shaking my head at him but letting him know I would follow his plan.

The party was going well, I was enjoying it more now that Edward and I had resolved our problems. We were having a drink when I saw Rose make her way to us with Layla on her hips. She gave Edward a side glance before looking back at me.

"Right. Of course," I said before setting down my drink. It was time.

I looked down at Layla and grabbed her hand, "cake time" I smiled at her. she looked up at me eyes wide with a toothy grin.

I walked away with her leaving Edward with Rose. I hoped she behaved.

The cake was a costumed one, shaped in the number 2. Vanilla with the letter L on it. I placed 2 candles on it for her to blow out.

When It was ready for her to cut it, I got the people's attention with the help of Alice. She also had her phone out ready for pictures which I was grateful for.

I stood behind Layla as she got ready to cut through it. I had my hand placed lightly over hers just incase but before the birthday song was over she sliced through the middle of it. I let out a sigh and held her hand with the knife.

I blew the candles off when she wasn't going to, she kept looking at it. I chuckled when I saw her eyes go wide when they went off. I scooped her up and stuck my hand that had some icing on it out for her to lick, she moved her head back in disgust and I couldn't help but laugh. I heard the flash of a camera and turned to face Alice smiling.

I stuck my hand in my mouth and licked the icing before setting a wide eyes Layla down. I stepped back and allowed her friends to come up, I wanted her to take more pictures.

I looked up to where Edward and Rose where to see if everything was fine, but Edward was nowhere to be seen. Rose smiled up at me when she saw me looking but I narrowed my eyes at her.

"Cute kid" a voice I didn't recognize said from behind me.

I turned around and was met with a very pretty blonde. She had a nice smile on her face but something else twinkled behind her brown eyes.

"Excuse me?" I asked her. I wasn't sure if she was talking to me, and I was sure I would recognize her if she was invited.

"Your daughter. She's a cutie"

"Oh. Thank you" I said still unsure. "I'm sorry, do I know you?"

Her smile grew before she shook her head, "Just a friend of a friend, name is Jennifer" she offered

I shook her hand lightly, "Thanks for coming Jennifer. Hope you enjoy the party" I said to her before politely excusing myself. I was getting a little uncomfortable with the way she was looking at me.

I went to stand beside Rose who had seen the encounter.

"Who was that?" she asked narrowing her eyes

"I don't know, a friend of a friend she says" I said looking back to where she was standing but she wasn't there anymore. Letting out a sigh I turned back to Rose.

"Where's Edward?" I asked looking around.

"Oh, he went to the restroom." She says smiling. I moved my head to the side to clearly look at her.

"What did you do?"

"Gosh, nothing Bella." She rolled her eyes at me. I was going to question her more when he appeared her. His face brightened when he saw me with Rose and I couldn't help but smile.

"Why are you smiling? Oh" Rose says taking a drink out of her glass when she saw Edward.

I chuckled at the expression on her face. I think she was a little hurt that Emmett in fact did not show but didn't want to admit it.

"How was the cake?" Edward asked when he got closer to us.

"Good. Layla isn't a big fan of cake, but I think she ate some" I smiled looking at my baby with Chloe and Alice. It looked like Alice was trying to make her not mess up her outfit with cake, it was funny anytime Alice shook her head no, Layla would look up at her scared.

"She'll grow to love it more I'm sure" he chuckles only inches from me. I looked up at him and smiled.

"Alright, I'll leave y'all." Rose mumbled rolling her eyes, but I could see a hint of smile.

"Give him a call Rose, he'll be happy to hear from you I'm sure" Edward said encouragingly to her.

I looked at him, then her confused but Rose raised up her glass of drink before turning and walking off.

"Emmett?" I asked when she was gone.

"Yeah" he chuckles shaking his head.

.

It was getting later, and people were beginning to leave. It's a surprise how many people showed up but I was glad they did.

"Thanks for coming Ang" I said squeezing her in a hug.

"Of course, Bella." she said in her usual happy tone before letting me go. "You've been holding out on me" she whispered.

I bit my lips trying to hold in my smile when she moved her eyes over to Edward who was feets behind me.

"Something new" I shrugged my shoulders. She twisted up her mouth not believing me.

"Hmm, we'll discuss this soon" she says before taking a hold of her little brother hand and walking out.

I blew out a breath and smiled getting ready to head back to where Edward was with Layla. She hadn't let go off him since he took her from me after I cleaned her up from the mess she had made.

