Hi all! Thank you for the love on the last update. Hope you enjoy this chapter xx

edit- changed something addressing Jake thanks for pointing it out!

Recap:

"I'm so sorry for all the chaos that I've brought to your family. I never should have come here. We should have annulled our marriage in Vegas when we had the chance. This fake marriage has only brought you all so much destruction. You all deserve a real princess. Not me" I could barely breathe between my wails. Alice and Jasper's eyes widened as the King's eyes locked in on my own.

My emotions had caused me not to realize he was still in the room. My hand floated to my mouth. I was unable to take back the words I just said. He knew now that our marriage was a sham.

Chapter 16 Kerosene

The King and I locked eyes as I realized the gravity of what I had done. My hand was still placed at my mouth. I was unable to form any words to the King. I felt so incredibly stupid. I had blown our secret at the worst time imaginable.

"Bella, love are you okay?" Edward asked. He said a few other words but I couldn't focus on anything other than my confession.

Carlisle stared at me as my eyes locked in with his. He cleared his throat and adjusted his posture. His face was like a mask. I could not read his emotions.

"Isabella, could you hand me the phone I'd like to speak to my son." He calmly asked. I only nodded my head and handed him the phone.

It was dead silent. The King walked off and checked in with Edward. He never brought up what I had revealed. Though I was sure Edward may have realized we were both in the same room. He was oddly calm about the whole thing.

He thanked me and handed me the phone back. He told me Edward was going to rest and he was okay. He would call me later. He simply walked out of the room after his explanation.

He left us all puzzled. I looked at Alice and Jasper shocked. What did this mean?

"Woah he was weirdly calm about that" Alice was scratching her head. We all did not expect that reaction in the slightest. Alice and Jasper had a call to attend and excused themselves.

I sat on the bed still reeling from what I had done. Would Edward forgive me? What did the King make of all of this?

I decided to clear my head and walk around the pond outside. It was a spot I found a lot of peace at. Edward had shown me the spot. We had a lot of fond memories there together.

The fresh air seemed like a way to help with my nausea and nerves as well. Though the Castle was on lockdown, there was a smaller amount of staff. I knew I would be unnoticed if I slipped out through the kitchen. Just a few minutes surely would be okay.

I grabbed a jacket and slipped outside. I walked around the pond and watched as the ducks floated around. It was tranquil. Things had been so chaotic. I was happy Edward was okay but I just felt I couldn't catch a break.

Edward called again. I quickly answered and braced myself for the frustration that was awaiting me.

"Bella, I miss you," a very drugged-up Edward said. He clearly had been given some type of pain killers. His words were more slurred. Maybe he didn't realize I had told his father the truth.

"I miss you too" I chuckled back at him. I really did. I missed his lopsided smile. His smoldering eyes. Our connection.

"I'll be home soon I just wanted to tell you that you are beautiful Bella!" He almost seemed intoxicated. I laughed at him, blushing at his kind words.

"Edward get some sleep. I'm happy you are okay. I would not have forgiven myself if something bad had happened to you." Tears welled in my eyes. My pregnancy emotions were turning me into a blubbering mess.

"Okay love. I love you." He mumbled. My heart sang! But logic flooded back in I knew he would not remember this. He wasn't himself. He did not mean these words.

I couldn't help myself but reply "I love you too." A large smile floated along my face. I knew it more than ever, I did love him. He had changed me in so many ways. The idea of him being harmed truly shook my core.

We said our goodbyes and I hung up the phone feeling giddy. Maybe we did stand a chance? Maybe we could even be a family? I let myself linger on the thought. I knew our lives were now forever intertwined.

It had been a wild few months. My hand floated to my stomach again. How would I tell Edward? I knew he needed to know sooner rather than later.

I looked back at the pond and remembered the first time Edward had shown me around here.

We were only a few days into our new charade. I was feeling extremely unsettled and worried about the new life we had chosen. I had been thrown into princess events essentially full force. That day particularly I had felt entirely overwhelmed.

Flashback-

"Edward I don't think I am cut out for this. You should have seen me at our princess lessons. I think a hippo may be more graceful than I am" I practically yelled. Today had been a doozy. Alice had tried her best with me, but I was born with two left feet. She made it all look so effortless. I bit my lip again from the frustration as my eyes locked on Edward's.

"Isabella, there's somewhere I'd love to show you." He sweetly smiled at me. It was still fairly awkward between the two of us, other than our intimate connection. I bit my lip again thinking of all the ways we had explored one another's bodies the last few days. It made me blush a bright shade of pink.

"I prefer to be called Bella." I softly spoke.

He smiled a lopsided grin at me, "Bella it is."

I took his hand and we went off toward the kitchen. Holding his hand felt extremely intimate in a lot of ways. We were virtual strangers yet his presence was so calming.

We stopped at the pond I had noticed when we first arrived. It was beautiful. It was busy with little ducks floating about.

The lands were filled with a thick layer of snow. It had dropped to 0 Celsius. I was still not used to using Celsius, Edward kept reminding me it was around 32 degrees Fahrenheit. I looked in awe as little birds flew around us. My nerves suddenly started to dissipate. Though Edward did not know me, he knew just how to ease me. Maybe we could make this work after all. I still could not believe I had agreed to stay married to Edward. It was comical I had chosen a prince of all people to accidentally marry. The chances were one in a million.

His eyes caught mine and his grin reflected mine. "Thank you for this." I smiled. He kissed my cheek and wrapped my body into his.

"Want to see my hideout?" I laughed and looked at him confused.

We walked off a small above-ground bunker. Seemed to have been on the property a long time. It was not very visible to the untrained eye. The bunker was covered in vines of greenery which made it blend into the background. It was just large enough for us to comfortably fit into.

