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Thank you for all the wonderful comments! I really appreciate all of them =) Well... here is chapter two! ENJOY!
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Chapter Two
The Past Meets the Present
Edward's Point of View…
"Oh Edward I am so glad to see you!" Bella said as she wrapped her fragile arms around my waist and buried her head on my chest. I ran my fingers through her silky hair and kissed the top of her head.
"Bella," I said barely in a whisper but to her, it's a normal tone to a human's ear.
"Is that Carlisle?" she asked as she quickly ran downstairs. I silently trailed behind her.
"What? This is insane!" Charlie screamed. Carlisle was calmly sitting in one of the wooden dinning chairs.
"We have to respect his parent's last wishes." Carlisle said getting up. "Listen Charlie this is hard for all of us. Edward doesn't want to do this anymore than we do but if Bella agrees-"
"Agrees on what?" Bella said. I can hear her heart erratically beats just like when I kiss her. "Edward what's going on?" she asked with her concerned brown eyes locked towards me.
"Son, you must tell her, just like we have planned." I heard Carlisle's thoughts.
"I knew he would end up hurting my daughter. I knew they were too young to get married in the first place. Now this is nothing but humiliation just like what he had brought us when he left without telling her a proper goodbye." Charlie thought as he waited for me to talk. My eyes never left Bella and hers never left mine as well.
"Edward?" she asked barely in a whisper. I can see tears began to form in her eyes.
"Bella, I have to go to Chicago. To collect things that belonged to me." I finally managed to say.
"Chicago?" she asked confused.
"Yes, my birth place. Its crucial that I should have it taken care of now or else I wont get it back." I explained in a calm and rational voice.
"But Edward, its been…been years. What else can you collect?" she asked confused as she pressed her tiny fingers on my chest.
"Bella, I need to collect my only momentum left of my parents." I said brushing the lose trend of hair away from her face. This was the story that Carlisle and I prepared for Charlie and once Bella is at our home, I would tell her the truth.
"Then, I'll come with you," she quickly said.
"Hell she's not," Charlie thought.
"I think you're better off here, I don't want to-" before I could finish my sentence she interrupted me.
"Who cares Edward if this more important than our wedding day then we will postpone the wedding that you ask me to, you owe me this much." she said with her face getting closer towards mine.
"Alright, if its okay with your dad." I gave in.
"Bells," I heard Charlie said.
"Dad, please. If I am going to start a life with Edward, I want to know all about him." Bella said as she walked towards her dad. "Please dad."
Charlie sighed. "Alright," he gave in.
"She'll be in good hands, I am coming along with them." Carlisle said.
"Alright," Charlie replied biting his lower lip. His thoughts circled on what he would tell his friends and family on why the wedding was postponed.
"When are we leaving?" Bella asked.
"In a couple of hours," I replied.
"I'll go pack," Bella said as she stumbles walking up the stairs.
"Edward," Carlisle said. "Why don't you go help Bella pack. I'd like to have a word with Charlie."
"Alright," I replied as I walk up the stairs.
"Charlie, we will still have the reception at our home for all your family that's coming for the wedding. I would gladly give everyone a voucher for their-"
"There's no need Carlisle. Its only Renee and Phil coming from our side." I heard Charlie interrupt.
"Thank you," Carlisle said as he shakes Charlie's hand. "But the reception is still on. We don't want all the food to go to waste."
"I'll let everyone know." Charlie replied.
I walked inside Bella's room and she was packing as quickly and carefully as she can. She stumbled over one of her books that was laying on the floor. She kicked the book aside and continued to pack her clothes. "Do you think packing for three days is good enough?" she asked.
"Yeah," I replied as I watched her by the door.
After fifteen minutes of packing, Carlisle, Bella, and I left Charlie's home and headed to my house. "We will meet you in Chicago son," Carlisle said as the three of us gets out of the car.
"We? Wait aren't we all flying there?" Bella confusingly asked as I help her walk out of the passenger's side.
"No, we're driving, separately." I replied as I placed my hand on her back to guide her inside the house.
"Who else is Carlisle bringing?" Bella curiously asked as she stare at me.
"Edward's back and I smell human, so mouthwatering." I heard Chloe's thoughts. I picked up Alice's vision that Chloe wasn't going to hurt Bella.
"Bella there's something you need to know," I said looking down at her.
"Hello," I heard Chloe's voice said from the staircase.
"Whose she?" Bella asked looking at Chloe. I turned and there I saw Chloe walking down the staircase wearing one of Rosalie's old red mini dress, one of Rose's used silver high heel shoes, and her hair was in soft curls.
