Good morning all! I hope you're having a wonderful morning. If not, then I hope this makes it better! I want to go ahead and apologize for not knowing the proper terminology for a will reading. I've never been to one. Anyways, enjoy!

Chapter Forty-Four

I could tell Bella was not feeling too great when she woke up this morning. I wished I could tell her to just stay in the hotel room and relax, but it was important she'd be there. We both needed to be there to present a strong unified front.

"Today won't be as long," I told her as we drove to the graveyard, "An hour, maybe. There's a luncheon afterwards, but you don't have to go. I'll be at the will reading, so I wouldn't get there until the end."

She nodded, "I probably will go back to the hotel. I'm not feeling too well."

"Don't worry, we're leaving for home tonight. I know you're ready to get home. We'll call Dr. Fuller and figure out what's going on."

"Sounds good to me," She smiled.

The graveyard was already packed with people when we got there. I ended up having to park on the street, it was so crowded. I wasn't surprised. Aro was a well-respected man.

My parents were already there with Sulpicia and her kids. We walked up to them and hugged. I squeezed Sulpicia a little tighter when we hugged. She again seemed to be numb. I'm sure my mother gave her something to calm her nerves this morning.

After the preacher gave a little sermon, the casket was lowered into the ground. I took a handful of dirt and tossed it in. The sound of soft sobbing made me turn. Jane had broken down now, the sunglasses doing very little to conceal the flood of tears.

I reached over and rubbed her back. She'd been very strong through all this; I was pleasantly surprised.

After the service, everyone left. Bella hitched a ride with Rosalie, who was also going back to the hotel. She wasn't feeling so hot herself.

My father and I drove to the lawyers office, where the will was being read. I was actually nervous about this. I had no idea what was going to happen, or why Aro would want me to be there.

We pulled in right when Sulpicia and her kids pulled in. I immediately noticed Caius's car sitting in the parking lot as well. I figured this was where he was. He didn't show up for the burial today. Yesterday he was only there for appearances. Bastard.

The lawyer lead us into his office for the reading. Sulpicia and her kids took a seat in the three chairs provided. My father and I stood against the wall; Caius stood on the other wall.

"What are you doing here, Cullen?" Caius spat out.

"We were asked to be here by Aro," I snapped back.

"I want to thank you all for coming," The lawyer started, interrupting our heated exchanges "I know this is a difficult time for all of you, my condolences."

Sulpicia nodded once at him.

"Aro has left Sulpicia with eleven million dollars. The estates in Vermont, Florida, and Aspen will be put in Sulpicia's name. All other finances have been taken care of. Aro arranged for any bills to be automatically withdrawn from a separate account, this way, Sulpicia may enjoy herself without the stress of paying bills." The lawyer said with a nod to Sulpicia.

"Moving onto Aro's children," He started, "Both Alec and Jane will each receive twenty-five million dollars. The money will transfer into accounts that Aro has set up on their eighteenth birthday. The money will be broken down in increments of $40,000 until their thirtieth birthdays in which case the remaining trust will be transferred directly to them. Two college accounts have been set up for Jane and Alec. These accounts are untouchable, until the twins are accepted into the universities of their choosing. Should the twins refuse to go to college, the funds will be transferred into Sulpicia's account so she may determine what happens with the money. The transfer will occur on their twenty-sixths birthdays if the account is untouched."

"Aro is leaving behind three successful businesses," I noticed Caius's eyes brighten when the lawyer started with the businesses, "It was Aro's intention that all three businesses go directly to Alec—,"

"Alec is only a boy," Caius interrupted, "He can't possibly run the businesses now."

"I was just getting to that," the lawyer said, "Since Alec is far too young to run the businesses. Aro has decided to put someone who he felt he could trust in charge of the businesses until Alec graduated from college. Aro has decided to appoint Edward Anthony Cullen III as the temporary CEO of all three of his businesses until Alec finishes college."

"What!?" Caius and I yelled at the same time.

"Wait, Aro has made Edward the CEO?" Dad said, completely in shock. I see his friend didn't inform him of this decision.

"Yes." The lawyer said.

"I want to contest the will," Caius snarled, "I should be in charge! I am his brother, Cullen is nothing!"

