EPOV
"Remember, she's the media—throw her a bone and she dives for it. They want the story; they could care less about you."
Garrett had been prepping us all morning. We had given Jane everything we had on Newton, Hunter and Tanya. She would most likely still ask invasive questions and try to get more from us, but Garrett had prepared us for that.
"Has she already filmed with Jessica?" Bella asked.
"Yes, and I was there for the whole thing. What Jessica gave her was gold. You two are just the icing on the cake," Garrett replied.
"A lot of analogies today, man," I chuckled.
"I'm functioning on a few hours of sleep. Give me a break," he huffed.
I stuck my hands up to indicate that I was backing off. Bella tried to cover up her giggle, knowing how much work Garrett had done for us.
We heard the doorbell ring and Sue's voice in greeting. Rose took Bella by the hand so she could get her ready and I ran upstairs to throw my suit on. After an hour of set up, Bella was stepping out of her old room in hair and makeup and we headed downstairs.
Jane was talking on her phone as people buzzed around her in the living room. She turned around and saw us before she ended her call.
"Thanks for speaking with us, Jane," I greeted, shaking her hand.
She smiled professionally.
"Well, I'm just happy you both actually wanted to do a sit down. This Tanya Denali has been keeping quiet, and quiet in my profession fades fast," she said honestly. "Now my producer informs me you have married since we last spoke."
"Yes." Bella answered, squeezing my hand.
"Congratulations," Jane said sincerely. "On your day off yesterday, we interviewed Jessica Stanley-Newton."
"That had to have been rather eye-opening," Bella stated.
"It was, but I'm sure you already know this," Jane said, giving us a pointed look.
"Do you think we're doing this the right way?" I asked her.
"I'll be honest—with both Jessica and Isabella's stories, I can see the others coming out and speaking up. From what Garrett has said, these other women believe they are his girlfriend. When they find out, I guarantee they will emerge, using a media platform," she said.
"We just want the truth out there so we can go home and live in peace," Bella explained.
"Understandable. So on that note, let's get started," Jane said, clapping her hands together.
Garrett moved to stand in the corner of Charlie's living room. He was on his phone, but I knew he was ready to jump in to field questions that were too prying.
It was lights, camera, action.
Good evening, I'm Jane Miles and I want to thank you for joining us for this Primetime Special. I reported a few months ago on the reappearance of the founder of the Masen Technologies empire, Edward Anthony Cullen III. Last time we spoke, Edward had been living for three years with Seattle heiress, Isabella Swan. The couple had a son and were engaged.
The camera settled on Jane in Charlie's living room.
"I hear congratulations are in order?" Jane asked brightly as Bella and I sat side by side.
Bella lifted her hand for the camera so the world could see the ring set I'd gotten for her.
"We got married in a small setting with just our family. With the media circus surrounding us, we were not going to let them take our special day away from us. This is the first marriage for both of us and we wanted it to be perfect," Bella said simply.
"There is a reason you both have been in the news," Jane prompted.
"Yes." I spoke up. "Recently, my former fiancée, Tanya Denali, began making public claims, teasing that she has information about our daughter's paternity," I added.
"Does she?"
"We have recently discovered Miss Denali and James Hunter, a former Masen employee who went to prison for embezzlement, contacted our daughter Emma's biological father in a extortion plot," I explained.
"You know Emma Swan's father?"
"I met him once when I was seventeen. My mother had been diagnosed with cancer and I acted out. She sent me to live with my dad for a while, in hopes that I could cope better with him. I was destructive and did things I'm not proud of, but when I met Michael Newton, he knew what he wanted from me," Bella said steadily.
"Michael Newton, the CEO for the Seattle-based Newton Outfitters?" Jane asked patiently.
"Yes. His father only had the one store in Forks at that time. He built the now flagship store into a chain."
Jane nodded, glancing at her notes. She was poised in her questioning, but also she wanted the ratings enhancing dirt.
"Where did this one-time occurrence with Newton happen?"
"A bar just on the border of Forks and Port Angeles, in Washington."
"You were underage," Jane stated.
"He bought me drinks," Bella told her.
"Did he drug you?"
"I know he made sure I was drunk," she answered frankly.
"Did he know you were underage?"
"I don't think that mattered to him."
"And you didn't know he was married?"
"I found out when my father and I bumped into him and his wife a few days later."
"You didn't know you were pregnant?"
"Not until I was back with my mother for a few months. I made the decision not to tell him for my daughter. He had a pregnant wife. What kind of man does that?" Bella asked, giving my hand a squeeze.
The camera panned away and the next shot went to Jane in the studio.
"When I interviewed Edward and Isabella Cullen, I also paid a visit to Michael Newton's wife, Jessica," Jane announced.
The camera settled on Jessica and Jane sitting in her study. Jessica sat poised and looked elegant in her dress and jewelry. This was her swan song in all of this.
"Did you know your husband fathered another child that wasn't your own?"
"Not until I followed him a week ago and saw him leaving Chief Swan's house. He'd been acting paranoid the past few weeks. I thought it was weird, but when I went into his office, I noticed a new vault built in," Jessica explained.
"Were you able to open it?"
"His code was our eldest daughter's birth date. The interesting thing is he had other children's birth certificates listing him as the father, along with documents to sign over his rights to Mrs. Cullen's daughter," she stated.
"These documents were served to him?"
"By the Cullens," Jessica finished. "I feel like I've been married to a stranger. His children with these other woman are not even near where we live. He's been taking trips more frequently, but now it all makes sense."
"Do you think you husband still wants his rights to Emma Swan?"
"I think someone offered him a large amount of money to start trouble for the Cullens. I found a contract from a James Hunter who was once employed at Masen Technologies."
The screen filled with the contracts James had given Newton.
I hit pause on my laptop.
"We got them," I said, giving Bella a grin.
"They thought they were so smart," she said, shaking her head.
We'd been home a week, just Bella, the kids and me. The island was now in its slow season and I was fine to manage the restaurant in my office. In the States, our lawyers were taking Newton, Hunter and Tanya to the cleaners. Like Garrett had said, all the other women came forward, telling the story of how Michael Newton had duped them.
"He still hasn't signed," Bella sighed, leaning against me.
"He will," I assured her.
"Him not signing is the only thing giving him any control," she told me.
"With the extortion charges, most judges will throw out his paternal rights," I informed her.
She knew I was right, but she still had that worry. I tried to ease her thoughts everyday we were home.
"Dad?" Emma called out, walking out to the patio.
"Yeah?"
"Can I go to Aunt Rosie's after the market tomorrow?"
"We can do that, but you need to get back to bed," I said pointedly.
"'Kay!" she exclaimed, running back inside.
"I feel like they have adjusted pretty well since we've been back, Rose included," Bella said.
"She's still talking to Emmett," I replied.
Bella rolled her eyes. She'd told me to back off the two of them and that Emmett could be good for Rose. His presence had not set her into a panic attack, so that was a start and she smiled when he was around.
"This is how normal should be. Everyone at their homes and safe," Bella finally said.
"I feel like now is the time for things to die down. Garrett is handling everything so it's all out of our hands right now, so we're good."
She turned in my arms as she looked up at me.
"Do you think if I were to tell you I was pregnant it would all still be good?" she asked as her eyes widened and her face turned into a brilliant smile.
"Things would be amazing then," I told her honestly, as I squeezed her to me.
A/N: Here is the last chapter! An epilogue to follow! Thoughts? I want to thank everyone for reading and reviewing. Also I'd like to give huge thanks for Astro2009 for betaing this chapter!