A/N: New chapter! I would have posted earlier but my computer caught a virus and it just basically blew up ... Not nice. Title of this chapter, EEE means Engagement. Edward. Explain. You'll see as you get into this chapter. Thank you all very much for your reviews, and I'm sorry I didn't get to reply to them, virus, remember? Carlisle is really calculating in my story, but hey, if you were the richest guy in the US, you got to have some sense of survival, right?

And I know I forgot to put up the poll last time, but now it's up, please vote!

Lolly

THEY ARE ALL HUMAN.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything from Twilight, New Moon, or Eclipse. I also do not own Romantic Princess or Smiling Pasta.

Odyssean Love

Chapter 5

EEE

BPOV

Carlisle Cullen had Aro to call me to see Carlisle into his study. I was curious. I had just been with him not so long ago, what did he need me for now?

Perhaps they've discovered that I was after all a fake, like that Edward Cullen had said.

Me; the daughter of Carlisle Cullen? Not likely. Not at all.

Seven maids entered my room, if you could call it a room, seeing as it was far too big, and showered the large, king-sized bed with piles of designer-looking clothing; dresses, skirts, blouses … You name it.

"Please choose an outfit first, before you meet with Carlisle Cullen. He likes people in this household to dress accordingly," the lady who looked like the leader of the entrouge informed me loudly.

I glanced down at my outfit. What was wrong with it? I had on my favorite pair of jeans and a yellow shirt on, with some running shoes. There was nothing wrong with my clothing, I decided.

"No, what I'm wearing is perfectly fine," I argued, frowning. Jeans were perfectly average.

The seven women sighed at the same time until one of them spoke up. "Yes, Lady Isabella, it is fine, for the outside world. But in the Cullen household, everyone dresses like this. You don't want to look different."

What if I do?

These people were impossible. I sighed heavily as I bent over to the bed and picked out a blue summer dress from the pile that hopefully was not as eye-catching as the rest of the clothing.

"But … Miss, that one will look so much more flattering on you!" Another maid squealed, picking out a plaid skirt and a light pink blouse with ruffles on the collars and sleeves.

No way was I ever going to wear that. My mouth couldn't help it but turned down.

"I'm perfectly fine, thank you," I nodded; it seemed to be the trademark of this peculiar household. She sighed to herself as she started whispering with another maid. Probably about my fashion sense, I suppose.

I shrugged dismissively to myself as I grabbed a pair of shoes and started for Carlisle's study.

'But Lady Isa –" the leader called out but I was running much too fast for her to ever catch me.

When I had reached a certain distance, I suddenly realized that I had absolutely no idea whatsoever of where I was going. This mansion was far too massive for me to find my way out again.

I sighed in frustration and I started wandering mindlessly around the columns and corners that this palace had.

Huffing and quite out of breath, I leaned against a pillar before turning another corner. I looked up expectantly and saw a door that looked very much like the ones of Carlisle's office.

Taking a deep breath, I turned the doorknob and entered. The guards at the doors started giggling mysteriously.

What was up with the people around here?

I shook my head in wonder as I turned yet another corner.

As I stepped closer, I could hear the voices that were in conversation.

Curiously, I inched forwards and before me, was what looked like a mini bar that seated three of the most beautiful people, holding a glass of wine each.

Of course, looking around, I recognized that the rude man who has so carelessly dismissed me earlier on was there.

Edward.

I took a step back, accidentally bumping into a small vase, causing it to fall and give my presence away,.

One of the three men, a handsome blond, turned around sharply to look over to where the noise came from.

I looked back, startled.

"Well, well, well, who might this gorgeous young lady be?" The same blond grinned at me. I blushed furiously and my toes turned in on each other, pigeon style.

Edward lifted his head to look at me. When he saw me, a dark look crossed his face. He took another swing of his wine, almost as if he wished that we was anywhere but here at this moment.

"Isn't that Mr. Carlisle's long-lost daughter?" The other man, a burly brown-haired man, turned to smile at me, putting down his glass. "Have a drink"

He offered me the entire bottle. I nodded as I walked over to take it from him.

"Why, of course. How could I have missed it," the blond inched closer towards me, taking my hand and kissing it politely. He winked slyly at me. "Hello, Mrs. Cullen."

