Thank you for sticking this out. Writing next chapter this weekend.

This may not be how court proceedings go. I've never been in trouble and I would like to keep it that way.

Thank you to Team Harpy and special get well wishes to May who is recovering from Covid. I love you girl.

Chapter 55

Bella

You know those moments where you wish the ground would just swallow you whole or that you could turn back time?

Yeah. Neither happened as Mac's erupted into a cacophony of astonishment and amusement ;the loudest of the latter coming from James.

She's looking up at me, all signs of flabbergasting gone and in its wake is smugness.

"My. Lawyer. Liked. That." She spat out.

"Not as much as I did." I say, still shaking my hand. I feel Masen… Cullen … behind me and his hands grip my shoulders and I shrug them off. I'm feeling so many emotions and none of them are particularly magnanimous towards him at the moment.

Mac helps Angela off the ground. "Are you alright?" He asks.

"What the hell kind of question is that? Of course, I'm not alright." She cradles her swollen and rapidly bruising cheek.

"Bella, what happened?" Cullen asks.

"She asked for it!" I defend.

"I want that maniac thrown in jail." She turns to Chief Dwyer because of course he would be here tonight. "Did you see what she did?"

"Uh, yeah, Angela. I did." He looks between the two of us like he doesn't know whose wrath he'd rather take on; hers or the Cullens.

"Then arrest her! I am pressing charges!" She screeches.

"I was provoked!" I yell.

"She is a deranged, jealous wife and if you're aren't going to do something about it then I will." She threatens as she heads towards me.

I meet her head on but Cullen drags me back as Chief Dwyer does the same to Blondie. Then we are shouting over each other and I don't even know what I'm yelling let alone what she is.

"I appreciate tonight's entertainment but if you could come back on Fight Night, I'd appreciate it." Mac yells.

"Bella, let's go outside." Cullen suggests.

"Oh no, she is not getting away with this and if you aren't going to do something about it then you need to call someone who will." She is punctuating each you with a slap to the police chief's chest.

Police brutality anyone?

Dwyer sighs and looks apologetically at me as he hestitanly approaches me. "Uh, Bella, you better come along with me."

"I'd be delighted." I whisper. Anything to get out of here where I can lick my wounds in peace.

"Are you serious?" Cullen asks.

"Yeah, I'm afraid I am, Edward."

Cullen turns to me. "Okay, let me call my lawyer. I will come with you and we will post bail."

"No." He looks confused. "I wouldn't be in this position if it weren't for you and I'd rather not see you anymore tonight." To Dwyer, I say. "Let's go."

He escorts me out sans handcuffs thankfully cause I don't know if my pride could take that. He helps me into the back of his SUV and nothing more is said until I am booked- oh God, my parents are gonna kill me if this shows up on the news.

Bigamist's wife indicted on assault charges against bigamist's other wife. News at eleven.

I am placed in a private cell where I twiddle my thumbs and question every decision I made to get to this point in my life. I startle when an officer comes to escort me to another room; an interrogation room? I don't know. All I know about police procedure I got from watching SVU and CSI.

A very well dressed gentleman is waiting for me and he stands when I approach. I raise my eyebrow in question.

"I'm Garrett Young."

"Not ringing any bells… wait, you're Kate's husband."

"The one and only." He laughs.

"I told Cullen I didn't want his lawyers… any of them." I turn to leave.

"I'm not here because of Edward. I'm here because of Kate."

That stops me and I turn around slowly. He gestures for me to sit and I do, cause I gotta hear this.

"I don't even know Kate and what I do know about her isn't flattering." I cross my arms.

"I can understand that but she knows about you and thinks highly of you; so when she got the call tonight about what went down at Mac's, she woke me up and told me to get my ass in gear."

"Why?"

"Anyone who punches Angela and leaves a mark like that is on her highly regarded list."

"Not a fan?"

"Do you know anyone that is?"

"Good point."

"So, will you allow me to represent you? You really don't need to take your chances with the public defense attorney on duty tonight. You might get ten years."

My eyes widen. "I just punched the broad. I didn't run her over. Was what I did that bad?"

"No, but he is." He smiles. "Now I can assure you that at this very minute, Angela is pestering the DA about giving you the maximum sentence allowable by law."

