Beta: Jessipooks

Chapter 26: Cruel Intentions

EPOV:

The moment I stepped inside my parents home I could feel the intensity and anger in the air around me. Walking into the family room where my father, mother and brother sat together I knew this wasn't going to be a pleasant afternoon. Their expressions each displayed their open animosity toward me. I glared directly at Emmett knowing my big brother did the unthinkable and somehow exposed me to our parents. Yeah, this was going to take some serious thought and unfortunately I didn't have much time.

"This is incredibly cruel and not to mention despicable of you Edward." Mom weeped as she dropped some photographs from her shaking hands.

Watching the tears streaming down her face didn't make me feel even an ounce of guilt but I knew it was best to pretend it did. My best course of action was to play the part of the remorseful son. I didn't give a rat's ass about what I had done over the past few months. There was no way in hell I was going to let Jacob Black take away my daughter. If playing dirty is what it would take to win, then I was willing to get my hands covered in the filthiest mud.

"What are you talking about?" I feigned ignorance for the moment.

"These pictures of you and...Rebecca Black." Dad answered before he looked up at me with such discontent that I was happily pleased to see the old man actually had balls for once.

"What pictures?" I asked curiously as I strolled casually to the table and picked up a few.

Looking at them I saw images of me and Becca in her hotel room. My favorite of the few I grabbed was the one with me taking her from behind while I yanked on her hair. There were tears streaming down Becca's face from the pain that I was inflicting but what they didn't understand was that Becca enjoyed it that way. We both understood how good the pain really made us feel. I couldn't explain that to them without making myself look worse than I already did in their eyes.

"Okay, so Becca and I were having a brief affair. So what?" I coughed nervously before dropping the pictures back onto the table and placing my hands in my front trouser pockets.

"You paid her. You actually paid the woman to break into her own brother's house to steal legal documents from his office and then you helped her pretend to be kidnapped or worse. Do you understand the legal ramifications of what you have done? Do you!" Dad stood up as his voice began to raise.

"What proof do you have of that ridiculous story?" I rolled my eyes sarcastically and then glanced over at Emmett who sat back staring up at me with an evil glint in his eyes.

"It was quite easy to find brother when I realized the part you played in Rebecca attacking Bella. Especially when you used your trust fund account to obtain the money. If I could connect the dots don't you think the local police will as well?" Emmett answered.

"Honestly I don't think they could find horse shit in a horse stall. Why do you assume that I paid her to shoot Bella? I won't deny that I gave her a loan. She was drowning in debt and being my private lover I deemed it necessary to help her. I didn't put the gun in her hand or brainwash her into attacking anyone and you can't prove otherwise." I replied and gave my big brother a challenging smile.

"We are your family and we can't even believe I seriously doubt a jury will either." Dad stated, anger still laced in his tone.

"That's why we hire the best lawyers. Look, I won't lie and say I wasn't fucking Becca and I won't lie and say we didn't share our dislike for Bella but I never asked her to do those things. She did it voluntarily. She felt that Bella was going to steal her inheritance and I didn't disagree with her theory. She made it her own mission to search her brother's home for further proof and then showed me. She wanted me to win the case against Bella because like me she felt we were better for my daughter than her own mother."

"Is that the story you plan on telling the police? Wow! You are amazing." Emmett clapped his hands but the fire in his eyes warned me that this conversation was far from over.

"It's the truth so yeah, I will tell them that if they question me over these pictures and the money I loaned my ex lover."

"You know why he is putting this all on Becca, right? She is dead. Dead people can't argue against him." Emmett stated.

"I'm sorry Edward but I've never known your brother to scheme against you. You however, make it your life's goal to hurt everyone around you. Why? Did we not show you enough love? Maybe we made excuses for your horrible behavior? I don't what happened exactly but you aren't the son we raised."Mom cried out.

"Mom, you are overreacting. I did this because you and father insisted that Charlotte deserved to know this family. I was only doing what was necessary to give you both the grandchild you desired. It's not my fault that Emmett married an inadequate female." I glanced over at Emmett and saw the fire blare in his eyes and smiled. I knew it irked him that unlike me he wouldn't ever give my parents the biological grandchild they always dreamed of.

"That's enough!" Dad shouted furiously at me.

"You are a sick bastard and I hope you get put in jail for this. But more importantly I hope that the judge deems you unfit to be anywhere near Charlotte." Emmett jumped up off the couch with his hands curled into bulky fists by his side.

"Emmett, calm down. Edward I hate to say this but I think I've finally come to an understanding about Bella's insistence on you not being a part of her daughter's life. Looking at these pictures, I can only imagine what you did to a sweet girl like her. It also made me think about the time Charlie Swan came to see me and swore he would kill you for hurting Bella. Those bruises were from you. Why? Why would you hurt her and then make us believe she was just a clumsy and vengeful ex girlfriend?" Carlisle asked.