"Aro did leave a letter for you. But he wished for his wife and children to not be in the room while it's being read."

Sulpicia, Alec, and Jane stood and left the room. The lawyer picked up the letter and began reading.

"To my brother, Caius. I'm sure you've decided to contest my will. But I've made preparations in case you try to challenge my will. I've appointed Edward Cullen as the CEO of the family businesses, and until Alec has graduated college, he will remain the CEO. Time and time again, you have proven yourself to be unstable and unfit. I could never trust you to run my companies. I'm sorry if this news is upsetting to you. I do hope you'll forgive me one day. As a gesture of goodwill, I've arranged for a hundred thousand dollars to be transferred into your account. I do hope you get your act together. Sincerely, Aro."

"Mother fucker," Caius snapped then turned and left the room. I barely registered that he left, I was in complete shocked.

"Are you alright Edward?" Dad asked as he placed his hand on my shoulder.

"I just… I'm a little shocked," I said, "Aro left me in charge of his businesses. Why would he do that?"

"He never told me," Dad said, "I'm… I'm not going to lie, I'm very shocked as well."

I slid down into the chair, staring blankly ahead. How the hell was I supposed to run Aro's businesses, my own businesses, and figure out who's targeting Bella. And on top of that, I swore to Sulpicia I would find Aro's killer.

"What if I refuse?" I asked the lawyer.

"Then Aro set up a plan where he'd have to liquidate his businesses." The lawyer frowned.

"Fuck." I said, "I guess I don't have a choice. I can't do that to Alec."

I was eager to get back to the hotel and figure everything out. Aro's businesses were stationed here in Vermont. I wasn't too sure how I'd run everything from New York. I couldn't leave Bella for any extended period, not now.

When I got back to my room, Bella was laying on the bed watching television. She perked up when I walked in and I couldn't help but smile. Bella was definitely my happy place.

"How was the reading?" She asked as she turned the television off.

"Interesting." I sighed, "I'm honestly a little in shock."

"Why? What happened?" She moved to sit behind me and rub my shoulders. I shuddered against her touch; for a moment, everything was forgotten.

"Aro left me in charge of his businesses, until Alec graduates from college." I told her.

"Oh." She said.

"Yeah." I said, "I'm going to be in charge of three more businesses. I don't know what I'm going to do."

"It'll be okay. You're really smart and responsible. Aro wouldn't have put you in charge if he didn't think you could do it."

I nodded, "I know."

She kissed the side of my neck, "A letter came for you while you were out." She pointed at the letter on the table, "I didn't open it. I was tempted too." She chuckled.

"I wouldn't of minded," I smiled at her. I took my shoes off and my coat before opening the letter.

I was shocked to see it was from Aro.

Dear Edward,

If you're reading this, then I've died long before my time. I've left you in charge of my businesses until Alec is of age. I'm sure you're confused about my decision, but I watched you grow from a rambunctious, irresponsible boy to a man overnight when your father had his heart attack. You lead your family well. You're the kind of man I want Alec to look up too and be. Please, take very good care of my businesses. Take care of my Sulpicia, though we never loved each other as your parents loved one another, I still cherish her dearly. Look out for her, she's very fragile. Take care of my dear Jane. Make sure she finds a man that loves her dearly and she becomes a strong willed woman. And Alec, my only son. I want you to mentor him. Please take him under your wing. Make sure he grows into a man suitable enough to run the businesses and the families. I trust you Edward. You're a good man. I know you'll take good care of my family and my affairs. Lastly, please watch out for my brother. I know he will be jaded that I didn't choose him to run the businesses, but I can't trust him. He's too unstable and unpredictable. And I couldn't trust him to hand over the businesses to Alec once he became of age. Thank you, for taking care of everything.

Sincerely,

Aro

I folded the letter up and placed it into my bag. I was a little choked up after reading it. It answered most of my questions.

As I was changing into my pajamas, there was a loud knock on the door.

"Did you order room service?" I asked Bella.

"Nope."

I looked through the peephole to see a man dressed in dark clothing. It wasn't until he turned his face did I realize it was Caius.

I narrowed my eyes as I grabbed my jacket and opened the door.

"What are you doing here?" I said in a low tone.

"Edward who is it?" Bella asked, her tone slightly panicked.