That took a shock on me.

"Mrs. Cullen?" I asked, confused.

I noticed that Edward's eyes turned darker as the blond spoke his words. He turned sharply to shoot his blazing eyes on the blond.

"Jasper, you weren't supposed to tell her yet! Carlisle wanted to break the news to her himself," Edward spoke for the first time. "You know what he's like."

The blond, Jasper, I supposed, looked back at Edward, startled. "She doesn't know?"

Edward was just about to reply when I cut in. "Know what?"

"Edward, you can't keep it from her much longer. You have to tell her," the largest of the three spoke up. He seemed very kind so far. So far.

"Shut up, Emmett, you don't understand. Carlisle specifically instructed us to not let her know yet," Edward hissed, his eyes scorching.

It alarmed me for a second.

It dawned on me; the burly man was Emmett Cullen. How could I have ever missed that? He was always on gossip magazines; the famous playboy.

"Know what?" I was starting to get agitated. There was obviously something that they all knew, save me.

Silence.

"Congratulations, Isabella, you're engaged!" Jasper burst out.

"What?!" I choked on my drink. Trickles of wine slithered down my chin. I quickly wiped it with the back of my hand.

"Jasper!" Edward slammed down his wine glass and stood up, knocking his seat over.

"You're engaged to Edwar –"

That drove Edward off the edge; he took a long leap and tackled Jasper to the floor.

"ENGAGED TO EDWARD?" I slammed my wine bottle down too.

"Calm down, guys. Let's sort this out calmly and –" Emmett tried to break up the two men.

When he had them two finally steady, he turned to me, shaking his head. "I'm sorry, Isabella. They're usually not like that."

"What is going on?"

"I'm sorry, Isabella, it isn't my place to tell you. Carlisle will explain. He has his reasons," was all the information Emmett was willing to give me.

I took off, away from them.

I was running again. I had to find Carlisle and make him explain.

The evil father that was possibly mine.

CPOV

"CARLISLE. GET YOUR BUTT OUT YOUR HELL HOLE AND EXPLAIN THIS MESS TO ME," I looked up from my book as I heard an angry shout and the stomping of feet. A shadow was approaching the door.

Ah, my Marie was here again. I smiled to myself as I collected myself and walked to the front of my desk.

"What may I help you with?" My smile grew wider as she came in view. She was out of breath and her hair was slightly out of place, but nevertheless, she still resembled my late Elizabeth so very much.

"ENGAGEMENT. EDWARD. EXPLAIN," she took a deep breath and heaved.

"Ah, I was getting to that," I raised an eyebrow. So, she knows already? I had been hoping to be the one to break the good news to her. But oh, well, she already knows.

"Why did Jasper say I was engaged to Edward?" I could almost see steam coming out of her nose and ears.

So, Jasper was the party pooper. I clicked my tongue.

"Of course, why ever not? You're my daughter, he's has the most potential out of my three adoptive sons … It's perfect!" My mind flickered to my wonderful dream that was becoming a reality by the second.

My daughter, engaged to my favorite candidate for successor. This was working out just as I had planned!

"IT IS NOT PERFECT. FIRST YOU DRAG ME OUT OF MY HOME AND INTO THIS DESERTED DUNGEON AND THEN YOU ENGAGE ME OFF TO SOME SNOB THAT I BARELY EVEN KNOW. WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE??" Isabella screamed on the top of her lungs.

Wow, fiery and impatient. She was definitely a Cullen by blood, I thought happily. She was just like me when I was younger …

"Carlisle Cullen, of course."

"ARGH! You are IMPOSSIBLE!" She shouted as she stormed off.

Aro slipped in from a side door and whispered near my ear. "Boss, do we need to tighten security around the household?"

"No, no, she'll be fine. You'll see. Soon, she will be happily married to young Master Edward."

I know, a lot of shouting from Bella. But this is an AU story so she will not be like the Bella in Twilight. Plus, if you were in that situation, not matter how hot or good-looking the guy was, wouldn't you be just that tad bit annoyed? Anyways, what will hot-tempered Bella do? Was Carlisle right in not tightening security?