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You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.
Kahlil Gibran

Chapter 21

The Revelation

I held my breath.

He really did call me 'his girl'.

I glanced over the room and I saw Emmett's smirk, Esme's genuine smile, Carlisle's raised eyebrows, Rosalie's rolled eyes and the most shocking was the blonde's widened eyes. I didn't even bother to look to the other person in the room. I was sure their reaction would be the same.

Edward never once let go of my hand and I knew he was serious.

The blond woman scoffed. "Your girl? What about me? Did you forget me already? I thought we had a great time together."

This time it was Edward who scoffed. "What about you? You are just my friend." And then, he glanced to the other adults in the room. "Or your family is my dad's friend."

"Edward!" Carlisle warned him.

"Do you think I don't know your intention, Dad?" Edward blurted out. His hand gripped my hand tightly and he was trembling. I looked at him immediately. His jaw clenched and his eyes burned in anger. Oh, no!

I touched his arm gently, hoping I could distract him from his temper. "Edward, please calm down," I said in low voice.

Edward didn't budge. "I know all your intention, Dad. You want fame. You want honor. But, not at once you want me or Emmett or Mom-"

"Edward Cullen! That's enough!" Carlisle shouted. He balled his fist and I started to get worry. This is not good. I remember when they hit each other at Carlisle's office.

"No! It's not enough!" Edward shouted back. He let go of my hand and walked a few steps to the center of the room. The blond woman smirked a little when Edward was letting go of my hand.

"Whatever I do, it's not enough for you. You rule my life. You've made Mom almost k-"

"I did that for you!" Carlisle interjected.

Edward raised his eyebrows.

"Do you have any ideas how much I try to become like this? So, I could pay your college or bought you a car," Carlisle said again.

Edward chuckled darkly. "It's funny how you use your stupid 'guilt' card, Dad. I'm not 12 years old boy anymore. You can't buy me."

"Edward..." Suddenly the blond woman stepped in and touched Edward's arm lightly. I blinked several times when an unfamiliar sense surged into my body. I didn't like her touching Edward. I didn't like it all. My heart beat increased when I realized I was jealous.

Edward turned his head immediately and glared at her. "What?"

The woman flinched and let go of her hand. "Don't be so rude to your dad, Edward. He loves you." And then, she smiled. "I love you."

My stomach knotted.

Edward smirked. "Do you? Or you love me because of my family's wealth?"

Everyone in the room gasped, only Emmett who still smirking. He must have been waiting for this moment.

The blond woman narrowed her eyes and laughed lightly. "How could you think of that, Edward?" And then she gestured at me. "What about her? Do you think she gets close to you not thinking about your wealth?"

"Leave Bella out of this!"

"Oh...so her name is Bella?" She smirked and approached me. Her blue eyes blazed with jealousy. "So...tell me...Bella...what is your intention toward Edward Cullen?"

Anger flashed through my body without abandon. They could call me whatever they want, but accusing me as a gold digger was unacceptable.

From somewhere of the room, I heard Rosalie giggled. "You will not believe if I told you this, Tanya."

I narrowed my eyes. So...that evil witch is Tanya...

"She is-"

"I'm a volunteer in Our Hearts," I cut short Rosalie's words. I didn't need to hear her snarled voice and mostly I needed to keep my emotion under control.

Tanya and her family raised their eyebrows. "A volunteer?" Tanya chuckled. "What are you doing in that place? Looking for a free food?"

Rosalie giggled again and Edward turned sharply to her direction. "Shut the fuck up, Hale! You are not better than she is."

Rosalie stopped her giggle and clenched her jaw. "I'm not better than whom, Edward? Than that plain girl?"

"Bella is not plain!"

"Doesn't mean she's not a gold digger."

Alright! That's enough!

"And how about you?" I said directly to Rosalie. My anger clouded my rational thought and all I wanted to do is letting go everything that I keep inside. "What is your intention toward Emmett Cullen, Miss Hale?"

Rosalie went silent while from the corner of my eyes I could see Esme and Carlisle looked at me curiously.

"I may haven't been long enough in this house, but I know more than you just accusing me as a gold digger." I kept my voice steady. "You may look beautiful, but you are just a shell inside. You have nothing. No one cares about you. That's why you're craving attention from everywhere you go. You always feel insecure."

"Shut up!" Rosalie shouted at me.

"Another interesting fact is, Miss Hale," I ignored her shouting, "People will get defensive if the truth about themselves revealed."

Rosalie turned pale immediately.

"So... I have to ask once again, Miss Hale. What is your intention toward Emmett Cullen?"

She trembled slightly while Emmett looked at her in calm expression. "I...uh..."

