disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns twilight

BPOV

I began to tremble there on the floor, hoping that he would feel some remorse in his treatment of me last night. He just stood there with his arms crossed over his chest, glaring down at the floor, seeming deep in thought.

"Bella?"

I broke out in a cold sweat when my name passed his lips. Would he strike me again? Does he even remember last night? Shaking with fear I just sat there on the floor.

"Look last night shouldn't have happened but you do have to admit I was right, you do need to learn your place in this house," Running his hand through his hair he continued, "Look get cleaned up my men are on their way over, we are all going to sit down and have breakfast so you better get cooking."

Abruptly he turned and left, leaving me sitting there on the floor. Wait, did he just say that his men were coming over for breakfast? Then Edward would be coming over, too. Joy and fear trickled through my being. I was happy that I would get to see him again but sad that I had to look like this. He would be pissed and horrified to see me. Big hot tears rolled down my cheeks, I should have make up somewhere in one of the drawers. I could cover up the marks on my face, I could pull this off. There was no way in hell Edward would find out that Jacob had beat me last night, it didn't matter that it was the first time or that Jacob was drunk and high, Edward would kill him, of that I was positive. There were three things I was positive about, one: I was impossibly in love with Edward, two: We were having a baby, and three: I had to leave this house and soon. Right after breakfast I would have to call Dr. Hale and get checked out immediately, sure I hadn't started to bleed last night but that didn't mean anything, something else could be wrong and I wouldn't know it. Standing up on shaky legs, I gripped the counter for support and braved another look at my face. My eyes was swollen and bruised, my nose was slightly bruised, and my lip was a little swollen around the cut. With one hand still on the counter I began to search the drawers for my make up. I had gotten a make up bag from Renee last Christmas. I never thought this would be the reason I would finally have to use it. I always thought that I would be using it when I dressed up for a party. Yeah some party. Finally finding it at the bottom drawer, I began to dump the contents out onto the counter. After finding the cover up, I hastily applied it to the bruised areas of my face, when that was finished I let go of the counter and stood back. The bruises were faint but still noticeable. Well it will have to do. I limped out of the bathroom and back into Jacobs room. I didn't have any clothes in here, so how was I to face his friends? With a sickening realization I began to get nauseous again. He wanted his friends to see me this way, he wanted to humiliate me.

With a heavy heart and a roiling stomach, I made my way back down the stairs. Suddenly the doorbell rang, making me jump. Looking through the glass in the door I saw a flash of bronze hair. Edward. Silently my heart broke, I never wanted him to see me like this.

I turned and ran for the kitchen, hoping to delay the inevitable. The kitchen had kind of always been my sanctuary in this hell hole. Cooking had always soothed me, it reminded me of simpler days when I lived with Charlie. My dad couldn't cook for himself but I never minded taking care of him. I had been taking care of Renée since I was a little girl. So taking care of my dad was no big deal. I remember when I was back in high school we would go fishing on the weekends together. Back at his home sitting on his mantle above the fireplace was a picture of us out on the boat. That day we only caught one fish and it was small but we had a blast. Looking back I realized I secretly wished for a guy as great as my dad. But I found him a little too late. Better late than never I guess.

Pulling the eggs from the refrigerator I began whisking them into a bowl preparing to make French toast. I knew Jacob and his men wouldn't mind this at least with this it gave me time to hide in the kitchen if only for a little longer. I could hear footsteps just outside the kitchen and low chatter. The whisk froze in my hand as I realized that one of those voices belonged to my Edward. I couldn't quite make out what they were saying but I could hear them. Straining my ears I could barely hear them but to me it sounded loud as ever, because I heard Edward say my name to Jacob. What on Earth would they be discussing about me? And better yet why does it sound like Jacob is agreeing? Unable to wrap my head around this I quickly went back to the task at hand. Pretending to not have heard anything as Edward and Jacob walked into the kitchen. With my hands shaking and sweat forming on my brow I continued to work keeping my back to them.

"Mrs. Black?"

