Thank you to Team Harpy.

Chapter 38

*B*

I'll never stop trying

I'll never stop watching as you leave

I'll never stop losing my breath

Every time I see you looking back at me

I'll never stop holding your hand

I'll never stop opening your door

I'll never stop choosing you babe

I'll never get ...

I turn it off when I hear a knock at the door. I brace myself for the unwanted guest and am shocked to find my Ma on the other side with a knowing look on her face.

"Alright, what's wrong?"

My mouth gapes open.

"Don't look so amazed, Sweetheart."

"How did you know something was wrong?"

"Well, for starters you haven't talked to me since last week. Not that I expect for you to get in touch with me everyday but still." She hesitates for a minute.

"Did you have another one of your dreams again?" I ask, knowingly.

"Last night, 2am, I'm wide awake and for the life of me I can't remember what I was dreaming about. All I know is I kept thinking about you. I finally had to crawl into your bed in your old room to go back to sleep. So?"

I take a deep breath and the tears start to come.

"Oh, Ma."

"What?"

"Ma…"

"What is it, Bella Marie?" She's starting to panic.

"It's Masen."

"What's wrong with Masen?"

"He's ain't Masen." Then I launch myself into her arms and sob. She lets me get it out then stands there shocked while I tell her the whole story.

"He's been lying to me for months and months pretending to be someone, something that he isn't. And Alice, the liar, she's just covering for him."

"Sweetheart."

"He married that horrible Angela person barely a week after he begged me, and I'm not lying Ma, he begged me to marry him."

"Doesn't that mean that he's officially married to you then?"

"That's not the point, Ma!" I throw up my hands. "One human being doesn't do that to another human being, not to someone they swear they love and adore. And how do I even know that Masen… Edward... whoever he is didn't marry someone the week before he married me? How do I know if he and this Kate person are even divorced?" I leap up from the couch. 'I'm going out of my mind!"

"What did he say when you asked him?" She gets up from the couch to be closer to me. As if she knows I need the comfort.

I stay silent.

"You did ask him?"

"I only just now found out. And Masen… Edward… Do you know impossible this is? He doesn't know I know. And neither does Alice, the traitor."

"Sweetheart, honey, come home to Forks." She pleads.

"No, oh no. No. I will not make this easy for him. He needs to feel all the pain and the heartache that he's caused me. I just don't understand how he could do this to me, ya know? How can I let myself fall so much in love with him."

"Well, maybe he has an explanation for this."

I shoot my Ma a dirty look. "What are you nuts? Ma, he stood here and he swore he loved me, right here in this spot, less than a day ago. That he would die for me. And even then knowing what I know I was hoping that I would be able to believe him. I don't know how I can be so stupid."

"Well, honey, maybe you're not."

"This was the only thing in my life that I was absolutely positively sure of- that he loves me. But if he loves me, then how could he do something like this to me? It doesn't make any sense."

"Love has no logic, Sweetheart."

"But what happens to the rest of it? I mean, what happens to my future. My dreams. What happens to my record company?" I plop down in tears as Ma rushes to soothe me. It works for a moment.

Until she leaps up and proclaims, "I'm gonna kill Masen!" She grabs her purse and I rush to stop her.

"No, Ma, no! That's too easy. Besides, I have another plan in mind."

"Go on…"

"I'm gonna make him take responsibility for everything he's done to me."

"That doesn't sound very satisfying."

"No, no, no. It will be… you gotta let me do what I need to do. Then I promise you, I'll come home and I'll break the news to Pops."

"Wait a minute. Are you saying you don't want me telling him what's goin' on? You remember me and your father have no secrets from each other."

"Ma, you're so lucky." I sniffle.

"Oh, Sweetheart, I'm sorry. I'm not thinkin'."

"Please, I'm begging you. The last thing I need is Pops flyin up here with blood in his eyes tryin' to tear Masen limb from limb. At least until I'm done with him."

She lets that stew for a moment.

"Okay, this once I'll keep it under my hat. But you know what happens when people are not honest with each other."

"I know, I know, but it won't be for long, Ma, I promise."

"I ask for one thing in return. You make Masen suffer for what he's done to you."

"For you, Ma, anything."

I rush to hug her and I squeeze her extra tight for the next time she sees me, I won't be the same.

I'll never be the same.

**B**

I sleep like crap. I don't want to need the Xanax so I'm limiting my intake. Ironic how I haven't needed them lately because of Masen but now I'm having to take them because of him. Revenge is helping me through the day but at night, well, that's a different story.

But today is the day. It's Friday. Alice has been here since one and is flitting around being Alice while I do my best to act normal when all I want to do is kick her ass out the door. First thing she asked me about when she arrived was the monitor. They didn't have the exact one so I had to go bigger. I joked that I was so bad with technology that I threatened to sit down in front of it and it broke. She laughed. I managed a smile.

I'm getting a little anxious as the day goes on as I'm expecting a delivery. It's late. But when someone knocks on the door, I am thrilled to see a nondescript delivery man with an official-looking envelope in his hand as I arranged to have it couriered over. Snail mail is not the route I have to take right now.