"Bella, this is Chloe," I said. Chloe appeared just a few feet in front of Bella with a bright smile on her face. It looked like Rose had found her new best friend. Rosalie was standing behind Chloe, dressed the same way. Comparing the two of them, Chloe was more beautiful. Even Emmett, who was sitting on the couch, agreed.
Bella's heartbeat began to pick up its pace. I grabbed her hand and she shivered from its temperature. I quickly let it go.
"You're fiancé," Chloe said tilting her head to the left.
"I thought you were joking when you said your fiancé was human." Chloe thought as she looked at me and then Bella.
"I'm sorry to be so rude, I'm Chloe, Edwards wife." I saw Bella's jaw dropped after Chloe's announcement. Rosalie let out a giggle, just enough for a vampire to hear.
"This is better than a soap opera." Emmett thought.
"Is this why we couldn't get married?" Bella asked, breathless. "Because you… you have a wife?" Bella said between breathes as tears began to form in her eyes.
"Bella, I didn't even know I was married." I defended myself. "Chloe came and showed up and-"
"Come with me Bella." Alice said appearing behind Bella. Bella turned and buried her face on Alice's shoulder. "I'll take care of her Edward, just give her some time." Alice thought as she picked Bella up and carried her to her room.
"Sensitive human," Chloe snickered. "How can he pass me for this mere average human? She's not even beautiful or near it!" Chloe thought.
I glared at her and walked away. I have to go far away from her as possible. She's insane, just like I have remembered her. I want to be with Bella but reading from Alice's thoughts, she doesn't want to see me.
"Edward," I heard Carlisle's thought. "Stop," he added. I stopped and he was following me. "Edward, go wait in the car and I will talk to Bella. We all have to leave soon."
"But Bella is angry." I replied.
"I will take care of it, go." he said and disappeared.
I sighed and walk towards the car. There, standing by the garage door was Chloe. "I'm sorry if I upset you Edward." she said barely in a whisper. "Though I don't want him with anyone else but me." she added in a thought.
"It's a little too late for apologizing Chloe." I said walking pass her.
"Do you want to know why I searched for you all these years?" she asked. I stopped and tried to pick up her thoughts but nothing; just an image of me smiling.
"Better question, who turned you into… into this?" I asked.
She closed her eyes an image of her walking down a dark alley, crying. "I… I don't know who turned me into this but I was walking back from the hospital after two months of no word where your body was. My family and I picked up your parent's body and gave them a beautiful funeral the day after they passed on."
"Thank you for doing that," I managed to say.
"They're my family too," she said biting her lower lip. "Anyway, I went to the hospital every day, even on Sundays, asking if your body was located. And everyday, I get no as an answer. That day, on my way home, I stopped at Don's pastry, you know the place where they make the most delicious-"
"Croissants," I interrupted.
"Yes," she said and let out a giggle. "Well, Mr. Don told me that he just placed some fresh ones in the oven and it will be out in a couple of minutes. Well, as you know, I couldn't resist the freshly baked ones." she sighed and then gritted her teeth other. "I was on my home and it was dark. I began to feel like I was being followed so I decided to turn to Fourth Street, for a short cut but apparently the person was too fast and there, I was surrounded by three people." an image of Victoria popped in her head. "The only person that I remembered was a woman, not as beautiful as me of course, with long, thick red hair."
"Victoria," I manage to say out loud.
"You know her?" she asked.
"I killed her. Me and a Quileute wolf." I added.
"Werewolves?" she asked.
"Long story, go ahead." I said shaking my head.
"Well, she walked up to me and told me that she loves my coat. You know, the white fur coat that you gave me for Christmas." she said as she runs her finger on the hood of my car. "Then she bit me. When I woke up, I was inside a dumpster. My skin sparkled under the sunlight and every single human smelled so good. I couldn't go home because of what I have become. I didn't want to come across my parents and wouldn't be able to resist their scent. They thought I ran away because of you being gone. The first person that I came across me was Mr. Don." an image of her drinking Mr. Don's blood played in her head.
"You killed him?" I asked.
"Like I said, we're the predators and they're the prey and that's how the world works." she said as she stood directly in front of me. "It took me a while to realized that, maybe you became what I am. So I decided to look for you. "
"How did you find me?" I asked.
"I have traveled the world and a month ago, I ended up in Italy, in Volterra. Aro wanted me to join his coven. I refused because I told them that I was on a mission. Looking for my husband, Edward Masen. Aro held my hand and saw you in my memory and he knew directly on who you were and-"
"You told them that I was your husband!" I exclaimed. This complicates things because now Aro will have the perfect reason to kill us all.