"Dad, I don't have time to explain but I can honestly tell you that if I placed my hands on Bella, she did something to deserve it. She likes to play the part of the victim but really she is like any other woman."

"What does that mean?" Dad frowned at me.

"She broke rules, rules that I made clear from the start of our relationship. There are consequences and she got them when she disobeyed me." I replied.

"Oh my God!" Mom cried out before covering her face with her hands.

"What? Like Dad doesn't punish you when you exceed your spending account or when you embarrassed him around his peers?" I glared at my father without any remorse.

"I don't beat your mother. I might cut her credit card limit but I wouldn't ever strike her or put my hands on her to physically punish her. She is my wife not my property." Carlisle scoffed.

It wasn't lost on me the disgust I saw in his eyes that reflected the same look as the one my mother kept giving me.

"I told you. I told you he was worse off than either of you wanted to believe. If you don't go along with what I have asked of you, I won't stand by and watch this family help him destroy Bella and Charlotte's happiness. I can't. I'm sorry. I know you believe blood is thicker than water but Charlotte shares our blood and if you assist this monster in having a role in her upraising you are responsible for the damage he causes her." Emmett replied with venom in his voice.

"What did you ask of them? And what makes you think that I will hurt my daughter?" I demanded .

"I have to agree with him. I'm sorry." Dad looked over at my mother who finally removed her hands from her face.

She hesitantly looked at me before looking back at my father and nodded her head in agreement.

"What is going on? What did you talk them into doing?" I started across the room toward my brother when my father suddenly stepped in between us.

"We called the lawyer and sent him all this information we have at this time. He warned us that if all of this becomes public information the courts would frown on letting us near our granddaughter. If your mother and I step away from this situation and withdraw our support of your case, we might have a slim chance of persuading not only the judge but if luck is on our side even Bella, in letting us have visitation with Charlotte. However, this will of course mean that we will need to remove ourselves from you." Dad answered with a solemn face.

"Don't be absurd! You can't walk away from me? I'm your son. Why would you choose Charlotte over me?" I cried surprised what they were willing to do in order to form a relationship with my bastard child.

"The lawyer also said that the police would probably form a case against you for not coming forward with the whereabouts of Becca when it was believed she was missing. I think it's best that we cut our losses and move forward without you. I love you Edward. Me and your mother both love you but we can't make excuses for the man you've become. You inadvertently cause the death of a young lady whom we all know you had a great amount of influence over. She was just as twisted in the mind as you are but that still doesn't excuse your role in her demise." Dad answered and for the first time since this conversation started I saw tears glistening in his eyes.

Before I could argue my case further the doorbell rang interrupting our family intervention. A few seconds rolled by while we all stood holding our breaths until we saw the unexpected guests walk into the room followed by our maid.

"Sorry, they have a warrant." She explained before fleeing the room.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" I looked at my parents who both held their heads low and couldn't even look me in the eye as Officer dumbfuck began to read me my miranda rights.

"I swear I will get out of this and I will prove you are mistaken about where your loyalty lies. I will get my daughter and she won't ever be apart of your lives." I shouted as the officer dragged me out of the room and out of the house.

I was shoved into the back of the police car. I stared out the window and watched as only Emmett had the courage to stand at the open doorway and smile bitterly at me just before he slammed it closed. My heart raced as the car started up and I wondered how in the hell I was going to get out of this mess and keep even a remnant of my once spotless reputation in this town.

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JPOV:

Bella couldn't wait to get out of the hospital. Putting her overnight bag in the back of my truck I informed her that Alice and Charlotte would be meeting us at home. This made her smile and to my delight it was a genuine one.

"How is she Jake? It must have been so scary for her to see me like that and your sister...well...I just hope she doesn't have nightmares from this." Bella twisted the hem of her sweater nervously between her hands. Her cheeks still lacked color but the Doctor insisted that she would soon be back to her old self but for the next few days to take it as easy as possible.

"Alice told me she slept fine the last two nights. She is worried about you however. I think once she sees you are safe and well it will help ease any fear she is coping with." I advised.

"Okay." Bella sighed with relief.

Pulling up in front of our house I turned off the vehicle and raced over to her door. I knew she would argue with me for wanting to help her but I was just as stubborn as she was. I won and a few seconds later we were both at the front door when it suddenly flung open and two small arms flew around Bella. I laughed tenderly as Bella leaned over and hugged her daughter with an intensity that matched her daughters.

"Shh...I'm okay baby. I'm right here now." Bella whispered into Charlotte's ears.

