Saturday 2nd October

"Okay, be careful, darling," Bella said, hugging Renesmee, who was about to leave to meet up with her friend Sasha.

"I will Mum. Don't worry," Renesmee said.

"Mhm. Don't be too late back!"

"I won't."

Closing the door, Bella went back to her study, just as the phone rang.

"Bella Cullen here. How may I help you?"

"Bella, it's Esme."

"Esme!" Bella cried. "It's so good to hear from you!"

"It's great to hear you too, Bella. How are you doing?"

"We're fine, Esme. I love it, having a house of my own that I'm making work! But Edward's already come here three times to try convince me to come back."

"Ah, yes," Esme said, sorrowfully. "We've watched him storm off countless times. Believe me, you would have had many more unwanted visits from him if Jasper and Emmett didn't hold him back."

"Oh, I must thank them. How are they? Have they moved out yet?"

"Jasper and Alice settled into their home in Headington a few days ago. Emmett and Rose are waiting for the results of the legal issues check, and the property condition survey. After that, they'll move in as soon as possible."

"That's wonderful!" Bella exclaimed, happily. "But, Esme, what about you?"

"Well, that's actually why I called you. I've decided to leave Carlisle, but I haven't told him yet, and I've been disguising my thoughts while Edward's around, thought if I'm honest, I think he's too enraged to notice what's going on inside my head." Esme let out a small laugh. "Anyway, Alice and Jasper offered to let me stay with them until I can get my own place. You probably know that all my earnings from the interior design company went into mine and Carlisle's bank account. No doubt when I file for a divorce, he'll fight it every step of the way. The money should be split evenly between us after I manage to get a divorce, but until then…"

"I understand. Esme, I'm so proud of you! Is there anything I can do to help?"

"Thank you, Bella, and actually, I was wondering if you could come here tomorrow. Carlisle's got the afternoon off and I'm not needed at work. I'm going to tell him then. Alice has agreed to join me, and Rosalie will be taking the afternoon off. I assume you're rather busy, but-"

"Oh, don't worry about that, Esme. Of course I'll come!"

"Oh, thank you, Bella!" Esme said, gratefully. "Be here at one?"

"I'll be there."

Sunday 3rd October

"Sarah?" Edward asked, venturing into the guest room where Sarah lay in bed beneath the covers, propped up against the headboard by cushions.

"Hello Edward," Sarah said, brightly. Maybe this would be a turning point, she wondered. Edward had, after all, never come to her alone. The doctor had always been nearby. Now it was just the two of them, and Sarah wondered if she would finally find out the Cullen's big secret.

"You're feeling well," he stated, sitting down on the bed.

"I am," Sarah agreed. "My injuries have all healed and I feel, altogether, much more energetic. I'm afraid I'm getting somewhat restless cooped up in here all day."

Edward studied Sarah closely for a moment, wondering what was going through her mind. She was quite a beautiful woman, Edward noticed. Not as beautiful as Bella, but certainly much more than the average human. She was intriguing too, delightfully mysterious. He should have been wary of her, but instead, he was captivated, enthralled.

"Why do you stare at me that way?" Sarah questioned, feeling much like a newly discovered creature being speculated under a microscope.

"You really are beautiful," Edward said.

Sarah blushed. The intense way he stared at her coupled with his words were making her feel disoriented and dizzy.

Completely mesmerised, unaware of what he was doing, Edward leaned towards her and placed a kiss on her lips. He pulled away after a few seconds, overwhelmed by her sweet scent. Sarah gaped at him, taken aback.

"I'm sorry," Edward said, suddenly realising what he had done. "That was… entirely too forward of me."

Dazed, Sarah shook her head. "No, no. Don't apologise. I- I like it."

"You did?" Edward asked, smiling. "Would you like more?"

"But- but what about your wife?" Sarah stuttered.

"Oh, her?" Edward asked, surprised he'd forgotten about her. "She doesn't plan on being my wife any longer. She's requesting a divorce. Now, I believe I asked a question. Would you like more?"

