Recap to Chapter 32:
The teens officially return back to school after winter break and all of its ups and downs. Bella is trying to right herself back into balance after losing Charlie - but it helps that she has her secret boyfriend around to offer her solace and comfort. The girls are happy to see her slowly coming back to her old self and they're ready to continue bracing their junior year together. The following day leads to multiple surprises; Bella overhears the Trashy Trio, Tanya, Irina and Lauren, gossiping about Lauren's pining over Edward. Emmett seems to have been replaced by an alien and ignores the girls, leaving behind the insulting game which leaves everyone stunned. And finally, the singing group are informed that their whole arrangement has changed, throwing out months of practice for a new list of songs to sing to, with new dance routines that throws the boys and girls together closer than they'd like. While the girls are in utter dismay, Bella's honesty to not being the least bit upset to the changes has thrown the girls through another loop wondering if she's also been replaced. It comes to a head in their dorm room where Rosalie and Alice speak up pointing out the oddities to Bella's reactions lately. She does her best to defend herself, pushing away their skepticism and deflecting, yet trying to get them to see to reason that perhaps... Perhaps this feud of theirs is pointless. It wasn't a victory she had been looking for, but all it did was buy Bella some more time to keep the façade up before the inevitable due date of the reveal, at least for now.
A/N: Welcome back any readers who's still keeping up to date on this rewrite of mine. We're at it again with another new chapter.
I'm getting tidbits of inspiration here and there in between the chaos that is my life, with work bogging me down mentally and physically. I needed just a bit of time to formulate the timeline of events with this story, and after rereading some old fanfic stories that I favorited in the past, the inspiration came back. So here I am.
We're now delving into some more turning-point chapters. Things are about to really pick up, I'd say at least in my honest opinion. We're gonna have some really juicy chapters coming out now.
Let's get into it, as this is one mega-packed chapter. There's a lot to cover, but possibly might have to split the chapter up into a two-parter.
Chapter Thirty-Three
~Bella~
I felt the weight of a heavy hand on my shoulder, which jarred me from my mindless daydreaming. I turned from the window and gazed up at the person beside me with a sheepish smile that probably looked more like a grimace. "Sorry." I muttered. Jacob gave me a sad smile of his own and shook his head.
"You're fine Bells, just letting you know that we're here." Jacob murmured and shuffled out of the driver's seat to his rabbit. Billy was sitting in the backseat while I took the passenger's seat. Billy gave me a smile of his own but said nothing while his son helped him out of the car. I got out as well, and gazed up at the looming building before us. It was an office building based in Seattle, housing multiple lawyers and attorneys. My mom would've worked in this building but chose a smaller practice more towards the outer parts of the city.
Why were we here at this office building you might ask?
It's been a couple of weeks since the start of the new year - a couple of weeks since I returned back to school to continue my Junior year of high school, but more so almost a month since my dad has passed. January blurred past me which I guess I could be grateful that things had picked up in pace for me. Everything was in full swing; lessons for usual courses kept a steady pace of studying, learning, and of course homework. Mixed in between was our practices for our singing competition. We only had a few months left until we'd be pushed into the competition - the competition set to hit late April - and see if we can win the grand prize. Haha no pressure after all... The girls would choose their battles to still try and dig their heels into the sand and hold such defiance against the boys they'd have to sing and dance with. Idle and our coaches were doing all they could to nip their childish tantrums in the bud, reminding them that we had to work together as a team if we wanted to stand a chance against the Harmonicals. This usually is enough to wake them up and stifle their attitude towards the boys, but I knew that they were still holding out for that little bit of strength to keep the feud burning. I remained neutral as I could, letting myself look passive as ever whenever I'd be singing and dancing with Edward but not really showcasing any fight which only led to Rosalie, Alice and the Trashy Trio to continue to question me. I held them at bay and did what I could to quell their suspicions but I knew deep down they still were burning to dig and claw out the truth from me. Thankfully Angela and Jessica would be able to save me from the interrogations that each of them tried to snake me into, and I would be forever grateful for the two of them.
Amidst the chaos that was normal school hours and competition rehearsals, Edward and I were limited more than ever on our alone time - at least whatever alone time we had before when we could sneak away to see one another on our busy school campus. We always made time to text unseen, flirting and pining over one another, yearning for another moment to be alone. But time wasn't in our favor currently because of the mixed chaos we were already facing with our second half of our school year. On top of what we're already dealing with, Edward's baseball team was back in the full swing of their own practice. Edward and the baseball team were already having their regular practice sessions in the first half of the school year before winter hit, but now that we were back at school after winter break there was no time to rest for them. Sure it was still wintery and snowing on and off, but his coach saw that as no excuse and merely moved their practicing indoors to the huge Gymnasium that was on our campus. They had a huge baseball league tournament that would start in late March and go into late May, with round after round of teams going against one another to win the championship game. Edward and the boys were going to be stretched horribly thin with everything going on as is, but thankfully the games they'd be in didn't overlap with practices for our singing competition; even more so it aligned that they could still partake in both equally without interference, both rehearsals and the actual day of the competition. But I knew mentally and physically the boys would be drained having to divide their attention across multiple spans of activities. That left our chances to have some 'us' time up to fate, which really I could tell Edward did not like.
