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I was going to wait until Monday to post this chapter but I couldn't wait anymore. I'm so glad everyone has hung on this long.
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Later that afternoon, Edward sat behind his desk trying to focus on the paperwork before him, yet his mind kept straying to his beautiful wife. Every time he conjured up her dreamy blue eyes, his cock twitched, dragging his attention in a whole new direction.
He was just about to push away from his desk and go find her when the eighty-inch flat-screen popped on. His brows drew together as he studied the screen.
What the fuck? He looked around his desk to find the remote. The damn thing wasn't even close to where he sat. At first, he'd thought he'd pressed the buttons by accident, yet the remote was on the very edge of the smooth wood. His brows puckered as his gaze flickered between the screen and the remote.
The skin on his arms prickled as he reached for them and pressed the off button. Instantly, the screen went black. Blowing a deep breath, he stood smoothing his suit down the front and turned for the door. He was just reaching for the knob when the screen once again popped on.
The hair on the back of his neck rose. The channels flipped right before his eyes, causing a shudder to course through him. There weren't a lot of things that freaked him out but this was a whole new level of crazy.
His throat went dry as the channels stopped on his surveillance system. Perhaps there was something wrong with the wiring, he considered, easing closer to the television. When the remote flew off his desk, drawing his attention, he jerked around searching the empty study.
"What the fuck is going on?" He murmured, bewildered as he looked around the room. Slowly, he glanced back at the TV hoping to understand what was happening, when the screen zoomed in on his kitchen.
There was only one unseen entity capable of messing with his stuff. "Irene?"
As the thought played through his mind he straightened, the chill still rolling over him in waves, he focused on the images on the screen. Confused, Edward watched the cooks busy in front of the stove. When nothing out of the ordinary happened, he shrugged. "I don't get it, Irene. If there's something you're trying to show me, I'm not seeing it."
When the screen flickered and the time stamp spun backward, his breath caught in his throat. "Holy fuck, Irene. You know how to freak a man right out."
Just as he finished speaking the screen came back in focus. This time the only thing in the picture was the stove and simmering pots. Not big on patience Edward was about to turn away when a shadow fell across the stove.
Dumbfounded, he stood there watching as a pale white hand lifted the lid of what appeared to be some type of soup. Ever so slowly, the zoom backed away until he was seeing Jane standing before the stove.
The woman's job was cleaning his house, so she had no business being anywhere near the kitchen. Edward's arms folded over his chest, every muscle in his body hard as a rock, feeling like he was about to burst right out of his skin. His jaw went tight when he watched her look all-around before reaching into the bag strapped over her shoulder.
Right before his eyes, she pulled a little baggie from her purse. With another quick look around, she emptied the contents inside before using the ladle next to the pot. When the powder was adequately blended, Jane replaced the lid and backed away from the stove.
Every cell in his body crackled as anger built in his chest. Nostrils flaring, he patted his pockets in search of his phone. He wasn't sure what the hell Jane had put into that pot, but the knot in his stomach spoke volumes. Scrolling for Emmett's contact, he punched send and lifted the phone to his ear.
Ever since the meeting with Charlie, his brother had been acting strangely. When he'd questioned Emmett about his weird behavior, he'd merely shrugged, saying he didn't want to talk about it. Knowing his feelings for Isabella, Edward brushed off Emmett's melancholy. When the phone hit the third ring before Emmett picked up, Edward's brow puckered.
"What do you need, man? I would love to have a fucking moment to myself once in a while."
"Emmett, some shit is going down. I need you in my study right now. Don't fucking linger and don't eat anything in that fucking kitchen! Right now, Emmett!" Edward hung up without waiting for a reply as he spun on his heel in search of the remote. Finding it a few feet from the desk, Edward's gaze darted around the empty study. "Thanks for the heads up, Irene."
Edward cursed his negligence. He'd known for months Jane had an attraction for him, but he never imagined her sinking to this level. He recounted all of their encounters that might have led to this point, yet nothing readily came to mind. Vaguely, he remembered her snark when he'd told her to take drinks to his family.
Had she discovered his marriage to Isabella? When would she have had the opportunity to learn this information without him knowing? Had someone let the info slip?
That didn't make sense—only three people knew about the arrangement. Emmett wouldn't tell her, right?
His musings were interrupted when his door was thrown open. His jaw went tight. Emmett looked more upset than usual, but now wasn't the time to question him, he had bigger fish to fry.
"What the hell do you want?" Emmett growled, not close to being in the mood for anything Edward had to say. For the last week, the thought of escaping this hell sounded better and better. The look on Edward's face silenced him immediately, watching those eyes darken with intent.
Edward pointed at the television as he rewound the footage. Without explanation, Edward hit play and together they rewatched as Jane poured whatever was in that sack into their food. Once the clip finished, Edward faced Emmett, his lips settling into a firm line, his gaze snapping with fire. "As quietly as you can manage, gather everyone and tell them to go to the barn. Our family. I want our family out of this house. Give the staff—all the staff—except for that bitch, the rest of the day off."
