I've gone over this chapter so many times, it's now hurting my brain lol thanks to all the lovely ladies who helped me! Mistakes are always mine, though, 'cause I can't leave it alone after Hadley works her magic!

The next chapters will hit hard and fast. And the prologue is coming up shortly. Ahhhh. Thanks for sticking with me! Working on a little side thing that I'll be posting after this story completes. Hoping I can knock it out before Baby Beagle arrives haha

Next chapter is EPOV, but I won't update until Monday - now that it's coming to an end I wanna make sure I get it just right. Thanks for reading!

Chapter Thirty-Six

Before the party comes to an end, I call it a night, feigning a headache. James insists on taking me home, and though I could push for a driver, maybe it looks better that we leave together. It raises fewer questions and maintains the "happy couple" facade. Besides, he looks just as eager as I do to get out of here.

The ride home is quiet. It's appreciated, though, and gives me time to think about what I found—or what I didn't find—on Charlie's computer. Clearly someone is trying to cover their ass. Whether that be Charlie or Dr. Howard or someone I'm not even aware of. That's the only reason why the forced Procedures that Edward and I had wouldn't be listed anywhere.

Now, more than ever, I want to expose them for the lying, manipulative cowards that they are. I just don't know where to start, and really, I don't know if Edward will be on board with this. It might seem too risky. But, at the very least, we deserve some sort of retribution.

When James slows to a stop in front of my house, he kills the engine. I panic for a moment, wondering if he thinks he's invited inside.

"Thanks for the ride," I yawn, eyes darting toward the dark house. It's not like I'm expecting Edward to be standing there with the door open, waiting for me, but knowing he's inside and James is out here still makes me nervous.

"You gonna be okay?" he asks.

"Yeah. I just need some sleep. Maybe all of the champagne went to my head."

James' eyes are still on me, so I rub my temple for good measure. A beat passes, and before I can reach for the handle, he speaks.

"Tonight was kind of a lot. Right?" I get the feeling he's stalling for some reason.

"A little bit. But we both kind of figured it'd be that way," I offer, and he chuckles in agreement. "We know our families go overboard."

"True." His fingers drum nervously on the wheel before shifting in his seat to face me. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Do you think there's any science behind Partner Placements?"

No.

There's no way James and I are compatible. He's not my perfect partner. I feel nothing even close to romantic for him. Even if Edward weren't in the picture, I truly believe I wouldn't love James. And the fact that Emmett was also placed with a Witherdale… no. It's convenient. It's a marriage arranged from power, money, and social status. It has nothing to do with love and compatibility. It has absolutely nothing to do with science. I can't believe I bought into that hoax for so fucking long.

"Are you having doubts about our placement?" I ask, keeping all other thoughts to myself.

He sighs, staring out the windshield now. "I don't know."

I'm… shocked, I guess. For so long, he was so forward. Acted so certain that we were supposed to be together. I thought that meant he felt something for me, but now… I don't know what his motivation could've been.

"Do you wish you would've been able to choose someone else?" I ask, not jealous or hurt. Just curious.

"That's the thing. I don't I keep having these…" He steals a brief glance my way. "Dreams, I guess. But sometimes they feel like… memories?"

I have the vague sense of deja vu. Not that this exact scenario with James has happened before, but what he's saying describes when I was suffering from dreams that were in fact, memories. I just didn't know it yet.

"What are your dreams of?" James is quiet for far too long, so I try again. "Who are your dreams about?"

"It's nothing. I just… nevermind."

"You can talk to me, James." I mean it, too. He seems so torn, and he's acting so strangely. After a moment, he just nods but doesn't add anything more, so I don't push. Though I'm curious, the more questions I ask might mean the longer we'll be sitting here. Or worse, the more likely that he'll ask to come inside and finish this conversation.

When he exits the car to open my door I get out and tuck my clutch under my arm. We hug briefly, his lips grazing my cheek as we say goodnight. He doesn't try for a real kiss, and I'm grateful.

As I turn away and start walking toward the house, James says, "I was thinking about your dilemma. With the person you didn't get to date but still remember. The one you might still have feelings for?"