The only semblance any of us would have relief from everything would be the offering of the spring break trip. What spring break trip you might ask? It seems like it's too good to be true but lo and behold, Idle and the coaches managed somehow within a reasonable school budget weirdly, to gather up us music students and take us on a huge field trip. Now either they were lying to us and have a secret backer, or somehow they have dark magic and conjured up the money to afford this for us all - but the trip offers us a chance to leave the country and we'd be heading to Italy first (which is actually where Aro Volturi originates from) and spending at least four days there, before we'd head back to the States and drop on by to Arizona for the remainder of the trip; Idle mentioned that one day would be spent Sedona before finally the last two would be spent heading to the Grand Canyon. "Even if some of you have already been there, others haven't. Everyone should see the Grand Canyon at least once in your life." Idle had pitched to the group when this was announced to us. They surmised that it would be a treat to us all for our hard work with the singing competition, and at least it would be a good chance of a break from the stress of everything we had going on. It was also brought up to us early on in the school year that it was in the works at the time but not confirmed since they needed to get approval first with Mr. Greene to let the trip happen first, get parents' permission on letting all of us go with the chaperones that were our coaches as well as make sure this wouldn't be interfering with any family trips that might've been planned. I guess however everything fell into place because here we are now with it planned for Spring Break.
Everything had been thrown in a whirlwind at this point and I was trying to keep my head straight. So of course I was brought back down to earth when after that first week back at school I was called up to Mr. Greene's office...
I knocked hesitantly on the door after Mrs. Cope had ushered me from the main lobby of the front offices of the school. I was merely in my third period when over the intercom Mr. Greene had called me up to the office. I blushed from the 'oohs' I received from some of the boys while the girls glowered at them to silence them. The teacher of that hour, Ms. Howard that was teaching advanced literature, let me go to the office while trying to wrangle the class back to focus on the lesson at hand. It was a quick walk for me with the class being on the same floor of the offices, and once I entered the lobby Mrs. Cope rushed me to the office of our principal, or head dean if you wanted to be a little more technical.
"Come in." I heard the gruff voice of Mr. Greene call out from the other side of the door. I opened the door and slipped inside, noting that Mr. Greene sat behind his desk while he was on the phone talking with someone quietly. Mr. Greene was kind older man, with a balding head, bushy mustache and was a bit on the heavier side. His voice was low yet it demanded your attention with how booming and authoritative it could be. As far as I could remember, Edward had said he's been the dean to this school for a good set of years, ordering the boys around for a long time and making sure they behaved well enough to his terms yet still had freedom to grow into themselves - even if that meant they'd have some hijinks every now and then. But when he wanted you to focus and work hard, he made sure his intentions would be known. When the girls came to the school he was at least a bit easier on us, and I of course remember the earlier days of the feud when I and the other girls all discussed the whole thing with him to run it by him to make sure we'd be still within school guidelines for dress codes and everything while we pulled our stunts on the guys. Mr. Greene could see it from our perspective and I guess he enjoyed seeing someone finally grounding some of the male population that was getting a bit ahead of themselves with their attitude, so he greenlit some of our stunts but reminded us that this was school after all; he wasn't going to be known for running a brothel or have this turn into a madhouse, he had said to us.
"Um... you wanted to see me sir?" I questioned out loud then after I stood there awkwardly for a few minutes. Greene nodded to me silently and waved me to the seat in front of his desk while he wrapped up his phone call. I sat down carefully in the seat and watched as he set the phone back down on his landline, and then shifted in his seat to place his hands clasped together on top of his desk.
"How are you feeling Ms. Swan?"
"Uh..." I muttered, picking at my hands momentarily. "Okay I guess? Tired physically and mentally after being thrusted back into school life but I'm adjusting." I answered moderately, shrugging to him. Greene offered a sad smile.
"I know, after everything, it was rough for you. But I'm happy to see you're pushing on." He started, nodding his head briefly. I nodded back to him, smiling a little as I appreciated what he was getting at with his sentiments. Greene then shuffled some papers on his desk before looking back over to him. His smile lessened some while his dark eyes gazed at me apprehensively. "This was sent to the school a couple days ago but I figured now should be the time to officially deliver it to you." he continued before he held up a sealed envelope. He handed it over to my outstretched hand and sat back while I looked over the parcel before me.