Sarah swallowed audibly. "I would."

Eagerly but gently, Edward placed another passionate kiss on Sarah's lips, and tangled his fingers in her soft, chestnut-coloured hair, eliciting from her a squeak of surprise. He smiled against her lips, his hands making their way to her blouse, and fingering the top button.

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure," Sarah replied, panting slightly.

For the next couple of hours, if anyone were home, they would have heard pleasure-filled moans and screams, as Edward took Sarah over and over.

That afternoon, Bella pulled up at the Cullen house in Wytham, followed by Alice and Rosalie. Esme was already inside.

"Where's Edward?" Bella asked, cautiously.

"Oh, he's upstairs, in your- I mean, his- room. Probably moping around. He completely destroyed it, throwing everything around."

Bella sighed. "I doubt there's anything of mine salvageable."

"I doubt it," Rosalie agreed.

A few minutes later, Carlisle arrived.

"Hello Esme," he said. "Bella! How… nice to see you again."

Bella nodded, stiffly, before throwing a pointed look towards Esme, who cleared her throat.

"Uhm, Carlisle, I have something I'd like to talk to you about," she said, tentatively.

"Oh yes? What would that be, dear?" Carlisle asked.

"Well I-" She looked towards Bella and Rosalie who nodded, encouragingly. "I want us to separate."

Carlisle's eyes widened and he was beside Esme in an instant.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, Carlisle, that I want us to get divorced. You've been so overbearing lately, giving me unreasonable rules to follow, and commanding that I obey them. I can't continue living like this."

"Esme, I am the man, and therefore, it is my right is emplace rules," Carlisle said, condescendingly.

"No, Carlisle. That's how it was when you were human, even how it was when we met. But now, things have changed. I need my independence, something that I lost while being married to you."

Carlisle sighed. "I can see there's no use fighting you. If I refuse to sign the papers, you'll only do what Bella is doing. So I will sign them."

Esme stared in astonishment for a few moments, stunned by how readily he gave in.

"But you will be completely on your own after we have split. I will have no part in your life any longer, until you come to your senses. That means I shall not assist you in finding a new home, and that you shall get no share of our money."

Rosalie jumped up, outraged. "You can't do that to her!" she yelled, furiously.

Carlisle opened his mouth to reply, but before he could, the five of them heard something from upstairs that caused them all to freeze.

"Was that what I thought it was?" Alice asked, shocked.

Five pairs of eyes looked up at the ceiling. The noise came again.

"I think it was, Alice," Esme whispered.

The five of them raced upstairs, following the noise, Bella in the lead. She made her way along the hallway to the guest bedroom and burst through the door.

Her breath caught in her throat. Lying there together, tangled in a mess of sheets, were Edward and Sarah, both looking thoroughly dishevelled. It wasn't difficult to work out what they'd been doing.

Bella raised a hand over her mouth, and backed away, emitting a strangled sob.

"You- I- I can't believe this. Edward, what-"

"Edward!" Esme gasped, catching sight of him, as Bella tumbled backwards into her arms.

"How long?" Bella asked.

Neither answered her.

"How long? How many times have you done this?" she demanded.

"Just today," Edward murmured.

Bella shook her head. "Edward, I- how could you?"

"Bella, you're divorcing me. This isn't going to change a thing. You were the one who wants this divorce so badly. Why are you complaining?"

"Edward, you- you cheated on me!"

As she lay under the sheets, curled up against Edward, completely and utterly spent, Sarah reflected on what had just happened. The affair was entirely sordid. It was adultery! Sarah could not believe she'd committed adultery. But try as she might, she could not bring herself to regret it. She had enjoyed it too much, and would do it all again given the opportunity.

But as she watched Bella's reaction to seeing her husband in bed with another woman, although she still did not regret what had happened, she was flooded with guilt.

Sobbing, Bella ran out of the room, and Sarah heard the front door slam shut.