"Which is?"

"With your non-existent record? Community service but I am sure I can get you off with a slap on the wrist. Now tell me exactly what happened? Unfortunately it happened so fast no one got it on camera."

"I think I am okay with it not being immortalized on the internet for all eternity. Can I admit something to you and it not go any further than us?"

"Of course. Client attorney privilege."

"I am so humiliated, I could die. If this had been one of my brothers, they would be getting a lecture from me on raging testosterone. They are going to have a field day with this." I groan. "But she did deserve it."

"Why don't you start from the beginning."

"Okay, so, Cullen had just finished his song and I was rushing over to him. And she stopped me. Started going on and on about Cullen's indiscretions so I told her politely to let me pass by. She refused and I insisted. That's when I walked around her and she grabbed my arm."

"She touched you first."

"Yeah, does that help?"

"It could." He writes some notes.

"Well, she started saying these horrible but maybe true things about him and for the first time I know what it means to see red. It was really vivid, scarlet."

"And that's when you hit her?"

"Pow, right in the kisser. Do you think I should plead temporary insanity?"

"Only as a last resort. Meanwhile we may want to use Angela's sham of a marriage to Edward to take the heat off you."

"No that can't come out in court."

"Who's to say Angela won't use it herself?"

"She has way too much to lose. Garrett, promise me you won't make a big issue out of that. Just because I'm having trouble forgiving the jerk doesn't mean I want to see him in jail. He's managed to avoid prosecution due to his buckets and buckets of money but I won't be responsible for him losing his freedom. And isn't it in your best interest to keep him out of jail? You are one of the family lawyers, am I right?"

"You're right but right now you are the only client that matters. And because of that, I will abide by your wishes."

"Thank you."

He writes a few notes but looks up when there is a knock on the door. Mac slips in and sits down.

"How ya doing, Bella?"

"I've been better. I am so sorry that happened tonight."

He waves me off. "It's always an entertaining night when you're around. I just talked to Angela and convinced her to not mention certain aspects of what you were fighting about. Namely, the bigamy."

"Funny you should mention that. We just had that conversation as well." Garrett smirks. He really is handsome.

"So all in agreement to eighty six the bigamy conversation?" Mac asked.

We both nod. Mac reaches over and squeezes my hand. "I will be there in court and do my best to rein her in."

"When is the hearing?"

"In a few hours. It's two in the morning now so you'll have to hang out in the cell until then. Sorry. I could bail you out but you'd just have to be right back."

I shrug. "I can probably use the time to say my Hail Marys."

Garrett and Mac stand up so I do as well. The officer motions for me to come with him. I do with a thank you thrown behind me at the guys.

I want to sleep but they don't make these things comfortable. And the cells next to me are rowdy so I just wander around until seven when Garrett comes to collect me. He hands me a bag and when I look in it, there are some clothes that are completely not my taste even if they are my size.

"Kate." He explains.

I nod then go into the restroom to freshen up and change. She even included makeup which was really nice of her.

We settle in the courtroom and wait for my case to be called. I see Angela across the room. There are a few other cases being seen today and mine is fourth on the docket. Finally it is my turn and Garrett and I approach the defense side as Angela approaches the prosecution side.

The judge, a middle aged portly man, addresses Angela.

"In the case of Weber vs Cullen, the court will hear from the plaintiff first."

"Thank you, Your Honor. It's a simple story really. This person attacked me in a public place. There is no point in denying it because everyone saw it. There were dozens of witnesses."

"What motivated the attack?" He asked.

"She hates me. You see, we were both involved with the same man at the same time and… well, it's complicated really but what I can tell you is that she is horribly jealous and unable to control her volatile emotions."

"Have there been any other altercations?"

"Not physical, Your Honor but she has threatened me a number of times. In fact, when I lived at The Murano she caused a horrible scene swearing her revenge. I am certain I can get affidavits from witnesses if the court so chooses."

"I'll make a note of that."

"And less than a week later, I was in a coma from a mixture of lethal drugs."

"Are you suggesting Ms. Cullen…"

"Swan." I quickly correct.

"Ms Swan tried to murder you?"

