Chapter Twenty-Six
Flashback:
"Bella, we have to do something. Look at you. You're falling apart. I hate seeing you like this."
I glare at Emmett, caught between wanting to punch and hug him. "Edward's gonna tell the cops, you know that, right? Not that I blame him…"
I twist the dead dandelion between my fingers, breaking apart the stem.
"I can't let him do that," Emmett replies. "Do you know what kind of shit we'll all be in if he does that? I'm happy with my life. The McCartys are the best thing that have ever happened to me. Your dad and my mom made a mistake, and now I'm the one that's going to pay for it. It took Esme months to convince Carlisle she was raped and she couldn't keep me as a reminder. If Carlisle finds out none of that's true and I'm not his because of an affair…"
He doesn't need to finish his statement. The consequences will be dire, and no one will come out of this unscathed. We'd suffered long enough.
"Edward is biologically the McCarty's son, but I'm thankful Esme paid them off. Now I have the McCartys, and Edward is stuck with Esme for a whore of a mom. Anyways, I just want you to get better, sis. I'll handle this."
"What are you going to do?" I feel empty. It won't matter. I don't care what he does.
Just leave me alone.
"Your dad told me to make sure he doesn't talk. If anyone asks you any questions, blame it on Carlisle. I'm pissed at him right now. That fucker told the coach I can't play football anymore 'cause of my knee. Stupid doctor. I don't give a shit. Keep this between us, okay? Pretend this conversation never happened."
I dig a hole, burying the flower in the dirt.
Block it out.
Hide the truth.
Entomb it so deep you don't know it exists.
This. Never. Happened.
I don't even know what to say anymore. Cupcake anyone?