"I- I'll go find her," Alice said, backing out of the room and following Bella.

"Edward, I thought you were better than this," Carlisle said, angrily. He may have been sexist and misogynistic, but he still had morals. Morals such as to never commit adultery. "I cannot continue living with you, Edward. I cannot give a home to a person who would throw away fifteen years of marriage for a few hours of pleasure with another woman. I would've thought you knew better than to prey on innocent women."

Edward gawked at Carlisle.

"You're throwing me out? You can't be serious."

"I am serious. Dead serious. Edward, you committed adultery, something I had thought you were completely opposed to. It seems I was wrong. I shall leave you two hours to pack anything of yours you wish to take with you."

With that, Carlisle walked out of the room, followed by Esme and Rosalie who glared daggers at him.

Edward turned to look at Sarah. "I have to go pack. You can come with me if you want."

"C-come with you?" Sarah asked, terrified at the prospect.

"Yes. We can find somewhere to live together."

Sarah considered this. On one hand, the whole idea scared her. On the other… she could get closer to Edward and possibly persuade him to tell her what he was. She had met with Dunstan and Blakewell the previous day, and neither had been pleased to find that she discovered nothing new. This could be a breakthrough.

"Okay," she finally agreed. "Okay, I'll move with you."

A smile lit up Edward's face. "Alright, you stay here. I'll go pack."

Then he ran out of the room, leaving the door swinging on it's hinges. Sarah gazed after him, wondering what she'd got herself into.

"Bella! Bella!" Alice shouted, running at human speed after her sister, who was trekking down the side of the road, oblivious to her surroundings. "Bella!"

Alice grabbed Bella's arm and dragged her onto the pavement, off the road.

"What Alice?" she asked, miserably.

"Bella, listen to me. Everything's going to be okay."

"How? How Alice?" Bella choked out. "He- I- I thought it was bad enough that he'd started belittling me and treating me as lesser to him. I thought that the separation would be good for both of us. But he- he's sleeping with another woman while we're still married!"

Alice pulled Bella into a hug. "I know. I know, Bella. But you two are mates. You fought so hard to be together, and one day, you'll be together again."

"I don't know. I thought we were mates but… how can one knowingly and willingly cheat on their mate?"

Alice didn't say anything. She didn't know what she could say. What could alleviate the pain of having the one you thought you were destined to be with forever sleep with another behind your back?

"Are we really mates? We were in love- I'm sure of that. But are we truly, honestly mates? Is there another out there waiting for me, who I am supposed to be with rather than Edward?"

"Ssh, Bella. Don't think about that now. Come, I'll drive you home and get Rosalie to bring your car."

"But I can drive perfectly fine myself," Bella protested.

"Bella, frankly, you're in no state to drive. I wasn't sure it was possible for a vampire, but you driving now would be as dangerous as if you were still human."

"Alright then," Bella conceded, seeing the truth in Alice's words, and in no mood to argue. She was feeling slightly disoriented, and less aware of her surroundings. She'd probably crash the car, which wouldn't be fatal for her, but would be for humans.

On the journey back, Bella asked, "How can we ever move on from this?"

"I- I don't know," Alice replied, woefully.

Her relationship with Jasper had always been quite simple. She had a vision of him and every day for two years, she sat and waited in a diner in Philadelphia. He finally arrived and she offered to leave the diner and start a new life together, which he had accepted. They fell in love, found the Cullens, and had been with them ever since. They had never faced problems Bella and Edward faced. In fact, neither had Rosalie and Emmett, or Esme and Carlisle. They fell in love, realised they were mates, and that was all there was to it.

However, Bella and Edward… they'd tackled the problem of her being his singer, and then dealt with the vampires who were determined to kill her. Edward left to protect her, but then went back, when he realised it was doing Bella more harm than good. He saved her after she gave birth to Renesmee. They'd got through all those problems together.

But neither Alice nor Bella knew how they'd get through this one.