BELLA

"Bella, Bella come on you have to wake up now." Carrie said. "We have been ordered to clean the. House from the very top to the very bottom."

"Didn't we do that yesterday?" I asked.

"You know how Mrs. Dunn is."

"Okay, I'm up."

I quickly dressed in an outfit that I did not mind getting dirty. I then met up with the Carrie and the other live in maids to decide how we were going to break up the house before we all split off and went to clean our areas. I and two others got the top floor of the east wing. There were twelve rooms of varying sizes in this wing alone. I got the room I stayed in when I first arrived, Tanya's room and two other rooms.

"Not a bad job Isabella. You can go eat lunch now." Tanya said from the doorway of her room. "Now go, I don't want your germs all over my things."

"I cleaned the room my germs are all around your things," I said as I packed up the cleaning supplies. "But I'll be leaving now anyway. I have two more rooms to clean up."

I walked away from Tanya leaving her to mutter about my 'dirty' American ways. I have her say things like that constantly over the last few weeks. I could not wait. Until May third when Edward's last ball was going to be held. I wasn't planning on going but I know Alice (Edward's cousin and Jasper's new girlfriend) would likely talk me into going. It was only a week away.

The last two rooms I had to clean were quick cleans since they hadn't been used in months. A quick dusting, vacuum, and a wipe down of the bathroom in between the two rooms and fresh sheets for both beds and the rooms were all cleaned up. I put the supplies away in the supply closet and went to get ready for my night out.

I was going out to a Jane Austen lecture. It was about her life, writing and specifically about one or two of her novels. I really couldn't wait for it. I had signed up for it months ago after one of my professors mentioned it at the end of class.

"Where are you going, Isabella?"

I looked up from gathering my things to see Mrs, Dunn in the doorway with her arms crossed and lips pursed in a very thin line. She was pissed about something and I knew it.

"I have a lecture to attend tonight," I replied. "I signed up for it months ago."

"You should have okayed it with me first. I am after all in charge of your care while you are here in this country."

"You are not. I am eighteen years old and a legal adult here and in the United States. I can take care of myself. I don't need your help."

"My house, my rules."

"Bite me, Mrs. Dunn." I snapped as I left the room.

I could not believe that I said that but it just popped out of my mouth before my brain could catch up. I cant say that was unhappy about it. Jasper. Will be laughing his but off about it when I tell him.

Tanya

"Mother is everything alright?" I asked.

I watched as she threw all of Isabella's items around her room. I assumed she was looking for something. I stepped forward to talk to her but had to duck my head fairly quickly when a vase from the bedside table flew there the air and smashed into the wall. She then yelled for a maid to come and clean it and the room up and for another to make her a drink in the east drawing room. I followed behind her.

"What in the bloody hell was that about mum?" I snapped after she downed her drink in one go.

"Another." She said. "I believe that Isabella is behind your father's sudden need to tighten the budget around here. I figured I would find proof in her room but she must have taken it with her to that stupid lecture."

"Wouldn't dad have proof in his office?" I asked.

"Your father keeps his office locked up tighter than the crowned jewels in the Tower of London." She said. "I have no way of getting in there to look."

"But you could higher someone to do that."

"Not with the budget your father has given us."

EDWARD

The last few weeks have been crazy and I have almost finished for the year. I finally decided to take a break from summer classes. So I did not burn out and leave school permanently like my advisor thought I might do. I'm sure he was happy that I was finally taking the advice and going away for a while.

"Edward… Edward… Edward, did you hear what I said?" My advisor asked.

"Oh sorry, my mind must have wandered elsewhere. I guess it's a good thing that I will be taking that long awaited break. It will be nice to get away from all the book work."

"Oh yes, that is a good thing. I just worry you will not be coming back in the fall."

"I will. My mother and countless other family and friends refuse to let me quit. Something about a second doctor in the family." I replied.

"I will see you in September then."

"You will," I said. "Is there anything else that you needed?"

"Not a thing. You may leave Edward, I will see you next term and remember my office is always open."

I thanked him as I stood up and waved goodbye before walking out of the office. I walked around the campus for a little bit to relax before I had to leave for a family dinner (my mum ordered me to be home by six that morning).

MARTIAN

"Sir you requested an update on your wife."

"Yes, I did. Do you have anything of note or should this meeting be put to bed until a later date when you have something?" I asked.

"Your wife has curbed her shopping habits but it seems she has replaced that with meeting several men in the back rooms of local pubs followed quickly by short trip to a nearby hotel."

"Any idea who these men are?"

"Not at the moment but I do have my assistant looking into all of the ones we have photographs of."

"Is that all you have?"

"Yes, sir at the moment it is. I am sorry that I don't have more for you."

"No matter. Just keep following her and collecting any evidence you can."

"Yes, sir. May I leave now?"

"You may go but do not forget to update me," I replied to the investigator I hired..

I sat back in my chair and rubbed my temples in frustration. I was hoping to have proof of my wife's infidelity but nothing has come of it yet. I don't know if I will be able to hold on much longer. I want to get out of her reach. It is so suffocating I am not sure how much longer I will lie in a marriage with a woman like her. Especially when she's brought up our daughter to be just like her.