I walked back to the truck, grabbed her luggage and once I returned, I saw the entryway was empty. Placing the luggage upstairs in our room before I joined them in the family room, I found Alice had already sat Bella down with a comfortable pillow behind her and a cold beverage in front of her.

"You better not even think about doing anything today. The house is perfectly cleaned and several of your neighbors have already stopped by and filled your fridge with plenty of yummy dishes. They wanted to give you their condolences and I'm sure most of them were also itching for some gossip." Alice rolled her eyes sarcastically before placing a friendly smile back on her face.

"It was still very neighborly of them to do that. I hope you got their names so I can return their dishware along with a thank you card." Bella replied before placing a kiss on the top of her daughter's head, which was resting on her chest. It was obvious that Charlotte felt comforted by her mother's presence and it was also understandable. Although Alice didn't see anything to alarm her about Charlotte's mental state we both agreed it would probably take her sometime before she truly felt safe but I didn't share that with Bella. She already worried enough without me adding to her list.

"Of course." Alice chuckled, knowing her best friend all too well.

"Good. So what have you two been up to while I was away?" Bella turned her complete attention to her daughter, whose eyes lit up as she began to describe her time away from her mother, hour by hour.

I enjoyed watching and listening to their interaction and was once again reminded of how lucky I was to have them both in my life when my phone began to buzz. Not wanting to interrupt their moment together I walked out of the room before answering the call. It was Paul. I hoped everything was okay with my father and sister. So far, there was no news about the funeral arrangements. Father insisted on making them himself and refused to let anyone around him help and with me being busy with my wife's recovery I didn't have the energy to argue with him.

"Hello."

"Dude I just heard something that should brighten up your life after the last few shitty days we've experienced." Paul announced with a tone that reminded me of a teen on a sugar rush.

"Okay. Spill dude." I chuckled under my breathe.

"Forks police arrested Edward Cullen. Apparently they have proof he was aware of your sister's disappearance and never came forward with it. Also I heard his family didn't join his side when he tried to make bail afterwards. My friend told me that it looks like the Cullens are as sick of him as we are. I hope this will help your case. I mean, I know Becca screwed up and gave them evidence to make you both look like liars but this should prove that he is far worse for his daughter."

I exhaled sharply. On one hand I wished I shared the same enthusiasm as my brother in law but honestly I didn't. The thought of Edward going to jail did give me some momentary joy but I knew that Edward would somehow walk away from this situation unscathed as always. He was an expert on bullshitting people.

"What's wrong? Why aren't you as excited as I was when I heard the news?" Paul asked his happiness now deflated from his tone.

"I'm glad they acknowledge his role in this but I honestly think he can buy his way out of all of it. It's what he does Paul. He convinces people that they aren't really eating shit when it's clearly a big old pile of steamy poop." I replied.

"Maybe in the past he got away with that but I'm telling you everyone in town is starting to see him for what he truly is. I also heard that he admitted to being Becca's lover and he gave her money to help her with her debt. He isn't going to get out of this so easily." Paul insisted.

"You and I both know what he really gave her the money for. He paid her to steal from me." I sighed sadly.

"Whatever man! When they take him to court they will uncover the truth."

"I know and that's what scares me. When he brings up what she really obtained for the money then it's going to cast a ugliness on mine and Bella's marriage. It will turn the focus on us and how we deceived so many people." I pointed out how this situation could backfire on us.

"You are overthinking this man. A lot of rich people and celebrities have a prenup written up before they get married. You can point out that you and Bella fell in love so fast that your father wanted to protect you both in case this blew up in your faces." He suggested.

I liked how he saw our predicament and had to admit it could possibly work with the lie he was creating for us. However, in my heart I knew it was wrong. Were we any better than Edward and Becca if we didn't come clean about how our marriage began? Of course we ended up falling madly in love with one another and intended on having the contract destroyed as soon as we got past this but for now would the friends we deceived be understanding to our plight?

"I don't know." I stated matter of factly.

"Trust me Jake. This is a white lie that is necessary to keep your wife from losing her daughter. You aren't hurting anyone from me now isn't the time to become noble." He warned me.

"You are right."

"I know I am. Now have you heard back from your dad by any chance? Rachel is upset as it is and not knowing where your father is sneaking off too is only creating more stress in my house." He asked curiously.

"I don't. He said he would call me with the time and place for the funeral and checked in on Bella yesterday but now that I think about it, that's the last I've heard from him." I realized.

"His nurse called us late last night upset that he has missed several doses of his medications and went on and on about the importance of taking them in a timely manner. Rachel tried calling him twice today and both times it went straight to his voice mail. I will drive by and see if he made it home." Paul replied.

