Chapter 27: Showdown
BPOV"I'm so sorry, Bella. I really did not know that the Harpers were going to be in town. I haven't seen any of them in years." Esme told me as we drove into town.
"It's not your fault." I answered. She really had no control over them.
"I just don't want you to feel uncomfortable. They have a way of making everyone feel less than adequate, but it's really just a front." Esme explained.
"I just think they're annoying." I replied as Esme laughed.
"You have no idea. They just showed up to the house asking about Edward as if they were our best friends. In reality the last time I saw Anne was in a charity function two years ago, and she was bragging about her daughter's fashion designer boyfriend." Esme said causing me to laugh.
"A fashion designer?" I questioned.
Esme nodded as we parked near the center of a small town. "A French designer. I can't even remember his name. But it's not really important. But what bothers me most about her is the way she looks at my son, as if he were a piece of meat."
"She practically threw herself on him at the lodge." I mentioned. "Edward's face was priceless."
"She never had too much class, and I guess she now has even less." Esme added as we started to walk.
After going through some of the small shops, and buying some souvenirs. We made our way to the market to buy enough food for the rest of the week. It was already December 23, and Esme wanted me to help her prepare Christmas dinner.
"I think we have it all." Esme said looking at her list. "We need to be sure, because the market closes early tomorrow, and doesn't open Christmas day."
"Esme, I think we have enough food for the rest of the year." I said with a giggle pointing at the full shopping cart.
"I guess we do." She said with a laugh as we headed to checkout.
"You never finished telling me about Edward and the kids." I stated as we put the groceries in the car.
"He's absolutely wonderful with children. He has a way of communicating and connecting with them that's incredible. Last year I had one of the kids ask me if Edward had permission to come out to play. They see him as just another kid." Esme stated.
"He plays with them?" I asked.
"All the time. I guess they haven't noticed he's here yet, because if not they would all be coming over to ask him to play. They usually build a hill in the complex's park, and go down in inflatable tubes." Esme answered.
"I would love to see him play with them. He does have a way with people." I replied.
"Just like his father." Esme responded as we pulled into the house.
"Let's go see if Edward's awake so he can help us with the bags." I suggested as we walked up the steps to the third floor.
As soon as we made it to the stop step I heard Edward angrily scream Alexia's name, and I knew the situation could not be positive. As soon as I opened the door of the room I found Edward lying on the floor with a barely dressed Alexia attempting to seduce him.
At first I wanted to scream at Edward, but then quickly realized it was not his fault. By the look on his face I could tell he was disgusted, mortified, and not the least bit excited. The fact that he wasn't aroused made my self-esteem rise a couple of points.
As soon as Alexia laid her eyes on Esme and I she smiled wickedly before sticking her hand down Edward's pants. Edward's immediately pushed her off him causing her to hit her head against the footrest of the bed.
"It's not what it looks like." Edward stammered.
"I know exactly what it looks like." I stated taking a deep breath trying to regain control.
"I didn't do anything. I was just sleeping." Edward began to explain. He looked worried as if he was afraid I was going to break up with him.
"It looks like you interrupted what was going to be a great time." Alexia stated with a grin.
"It's funny isn't. How was it going to be exciting if you actually can't excite him." I answered with my hands on my hips forgetting the fact that Esme was in the room.
"He probably just has issued in that department." She said with a glare.
"Believe me, Alexia. There are absolutely no issues in that department, Edward can go all night." I answered with a triumphant smile. "So the problem has to be you."
"Girls, why don't we discuss this down stairs." Esme said obviously hearing more about her son than she cared to know.
"There's nothing to discuss." Alexia rudely stated. "Edward is mine. I had him first."
"First of all, Alexia, my son is his own person and does not belong to anyone. And obviously, you are unable to take a hint." Esme answered. "So please do us all a favor and leave my house immediately. I do not want trash like you in my property."
"But Edward wants me here." She said getting up effortlessly and walking towards Edward. Her foot was obviously never injured in the first place.
"I want you to get out of my house." Edward spoke authoritatively moving away from her and towards me.
"If I leave, I'm never coming back." She warned with an attitude.
I took a step towards noticing the slight fear in her eyes. "The door is wide open. But if you know what's good for you, you will not come near Edward or any of us again."
"And who's going to stop me?" She asked pushing my shoulder.
I did not know what came over me, but I just felt all the anger I had boil over. I took one step back before punching her in the nose. My hand was in immediate pain, but I ignored it. I was not going to show her any weakness.
"I can't believe you." She cried as the blood began to fall down her face. "You're all a bunch of animals. And you." She started turning to Edward. "When you get bored, and want me back it'll be too late."
"I don't plan on ever getting bored, because I found my true love." He said with a glare before she picked up her coat storming from the room in a sob.
I felt the tears start to fall as soon as I heard the front door slam. "Bella, love, what's wrong?" Edward asked me taking me in his arms.
"My hand." I said holding it out to him. I could already see the bruise starting to form.
"I'll go call Carlisle." Esme said leaving the room.
"You smell like her." I said as he hugged me tightly and I pulled away. "Please take a shower."
Edward nodded reluctantly stepping away from me.
"I'm really sorry, Bella. I should've heard her come in the room. I should've been more alert. I'll understand if you hate me." He answered.
"Edward, I meant everything I said. I know it wasn't you, and you're not the one I'm angry with. If anything you showed me extreme love and loyalty today. You weren't the least bit excited, and she was practically naked." I told with a small smile.
