Author's Note: Fights and arguments. Raised voices and snapping. What's going to happen to Edward and Bella now?

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.

Chapter 25

I wasn't giving up. I confronted Edward again at breakfast the next day before he went to work, but like yesterday, he wasn't hearing about a divorce.

And in our hot argument, we didn't hear the front door opening and closing.

"I told you," Edward growled, his figure tense. "I'm not going to let you go."

"It's not going to help you!" I said, throwing my hands up in the air exasperatedly. "Stop being so stubborn and listen to me. You can be with someone who loves you all the time, who wants you all the time instead of someone like me who doesn't deserve you!"

Edward looked so angry. But for once, I didn't back down. I had to fight for my freedom. I didn't want this life anymore.

"Don't ever say that," he said sharply. "Don't ever say that you're not worthy of me. If anything, I'm the one unworthy of you, and it's true that I might not deserve you. But you are mine, and I'm never letting go of that."

There was a loud gasp, and we both turned to see Alice and Esme at the dining room doorway. They looked shocked.

I looked away quickly, shame rising from my stomach while Edward shoved away his chair and stood up. He didn't kiss me like he usually did when he left for work, but merely brushed past me coldly. He didn't even acknowledge his mother and sister and a few seconds later, I heard the front door closing.

"Esme, Alice," I greeted them stiffly. "Why didn't you call?"

Esme looked horrified. "Bella! What…what…"

"Are you serious about this?" Alice asked, shocked. "Why? When did this happen?"

"A divorce?" Esme sounded faint. "No, no, no. Bella, what are you thinking?"

I sighed as I reached for Edward's untouched plate of food. I walked briskly to the kitchen and dumped the food in the trash, then left the plate in the sink.

When I returned, Esme had sat down on a chair, and Alice was murmuring to her in soothing turns. She straightened when she saw me, her expression fierce and demanding. "Explanation. Now."

We moved to the living room, and for the next two hours, I explained about the meeting with the board of directors and how I didn't want to deal with this anymore. And then, I had to hear denials and begging from Esme, as she pleaded for me to think about it again and change my mind. Alice was surprisingly quiet.

"Bella," she said finally. "Since when have you been thinking about this?"

I shrugged heavily. "A while, I guess. I just wasn't desperate enough to voice my opinion."

"And now you are?"

"I feel…guilty. I know Edward's been waiting for me to come around for years now, but…" I shook my head fiercely. "He can't. I don't deserve that. He needs someone better, someone who can offer him love, care, and the support that I haven't been giving him. And most of all, an heir."

Alice made an impatient noise as Esme breathed deeply in and out, her hand on her chest. "Bella, you've been giving him all that! You've been giving him encouragement and support, just like he wanted. He never wanted more from you, and as for that bull those old directors are giving you, you two are still young! There's plenty of time for children later.

"But Bella, you're being unreasonable right now. I understand your need for freedom, but you two are so incredibly busy, and you're hardly home. You probably hadn't had a chance to love him more than the way you've always felt, but come on! A divorce? You can't do this to him!"

I sighed. "Alice, this is about me. I'm so tired of trying to learn to love him like I should as his wife. I'm tired of all the pretending and faking I have to do. I'm sorry, but I have to face it. What has five years of marriage brought me? I didn't end up falling for him eventually or give him a son that looks like him, did I? At this point, I think giving up is-"

"No!" Esme blurted out. "Oh, no, Bella! Don't even go there. How can you?" She began crying.

I felt so bad at the moment, knowing that I was saying this so bluntly and selfishly in front of my husband's mother and sister. I felt so incredibly ashamed that I looked away, unable to face them.

Alice was upset too. "I can't believe this. We come over, wanting to spend the day with you after months of not seeing you because you were out in Hollywood. And we just happen to come across you two arguing like a bunch of old people who's gotten into a rut. Seriously? You can't leave him, Bella. You just…can't. Think about how he'd cope. Because he won't. He won't be able to cope. He loves you too much to let you go. He won't."

I sighed deeply. I was ashamed that we'd gotten caught. I hadn't meant to make such a big deal out of this, but of course, I'd been foolish. How could Edward's family not get involved with this? This marriage had meant so much for the Cullens. They loved and cared for me. They were my family. How can I give them so much harm?