It was a small envelope but it was addressed to me. I tore it open and inside was a folded letter. Upon opening it I began to read it.
'Dear Isabella Marie Swan, I'm very sorry and offer my condolences upon hearing the news of your father's passing. I am J. Jenks, your father's executor and a close friend of his. He entrusted me to deliver his final will and testament. He left me clear instructions of everything he's left behind, including of when he felt would be the right time to proceed with everything. Charlie was of course one that didn't want to let things hang in the air, thus why this letter reaches you now to announce that his final will reading will occur at the end of January - nearly a month since his passing. All will be revealed to you and your loved ones that are present. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause to you and your studies with school, but as Charlie had told me before he left us - there's no time like the present to get things done. I hope you will be able to attend this hearing. Do let me know if you need to have this be done at a different time should matter be too pressing.'
I skimmed over the letter again, noting that he included the date in which the reading would be held, at what time, and also included the address of where this would be taking place. It'd be held somewhere in Seattle mainly because I recognized the address; Renee often dropped by at this office space to have lunch with some fellow colleagues of hers since it was an office building that mostly housed attorneys and lawyers. I never heard of this J. Jenks guys since Charlie never told me anything about him. I never knew he had an executor in the first place as if he already knew he was going to die and so suddenly too... something already seemed off now after I reread the letter a third time.
Mr. Greene kept quiet, letting the information sink in and giving me that space I needed to try and digest everything.
"I..." I tried to formulate a response to this letter but I couldn't. I knew that at some point there'd be a last will reading, since I knew that there were matters to wrap up. Like how would Charlie's house be handled, or his belongings? Or what would happen to Scooter and I? I knew Scooter would officially be staying with Jacob and his dad until I can get my own place to take care of him, and for the time being I was mostly in the care of the school. But when school is let out for breaks, I was left to the unknown. I could easy be put into the care of the Blacks or the Cullens, or hell my mother would try again to take ownership of her stranded daughter. I know it sounded harsh and the fact that after my dad passed she tried to take care of me like any mother would, I was more so the brat in the situation in refusing to go back to Seattle when all I wanted was to remain in Forks as I didn't want to leave my friends, much less leave Edward when I needed them the most in that time period. But after the funeral and how she acted that day, my mom all but left me to my own devices, trusting that I would be fine with Cullens and not bothering to fight me. She did inform me after the funeral that she would be leaving Washington by the end of the month to venture out to Florida - both moving away in lesser terms, but also because she found a better offer for her work out of state.
I should've been hurt, shocked even that my mom straight up left me when I was at my most vulnerable, but... I guess I also expected no less of Renee. She was always moving, always in drive and never in reverse or parking. She was a hard-hitting lawyer that took case after case with little breaks in between, and if work offered her a chance to venture out she was going to take it. I just wanted my mom to be here for me, but she wasn't always the best mother figure after all. Always doing, never stopping to think and weigh every option. So with this in mind, I knew she was out of state, but I wondered for a minute if she would return home to come to this will reading.
"I know it's sudden and a lot to take in after all." Mr. Greene gently interrupted me. I nodded slowly to him to agree. "But this is something that I feel that hopefully will offer you some comfort, some... closure on some things. Believe me when I tell you, losing a parent is awfully hard. I, myself, lost my birth father when I was just a kid and it's taken years to even try and return to some sort of normalcy." he continued, offering another sad smile of sympathy as he empathized with me. "But I got there - and some of those steps required I go back and open those wounds which included the will reading and everything that my birth father left behind for me. My mother over the years always has filled in the gaps for me as to what my dad was really like before he left us and it's brought me the comfort I've needed to mature and move on with my life. The loss of a family member will never be something you truly will get over, but what helps is having friends and loved ones there to keep you going, and finding whatever closure you need to get through each day. I think this will reading will be a stepping stone for you. It's happening on a Friday for you, but I'm willing to excuse you for the day with no repercussions."
"Thank you, Mr. Greene." I murmured to him, fighting back the tears. God I was ever so emotional still over the loss of Charlie, yet hearing him open up to me about his own loss only brought my own emotions to the surface to sympathize him.
With that, Mr. Greene sent me back to class. I carried the letter with me as if it weighed twenty pounds, but I did what I could to push it to the back burners for now.
Flashing forward to today, we were at the end of the month of January. Today was the day that I faced the last will reading of my dad. Jacob and Billy also had received similar invitations to this reading, so they had swung by the school to pick me up. I told the girls a couple days ago that I'd be gone today as I would be heading out for this will reading; they each offered me some sort of comfort with hugs and good wishes that I can make it through fine. And now, here we are.