Hearing that formal title come from his lips was enough to make me want to cry. But both Edward and I knew that we had to play it safe around Jacob. But still every time I heard him call me that I wanted to scream and cry no its Mrs. Cullen. With my heart silently breaking I turned around, dragging my eyes from the floor, I gazed at him. The look on his face was a mixture of grief and anger. Willing my self not to cry I whispered, "yes?"

"I just came to good morning and not to worry about anything me and Jacob will make sure nothing happens to you," he said cryptically.

Furrowing my brow, confusion swept through me. Me and Jacob will make sure nothing happens to you? Was that some kind of sick joke? Yeah up until last night Jacob had never laid a hand on me but I seriously doubted that now he would be concerned with my well being. "What?"

"Isabella, that's enough get back to breakfast," Jacob sneered.

Looking between him and Edward I caught the expression on Edwards face. He looked startled and pissed. He must have fully noticed what I was wearing and how I looked. Looking as if he wanted to say something but thinking better of it he just nodded towards me and strode from the room. Looking at his back as he left I didn't notice Jacob was still standing there until he spoke.

"Enjoying the view slut?"

Jumping at his voice I looked back at him. "What are you talking about?"

"Don't play dumb with me whore I saw the way you were staring at him, and just so you know if I ever catch you staring at another man like that again I will make sure your lesson will be very thorough," raking his eyes up and down me he continued, "Just so you know before you start fantasizing about him he has a woman in his life, so you can stop all the fantasies about him."

I just stood there dumbfounded. Did I really just make it that apparent to Jacob? And who was this other woman he was talking about? Was Edward seeing someone else? Did he finally realize that it couldn't work between us, that I was too much of a liability to him to take the risk. What would become of us and the baby if he realized that. Tears stung my eyes I turned around hoping to hide my tears. Jacob snorted some and left happy to have caused me more pain. Maybe Jacob was right, maybe I was good for nothing. Maybe just maybe this was my fate, some penance for some deed I've done. Although I couldn't recall any deed I had done that would merit this kind of punishment. How horrible of a person must I be, to deserve this?

Noticing that I had whisked the eggs into a soup-like consistency, I pulled the bread from the cabinet and the necessary spices. Heating up the pan I poured the spices into the eggs and began dipping the bread in them. My life was beginning to feel monotone now. Like I was going through the actions with no emotion, I was a robot now. Without even realizing it I was already done with breakfast, like I said robot. Piling it all on a plate I walked into the kitchen, setting it down on the kitchen table. All the place settings were there, I wonder who did it? Since yesterday I had not seen the maids or any of the help for that matter. So who exactly set the table? Assuming that they must be around somewhere and that one of them had taken pity on me.

I could hear each one of Jacobs men laughing in the next room. Most of them were close family friends of Jacobs family. Others had just hopped along for the ride, like James. Jacob had only met him a few years back. James was a creepy guy with blond hair that he always had tied back into a small ponytail at the nape of his neck, with bright blue eyes and a menacing smile. James had always given me the creeps I never stayed in the same room alone or with other people if he was in it. Jacob thought I was always being paranoid and that I must have the hotts for him that's why I always freaked out when he was near. Edward didn't think I was so paranoid, in fact he asked me to stay away from James.

Seeing all of Jacobs men file into the room I suddenly became self conscious. I still had no change of clothes and my face was battered and bruised. They each stood next to one of the chairs obviously waiting for Jacob no one ever sat down at the table until he did. It was like they were waiting for their king to show. In a way I guess you could say that Jacob was their king they never ever did anything without his permission and he called all the shots. I looked down at my feet, seeing no more reason to put on my brave face. Hearing a woman laughing my head shot up, in walked Jacob, Edward and Alice? Wait so she was the other woman, the one who helped me pick out my pregnancy test, the one Edward was seeing. Of course he was seeing someone as beautiful as she, I mean I was plain and he was an Adonis they were perfect for each other. Wait when I met her at the store she mentioned a husband, looking down at her hand I noticed the tan line that indicated that there once sat a wedding ring. I looked up to her face and saw the recognition pass over her features, she remembered me from the store. I looked between her and Edward he looked at me with a pleading gaze, as if wishing me to understand something. Confused I looked back to Alice and noticed that horror had now taken hold of her. She saw the bruises, she knows. Opening her mouth to say something I cut her off.

