Disclaimer: I do not Own Twilight.
EPOV
The night dragged on as I remained the dutiful fiancé calmly sitting by Angela's side after Emmett and Rosalie long had bailed on the dinner party.
"Too bad your brother left," Ange commented with a frown as I nodded in agreement.
I watched her laugh along with Dad's jokes or Esme's story and for one small moment I tried to imagine if it were Bella instead.
Her eyes bright with laughter.
Her loud snort that was adorable.
Her hand in mine.
"Babe, you, ok?" Angela asked, pulling me out of the fantasy I was constructing from memories.
"We need to talk," I whispered as I watched her smile faulter for a moment before nodding.
Hand in hand we slipped away without offering any excuses as our families were too busy lost in conversation.
"They really get along well," She said as I pulled her outside into the cool night air.
"They do," I agreed, uncertain over how I felt about that as I slipped off my sweater to wrap around her shoulders.
"What's wrong?" she asked as I managed a firm smile.
"You know that I was married before," I said softly and then watched her smile turn into a sad grin.
"If this you feeling bad about that, don't you were just a child and really just trying to do the right thing. If anything, it's commendable over how you agreed to marry that girl," she said as if Bella and the pregnancy was some test of my honor, not the only right decision I had made on my own.
"Yes…." I replied slowly as I fought the urge to correct her version of my life events.
"I need you to know that I am still technically married to her," I admitted finally then grimaced as I waited for the impact of my words to hit.
Angela was silent for a long moment.
Too long.
"I'm sorry," I said, breaking the silence with a meaningless apology.
"I just never signed the papers," I admitted stupidly as I shrugged since it was better than telling her that I could never bring myself to do it.
I finally met her gaze.
It was dark and stormy.
It didn't match the perfectly blank expression on her face.
I waited for her to ask why and as I did, I tried to come up with a reasonable excuse, but there was nothing reasonable about me refusing to sign the papers.
I knew this.
The wind was sharp and cold as I stood on the middle of the bridge with the papers in hand.
I read her words over and over again.
I love you.
Please just sign them.
Her words ringing in my head as she sent me to voicemail for what had to be the hundredth time.
Her version of loving me meant running away to Florida with Jacob Black at her side and serving me with divorce papers.
I looked down at the river beneath me and watched it rush by.
"Come on, son."
I turned to find a worried looking Charlie Swan standing next to me in his police blue.
"Carlisle told me," Angela said softly, jerking me out of a memory.
"He what?" I stuttered as I watched her face flush red for a moment before giving me an apologetic smile.
"He mentioned it and really it's no big deal. I mean, nothing that can't be fixed immediately," she said in a rush of words as I tried to process the thought of her and Dad talking about my time with Bella.
"You just need to sign and have it filed. Easy enough, right?"
I nodded as she continued to speak.
"I understand you were so young and she had such a hold over you, but that's all over now," she said with a soothing grin as if by saying those words it was true.
"I know you loved her," she said as I cringed over her words.
Loved.
She had no idea.
"She was clearly smart and brave to agree to take Carlisle's money and move on," Angela mused in a wistful tone. "I'm not sure I could have been so self-assured at that age to do the right thing."
"What are you talking about?" I asked abruptly causing Angela's face to flame red again.
"I mean, I like to believe that I would be as mature as your… your previous wife."
"No, what are you talking about dad's money?" I asked as I felt as if I had been punched in the gut with this admission.
"Carlisle said…." She began slowly as I shook my head.
"She wouldn't have done that," I stated firmly as I watched Ange grimace a little in response.
"She was a child coming out of a marriage where she stood to gain so taking some money and leaving was actually quite responsible of her considering all that she lost with all she stood to gain from the Cullen name," Angela said with a shrug as I stared in disbelief.
"Bella wasn't swayed by money and…and I had none to offer her anyway," I spat as I felt the heat of anger building within me as I defended her against Angela's claims.
"Edward, I don't know what you are getting so upset about," Ange sighed as I shook my head at her.
"Let's go back inside and you can take care of the paperwork tomorrow," she assured me as if it was the paperwork that had me bothered.
"Carlisle said…" she began again as I held up my hands in what probably appeared to be defeat, but was meant to silence her as I turned away.
"It's not worth being upset over," she called after me as I turned the corner in search of my dad.
AN:
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