We walked up to the doors that was the large office building, avoiding hurrying attorneys who were busy on their phones not paying attention to others around them. We wandered over to the desk where I asked the receptionist where J. Jenks' office would be. She told me it'd be up on the sixth floor and that I could ask his secretary on that floor to lead me to his office. After thanking her we walked over to the elevators and took one up to where we needed to go. "You feeling alright Bells?" Billy asked me quietly, noting that I was fidgeting with my blouse while we rode up to the sixth floor.
"As alright as I can be." I murmured and Jacob reached over to squeeze my hand.
"We're right here with you to offer support Bella."
"I know. Thanks."
Soon we arrived to the sixth floor and exited the elevator. The office space was filled with many smaller offices for other executors for many other families and estates; some had their doors opened which offered a peek into their small space, while others were closed to offer privacy for any families that were in today to discuss their affairs. J. Jenks' secretary was near the end of the hallway we were in - he was leading in this practice for the other executors, and led us over to a waiting area nearby that overlooked out to the Seattle skyline of other businesses in the downtown area. That is where I was greeted by a surprise I wasn't expecting to see.
Sitting in the waiting area was most of the Cullen family minus Alice who was left behind at school. Carlisle and Esme sat down together on a loveseat talking with one another quietly, both dressed perfect as ever. Emmett I could see looming by the windows, dressed up in a button down and slacks fashion - completely out of his usual muscle man wear. Finally, Edward sat down in an armchair next to his parents, looking handsome as ever in his own button down shirt and slacks combo yet added in was suspenders. His sinewy arms were exposed since he rolled up his sleeves while he was lazily reading a travel magazine.
"I'll let Mr. Jenks know you've arrived so you all can proceed with the reading, Ms. Swan." Jenks' secretary announced our arrival in the quiet space to which it alerted the Cullens of our appearance. Each of them looked up and stared at the three of us with varying reactions; Carlisle and Esme looked to me with somber but otherwise sympathetic expressions, Emmett held one of befuddlement, and Edward looked over towards me with surprise but contained excitement to be seeing me.
"Thank you miss." Billy spoke then for us as Jacob and I were completely floored to be seeing the Cullens here - sans Alice of course as I knew she was still back at school. She left us then just as I stepped forward.
"What are you all doing here?" I asked, mostly directing it at all of them but I looked to Carlisle who shifted next to Esme. He seemed as if to be holding back the real truth of why he was here - it looked as if he wanted to speak wholly and openly on why most of his family was here today. Yet Esme's gesture of placing a hand on his arm and giving a pointed look had him sigh and nod to her.
"Well to put it in short, we had a letter sent to us by Mr. Jenks to appear today for this will reading. And that is all I can really divulge to you." he murmured and I looked at him with skepticism. Briefly glancing over at Edward and Emmett, I could see they were in the dark much like I was. Emmett briefly scowled and turned away, glowering as he continued to look out the window. Edward pursed his lips before looking down back at his magazine, huffing. I then looked up to Jacob who furrowed his eyebrows at the vague answer we received. Billy then nodded his head and cleared his throat to jostle Jacob awake. Jacob grunted to his dad and wheeled him over to the parents of the Cullen clan which left me to stand awkwardly if only for a brief moment.
"You can take my seat." Edward called out then, speaking up. I jumped, startled upon hearing him speak, and looked over to see him sliding out of his seat and offering it to me. Emmett briefly turned his head to glance over his shoulder at this interaction, waiting to see how I'll react. For the few weeks of all of us being back at school, it's as if we stepped into an alternate universe. Emmet had been avoiding us girls each morning, ceasing all activity that was his past jeering and bullying that he used to instigate everyday when we'd ultimately run into one another before our first classes. After for the past six months of us being in school and dealing with his bullying for as long as I had, it was unheard of that Emmett Cullen would give in and walk away from his old ways. The girls were just as thrown off by his sudden change in personality and behavior. They still held their guard up in fear he would turn on a dime and slip back into his old ways, and I was no different, keeping my walls up. But I could tell there was something different with him. Of course this didn't stop his animosity in how he reacted to Rosalie and some of the girls when we'd be working on our singing competition, but in the morning he avoided us like we were the plague. Beyond that, there was still the limited interaction between us considering he was on the baseball team with Edward, Jasper, and some of the other guys of the junior class. So we thankfully had limited interactions day in and day out as is that any chances of his old habits to rear its ugly head was utterly minimal.