I turn around, my heart beating wildly. A huge part of me regrets confiding in James. I never mentioned Edward's name, thank God, but still.
"What about it?" I ask, keeping my tone light and curious.

"Maybe you could get the Procedure? To help you move on from him."

"Oh."

"I know it's not like you were official or anything, but I mean…" He slides his hands into his slacks and shrugs. "Might be helpful. I don't know."

My initial reaction is to assume he's trying to trick me somehow. I search his face, looking for any part of him that's being deceitful. But I'm not sure what he'd gain from that. It's not like he's asking for more information about the situation or even implying that I've done something wrong. In the end, I only sense that he's being earnest. He's trying to offer up some solution to a problem I confided in him about.

"Maybe," I say, shrugging. "It's an idea." Of course, not an idea I'll take him up on, but he doesn't need to know that.

We say goodnight again, then I let myself into the house and wait until James' car is completely gone before I move toward the bedroom.

The room is dark when I walk in and find Edward asleep with Pepper curled next to him. I take off my heels and crawl across the bed to lie down on my stomach, brushing the hair from his face.

After a moment, his eyes blink open, and he shifts like he's startled. But when he realizes it's just me, he instantly relaxes and rolls onto his side to drape an arm around my waist.

He murmurs my name, voice gravelly and warm. I close my eyes at the sound. We lie there in silence, wrapped up in each other, relief and gratitude filling my chest because he's here. It's only been two days since he's come back to me, and I'm still not used to it. We can touch and kiss. Snuggle and sleep. He's here, and I'm so fucking grateful.

His breath becomes labored, and I shift a little to look up at him.

"You fall asleep again?" I ask quietly.

"No. Just really, really comfortable. How was tonight?" He pauses and buries his face in my neck. "Actually, maybe I don't want to know."

I tangle my fingers in his hair and feel Pepper stir before she jumps off the bed.

"Obviously not my favorite way to spend the evening, but it was fine," I say.

"Hmm." He kisses my neck before pulling back and scrubbing a hand over his face. "Did that fucker get handsy with you?"

"No. Nothing more than a peck on the cheek. In fact, we probably spent more time together driving there and back than at the actual dinner."

Edward yawns. "Good. I'm too tired to fight someone."

"No fighting necessary," I laugh, fingers grazing his bearded jaw. "There was something strange that happened though."

He instantly frowns. "What?"

"It doesn't have to do with James, but…" I pause. "So, I was snooping."

"Where?"

"In Charlie's office."

He's more alert now, shifting away to get a better look at my face. "Why?"

"Because… I don't know. I just thought I might find something, some sort of information regarding what they did to us? I hacked into his computer—"

"Bella."

"Okay, it wasn't hacking, more like I guessed his password correctly. But I got in, and when I looked at the files, the ones the doctors have full access to? There was zero mention of the Procedure you and I had."

I can sense hesitancy from him. "You believe me, right? That your parents forced us—"

"Yes," I reassure him. "Of course I believe you. Without a doubt. Isn't that strange, though? No Procedure was even listed for me, and there was only one documented for you. The one you came in to receive that day that I met you again." Which reminds me: "Who's Chelsea? Or do you not remember her?"

"I remember her," he says evenly. "That Procedure didn't work on me, either. And Chelsea was nobody. I pretended to date her for a couple of weeks so I could get the Procedure again. And then I reached out to Rose and asked her to schedule me with you as the technician."

"So, Rose knew you remembered me. She knew that the Procedure didn't work on you?"

He runs a soothing hand up and down my back. "I mean, we didn't have a full-on conversation about what happened between you and me, but she would have assumed that I remembered you, yes."

Talking casually about Rose makes my stomach twist with uncertainty, but I take a deep breath and push the feeling away because there's someone else I need more information on. "Chelsea wasn't a real relationship, then?"

"Not at all. She was a casualty. It's shitty, but I needed to use her to see you again."

"You two didn't…" I trail off, but he understands what I'm asking.

He captures my mouth with a sweet kiss. "No. I've only ever been with you that way."

"Okay."

Silence settles between us, my heart still feeling a little raw and bruised over Rose. But I trust him. And I know he only wants me. He's proved that, and so much more.

"So, there's no record of you and I actually having the Procedure," he says, still thinking this over. "But that makes sense, right? Why would they want a record of that if it was against our will?"

