Bella

The house is dark when I get back home, no other cars in the driveway. Which is odd, since it's after six, and Edward is normally back by now. I frown as I unlock and punch in the alarm code by the front door, the place eerily quiet.

I grab some water from the fridge and make my way to my room, throwing my bags on the floor with a big sigh. But I still can't seem to shake this frown off my face.

After I showered and made myself an omelet to go on toast, the house is still deserted. And I'm starting to get worried for real. I don't know what to do with myself.

Are you okay? I text, fighting the urge to call Edward.

But even ten minutes later, I don't get any response. So I abandon half of my dinner and sulk around my bedroom until my mother's car speeds up the driveway. When I hear the door slam shut and her heels click throughout the house, my curiosity peaks. Maybe it's time to get a little closer to my mother dearest. Maybe I'll find out a thing or two. Maybe something Edward will be able to use. Something that might help him untangle himself from this web of nonsense.

"Oh, Mommy, you're home," I smile. It's fake and almost makes my eyes twitch, but she looks over her shoulder and surprises me by smiling back. Well, it's either a smile or a scowl. There's too much botox to be able to tell the difference. It's the most affection she's shown in about a decade.

"Why are you working at Edward's company?" she starts, cocking her head to the side as she glares.

Well, hello to you, too.

"How do you even know that? Did you have a tracking device put in me, or something? And why do you care, anyway?" I cross my arms in front of my chest, the thin strap of my silk cami slipping down my shoulder.

"When I tell you to get yourself a job, I don't mean go ahead and take the easiest option out there. You probably didn't even interview, right? What did you think, Bella, ambushing my husband, begging him for a menial secretary job?" Her brow is arched, and now I do see that formidable and familial scowl on her face. Guess she hates me so much that her botox can't even keep up.

"Wow, seriously?" I step closer, the height of her heels would usually make me feel minuscule and useless, but tonight I honestly don't give two flying shits.

Tonight, she'll listen to me, and I'll get her to shut up. Screw her. There's no way my plan to get close to her will go through after the kind words she's just uttered. After the words she's always uttered. I don't even want to breathe the same air as her. It's the final straw. If I can pay rent here, I surely can afford it for my own, safe and non-toxic apartment. Someplace without the energy of Renée ruining everything.

"You're seriously gonna bash me for taking a job your husband basically begged me to take?" I narrow my eyes. "If you would pay a little more attention, you'd know that they were so busy they could barely get around to do their administrative work." Mother blinks, looking bored before she licks her lips, the pale pink of her lipstick not even budging.

"If they paid attention, they'd see you're just a college dropout with no marketable skills," she bites. Then her eyes glide down my body, stopping at my cleavage before she laughs almost maniacally. "Well, except for the entertainment industry. I bet you have plenty experience for that."

I see red.

"Are you honestly calling me a fucking whore, right now?"

"Sweetheart, if you're wearing that, have your track record and promiscuity, and have your attitude, I really shouldn't have to spell it out to you like this, right?"

"Who in this very room has married more times than is healthy, heh?" I start. "And the groom is always a wealthy guy, too. Dad told me things, you know! He told me all about you, about your late nights at work and the sneaky phone calls. Do you honestly think guys don't notice, Renée?"

"Oh, my god…of course, your dad would tell you things. His dick has been in half the staff at his company."

"Dad never did any of that for money, you know. If you don't get it at home, you'll look for affection in other places. Or do you think that's stupid, too? You blame the man for wanting some TLC?"

"I want you out of my house." She looks stern and poised but I see the look in her eyes. It's like she's so angry, steam might exit her ears and nose at any given time now.

"Have fun in your house, Renée. It was nice knowing you."

Then I see it; the red wine, the white vintage Valentino dress she got flown over from Italy. I grab the glass and dunk it all over the front of her outfit. I even get some over her face, her perfectly coiffed golden hair drenched in Cabernet Sauvignon.

"That's it, Bella. This was the final straw. You're out of here, and you've got one hour to pack your shit and vanish from my house."

I walk off, tears burning behind my eyes. But I'd rather die than let her see me shed one tear for her or her words. My mother can't hurt me any more than she already has. I want Dad, right now. He'd tell me she's a vile bitch and watch old movies with me.

"You may want me out of your house, mother, but I want you out of my life. Completely. Do you have any idea how much pain you've caused me? How much you've made me doubt myself growing up? How fucking agonizing this entire situation has been since I moved here? I used to be sad about not being able to spend time with you, but boy…am I glad that I used to live at my father's house?"

"Have fun figuring out life all by yourself, Bella. Because daddy dearest is probably off chasing skirts overseas right now. I doubt he's even thinking about his trollop of a daughter."

"That's where you're wrong, mother," I start, voice shaking with anger. "I've been doing it alone all along. Have fun in the nursing home all alone, later on in life. You can bitch and cry to the nurses there about your horrible daughter who never comes to visit you. I bet once they see who you are on the inside, they'll think it's karma."

I don't know where to go from here, but fuck…it feels good to finally cut the cord.

I'm not checking the clock, but I bet it takes me under forty minutes to pack my stuff back into the bags I came here with, and bolt out of the door. Once I drive, I focus on the road, but around the corner, at the stop lights? That's where I break down, sobbing like a little kid, heart empty from the lack of love of her mother.

And the only question on my mind is, where is Edward? And where the fuck do I go from here?