A small part of me wondered though if he was in the boat of questioning Edward's and my actual relationship. Ever since we returned from the trip, I had been observing these boys as discretely as I could. I noticed that Jasper was definitely more keenly aware of me - or at least seemed as much. I noticed he was staring at me more than usual, looking as if deep in thought. I had said before he always had a certain intensity when he'd stare at you; it's as if he's reading your very soul, your every thought, desire, and emotion. He probably had a fantastic way of reading people and reading their emotions on their faces which I tried to keep myself stone-faced each and every time I'd catch him staring at me. And now after the first initial week back to school, I noticed that at times Emmett was now starting to stare at me every so often. I wasn't sure what was up with the two of them and why they were so keen on watching me, but I could tell that anytime I'd be in the same room as Edward, they were watching the two of us interact - and not just in the 'oh look at my mate jeer and mess with this chick' kind of chauvinistic way. No, they were watching us, observing our interactions with one another in such a way it made me want to squirm with anxiety. It made me think they were trying to put two and two together about the truth of our relationship. I expressed my worries about to Edward, to which he agreed to a point that something seemed off about the two of them. He noted to me that Jasper seemed like he was off in his own world at times, or withdrawn anytime he tried to interact with him. And well, Edward wasn't open to spending time with his brother still as he was all for keeping his distance from him after their blowup on one another at the Lodge. But he told me not to stress out about it as he felt like it was most likely nothing to think about.
Coming back to reality, I shook off Emmett's staring and nodded to Edward. "Thanks." I said quietly to him in appreciation for his chivalry, before shuffling over to the armchair. I sat down and picked up a nearby magazine - some type of business magazine I had zero interest in actually reading over - while Edward took to perching himself on the arm of the chair, mindlessly reading his magazine still. I could feel Emmett drilling holes into the back of my head at the closeness of his brother next to me, but I did my best to ignore it. I also tried to keep myself in check as I wanted to naturally respond to Edward's proximity. I could feel the electric charge that ghosted in the air while we sat close next to one other, and wanted to reach out and grab onto his hand, or rest my head in his lap. A few times my fingers twitched while I tried to calmly turn each page of the magazine in my hands. My brain went to the gutters like usual while in his presence, but when I'd cast a side-eye glance to him, he was the perfect picture of unbothered while he did his best to read his magazine next to me. If he was at all affected by me sitting next to him, he was doing a better job than I was in hiding his body's reaction to me - if not for the fact I could see the ever slightest signs of a pitched tent in his lap. A small smirk bubbled on my lips, but I bit my bottom lip to hold it back. He was definitely affected by me next to him.
We sat in that waiting area for what felt like years, but it was likely only a few minutes. Soon, J. Jenks - or someone I assumed to be J. Jenks - stepped out of the office next to the waiting area. It was indeed Mr. Jenks since he announced as much to us. "Hello to you all, I'm J. Jenks but you can just call me J if that is more comfortable. I wish we could've met one another on better terms." Jenks greeted us openly, a sad smile on his face. Jenks was a slim man with darkened skin, buzzed hair and soft dark eyes hidden behind square glasses. He wore a simple dark blue suit with a clean striped tie tucked into his blazer, and he easily shook hands with Carlisle as he was the nearest to him and the first to stand and greet him.
"I agree I wish there could've been a more amicable time to meet you, Jenks. I'm Carlisle Cullen and this is my wife, Esme. By the window is my older adoptive son Emmett, and next to Ms. Swan is my younger adoptive son Edward." Carlisle began with the formalities, gesturing to each person when he indicated them by their names. Jenks nodded his head to his greeting before turning to the Blacks.
"Billy Black and my son, Jacob." Billy was short and to the point while shaking hands.
"Ah yes, I recall the details Mr. Swan left to me about you and your son, Mr. Black." Jenks surmised briefly, nodding his head to the two of them. Finally he turned and his eyes looked towards me. I set the magazine and carefully stood up from my chair, happy I was able to keep my balance with small heels on my feet. Alice dressed me up still for today - stylish and elegant but kept my comfort in mind. So a pretty blue blouse under a dark blazer, but paired with a black mini skirt that was toeing the line between modest and cocktail waitress. And of course finally, black high heels. I was thankful she let me wear panty hose so I wasn't going to be flashing anyone. "And you are Miss Isabella Swan."
"Just Bella." I murmured, feeling my cheeks heat at the attention I was receiving. Out of the corner of my eye, Edward shifted to standing behind me slightly but kept himself angled in way to appear nonchalant. The over protective fool that he is, but I love him for it.
"Of course." Jenks said warmly, and gave me a friendly smile. Nothing about it seemed demeaning - it felt geniune like he was welcoming an old friend. "Now that every party member is here, we can begin with the reading."
"My mother...?" I spoke up suddenly, but felt like I knew the answer. My mom's been out of town still for this past month, like I had already been prepared for. She was likely still in Florida for her work, but ever since the invitation first arrived I wondered if she'd make it back to town for this. I guess in part I was wondering if she'd be a late arrival but I wasn't holding my breath.