"Hello, I'm Jacob's wife Bella, welcome to our home." Catching the pleased look from Jacob out of the corner of my eye, I quickly glanced over at him, noting this he wiped the look from his face.

"Hello, I'm Jenny, and you have a beautiful house."

Confusion swept through me again, Jenny, I thought her name was Alice. Just how much lying did I get from people and not even realize it. Even strangers were lying to me. Looking around the room I found my excuse to leave the room. I forgot the orange juice, I would have to leave to get it relief flooded through me.

"Um, I'm sorry but I seem to have forgotten some things, I was so excited to meet you," laughing nervously I trudged on, "I'll just run into the kitchen and grab it."

"Oh I'll come with you so we can talk!" Alice or Jenny quipped.

Before I could protest Jacob cut in, "Sure you go right ahead, my Bella won't mind."

Looking from Jacob to Edward, I noticed the look of fury on Edwards face when Jacob mentioned that I was his. I felt a little confused wasn't Edward here with another woman, didn't he already have someone? He obviously moved on, or was he confused as to who he wanted. Did he only want me around right now because of the baby? Was he going to get rid of me after the baby was born? Walking towards the kitchen the mystery girl walked next to me, chatting happily about something, about what I didn't know. I quit paying attention to everything around me, becoming the robot again. When we reached the counter furthest from the door, the girl suddenly got very serious.

"Look Bella I know your very confused but I can explain."

"Wait, Explain what I know everything, Edward moved on like he should. Don't feel bad, please don't."

"No, Bella listen. I am Edward's sister, not his girlfriend."

"What."

"Edward came to my house a couple days ago and begged me to help you two. I know everything Bella and trust me I'm your friend we are working on a plan to get you out of here, but please don't say anything and act like nothing is wrong."

My head was reeling from all the information. What were the odds that the day that I find out I'm pregnant Edward's sister is the one who helps me. "Why are you doing this?"

"I'm doing this Bella because your family, you may not know this but you have been the light of Edward's life, you're the one that has made him happy. Besides you're the mother of his child, he would do anything to keep you safe," whispering the last part she looked around to make sure no one had heard us. "Although it looks like he has been a little late trying to."

Tears welled up in my eyes, was my bruises really that noticeable that even Alice could see them? I knew that Jacob was proud of his work, marking me up showing everyone that he was the one who ran the show. Blinking rapidly I wiped my tears away, not wanting Alice to see me cry. I had to be strong, grabbing the orange juice from the fridge I turned to Alice. "Well lets get this show on the road."

I walked back into the dining room with Alice right beside me, chatting about the décor of the house. Putting on a happy face, I placed the orange juice on the table and at next to Jacob. Everyone else had already taken their seats. Edward had looked from Alice to me then Alice again. Something silent passed between them, when Edward seemed satisfied with the answer he looked at me. A brief flash of calm passed through his eyes, and then anger stole through him. I really must look like a train wreck for him to always be mad to look at me. With shame I lowered my head, hoping to avoid conversation with everyone I didn't feel like talking. Surely my grief would make itself apparent, but Alice would have none of that.

"So Bella, what are you doing later today?"

I looked to Jacob knowing that he would want me to ask his permission. Nodding his head in accord I felt some relief. "No, I don't have anything to do later today."

"Great, I know of this great little place to go eat for lunch."

"Sure, that would be great, but I don't have anything to wear though."

"Oh that will be no problem I'm sure I have extra clothes in my car."

Jacob looked at me with malice as if he didn't like that response at all, but there was nothing to do about it now he had already given me permission. In his hand I could see him gripping the knife, his knuckles turning white. Sweat poured down my back, tonight for sure would be another "lesson."