"What took you so long?" I demand.

"I was here earlier, ma'am, no answer."

"Figures, I walk out for ten minutes and you guys show up. Why is that?"

"I don't know, maybe it's like cars and warranties…"

Alice laughs as she hovers over my shoulder.

"I guess. Have a nice day." I shut the door in his face and brush past Alice. I open the envelope and take out the paper.

"Bella?" I hide it quickly as Alice approaches.

"Yeah?"

"What is it?"

"It's personal, Alice," I answer curtly.

"Okay... Well, I should really get out of here. I have to get ready for Angela's stupid party."

"Don't be so negative. It might be fun. You never know what could happen." I smirk to myself.

"Are you hallucinating? I just want it to be over."

"Is Rose going to be there?"

"Yeah, she's my plus one since Jasper's already going to be there."

I turn to face her.

"You know, I think I'll go after all." Play into my hands, Alice.

"Go where?"

"To the party?" At her shocked look, I continue. "Didn't I tell you? Angela invited me."

"She did?"

"Yeah, sociable of her, wasn't it? Or maybe I just caught her at a good time. Either way, I'm invited." I force a laugh.

"Well, you can't possibly go." I relish at the panic on her face.

"Of course I can. My name is on the guest list and everything. So is Masen's but who knows where he'll be tonight." Except, I know exactly where he'll be.

"What I meant to say is why would you want to go? I mean, why would anyone want to go and sit captive as she pays homage to herself all night?"

"I don't know. Everyone must have their reasons. Everyone seems to be going. What's yours?"

"Well, I have to go. I work for Cullen, Inc. But you, on the other hand, don't want to spend a whole evening bored out of your mind."

"Oh, I wouldn't be bored. There is nothing I like more than watching rich people be rich. Besides, think about how much fun we could have."

"Nooo."

"What's the matter, Alice?" I reply knowingly.

"Nothing, I just love you too much to let you sit through an excruciating party like that, that's all." Her smile is forced and her eyes are pleading for me not to go. Lying taking its toll on you, is it?

"Hmmm. Ya know, cause for a minute there, I thought you just plain ole didn't want me there." I fake uncertainty.

"Don't be ridiculous. I'm just protecting you." She says softly.

"Okay… whatever you say. Come on, go make yourself gorgeous." I lead her over to the coat closet and then escort her out.

"I'll give you a full report tomorrow morning." She assures me.

"I can't wait."

"Bye." She calls out.

"Bye." I slam the door and rush back over to where I put my mail.

I take a breath then unfold the certificate.

There it is in black and white; Edward Carlisle Cullen the 3rd married Isabella Marie Swan on July 11, 2020 in Denver, Colorado.

I think back to when he helped me sign it. I bought all the lies like they were having a sale.

I pick up the phone and dial a now familiar number.

"This is Bella Whit… Bella Swan. Whitlock doesn't apply anymore. I'm checking on my delivery... Uh huh… yeah… eight o'clock? I'll be there."

Time for me to get ready for the party.

*E*

I roll my eyes watching Angela entertain all her guests, acting like the perfect Cullen wife. I'll let her have this because after this farce of a party is over, so is her stint in this family. It will be time for the real Mrs. Cullen to take her rightful place as my wife. My ears pick up James and Emmett making fun of Angela as she sucks up to them.

I take another drink when I see Rosalie King approach her to wish her a very happy birthday. Angela almost falls over trying to put space in between them. She gets away as soon as possible then moves on to her next victim… I mean, guest.

"Edward." Alice hisses.

I turn around with a smile. "You ready for this? Angela invited Bella to this asinine party."

"You're kidding." My smile falls.

"No, and the worst part is she almost came. She is acting really strange."

"One more night. I keep saying that to myself. It's the only thing getting me through."

"Listen. Please tell me you're not joking. Please tell me this is finally about to be over." She pleads.

"This time tomorrow, Angela will be out of our lives. For good."

"Edward!"

"Speaking of the devil… Excuse me."

I approach Angela and Mac. "Yes, darling?"

"A major surprise just arrived for you," Mac tells Angela.

"I bet it's from my husband."

"Uh sorry."

"Well, what is it?" She asks Mac.

"You gotta see it to believe it. I mean we should wait until later but it's too big to keep in the kitchen."

"Well, bring it out!"

He runs off to do so and Angela is so excited she is practically vibrating. Everyone starts singing happy birthday as this giant paper mache cake comes out. The kind you find at stripper parties though decorated much more elegantly.

"Who's it from?" She asks, as she eyes it dubiously.

"I don't know." I shrug as I take in the tacky display.

Then on the very last note of the very last line of the song, out pops…

My wife. In her wedding dress.

I'm so fucking dead.

Playlist:

Cake By The Ocean- DNCE

Look what you made me do - Taylor Swift.

The Real Slim Shady- Eminem

Last cliffie, I swear. I didn't want to interrupt the next chapter cause lots of conversation. That, and I'm just plain evil.