Edward shot a quick text to Laurent and James. The last thing he wanted was his family alone. His guards could take them all to the barn while he handled Jane's fucking ass.
Emmett's shoulders squared as he turned and left the study. With Emmett on a mission, Edward went in search of Bella and Lily. He wanted to see with his own eyes they both left this house without touching a bite of food in that fucking kitchen.
He found his wife—his beautiful wife—sitting in the center of Lily's bed playing barbies with her. A slight smile tipped his lips as he momentarily watched them play. Stuffing his hands in his pockets, he stepped over the threshold capturing his daughter's attention first.
"Hiya, Daddy," she cried, leaping to her feet, rushing in his direction. "Did you come to play?"
Edward just barely caught his daughter when she leapt into his arms. Holding her tight, he pressed a kiss to her temple, his gaze seeking Bella's when she turned to him with the biggest smile. "I wish, baby, but I need you to go down to the stables with Bella. I know you usually like to take your ponies a treat, but please avoid the kitchen today, okay."
"Why?"
Bella's eyebrows lifted as she noted the serious light in Edward's eyes. "What is going on, Edward?"
Slowly, Bella climbed from her position on the bed to face her husband. There was a firm set to his jaw that caught her attention, alarmed she stopped in front of him.
Edward wrestled with the worry he spotted shining from Isabella's eyes. Still holding Lily close, he moved to stand in front of Bella. Cupping her cheek, he dropped a quick kiss to her upturned lips. "I will tell you all about it, but right now, I need you both to go to the barn without looking suspicious. Do not touch anything in that kitchen. Laurent and James will be waiting near the back door."
Finding the request odd, Bella's brow furrowed as she studied Edward. Edward had never had her deal with his men before besides Emmett. "What's going on, Edward?"
"Baby, I will tell you about everything later."
Confusion passed over her face, but finally, she nodded, "Okay. Come on, Lily."
"Why did you kiss my dad? Are you my new mom? Daddy, can Bella be my mommy?"
Bella gulped. She had no idea how to answer these questions pouring out of little Lily. Everything was happening so fast and they hadn't discussed any of this. The urgency radiating from Edward didn't encourage her to linger. Shrugging, Bella took Lily's hand. "That is definitely something we need to discuss. Right, Daddy?"
"Do you like kissing my dad? He has spiky stuff on his face. It makes my lips itch."
Bella shot Edward a meaningful glance. She wasn't sure what had inspired him to kiss her in front of Lily, but something was happening. Winking in his direction, she pulled Lily and all her questions from the room.
Edward patiently waited for the two most important people in his life to disappear down the hallway. Playing with the coins in his pocket, his lashes dropped into a glare as he went in search of his sneaky fucking maid.
After searching the house high and low, he found her in his mother's room. She was just pulling the fitted sheet over the corner when her movements slowed. Coyly, she looked over her shoulder. "Is there something you need, Mr. Cullen?"
Edward just barely managed to soften his features. Moving a fraction of a step closer, he kept his head down, glancing through his lashes at Jane. When she first spotted him, there had been a suspicious light in her eye. The very last thing he wanted was to carry a woman kicking and screaming through his house.
Biting his lip to keep it from curling in disgust, his nostrils flared with distaste. "I was hoping you could meet me in my study. I have missed you, Jane."
"R-really? I t-thought you had a thing for your guest." Jane straightened and made her way to stand in front of him.
Bile rose in his throat, yet he managed to shrug. "She was new and different." Edward sent a silent prayer to whoever was listening for forgiveness. He wanted to bite off his own damn tongue as the words slipped from his lips. Forcing himself to look at Jane, he gave another careless shrug. "You know me better. Come to my study."
Jane's eyes widened slightly and ever so slowly she smiled. "I knew you would eventually come to your senses. God, I thought of you forever."
The muscle in Edward's temple ticked, and abruptly he turned to the door. "Stop thinking of me and come on. We are about to have a real good time."
The urge to grab the bitch by the hair and drag her the remaining distance had Edward's hands balling into fists. He'd never beaten a woman before, but right then he wouldn't be satisfied until she suffered worse than any foe he'd ever had.
The bitch had attempted to poison his whole damn family. His mother, his daughter, his new fucking wife. His anger was running on a fuel stronger than any he'd ever known. When her hand came to rest on his arm, he couldn't disguise the tension claiming his entire existence.
All he wanted to do was take the bitch by the neck and slam her face into the wall. The thought of her blood exploding on the wall filled him with a distinct satisfaction.
Jane must've noticed his reaction to her touch because she petted his arm. "Don't worry, baby, I will make all that tension go away."
Edward managed to keep from vomiting as he led the way through the house. He felt the blood rushing through his body and not from arousal. Every cell popped and crackled, the scent of death thickening the air. Glaring down at her, he gave a simple nod, "I know you will."
The second they came to the threshold of his study, Edward placed a firm hand on her lower back and pushed forward, knocking her off balance, Jane stumbled into his office. Spying Emmett standing near the window, he slammed the door in place, loving the fragrant aroma of fear when her slight form jumped in surprise.
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