"Ah uh... yes. I was told about your mother in pieces and letters from your father, Miss Bella." Jenks began again, awkward now. "We reached out to her with an invitation but she uh... She called to inform us that sadly she won't be able to make it for this reading." He continued still awkward as ever, as if expecting me to blow up or react negatively to the news. The others around me also visibly shifted, not sure if I'd be upset. So I guess I surprised them when I nodded my head in acceptance and moved to follow after him into his office, leading the charge. I could feel Edward now staring at the back of my head, likely with concern but I couldn't reassure him that I knew that this should've been expected and it was something I could brush off. If anyone knew my mother it was me - and this was typical Renee behavior sadly.
Once the awkward moment passed, the others followed behind me into the office as Jenks led the way. His office was rather spacious with greying marbled floors and deep wooden paneled walls. He had looming tall bookcases filled to the brim with many tomes of literature as if he had a miniature library. Beyond that he had several leather couches placed in front of his large mahogany desk, a coffee table in the middle of it holding many coffee table books, along with having a mini coffee and drink bar off to the far corner near his desk. Finally, he had tall glass windows out to our right that overlooked the city surrounding the office building. He gestured to us to take a seat on any of the couches before us while he went towards the corner where an a TV sat on a stand that could be wheeled around; below it a silver DvD player sat on a shelf connected to the TV.
Jacob took to sitting on the couch that looked towards the windows where he helped Billy onto the couch, out of his wheelchair. Carlisle, Esme and Emmett took to seating themselves on the couch that faced his desk, with Emmett sitting on the end closest to the windows. That left Edward and I to share the last couch that had the windows to our backs, and I did my best to ignore Emmett's side glances at the two of us when we sat down. We didn't sit completely next to one another, nor did we sit at the farthest ends from one another. It was at least in my eyes an acceptable distance from one another - but on the safe side, Edward sat between his brother and I.
Once we were all seated and Jenks had the TV near us to where we all had a clear view of the screen, he went to sit behind his desk and shuffled his papers around first. On the desktop I could see a small black remote next to his stack of paperwork. He seemed happy once he had the papers in order before he reached down and pulled out some boxes from his drawers. Some were slim yet large while others were small and boxy. I was confused on the boxes he was laying out, but figured I'd receive answers on what they were, later on. We sat in silence for a few minutes, letting Jenks get everything ready to be read. Finally he had all his papers aligned and he cleared his throat before looking up at us. "I again apologize as I wish this meeting could've been done in a better fashion but that's sadly the nature of my job. I'd like to at least try and start by saying that Charlie and I had gotten to know one another thanks to his line of work as Police Chief for Forks. I'm an executor for several patrons here in Seattle but I also extend my profession out to those in the Washington area. At times Charlie would be involved with will readings to return pieces of memorabilia to families if they were involved with any past investigations that required police attention. Thus started our friendship. However it was when he approached me in the last month or so of his time here with us that I knew there was something afoot within his life that drove him to write up his last will and testament with me." he began.
I felt my heart skip a beat when he admitted this. What drove my father to suddenly write up his will within the past month? Did he suddenly expect that he'd be dying, knowing when his last day would be here on this earth?
"I was perturbed by his behavior and had broke my professionalism to prod him for answers as to why he was pushing for his will to be fixed up. However Charlie wouldn't budge on the details and continued to push for this to be created, as dark as it sounds; I will admit the poor man acted as if he knew when he would be leaving us. He gave me permission to look over everything he's admitted in paper to be read today, along with the help of the rest of the Forks Police Department to offer some answers to everything; I have permission to let this be admitted out loud but at this time, there is an investigation ongoing -"
"What investigation?" I cut in then sharply, knowing everyone turned their eyes to me when I spoke up.
"Bells..." Jacob tried to calm me down, but I refused to look over at him, keeping my hard gaze focused on Jenks.
"I shall reveal all soon Miss Swan. I know you of all people are most deserving to know what is going on - and I promise that you shall receive answers." Jenks did his best to assuage my anger upon hearing this. I sat there reeling from this admission, but I tried my best to calm down. It took a few moments but eventually I relented and nodded to him. "As I was saying, there's an ongoing investigation that involves the details I'm about to divulge to you all today. We must keep to an oath that this does not leave the room, since it's a police matter. But with express permission from Charlie before he left us and from the police department, they are willing to let you all be informed - namely for Bella's sake." he continued.
"We promise to keep this to ourselves, Mr. Jenks." Esme quietly spoke up then, nodding her head.
Jenks nodded his head before he picked up his paper. That is when he began to read aloud the beginnings of Charlie's Will. "I shall start then. 'This is the last will and testament of Charles Swan, otherwise known as Charlie - beloved father and former Chief of Police to the town of Forks. All that is to be revealed and handled should be said in the present company that has been invited. This should include the Black Family - friend William Black also known as Billy, along with his son Jacob Black -, daughter Isabella Marie Swan, and finally the Cullen family members. This will include Carlisle and Esme Cullen, Edward Cullen and Emmett Cullen. Renee Dwyer, formerly Renee Swan, may or may not be present; the invitation is extended to her to be present however I, Charlie Swan, am not sure she would be willing to join on the appointed date of the reading. If she is not present, proceed as planned.'"