We cuddled up with one another as Edward told me stories of his childhood. How he, Alice, and Emmett used to hide away in the bunker. How their staff used to search the grounds looking for them, they would purposely worry their nanny at the time Irina by hiding out at different places on the Castle grounds.

Just off to the side of the bunker, there was a kerosene oil-based lantern that Edward showed me how to use. He lit it up for us as the day got darker. Though it was freezing, being in his arms I felt the warmest and happiest I had felt in a long time.

Present day

I shook my head from the memories, of how things had changed. I couldn't wait till Edward was back. I only prayed James would be dealt with soon. I knew once he was locked up I could truly let go of a lot of the chaos. I would be safe.

I was about to head back inside when I heard a few leaves rustle. I looked around and saw nothing. Knowing James was on the loose, I was more jumpy and paranoid than I usually was. I glanced around again and decided to head to the back door.

"Hello princess." The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. It was James. How was he here?

I froze in place unable to move. My hand slipped to my stomach again in an attempt to protect my baby.

"You've caused a lot of trouble for us." He slyly said. I turned my head towards him and slipped my hand away from my stomach. I couldn't let him know I was pregnant.

"What do you want?" I spat out. I glared at him. I looked around the area for any place to run or any objects I could use against him. In the distance, I saw the bunker, but other than that there was nothing else around us. We were just out of reach of the Castle. No one knew we were here.

"Princess, I'm not ready to reveal my cards just yet. You've been unfaithful to me. I thought I warned you not to do that." He started to inch toward me. His eyes were sinister.

I backed away, I knew if I ran he would attack me. I couldn't risk him harming me, I needed to comply with James for the baby.

"How are you here? I don't understand" finally tears fell from my eyes. I realized the gravity of the situation was that James was here to harm me. I wouldn't be seeing Edward most likely again. I was happy I told him I loved him, even if he didn't remember.

"I paid off Paul, money talks Bella." His voice was laced with venom as he said my name.

My heart stung as I realized Paul was the security breach Carlisle was talking about. Paul was at our wedding, I even considered us friends. How could he do this to us all?

"If you come with me I will not harm anyone else. Paul got remorse." He smiled. "He's no longer with us, so that won't be a problem." My eyes bulged out as I processed what James had just said.

I knew his words were not to be trusted but couldn't help but feel something bad had happened to Paul. My stomach turned. I couldn't risk anyone else being harmed by him even if it meant I had to sacrifice myself. Poor Paul, he didn't deserve this. I felt for his family and friends.

I nodded my head as my tears fell more. He came closer to me and grabbed my hair. He pulled my lips to his and forced his tongue down my mouth. I had to swallow back the vomit that was forming in my throat. Tears fell harder now. He wiped them away and pulled my arm hard.

He pulled me to him and forced me in the direction of a pathway to a field. He must have hiked here. Logically, I knew James had not come here for me. Though he was a creep, he had a different motive. Something more sinister.

"James everyone knows you are Victor. There's no way you will be getting out of the Country. People know about your past, as well as your fathers." I challenged. His eyes locked with mine and a smile formed back on his face.

"Oh, Bella. Always so smart. I'm two steps ahead of you. As I said, money talks. What's more valuable than a Princess?" He yanked my arm a little harder in the direction of the pathway.

James was going to sell me? I didn't comprehend fully but I knew I had to escape him. I had to try for the baby.

I saw the bunker in the distance and remembered the kerosene lantern that was hung in there. I knew if I broke free at the right moment I could grab it and hit James in the head with it.

As we neared the bunker I studied James' face. He was glued to his phone as his arm was still holding mine. He was talking to whoever he had planned this with. I knew soon I would have to run. I would have to time things perfectly or else he would catch and harm me. I knew it was a risk but I had to risk things for my baby. I had to fight for the baby and Edward.

We were nearing the bunker. I was thankful it was hidden near the pathway. I quickly fell to the floor, pretending to have fallen from my clumsiness.

James' face filled with rage as his phone flung out of his hands from the impact of my fall. He bent over to grab his phone and I ran. I ran as fast as I could. It took him about 30 seconds to register what had happened.

"You want to play cat and mouse Bella? Let's play" he laughed, as he ran toward me.

I was just within reach of the bunker. I only hoped the lantern was still hung in there. If it wasn't I knew my fate was sealed.

He was gaining speed as he neared the bunker. I reached it and saw the lantern and grabbed it as quickly as I could. I turned the knob on and lit it quickly. My eyes locked on James as he was just in reach of me.

I threw the lit lantern at his head with winced eyes, bracing myself for the impact. The flames broke open as the oil spilled everywhere. I screamed as my hand caught on fire. Quickly, I rolled onto the ground in an attempt to put the fire out. Stop, drop, and roll rang in my head. I did exactly that. James was screaming in agony his face and body were covered in flames. I quickly pulled myself up as the pain in my hand raged. I ran as fast as I could toward the house leaving James to writher around in pain.

Emmett found me as I reached the door, tears were running down my face as the adrenaline was coursing through me.

"Bella? Oh my god, your hand! What happened?" Concerned, he wrapped his arm around me and pulled me inside.

I cried and told him James was by the bunker. I continued to cry as he held me. We were safe. My baby was safe.

Seth ran out to find James as extra security was called. The whole family came into the kitchen and wrapped their arms around me. Carlisle shockingly was extremely kind and soothing. Our awkward moment seemed to be behind us for the moment.

An ambulance was called as I started to lose consciousness. My injury was worse than I realized. The burns were not just on my hand they had gone up my right arm.

I felt myself lose balance and pass out. I only could pray they had found James and he was finally taken care of.

Is James dealt with? What does this mean for Bella and Edward? What about Carlisle's? Reaction? Please review if you enjoyed