"It's okay honey," I called back, "Just relax, I'll be back in a moment."

I shut the door behind me, "What are you doing here?" I repeated.

"I wanted to talk," He said.

"Talk."

He looked slightly irritated by my tone, "Look, I know you don't want those businesses Aro left you. You already have enough on your plate. So, why don't you sign the businesses over to me?"

"I'm not doing that," I said, "I can handle Aro's businesses just fine. I would never sign them over to you."

"You know that him giving you his businesses is bullshit. You're not family. It should've went to me."

"Feeling bitter?" I snorted, "Aro didn't trust you. And if Aro didn't trust you, his own brother, then I certainly don't trust you. Now leave."

I opened the door to walk in.

"Pretty girl in there," He said before I shut the door.

I paused, "Excuse me?"

"I said, that's a pretty girl you have in there," He said, "And a good baker I've heard. It'd be a shame if something happened to her."

"The last thing you want to do is threaten her." I snarled, grabbing him by the shirtfront and slamming him against the wall, "I will fucking blow your brains out right here."

"You think I'm scared of you, Cullen?"

"Edward!" Bella cried, grabbing my arm, "Let him go! What are you doing?"

At this point, my father had walked out of his room and pried me off of Caius. He shook his shirt, as if it were dirty and shot a glare at me, then at Bella.

"You will be seeing me again, Cullen." He said before walking off.

"What's going on Edward?" Bella asked.

"Nothing."

"You can't provoke him Edward," Dad said, "You know how dangerous he can be."

"I wasn't provoking him. He came here looking for trouble."

"Why don't you and Bella go back into your room?"

I grabbed Bella by the arm and walked us back into our room.

"Edward what the hell was all that about? Why did you attack him?" Bella demanded.

"Because he's a fucking asshole," I snapped, "He's angry because Aro gave me his businesses."

"But why did you attack him?" She asked, her eyes wide. I really needed to calm down, I didn't like scaring her.

"He threatened me. No one threatens me." I said.

"What did he say?"

I didn't want to talk about this anymore. I placed both hands on her face and pulled her into a deep kiss. I thought she was going to resist, but instead she pulled me closer to her.

We hadn't been intimate in so long. I missed her so much.

We took each other's clothes off in urgency. I was eager to feel her soft body. I kissed her neck, sucking on the parts that I knew made her shudder. I kissed and licked my way to the valley between her breasts.

I had always thought I preferred larger breasts, but Bella's were perfect. They weren't huge, like I was accustomed too, but they were perky, and fit into my hands perfectly. I could spend all day playing with them.

I paid an equal amount of attention to both of her breasts. I loved to twist her rosy nipples and watching her hips rotate. It was so easy to drive her crazy. I was pretty sure it had something to do with her being so sexually inexperienced.

I made my way to her sweet center. It was my favorite part of her body. It was so delicate and soft. I spread her wet lips with my thumbs and began licking up her center until she was shuddering and gasping.

I smiled when I knew she was cumming. She always grabbed my hair and tended to try to push me away while pulling me closer. I couldn't help but chuckle at her reactions.

I lifted onto my knees, pulling her hips against me. This had to be my favorite position. I loved looking down at her. Her face was flushed, her eyes wide with desire, her hair wild, surrounding around her face. She looked so beautiful.

Slowly I entered her, she gasped, closing her eyes, and biting her lip. I didn't move for a while. I just stayed inside of her, enjoying the feeling of being surrounded by her warmth. When I started moving, I could feel her inner muscles squeezing me tightly.

"Oh, E-Edward," She gasped, her fingernails digging into my shoulders. I whispered profanities into her ear, something I knew drove her crazy.

I groaned as I felt myself start to cum. She had cum again and was moaning and shuddering underneath me. I thrusted harder into her, chasing my own orgasm.

I fell on top of her, my ear pressed against her chest. I listened to her heartbeat as she calmed down. I rolled off of her once her heartbeat settled. I pulled her into my side and kissed the top of her head.

A lot of you were right with your theories of Aro giving Edward the businesses. Hopefully I didn't make too many mistakes, I do read over the chapters before I post them. Anyways, enjoy the rest of your day! Tune in tomorrow for another update!