"I don't know," I offer. "Wouldn't it still be in our file, though? To keep track? I wasn't necessarily expecting it to say they forced us, but… no record at all? I have a scar. There has to be something documented to explain that, I would think."

He's quiet, contemplative. "Maybe Charlie doesn't have full access to all of the files."

"Maybe," I say, feeling deflated that my plan, that wasn't actually a real plan, fell through.

"Bella..." Edward trails off, his face clouded with concern. "Promise me you won't do that again. What if someone found you in there? How would you explain being on his computer, looking at the files? It's not worth the risk."

Edward's right. I know he is. But still. "I want them to fucking pay."

"Me too. You have no fucking idea. But we can't go in there guns blazing. Maybe nothing happens to them at all. Which sucks to think about, but right now, my concern is laying low and getting us the fuck out of here. Okay?"

I kiss his bearded chin, his cheeks, his mouth. The thought of leaving and entering the unknown scares me, but staying in this toxic place scares me even more.

"When is that happening?" I ask. "Us leaving, I mean."

"Still figuring that out. A week… two at the most."

"Can we really not leave before then?"

His face falls. "I'm trying. When we go to my place tonight, Jasper should have more information for us. I know he's been trying his hardest to find someone who's willing to help us get out."

I try to stay positive. Even if I have to walk down an aisle to marry James, it means absolutely nothing, and Edward knows this. The only problem then would be that James and I actually do have to move in together, and nights alone with Edward wouldn't be able to happen.

So, I take advantage of our current situation and hike my dress up to my thighs, so I can straddle his lap.

"And when is that happening?" I ask, voice lower as I hover over him until our hips are flush.

He smooths his hands up my ribs and over the silk of my dress, letting his thumbs brush my nipples. They harden under his touch.

"When is what happening?" he asks, mouth parting and gaze darkening as he stares at what his fingers are doing and how my nipples are reacting.

"When are we going to your place tonight?" I clarify.

"Soon?" He barely gets the word out as I move a little on him, feeling him grow hard beneath me. "Definitely soon because we shouldn't be out after curfew."

"Right," I agree, and he grows even harder, my hips still moving lazily. "So, we still have like, half an hour before we need to leave," I say conversationally as he pulls the neckline of my dress down a bit to expose my chest.

"Yeah." His hands feel rough on my bare skin, but his touch is soft as he squeezes. "Yeah," he says again, still distracted by my breasts.

"Have we ever had a quickie before?" I ask, and his eyes meet mine when he smirks.

"No. Only because I usually like to take my time with you." He rolls us over, so he's lying between my legs. "But there's a first time for everything."

XXX

"So, people are still wary about crossing the fence after everything that went down," Jasper says apologetically.

"That's bullshit. I made it back over just fine," Edward points out.

Jasper's smile is wry. "Yeah, but you're you. It's still not technically safe enough yet to cross."

"Great." Edward takes in this information, but from the set of his jaw and the way he says "great" with zero emotion, I can tell he's pissed.

"We'll find someone," Jasper reassures him. "It's only been a few days since I started feeling people out and asking around. And I'm still waiting to hear from this one guy who might be willing to cross with y'all."

"Who?"

"His name is Jacob Black."

Edward thinks about this. "Don't know him. Can we trust him?"

"Think so."

"If you can vouch for him, then all right."

Esme's groan sounds from down the hall, and Edward stiffens next to me.

"Be right back," he says, standing from the couch and disappearing to check on her.

I look at Jasper once we're alone. "Can I ask you something?"

He nods. "Shoot."

"Why don't you just come with us? Why do we need to find someone else to help out?"

"I've never crossed before," Jasper tells me. "Also, I wouldn't know where to go if something happened to my dude a second time."

I don't like the way everyone is acting like something awful is going to happen again. But that doesn't mean I don't understand the caution. After knowing how everything went sideways so quickly with Em and Rose's escape, it's definitely better safe than sorry. Planning for the worst-case scenario does absolutely nothing for my anxiety, though.

"A map would help," I point out. "Right? If something bad happened."