"You're the only one for me, Bella. And nobody is ever going to change that." He said.
"Bella, Carlisle is getting his medical bag. Why don't you come downstairs?" Esme said from the door. "And Edward please take a shower. I don't want you smelling like that whore."
I couldn't help, but smile as Esme ordered her son to shower. "Yes, mom." He said as he gently squeezed my good hand and left to the bathroom.
"Is your hand alright?" Esme asked me as we walked down to the kitchen.
"It really hurts." I said cringing as I attempted to bend my hand.
"Bella, don't strain it." Esme added.
"It could get worse." Carlisle warned as he began to exam it. "You must've decked her out hard." I nodded turning red at his comment.
"Don't be embarrassed, Bella. I was going to do it myself if you hadn't done it. Honestly, the nerve of that girl. You should've seen her, Carlisle, she threw herself all over EdwardShe looked like a hooker. And even had the nerve to grab him," Esme stated in an outrage.
"Grab him?" Carlisle asked in perplexed tone.
"She grabbed his package." Esme answered in a huff.
"What did you expect, Esme? The apple never falls far from the tree." He said looking up at her.
"Your hand is going to be sore for a few days, but its not broken. You're just going to have it bruised." He said getting up to get ice.
"How's your hand?" Edward asked as he walked in after his shower.
"It's not broken." I answered as he took me in his arms. I sighed as I smelled him and not her overwhelming scent.
"I should've done more to stop her. It shouldn't have ever gotten this far." He said kissing my hairline.
"Edward, what happened is in the past. I don't think she'll be bothering us ever again." I replied leaning my head on his chest as Carlisle handed me the ice.
"That should help with the swelling." He stated. "I can get you a brace if you want, but I don't think it really is necessary."
Edward took my hand looking at it before kissing it lightly. "Thank you, Carlisle. I think it feels better already." I said as Edward chuckled.
Esme was about to begin preparing a late dinner when we heard a loud knock on the door, which Carlisle went to answer. "Where is she?" I heard as an outraged Anne walked into the house.
"Anne, who are you referring to?" Carlisle asked calmly.
"The hussy that broke my daughter's nose." She yelled as Edward pulled me closer practically growling.
EPOV
I felt myself sigh in relief when I found out Bella's hand was not broken, but I was even more relieved by the fact that she knew I had nothing to do with Alexia's stunt. It was still hard to believe that Alexia was the same girl that had once been my first girlfriend. She was always a bit manipulative, but she would've never stooped that low.
But she didn't matter. I needed to make it up to Bella. Even though she didn't blame me I still felt like I could've some how stopped it from ever escalating there. I didn't know how, but I was going to do something incredible to prove to her how much I loved her.
My thoughts where interrupted as soon as I heard Anne's shriek, but it was the term she used to describe Bella that really got me angry. If anybody was a hussy it was her tramp of a daughter.
I pulled Bella closer to me as Anne stormed into the kitchen glaring at our direction. "How dare you hit my daughter?" She began.
"Anne." My mom said taking off her oven mitts.
"Esme, is alright." Bella said. "I think Mrs. Harper here deserves an explanation of her daughter's actions."
"I know very well what my daughter did. She only came here on his request." She said pointing at me.
"No, I believe your daughter showed up in my room half naked out of her own volition." I explained. "I have made it crystal clear that I do not want anything to do with her."
"My daughter has class. She does not need to throw herself at men" She protested.
"Apparently she does." Bella mumbled with a giggle.
"And you Ms. Swan, we do not punch people from where we come from it's of poor taste." She added with an angry smirk.
"And where I come from you do not try to steal another woman's boyfriend." Bella replied.
"Anne, please leave my house. You and your family are no longer welcomed here." My dad spoke with complete calmness. "You have disrespected my family, and I do not tolerate that."
"She is not your family." Anne responded.
"She's as good as my daughter." He stated as Anne left the house slamming the front door as she left.
"Anybody up for pizza?" My dad asked with a smile as we all started laughing.
"I think that's a good idea. I'm not really up to cook anymore." Esme said picking up the phone.
"Can we talk?" I asked Bella seriously.
She nodded before walking towards my bedroom and closing the door. "Bella, I want you to know that I'm extremely sorry for not putting in her place from the beginning. I feel like you should be angry with me."
"Did you enjoy having her feel you up?" She asked me.
"No!" I answered immediately shuddering at the thought.
"Do you still have feelings for her?" She inquired.
I shook my head.
"Would you have slept with her if I wouldn't have arrived?" She continued.
"No, ofcourse not." I replied.
"Then unless you want to confess something I don't know then there's no reason for me to be mad at you. She's the one that was completely out of line." She explained.
"I love you, Bella." I said tentatively giving her a hug. "I'm so sorry that she ruined your vacation."
"She hasn't ruined my vacation. We still have three whole days left here, a few days with my dad, and then a trip to Disney. She simply attempted to ruin it, but she was not successful." She answered kissing me lightly.
A/N: I am astonished at the number reviews I have gotten for this chapter. It seems like you guys love to review when there is a cliffhanger. Maybe I should do more… In all honesty thank you for all the reviews (58 in total right now).
Some of you actually believed that Bella would fall for Alexia's trick. I mean give the girl some credit, she's very smart. Plus she knows Alexia is cunning. I loved the fact that I had her punch Alexia, and ruin her perfect nose.
Please review I want to know your reactions! I love reading them!
Next Chapter: Edward/Bella time and Christmas
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