"Bella"

My footsteps froze, and I stared up at Edward who was looking at the person behind me. I saw Alice nudged Rose and she got up with hatred in her eyes. She stared at me and it looked like she was fighting herself whether to approach or not. I dropped my head down knowing the voice.

I turned around unhappy. "Jacob" I said placing my hands on my waist.

"What are you doing here?"

He tried smiling but when he saw my glare he cleared his throat. "I remembered you were thinking of this place for her birthday" he says

I said nothing but stared at him.

"Imagine my shock when Jen said you were indeed here"

I took a step back and stared up at him like he was crazy, "Jen?" I asked confused.

"Yes, Jen. My girlfriend."

To say I was surprised is an understatement. I shook my head at him getting ready to deny meeting any Jen when there was a movement beside me.

I looked up at the person and let out a flat laugh when face to face with the girl I didn't recognize earlier. Jennifer.

"You gotta be shitting me, you're his girlfriend?" I asked her before falling into a fit of laughter.

"Bella… are you okay?"

I turned around to Rose and grabbed her hand trying to stop my laugh.

"Rose! She's his girlfriend. Can you believe that?" I rested my hand on my head shook.

He left me for her? Rose looked straight at Jacob and his Jen and glared.

"Motherfucker" she quickly stepped away from me and towards them making me stumble.

"I got you" Edward says beside me in an instant. I looked up at him grateful, but then I saw Rose had Jacob at his collar against a wall with his girlfriend yelling at her.

"Rose!" Alice yelled running past us to get her off him. I looked around at the few audience we had managed to gather and felt embarrassed.

It wasn't supposed to be like this. My daughter was supposed to have a good birthday celebration. I turned to look at Layla resting on Edwards shoulder. She looked tired and I felt terrible.

"Rose, stop!" I walked up to them and helped Alice pull her off. "He's not worth it." I whispered when we got her off and walked backwards.

"Bella let me explain!" Jacob said from behind us, but I ignored him and walked back to where a wide eyes Edward stood watching.

"I'll take Layla and Chloe to the car" Edward mumbles out before walking off. I stared at him as he went with guilt.

"I want custody Bella!"

I spun around so quickly to face him. "You have no right to ask that! you made it perfectly clear you didn't want anything to do with us!" I yelled pointing at him livid.

"Bella, I'm sorry for not loving you the right way but I want my daughter and Jen-"

I let out an ugly laugh making him stop, "Jen? Jen is the one you've been fucking on the side, right?" I asked, no more caring if people were watching.

He glared at me before speaking, "I love Jen." He said with conviction. "I've been wanting to leave so many times Bella, to be with her but I felt bad for you"

"You felt bad for me!" I let out amused. Rose and Alice were beside me glaring at him.

"Yes I felt bad for you Bella! You were no fun anymore only worrying about yourself and Layla."

"Fuck You" I said through my teeth. I knew in my heart I tried so many times to make our marriage right again.

He sighed, looking at me sadly. "I want my daughter, and I will go to court if I have to"

I stood still fuming as we both stared each other down. "Go to hell."

He chuckled lightly nodding his head and grabbing Jen's hand. "See you in court" he muttered and they walked away.

The girl, Jen stopped before they could reach the door, she walked back over and dropped a paper on the table beside us, "here's the number if you change your mind" she says smiling.

I glared at her back as she walked out.

It was quiet in the building for awhile then Rose yelled at the onlookers to mind their business before a young lady walked over to us and she looked a little scared.

"I'm sorry miss but the manager wants you guys to leave" she said softly looking at the three of us.

I let my eyes close in shame before opening it back up, "we'll leave" I said to her and she seemed happy we listened.

I turned back to Rose and Alice.

"He won't get Layla Bella" Rose said strongly believing her words, but I wasn't sure. "We'll get you a good lawyer"

"Jasper!" Alice suddenly yells. We both looked at her confused and then it dawned on me, Jasper is a lawyer.

"Fuck" Rose said before walking away to grab her stuff. I assumed she figured out why Alice screamed.

I stared at Alice biting my lips unsure, Rose still had an issue with him.

"Oh c'mon, he's good" she says and grabbed the piece of paper smiling.

"Whatever." I said eventually. "Help me with the gifts to the car"

We gathered the gifts from people and walked out of the building before anymore employee told us again to leave.

I let out a heavy breath when I saw Edward standing beside the driver side of my car waiting. I gave him a little smile suddenly nervous, we had a lot to talk about.

Thoughts?