If I didn't know any better, I'd say Jasper looks guilty. I almost feel guilty myself, asking so much of him. It's a big deal to cross. Jasper would be risking his life, and he doesn't owe us that, not at all.

"I'm a pussy, remember?" His laugh is tinged with self-deprecation, and I just smile reassuringly. "I'd be zero help. I'm sorry, Bella."

"Don't apologize. I was just curious," I say honestly. "So, you're staying behind, then?"

"Yeah? It's different when you're a nobody. No one's fucking with my life. No one's gonna try to force a partner onto me. When my placement date comes in a few months, I'll be able to choose Lauren."

"You're not a nobody."

He shrugs. "To the important people I am, which is fucking great. So, don't feel sorry for me. Being a nobody is a good thing, Bella. I would hate to be on their radar." His smile is wry, and I get what he's saying. I'm the one he feels sorry for.

Our conversation ends when Edward's back in the room and sitting next to me, his face unreadable.

"She okay?" I ask.

All he does is shake his head. "She was talking to herself. She didn't even register that I was there at all. I don't… I don't know what to do."

"You're gonna hate me—" Jasper starts to say, but Edward cuts him off, like they've already had this conversation.

"No," Edward says instantly.

"But, dude. She'd be taken care of. You know Lo and I—"

"I'm not leaving my mom here. I already told you that. I'm not…" He angrily fists some hair and shakes his head. "No. I'd feel like shit. So, while I respect your offer and really appreciate what you've done for her so far... I'm not doing it. She's coming with us."

"But she said she wants you to go without her," Jasper points out, which is news to me. Edward didn't mention that Esme said that.

"She barely knows who the fuck I am right now. You think she knows what she's saying when she tells me to leave her behind?"

"Yes. I do," Jasper replies easily. "She wants you and Bella to be safe and happy."

I reach over for Edward's hand, giving it a small, encouraging squeeze. I know Esme's a sensitive subject. When we were talking yesterday, he confessed the guilt he felt while he was gone. Hearing how much he beat himself up over not being around for his mom made my heart desperately hurt for him. Doesn't matter how many times I tell him everything was out of his control, he still doesn't believe me.

"Even if Esme stays, which isn't an option, I need a second person with me," Edward explains. "I barely had enough strength to get back here this time around. What if I get shot again? What's Bella gonna do if she makes it over? She doesn't have any idea where to go. This isn't just about needing help with my mom. It's about getting everyone out safely, making sure we're all protected. It's about thinking ahead, which I didn't fucking do the first time. And I regret it, so fucking much."

"Okay. I get it. But have you thought about the feasibility of getting your mom over the fence?" Jasper asks. "She's weak—"

"Jas? I fucking know," Edward says sharply.

"I'm just saying, the longer you wait for someone to come along and help Esme get out, the more at risk you're putting yourself. And Bella," he points out, and now I wish he'd shut up.

Edward's hand slips from mine as his agitation growns. He exhales sharply, staying quiet like he's internalizing what Jasper's saying.

"So, now Bella's not safe with me because her brother lost his life while I was trying to help him? Is that what you're trying to say?"

I flinch at Edward's tone, but I get it. This is a sensitive subject, too. Maybe even more so than Esme, but only because Emmett actually died. Defensiveness for Edward rises in my chest, but I stay quiet, letting them figure it out. I understand both of their sides. Jasper means well, and Edward's trying to be cautious, albeit a bit stubborn.

"Dude, no. That's not what I'm saying," Jasper scowls. "But I mean, aren't you supposed to be… dead? Or at least, your identity is invalidated? You missed your placement date. You were at the scene of a successful escape. What if someone sees you now? What if someone shows up to Bella's place and finds you? Like… I'm just saying, the longer you stay here in town, the more you're asking for them to find out you're back."

I hear what Jasper doesn't say. All of his concerns are valid and worry me, too. If Edward is recognized, he could be reported. Punished for his involvement with Em and Rose's escape. Locked away. Throw in the fact that if we're seen together, the chances of being forced into another Procedure again are high since we're not even supposed to remember one another.

Edward's jaw ticks, the silence between him and Jasper stifling.

"I don't want to talk about this anymore," he mutters.

"Okay," Jasper says, resigned. "I'm sorry. I'm just trying to help out."