Once the Cullen's names were mentioned, I could see Emmett shift in his spot while crossing his arms, his face looking still confused as to why he felt he should be present today. I glanced between each of the Cullen members that were here today, gauging the rest of their reactions. Emmett looked confused as ever, yet he sat there patiently. Carlisle and Esme had looked at one another with meaningful glances, squeezing each other's hands. Finally I glanced at Edward who sat beside me passively. When I had looked over at him, Edward's eyes darted over to me when he felt my gaze on him. I wanted to offer a smile but with Emmett present, I couldn't acknowledge him with such an expression sadly. Edward's lips pursed before he focused back on Jenks. They were brought here for a reason, and somehow I feel like Carlisle and Esme were definitely hiding something. I thought to myself briefly when analyzing Carlisle's and Esme's interaction with one another. They had been short when I asked them why they were all here when I first arrived, as it looked like Carlisle wanted to reveal all then and there. And it looked like Emmett and Edward were in the dark since they seemed unhappy that their adoptive parents weren't telling them anything.
Jenks shuffled some more paper work and read over it to himself for a minute. Then, he nodded to himself and brought up the remote. "It's time now that I play Charlie's tape. He created this portion to be a visual reading for you all. I guess he felt it to be better to express everything himself through a recording. However there are more written portions that I will read aloud in a bit after the tapes." he announced and turned on the TV before us. I stared up at the screen as it went through some video errors. Then suddenly, my dad came onto the screen. My breath caught in my throat as we all watched him shift around on screen as he adjusted the video feed. The camera was recording my dad in his old house as it appeared he was doing this in the living room. He was dressed down in his usual flannel garb while he finally had the camera angle straightened before he took a seat in his armchair behind him. Once he was settled in, he cleared his throat before he began to speak in the video.
"Hello there everyone, it's me - Charlie. Currently, today's date is December 27th. Right now I'm currently in my home, making this video. And if you're seeing this, it means I'm dead. Morbid to say but it's the truth as this is my visual last will and testament for you all - my family and loved ones - will be seeing after I'm gone. I want to be able to lay out each and every single possession of mine of where they'd be going in this case and discuss some matters that should be addressed. I wish I could've let the truth out before I died but the timing was never... right. Once I knew that my time was coming quicker than I had imagined I knew I had to finalize some matters." Charlie began his speech in the video, folding his hands into his lap. I could feel the emotions start to swell up from within once I saw and heard my dad's voice again. It made me desperately wish he was never pulled away from me to begin with. It was too cruel that I outlived my dad so soon - I'm only eighteen and already I lost one parent. It sucked. I had taken so long to try and manage my emotions for this whole month since he left us at the start of the New Year, but seeing and hearing him away was having the walls I carefully put up crumble away. I didn't even bother really looking at the others in the room, but I knew that at least most of them had to be concerned about me as I could feel their eyes on me while I kept mine trained on the screen.
One thing that I realized however, was the date. He made this the day I had left for my ski trip with the Cullens. He already knew he would be dying by this point. I guess in one way that would explain his solemn self when I was leaving... it was his last goodbye to me. I don't know what or how my dad knew that he wouldn't be making it to the New Year - but I could only hope he'd explain later on in his visual will readings.
"First and foremost, I want to address my good friends the Blacks. Billy, you may have all of my fishing gear simply put. I'm sorry I no longer can go out on trips with you and Harry, but I figure you can at least get better you out of it considering Harry never liked my fancy stuff to begin with." Charlie paused in the video to smirk a bushy mustached smile, while Billy smirked to himself hearing his old friend joke. "And second, this is more of a joint thing between you and your son, Billy - but please, look after Bells for me as best as you can. I know her and her stubborn self will try to truck on without any support but I'm asking that you two check in on her. I know you always viewed her like a second daughter seeing as Jacob's sister is still off in Hawaii. But I trust you two to always be there for her and help her out when she needs it. I've left some funds for you two if you really need it because it's the least I can do to ask you to look after my girl for me." Charlie continued. Upon hearing this second wish, I could feel a few tears escape from my eyes and I rushed to wipe them away. Edward watched me carefully while I silently cried beside him, and breaking the façade we had to keep up he at least reached out to rub at my back. I took his gesture of comfort with a welcome small smile, not even caring now that Emmett looked over at us with furrowed eyebrows. He didn't matter in this moment - Edward was actually trying to comfort me out in the open even if that meant Emmett was going to be suspicious about it.
Jenks paused the video upon seeing me cry and made a motion to the tissues that sat on his desk. "Would you like a tissue Bella?"