Esme took a deep breath. "Bella, honey. Think about what you're asking of us. Of Edward. It would kill him to even think about divorcing you. Don't you know how much he loves you?"

"I do, Esme," I said softly. "That's why I have to do this. It's unhealthy for him to be so obsessed with me when I'm not. He deserves to have someone better."

"You're the best one for him!" Alice burst out. "How can you not see that? If you would just try, then none of this would happen!"

I looked at her like she's just slapped me in the face. "Alice."

She, too, was crying now, but she was glaring at me halfheartedly. "We could all see it, Bella. You weren't trying hard enough. You weren't putting your all into trying to love him and not see him as a brother. You weren't interested in him, but that was the reason you couldn't have kids. How can you, when your heart's not in it?"

I felt a slash go through my heart as she said that. It hurt so much, hearing the truth from someone who like my own sister. Who was my sister.

"I love you, Bella," Alice continued. "But this is some serious bullshit. You just want to give up? After five years, you just want to give up?" She shook her head. "I'm sorry, Bella, but I can't let you do that. I can't let you do that to my brother!"

"Honey, let's…let's talk about this some more," Esme begged. "You're making rash decisions. You're still young. You don't know…you could still try. Try once more…try to care for him in the way that you should. Please, Bella… I don't want to see my son and daughter break like this. You're both important to me, and if you two divorce…you'll break all of us."

I was torn. After Alice and Esme had left, I'd ran upstairs and burst out crying. Life was so freaking unfair. It was hard to get what I wanted. Love…life…freedom.

I wanted out so badly. I couldn't endure this suffocation anymore. It was pressing me down until I couldn't breathe anymore. I was tired of this.

What was I supposed to do now?

By now, I was sure that the entire family knew. Emmett and Jasper would probably be calling Edward to find out what had happened, and Carlisle would be trying to comfort a distraught Esme…

I needed comfort too. I needed advice.

Slowly, I reached for my phone and dialed the number I hadn't called in a while. After two rings, he picked up. "Hello?"

"Dad?" I asked quietly. "It's me, Bella."

"Bella," Charlie said, sounding surprised. "Is something wrong?"

"What, I can't call you?"

"No, no, it's not that," he said, laughing. "It's just…you're always so busy to call, it's usually me that calls you. Is something wrong?" he added when he heard me sniffle.

"Um…well…" I sighed. "I don't know where to start."

"Go on, Bells," Charlie urged, worried now. "Tell me."

I took a deep breath. "I fought…with Edward."

There was a pause. "Has he been cheating on you or something?" he asked in a threatening voice. "Hurting you? What?"

"No, Dad," I sighed. "He's been nothing but wonderful. It's me who has been acting like a selfish wife. I told him…I told him I wanted a divorce."

I could almost see his jaw dropping. "Bella! No way!"

"It's such a mess right now," I mumbled. "I can't live like this anymore, Dad. Pretending that I love Edward the way he loves me…pretending to be trying to have sex more than usual so that I could sire him an heir." At this point, I was too miserable to be embarrassed about mentioning sex to my father. And thankfully, he, too, was now preoccupied to feel awkward.

He was silent for a while. Charlie knew all of my concerns about my marriage. He didn't have to ask questions. He'd always been there to encourage me for five years.

"You don't want to do this anymore?" he asked quietly. "You want to just…give up?"

"Yes," I sighed. "And Edward…he deserves better than me, you know? Someone who can love and support him, even give him children. I shouldn't hold him back, trying to believe that I can still learn to love him. It's just…I'm at an impasse right now."

"What did Edward say when you told him you wanted a divorce?" Charlie was dead calm about this. It was something he'd gone through before, so I supposed he did know more than I did.

"He refused to listen," I said dully. "He's denying what I said. He refused to give me a divorce." I closed my eyes. "It's a total disaster, Dad. We were fighting again this morning, and Alice and Esme walked in on us. It was…horrible."

He gave a grim chuckle. "So the in-laws know, eh? That's…bad. What are you going to do?"

"I don't know," I said helplessly. "That's why I called. I can't exactly go to Edward for help like I always did, can I? I want out, Dad. So bad."