The conversation ends after that, and Jasper leaves, the awkwardness lingering. Edward stays quiet for the rest of the night, stuck in a funk. I let him have his mood, but I stay close and offer silent support.

Just before we sleep, he pulls me close and buries his face in my neck. In the darkness of his room, I remind him that he's a good son and a wonderful friend. That I appreciate everything he's risked. I tell him that I love him, and even more, that I trust him to keep us safe. I don't care if he doesn't believe me. He deserves to hear it. Maybe one day when we're out in the unincorporated land, safe and sound along with Esme, he'll finally believe it.

XXX

"Bella, someone's here to see you."

Vanessa's lingering in the doorway of the staff lounge, grinning widely. I stare back, blanking on who could be here. Of course, my mind immediately goes to Edward, but I know he wouldn't show up to my work and ask for me.

"Who's here?" I ask.

"James," she says, the "duh" clear in her tone, like it couldn't be anyone else. "He's outside. In the back, though. He says it's urgent."

I put the lid on my lunch and stick it back in the fridge. "Okay. Thanks."

"Probably some crucial wedding detail that needs to get immediately sorted," Vanessa giggles. "It's only a week away, after all!"

Her excitement makes me internally cringe, but I'm grateful for the reminder. One week. Hopefully I'll be gone before then.

Removing my lab coat, I hang it on the back of the chair. Nerves flutter in my stomach but not the good kind. I'm not excited to see James. I'm worried. It's strange that he's here, but I try to keep my face neutral as I walk out the door to find him standing outside.

"Hey. Is everything okay?" I ask, and study his expression. He looks panicked. Stricken, almost. There's a moment where he hesitates, searching my face.

"Sorry," he says, likely apologizing for his unannounced visit. "Is now a good time?"

"For what?" I ask lightly.

"We need to talk. We need… I need to tell you something."

"Okay. Should we talk inside or—"

"No, no, no." He grabs my hand and pulls me down the alley, away from the clinic and toward his car. He's flustered, and my stomach is in knots because I know something seriously wrong. That much is obvious. But when I think about what could be upsetting him—like him somehow seeing Edward and me together—my initial reaction is to not get into the car with him.

"James, wait." I try to plant my feet in place, slowing our steps.

He tugs harder. "Bella, please. Get in the car."

"You're hurting me," I say, trying to keep my tone even as he drops his hand from my wrist. "Just tell me what's wrong."

"I'm sorry." He sighs, and his expression falters when he realizes I've taken a step back from him. "I'm not trying to scare you. But I found out some shit."

I bite my tongue and wait for more information. I want him to confess what he found out first so I don't implicate myself.

"What did you find out?" I ask, standing outside his car and still refusing to climb inside.

With a heavy exhale, he scrubs a hand over his pale face. "You know how I've been working for your father?"

"Yeah."

"I found some stuff today. Like… confidential shit. I'm not gonna get into the how or who I've been in contact with, but… it's bad, Bella."

I'm not following. I was waiting for him to accuse me of cheating with Edward, so it takes a second for my brain to play catch up. "Okay? Confidential shit like… what?"

James looks over his shoulder, toward the door leading back to the clinic. "Can I trust you? You swear you won't say anything?"

This catches me off guard. It never once crossed my mind that James ever thought I was untrustworthy.

"I'm… yes, I mean—" I falter on my words, confused on what's going on.

"I need to hear you say it, Bella. I know we're like… you're my wife. Or whatever. So, I'm trusting you. Only because this involves you, too."

Curiosity sinks in. "You can trust me," I say honestly.

"I've been having weird dreams. About a girl."

I nod. "You mentioned that the other night."

"Really vivid, unsettling dreams. Almost like memories. But according to my file, I've never had the Procedure… ever."

"How did you get access to your file?" I ask.

"That's not important. What matters is that I have a scar behind my ear," he continues. "After some digging, I found out that my file is wrong. I did have the surgery. And it was to remove someone named Bree."

"Bree?" The moment he says her name, memories of that day in the clinic come flooding back. The girl who was forced to remove the memories of her baby. James keeps speaking, but I can't focus because I'm stuck on the realization that he's likely the father of Liam, the baby Kate and Emmett were given and raising as their own.