"Well, yeah. How else would I find you? He told me that you're with Carlisle Cullen, a vampire doctor. I was shocked when he filled me in about your life." she said starring in my eyes. "Your not happy with me about something."
"No I'm not," I replied. "But its not your fault. Now we have to have this marriage annulled quickly and for me to marry Bella because she's being timed."
"Timed?" she asked, confused.
"If I don't turn Bella into a vampire myself, Aro will kill her because she knows so much about our kind." I replied. "Wait,"
"What?" she asked.
"Why did Aro want you to join them?" I asked.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"Aro only ask vampires to join their coven if they have a useful gift." I asked as I walk closer towards her. "What's your special gift?" I asked.
"I-" Chloe stopped and turned towards the door. I turned around and Bella was standing there with Carlisle beside her. Her eyes was puffy from all the crying.
I quickly approached her.
"Edward, escort Bella with you. Chloe and I will follow." Carlisle said. I placed my hand on Bella's back and guided her towards the car.
Chloe's thoughts were just the image of me and Bella walking towards the car. With no emotion.
"Lets go Chloe," I heard Carlisle said as he and Chloe rode the Mercedes.
I opened the passenger's side for Bella and let her settle inside. I closed the door behind her and sped to the driver's side. I quickly turned the car on and pull out of the driveway. The drive was quiet for nearly an hour. "Bella, please speak to me." I finally said breaking the silence.
"Why didn't you tell me?" she asked between sobs. "Why didn't you tell me about you and Chloe."
"Because there's nothing to tell." I replied. For crying out loud I didn't even know I was married! The last thing I know my relationship with Chloe was over and I thought she was dead, a long time ago!
"I thought you never had a girlfriend." she said a little bit louder.
"I never said that. I said I have never fallen in love." I corrected. Only Bella is the girl that had taken my nonexistent heart with her. "I only fell in love with you."
"Why didn't you tell me, earlier, at home?"
"I didn't want Charlie to even be more angrier with me for postponing the wedding." Its true, Charlie was already furious towards me as it is. I don't want him to even despise me as he already did.
"Alice told me that we're going to Chicago to annul the marriage, how can this be done that its been a hundred years?" she asked.
"We're going to J. Jenkins. He's the one that had been creating new identities for us. He's human but we trust him. He travels a lot and he's in Chicago right now. We need to settle this as soon as possible and for us to start our lives together." I replied. I heard her let out a sigh. "If you still wish to marry me."
"Of course I do," she quickly replied. "I always want to marry you because I love you and I want to be with you, forever."
I pulled the car over. "Why are you stopping?" she asked.
"After all this, you still want to marry me?" I asked. Bella grabbed my right hand and placed it over her beating heart.
"Yes, I've never been serious with anything or anyone all my life. For as long as I live I want to be with you and please, no more secrets." she said kissing my hand. I lift her chin to meet my face and gave her a soft kiss.
"I love you Bella." I said just inches away from her warm lips.
"I love you too," she replied trying to calm her heart and to catch her breath.
I placed the car on drive and continue the drive. I took my right hand to hold Bella's left hand. She turned on the heater so that she wouldn't shiver from my icy hand. It took sixteen hours for us to reach Chicago. Bella and I checked in a hotel and left our things. We then went to Sears tower to meet with Carlisle and Chloe who was meeting us there at seven at night.
"Alright, Chloe just stay with me and try to control your thirst." Carlisle said to Chloe as the two of them rode the elevator. "We will see you upstairs son." Carlisle said as the door closes. Bella and I rode the next elevator. I pressed floor 110. When we arrived, Carlisle and Chloe was waiting for us.
"Let's get this over with." Chloe said as she walk inside J. Jenkins's office first.
Bella let out a sigh as she watched Carlisle follow Chloe inside the office. "Are you sure you want to go inside, I can get Carlisle to stay out here with-"
"No it's fine," she said looking up to me with a smirk. "I'll go. I have to make sure both of you sign the annulment papers." I touched her warm cheeks and gave her soft lips a light kiss.
"You know I'll sign whatever it is according for us to get married and live in peace." I replied.
"I know Edward," she said wrapping her fragile arms around my waist. After settling this marriage that I didn't know about we will have to deal with the Volturi. Right now, I have the feeling that Chloe is more terrifying than the Volturi. Its not just this marriage but her hidden gift.
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