"I don't know what to say, Bella," Charlie admitted. "This is something you have to deal with your husband. Maybe if you talked it through with him, you'll reach some kind of understanding, a compromise, maybe."

I made an incredulous noise. "There's no compromise in a divorce, Dad. Come on. It's either separation or no separation. Simple."

"Honey, I know you're having a hard time, but divorce… I have to say this. It's not that simple. Maybe if you'd married some random, normal guy, it'd be easier to deal with this. But this is Edward Cullen we're talking about. Your husband is a successful businessman, and quite frankly…as his wife, you're not gonna be able to wiggle out of this so easily. You understand what I'm saying?"

I felt the tears rising. "So…what? You want me to deal with this on my own?"

"I'm sorry, Bella," Charlie sighed, and he did sound apologetic. "But I can't help you with everything in life, least of all, your marriage. I'll be rooting for you to get back on your feet, but you're going to have to make your decisions all by yourself, honey. I'll support whatever decision you make. Choose what's best for you. And follow your heart."

I tried not to give any clues that I was crying. "Yeah, I understand. I'll…try to…figure it out."

There was a long pause before Charlie said, "I love you, honey. Good luck." And he hung up.

Somehow, after hearing my father's voice, it made me more emotional. My heart was breaking, and I felt so frustrated. Something broke, and I began sobbing my heart out, grabbing my pillow as I cried.

I couldn't control it, I couldn't stop. I was getting hysterical every minute, and I felt pain. How was I going to get out of this?

The bedroom door opened, and Edward walked in, looking just as miserable. When he saw me crying, his eyes grew wide, and he hurried toward me, dropping his briefcase and suit jacket on a chair, argument forgotten. I seriously didn't deserve him. He was always so sweet and caring, and I was always such a selfish bitch.

"Bella!" Edward said, his velvety voice laced with concern. He sat, perched on the edge of the bed as he stroked his fingers lovingly through my hair. "What happened? Why are you crying?"

When I didn't answer, only wailed louder, he sighed. "Bella, will you please stop crying and look at me? I can't see your lovely face if you hide it behind your pillow like that."

"Go away," I snapped, slapping away his hand. "I don't want to see you. I don't want to talk to you!"

Edward was silent for a while. Then, he said slowly, "Bella, I know what you must be thinking right now. Why can't I just let you go easily? Why can't I sign the papers and just get over you? Am I right?"

I sat up, lowering my pillow, my eyes bloodshot and puffy. "Of course! Why can't you? Why can't you just end both our misery?"

"Because I won't," Edward answered patiently. "It might make you happy, but I won't be. I would be losing you. How will that benefit me? It won't."

He stared at me rubbing my eyes wearily. He reached out and tucked a lock of my hair behind my ears. "How long have you been crying, love?"

"I don't know," I replied quietly. "A while."

"You'll ruin your beautiful face like that," he chided gently. "Remember, you're an actress. Your face is your life."

I took a deep breath. "Leave, Edward. I just can't…I can't…" I fought for words.

"I'm guessing Esme and Alice didn't take it well," he said quietly, changing the subject. "I expected it. We'd always gotten along. Us fighting would've been a huge shock."

"If you won't leave, I will," I said stubbornly, shoving the pillow at him childishly and getting out of bed. I was heading for the library when he grabbed a hold of my wrist and spun me around.

"Bella, stop being so stubborn," Edward said in a hard voice. "You know I won't give up on you. Why are you making this so hard for both of us?"

"Because you know what I want!" I replied forcefully. "You won't give it to me!"

"Do you realize what people would say? The company, the board… They'll freak out, Bella. You're not helping me by doing this, like you think you are."

"I told you. Get another girl. Divorce me and marry her instead."

His face hardened. "How can you say that so easily? How can you say that to me?"

"I'm selfish," I answered. "I don't want you getting hurt, but-"

"Then stop!"

Edward's sudden raised voice shut me up. He placed his hands on my shoulder. "Please, Bella. Just…just stop. You're not making this any easier for me." His voice contained hurt and pain.

I immediately felt guilty. Pain flashed across my face. "See?" I whispered. "All I do is make you hurt. You're better off without me."

I brushed his hands away and changed course, heading instead for a guest room. "Let's sleep separately tonight."

AN: Oh, damn! Burn. What'd you think? Reviews?