"Don't answer me," I interjected. I gestured to Emmett. "Give him your answer."

And then, I heard Tanya sighed. "Impressive. But, still you are not answering my question...Bella..."

I turned my head at her direction and narrowed my eyes. "I was there because I need to do a report for my college project. My first intention was just to find one subject to finish my report. But, everything happened there was beyond my reach. I love the place. I love the kids."

I looked over to Edward and he looked at me with shock on his face. I've never told him this story before and I knew my revelation tonight will change everything. At least I wanted to do this right before he totally mad at me or even forgotten me.

"And then, I met Edward. He was silent, but he always watching me. He helped me when one of the volunteers trying to...hurt me." My voice faltered in the end and from the corner of my eyes I could see Edward clenched his fist.

I took a deep breath and looked again at Tanya. She watched me warily. "Our introduction was not going well. All the people there always said Edward was violent, but I knew better. I know he's a good man. He just didn't find the way yet."

Tanya scoffed. "So...you were using Edward as your subject?"

I shook my head. "No. He asked me."

Tanya's eyes widened. "What?"

I stared at her eyes. "Like I said... he asked me."

"You're lying." Suddenly she screamed. "I was his friend. I care about him. I love him. He will not ask for your help just like that-"

"He's your friend, huh? If you care about him, where were you during those times?" I shouted back. I couldn't stand it anymore of this bullshit. Everyone pretends to love Edward, but they don't. They just care about themselves.

I looked over to the room, looking at their faces. "Where were you when he was alone? Where were you when he was doing his therapy? Where were you when he tried to control his anger? Where were you when he tried to solve the Rubik cube I gave to him? WHERE WERE YOU?"

My chest felt hurt and my eyes already glossy from tears.

"Before you all said you love Edward, you better ask yourself. Do you really love him enough for who he is or just for your pride?"

One traitor tears escaped from my eyes and I wiped it with my hand before I looked over to Edward. His eyes burned with concern and worry. "I'm sorry, Edward," I muttered before I ran from the living room to the back porch.

The fresh air calmed my mood and I took deep breaths. I leaned over to the wall and slowly I could think rationally. I groaned when I realized I just blurted in there and I mentally slapped myself. That was what I afraid of. To lose the ability to control my emotion. I ran my hand through my hair and looked over to the starry sky. What will happen between me and Edward? I honestly didn't know.

I loved him.

I still do.

I closed my eyes. If he doesn't want me, at least I already did the best that I could for him. I will always wish him the best.

And then, I felt someone's presence next to me and I opened my eyes. I saw Edward stood next to me. He also leaned over the wall.

"The sky is beautiful tonight," he said.

I looked over to the stars. "Yes, it is."

My heart beat turned erratic when I realized I already told everything in front of his family, mostly to Tanya's family whom I didn't recognize at all.

I looked down to the ground. "I'm sorry," I whispered.

He didn't say anything.

I smiled grimly. "I should have told you about that from the beginning. I'm sorry for everything." I swallowed hard. "I love you, Edward."

Silence.

My stomach knotted when he didn't answer me. I bit my lower lip and tried very hard not to cry again. "I just want to tell you that I love you because of who you are. Good or bad. That's all." I wiped my traitor tears again. "Good night, Edward."

I walked past him when suddenly he grabbed my arm and turned me around to face him. I gasped and our eyes met. Blazing green eyes stared at me with intensity and I almost lost my breath.

"I'm not mad at you, Bella. What you did...or rather said...was true. Please, don't run away from me again," Edward said to me. He sighed. "This sounds weird, but I won't trade my time in Our Hearts over anything." His hand caressed my cheek. "As awful as that place may seem, it brings me to you."

"I thought you didn't want me," I whispered.

Edward sighed. "How could you think of that?" He stroked my hair. "Just let go everything, Bella. You can fall now and I will catch you."

My tears ran freely and Edward wiped it with his hand. "Sometimes people that we care are not staying long enough both in our hearts and life," I whispered. I knew how that felt. The day when my parents divorced confirmed the words to me.

Edward smiled. "That's too bad. Because I want to stay both in your life..." And then, he put his palm on my heart. "And mostly in your heart."

At that moment, everything was broke. I cried hard and let myself fall for the first time. Edward hugged me tightly while I was crying.

"You can lean on me, Bella. I will always catch you," he whispered in my ear.

Sorry for the short chapter, but this chapter is important for the turning point between Edward and Bella. Next chapter, they will meet with another challenge, not to mention Bella hasn't give her answer to Edward.

And have you seen Breaking Dawn stills from EW? They are gorgeous! Really can't wait for November ^^

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