"—kept digging and found other information, too. Hundreds of people's names on this list. Hundreds of people who were removed from each other's memories… but none of the information is in their actual files. The only thing I can assume is that they were likely given the Procedure against their will for whatever reason."

I let everything he's saying sink in. He found the piece of the puzzle I'd been looking for in Charlie's office the other night. But it's so much worse than I'd imagined. The Procedure wasn't forced onto just Edward and me. We weren't the only ones this happened to.

"I've been debating on whether or not to tell you this, but I would want to know, so..." He pauses. "Does the name Edward Cullen ring a bell?"

"No," I say automatically, keeping my face neutral.

"Didn't think so. You dated him a while ago. I assumed you broke up, and you both just had the Procedure, but… I think they forced you. Your names were together on that list. Your father forced you, I think. Just like my parents forced me and whoever this Bree person is."

Of course, the part about Edward and me being forced isn't news. But I can't tell James I already knew this. Even though he's putting so much trust into me right now, I refuse to do the same with him. I just can't risk that when we're so close to running.

"I can't believe it," I mumble. I might be pretending that I didn't know everything James is telling me right now, but the shock I feel is real. Hundreds of people's lives meddled with. Hundreds of memories erased. Babies taken. Hearts broken. And for what? The power to control?

"It's a lot," he agrees. "I know. I've been sitting on this information for a few days."

He doesn't even know the full truth, though. I contemplate holding back, but he deserves to know everything. I would want to know if I had a baby out there. I would want to know if my sister was raising my child.

"James—" I begin to say, but then the back door to the clinic opens, and one of the staff walks outside, a pack of cigarettes in hand. James and I exchange a look, then wordlessly climb into his car. "I need to tell you something, too," I finally say.

"I'm listening."

"I knew Bree. I mean, I didn't know her. In fact, I didn't even know you two dated a while ago or whatever." They must have kept it a secret for whatever reason, just like Em and Rose. "But I did meet her. I was the technician for one of her Procedures."

He frowns. "You were there when they forced her to remove me?"

"No, not that time. The day I met her, they weren't forcing her to remove you. They were forcing her to remove the baby she'd recently given birth to. It was awful. It was…" I can't let my mind fully go there again. "But I distinctly remember her saying her baby's name was Liam."

"Liam?" he echoes, his eyes narrowing.

"Then just days later, Kate and Emmett are being given a baby, named Liam, to raise. It just… James, I think he's yours. He has to be."

"Liam's mine?" he whispers, his distant gaze out the windshield. "But…"

"It makes sense. They didn't want you and Bree together and forced you apart, but no one realized she was pregnant. So, they let her have the baby anyway, but probably wanted Liam to stay in the family. They couldn't exactly give you a baby out of nowhere," I guess. "Especially since you weren't placed with me yet."

He shakes his head, his face growing paler. I feel bad springing this on him, but I would want to know if it were me.

"Holy shit," he mutters, scrubbing a hand over his mouth.

"When you asked me the other day if I think there's a science behind the placements? The answer is no. I think people in power meddle and place us because it benefits them."

James' eyes meet mine, and understanding flashes in them. "I think that, too." He grips the wheel, exhaling angrily before slamming his fist against it. "Fuck. I can't believe… I fucking can't—"

"I know. I know. Me either. But the good thing is, we know now. We can do something about it."

He punches the steering wheel again, and I lean over the console to stop him. I repeat his name over and over again until he's calm and looking at me.

"We can put an end to it," I say evenly, but his eyes are unfocused and wild. "James, look at me. We need to keep this between us. Okay? All of it."

"Okay. Yeah. Okay."

"Not a word to anyone," I reiterate. "Please."

He swallows and nods, but it's not as convincing as I'd like. "Right. I know. I haven't told anyone else."

"Good." I sit back in my seat, taking a deep breath to settle my nerves. "Can you go back to the office? I don't know how you accessed everything, but maybe you make copies of that list or the files or… I don't know. Load it all onto a USB drive? We need to get that information somehow. Without it, we have no proof."

"I can try, but… what are you gonna do?"

"I don't know," I tell him, a newfound determination filling my veins. "But you do your part, okay? And I'll figure out a way to expose them."