"The police didn't seem to be able to figure it out." Pointed look at Dwyer. "But I do know that when I woke up she was standing over me, viciously harassing me even in my pitiful state." She brushes her swollen cheek.

"The court is pleased to see that you've recovered." I refrain from rolling my eyes.

"Yes, I have, Your Honor, although the effects of her actions haunt me every single day. And it seems to me that as an innocent, upstanding, tax paying member of this city that it is your duty to put this woman away before she makes good on her threats." She sits down.

Is she serious with this crap?

Garrett gets up and smiles at the judge. "Your Honor, I wouldn't dream of questioning Ms. Weber's veracity. What we have here is a classic love triangle much as she described. It involved love, betrayal and seduction but as in most such cases some of the details have been omitted."

"And I'm sure you're going to fill in the blanks."

"If the court will allow."

The judge nods.

"The man in question is Edward Cullen the Third, husband of my client, Bella Swan Cullen. Angela Weber was the other woman. She waged a personal campaign to destroy the Cullen marriage through antagonism, harassment and public humiliation. Now, while my clients' response to such abuse may seem somewhat extreme, I am sure the court can understand a certain amount of animosity on the part of Mrs Cullen towards the woman who threatened her future. Who in fact manipulated her way into Mr. Cullen's life then refused to step aside when the gentleman realized the error of his ways. I would venture to say that what we are witnessing this morning is a last ditch effort of a woman scorned."

"What?!" Angela bolts up from her seat.

"Control yourself, Ms Weber, or I will hold you in contempt. Now, is this true? Was the man Mrs. Cullen's husband?"

"So what? She clobbered me and I am swelling before your very eyes."

"Answer the question."

"We were all consenting adults. What difference does it make who he was married to?"

"If you can't see the difference, young lady, you need to adjust your moral compass." He chastises.

I smile.

"And you Miss Swan may wipe that smile off your face." I do that quickly and in a hurry.

"Violence is never the answer no matter how justified you might think it is. Shame on both of you. Case dismissed." He bangs the gavel and grabs another file.

"What? This is a sham!" Angela flounces off but not before stopping by Dwyer. "This is a travesty of justice."

"Well, Angela, you gave it the old college try." He tries to hide his grin but fails. She huffs and storms off.

I hastily head out of the courtroom, desperate to get home and wash off this place. I stop beside Garrett. "You know, you're very good at what you do." I gush.

"Do me a favor and think before you throw your left hook."

"Actually, it was my right…" I stop when I see Cullen and Alice.

He searches my face but I'm stone.

Alice flits about me and I gently wave her off with a small smile.

"Bella, how are you? Are you okay?" He's anxious and while I want to alleviate that some, I'm exhausted and I don't know where my mind is right now.

"I'm exhausted."

"I'll take you home." Alice offers.

"Thank you." I look at Garrett. "Send me the bill."

"I'll take care of it." Cullen interjects.

"I can afford to pay for my own sins, thank you very much." I say quietly.

"No charge. Seeing the look on Angela's face and the look on Kate's when I tell her what went down and that this was taped is all the payment I need." With a kind smile, he leaves.

"Alice, can you give us a minute?" Cullen asks.

"Yeah, but I'll be right over there." She assures me. I wave her off. I don't need her protection anymore.

""How are you really?"

"I'm really not up to a play by play of last night's events."

"You didn't deserve what she put you through."

"No, I didn't but I could have handled it better if what she said hadn't been so close to the truth."

"Bella, what happened or didn't happen between Angela and I is my second biggest regret. My first is lying to you."

"I can't do this right now. When I slugged Angela it took all the fight in me I had left." I walk around him towards Alice.

"I won't push. I'll stop by your cottage tomorrow to work out the next concert details."

I look at him long and hard. "It's your cottage. Do what you want."

Then I head home to crash and burn. Only to be awakened by my worst nightmare.

"Bella Marie, wanna tell me why I'm seeing your mugshot on the news?'

I groan and hold the phone from my ear. Looks like I'll be making a trip to Forks.

Kill me now. Before my parents do.

Playlist:

Champagne Problems- Taylor Swift

Like A Prayer- Madonna

Next chapter finds us back at Forks.