"If he isn't home let me know. I will help you find him. I don't like him missing his medications. The doctor already warned him that the medicine would help prolong his life but it wouldn't cure him." I reminded Paul.

"I know man. I know. This sucks. First Becca and ….well...we both know it's only a matter of time." Paul sighed heavily.

"I know."

"I will let you go back to your family and I will text you once I know something. Oh and Jake, I am here for you anytime you need to talk." Paul offered.

I was surprised at how things between us shifted in such away that we were not only tolerable around one another but I was also finding myself respecting the man that my sister deemed good enough to be her husband and father of her children.

"Thanks Paul. Bye." I hung up and returned to the family room where I found Bella still sitting down but Charlotte was asleep. Bella stroked the girl's head while talking softly to Alice. Charlotte looked so peaceful that I hated to take her away but I knew eventually her mother would become tired.

"Let me take her upstairs." I offered.

Bella's eyes glanced lovingly at her daughter and then she reluctantly nodded her head in agreement. Gently lifting her up I cautiously took her upstairs and placed her in her own bed, pulling a blanket over her sleeping form. I don't know why but I felt the need to look around her room and double check the locks on her bedroom window. Becca was dead and gone and wouldn't cause Charlotte or her mother anymore harm but that didn't stop me from fearing that they were both in great danger.

After a momentary debate in my head I decided to leave her door open in case she woke up startled. The child went through hell in the past forty eight hours and I knew it would take us some time to give her the reassurance that she was safe. Feeling less worried about her safety I made my way back downstairs and was about to return to check on my wife when I stopped abruptly. I knew it was wrong to eavesdrop on their conversation but my ego couldn't resist listening.

"I know people will think that the contract was the only reason I agreed to married Jake but in truth, I was attracted to him the moment we met. Jake is a sweet and wonderful man once I was able to get those walls around his heart down. I don't regret marrying him and I don't think I could've chosen a better man to raise my daughter. I love him Alice. I can't walk away from this even if I was forced to." Bella informed her best friend.

"I knew you liked him far more than you led on and honey you deserve such a good man in your life. Edward is a psycho who feeds on women's weaknesses and brainwashes them into thinking that what he provides them with is not only deserving but justified. I'm just so happy that you found the love that is as pure as Jake's." Alice answered with such a conviction in her voice I wanted to walked into the room and hug her.

She was right about Edward. He did prey on women's weaknesses and deserved more than what he gave her. I would never knowingly hurt Bella or Charlotte physically or emotionally, no matter how mad I was at them or the rest of the world. I swore to myself as I stood there if I ever felt like I was on the verge of losing my temper I would walk away right then and there. These two ladies were my whole life now and I wanted to shelter them not only from the evil in the world but my own darkness. They were the light that filled my heart and I only wanted to reflect the love they so willingly gave me.

Hearing Alice say her goodbyes I was brought out of my thoughts and quickly made my way back into the room with them.

"She is safely asleep in her room." I informed them.

"Thank you." Bella smiled with such a tenderness that my heart melted.

"Anytime." I leaned over and placed a slow and tender kiss on her lips.

"With that note I'm heading out. I will stop by tomorrow. Jake let me know when the funeral will be. Bella and I agreed I will keep Charlotte when you attend it." Alice stated with a sympathetic look.

"Sounds good to me." I nodded my head in agreement.

"Bye guys." Alice gave us a quick wave as she walked past us.

"I hope you are okay with my decision." Bella yawned as I sat down next to her.

"I am. I think it was a wise doesn't need any reminders of that horrible day." I replied while putting my arm around her shoulder and pulling her up against me.

"Thank you Jake." Bella laid her head on my chest and I automatically stroked her head the same way she'd done Charlotte's only minutes before. I knew that like her daughter, Bella enjoyed the comfort of touch when it was given in love.

"No thank you. I mean it. Most women would have ran away after all of this chaos." I laughed but I wasn't really kidding around.

"I'm not like most women. I see all the wonderful qualities in you and trust me it's worth fighting for." She mumbled.

"YOU are definitely not like most women and I'm one lucky man to have the exception of the rule in my arms." I smiled despite the soft snores I could already hear.

I continued to smile as she slept in my arms. I didn't want to move. Right now at this moment, our lives were peaceful and I wasn't sure how much longer that serenity would last.

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A/N: I hope you guys enjoy this next chapter. Things are just going to get crazier before the final chapter. Hehe! Love ya guys and the inspiring reviews. It's so interesting to read your thoughts on who should be redeemed and should be beaten to death. LOL. Hopefully I will be able to put everything I intended in these next few, final chapters. Again, thank you for the support and the wonderful kindness you've shown me and this story. Xoxo August