Chapter 18

BPOV

Edward put the box he was carrying on the end table. "I still don't feel right about moving in here while your grandparents are paying the rent."

A few months had passed since we'd run into each other at Woodstock. Even though it was frowned upon, we'd decided to move in together. He'd been living in a one-bedroom apartment in the middle of lower Manhattan, so it just made sense for us to keep my house. Yes, we were engaged, but we were taking some time to get to know each other better, to go on a few dates. There was no doubt we loved each other, but I'd been putting off having a big conversation with him.

I didn't know how to bring up the subject of money. Occasionally, he'd give me a good segue, but each time I'd chicken out. I was nervous it would hurt his pride to know I was wealthier than he was right now.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself. I knew I needed to get this over with once and for all. "Well, uh, they don't actually pay my rent. I've just let my father believe that."

He cocked an eyebrow at me. "Okay, well, I know you're not working, so do you want to let me in on how you're living here rent free?"

"It's—well, it's not exactly rent free…"

"Spit it out, Bella," he demanded.

"My grandparents set up a trust fund for me, and I became a very rich woman at 18."

He stared at me awhile, and I wasn't sure what he was thinking. His facial expressions were incredibly hard to read on a good day. "What else aren't you telling me? How were they able to do that?"

"They own Higginbotham's Department Store."

His mouth opened and closed as he stared at me once again. "Your grandparents own Higginbotham's... which means you're… why the hell didn't you tell me something this big sooner, Bella?"

I hunched my shoulders defensively. "I didn't think it was a big deal."

"Not a big deal? Oh, no, not a big deal at all. You're just the goddamn heiress to the biggest department store in the country!"

"Why are you so angry about this? It's just money!"

Edward threw his hands up in the air as he paced back and forth. "It's not just money! How am I supposed to provide for you, to take care of you, when you could fucking take care of me! It's not right!"

I drew in a deep breath and held it for a moment in an effort to hold my tongue. I'd hesitated to tell him because I'd expected this reaction. I knew he'd changed in many ways, but at the end of the day, he was still a man with very strong beliefs. He wanted to be the one to hold all the cards, and it had to be unnerving for him to know he didn't. I had more news for him than just the fact that I was a wealthy heiress, though. News I imagined would repair his wounded pride.

"Edward." I touched his bicep, stopping his pacing. "It's money that just sits there, alright? I've used it to pay for school and housing and a few other things, and that's it. It'll be there as a nice nest egg. What's mine is yours, right? We'll be living off your salary, so please don't ever think we don't need you." As I spoke, I subtly placed my hand on my belly with the hope he'd notice.

His eyes followed the movement of my hand, just staring blankly at it until he looked back up at me. "We?"

"Yeah."

"Are you saying... are you…"

I nodded. "Yeah. I went to the doctor the other day, and we're going to have a baby."

"A baby. We're going to have a baby! Bella, I know we were going to wait another month or so, but we can't. We need to get married soon."

"Edward—"

"Just this once, please don't argue with me." He gripped my face between his hands, leaning down and pressing his lips to mine to kiss me deeply. "Let me have this. Let me take care of you, please."

"Fine," I huffed. "But just this once!" I grinned at him.

He rolled his eyes, but the frown he'd sported earlier vanished, replaced by the beautiful smile I fell in love with. "What are your grandparents going to think of their heiress getting knocked up and marrying the black sheep of the Masen family?"

"As long as I'm happy, they'll be happy. I still can't decide if I should let my father know. It's not as if he could stop me, but I doubt he'd have anything positive to say, especially about the baby."

Edward shrugged his shoulders. "It's completely up to you, but this is our life, Bella. Neither your father nor mine have any say in what we do. If you don't want to tell him, then don't."

I knew I had Edward now, that he loved me and wanted to take care of me, but my heart ached knowing I'd never truly have my father's approval. It was hard to let go of that since he was one of the people in this world that was supposed to love me unconditionally but didn't.

"I have a question, Bella. I feel like it's one I should have asked a while ago."

"What is it?"

"What about your mom?"

"What about my mom?" I pulled back from him. "She left, Edward, and aside from a few phone calls to my grandparents, I've never seen or spoken to her since, so what about her?"

"I was just thinking that maybe it's time you reach out to her? We're getting married, we're having a baby—"

"She didn't want me, Edward. She could have taken me with her, but she didn't. You know all of this! Why are you bringing it up?"

"I don't mean to upset you, sweetheart, but from everything you've told me and the memories you have of her, I feel like you might not have the whole story."

I let his words float around inside my head. What if he was right? My father was always so close-lipped about the whole situation, but my grandparents wouldn't have kept anything from me. At least, I didn't think they would.

We're winding down here, just two more chapters after this one.

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