"I may need the whole box while we get through this." I muttered, almost snorting at myself. Edward stood and walked to the desk to grab the box while I could see Esme giving me a sympathetic smile. Once Edward sat back down beside me he offered the box to which I took a few tissues and dabbed at my eyes. I could still feel Emmett watching us with a guarded expression but I paid him no attention. My secret boyfriend was being so sweet as best as he could without outright having me cuddle into his side like I knew he wanted to be able to do. So I took this gesture as the next best thing of comfort knowing he wanted to do more. Once I had dried my tears and had taken a moment to collect myself, I nodded shortly. "You can continue it."
Jenks nodded and pressed play. Charlie in the video, after addressing the Blacks, shifted in his seat while he looked at the camera with a very serious expression. "Now then, I guess it's time for a more serious route and approach the special guests that I've asked to join us for this will and testament reading - The Cullens, specifically Carlisle and Esme Cullen." he stated gruffly. I glanced over at Carlisle and Esme, as did Emmett and Edward. The two parents shifted in their seats, now looking wholly uncomfortable with this section of the video already when my dad hasn't even said anything - but they also looked like they were bracing themselves for whatever was about to be said. "Now Carlisle and Esme, you know as well as I do that we should've spoken up about this together to the kids but there was never really a proper time that we could've expressed this to them. I'm sorry I have to do this after I'm gone but it's for the better. The kids should know the truth before they become adults anyways. I know I hated the fact I had kept this a secret for as long as I did as it wasn't fair at all to not only Bella, but to Emmett. And you know it wasn't fair in the slightest to Edward that we kept the other secret from him as well." Charlie continued and I could feel the confusion continue to grow with each second that my dad spoke in the video. Edward and Emmett faired no better than I did and were looking between the TV and their adoptive parents. I knew always that Emmett and Edward weren't related by blood and they knew it too. All of the Cullen kids were adopted by Carlisle and Esme. Edward knew he lost his parents at a young age and was an orphan before he was adopted by Esme and Carlisle. Edward had told me that Emmett and Alice were unaware of who their real parents were honestly, but Edward knew that Emmett came to the family around the same time as he did before Alice was adopted into the family. So what could my father be eluding to?
Charlie sighed heavily again, his eyes in the video looking completely defeated and sad I guess we were about to receive our answer finally. "I know the kids will also be in the room at the time I say this and this will be messy to reveal but it must be said and done. The truth is kids... Bella, you have a brother. And he is there in that room with you. Emmett Dale Swan became Emmett Dale Cullen when he was about to turn three years old. You two were separated, and in no part it's because of your mother and I." Two distinctive and loud gasps erupted in the silent room, which caused Jenks to pause the video.
"What the fuck?!" Emmett roared, bursting from his seat. He looked absolutely flabbergasted yet enraged upon hearing this shocking bit of news. I was the other one to gasp but I couldn't peel my eyes away from the TV. I could see Edward looked taken aback about as much as Emmett had been, while Carlisle and Esme looked as if they wanted the couch to eat them alive. Jacob and Billy were too stunned to react to Emmett's outburst, staring blankly at the TV. "You knew? This whole time, you knew who my parents were, that Bella and I were related?! And you never thought to tell me?!" Emmett continued to shout, enacting his rage onto his adoptive parents. Carlisle stood up then while Esme remained seated.
"Emmett please -"
"Don't try to calm me down!" Emmett raged, glowering at his adoptive father. "All this time I knew that I wasn't your biological son but I remained blissfully unaware of my real parents - thinking that I was just some fluke this whole time or that maybe that they just gave me up because they didn't care about me. And yet you two knew who my dad was, who my mom was - and the fact I have an actual sister!" Emmett continued to yell, gesturing wildly behind him at which he was waving his arms at me. "But you never told me any of this. I find out about all of this AFTER my dad dies!" he snarled, shoving his fists into his hair while it looked like tears were beginning to form in his eyes.
"Emmett please, we wanted to tell you for so long..." Esme began to plead while Carlisle tried to touch Emmett's shoulder. But he jerked away from him.
"Please Emmett if you'll just sit back down, the truth will be explained in this video." Jenks weakly tried to talk him back down. Emmett shook with a fury beyond containment and glowered at Jenks who frowned at the anger he was receiving.
"Emmett... Please." I whispered, speaking up finally. He whipped his stony gray gaze towards me, tears falling from his eyes now. I knew I had a fresh set of tears falling from my eyes as well, of which I didn't care anymore. I knew I'd be crying a lot during this but we all had to get through it eventually. I was floored still from hearing this bit of news that was revealed. Emmett and I were brother and sister. I couldn't believe it... I don't think I really ever will. We both needed answers, but we weren't going to be getting them if we sat here and screamed to the wind as if that'd give us what we wanted. Charlie held the whole story in this video, with Carlisle and Esme being puzzle pieces to everything as well; I'm sure they would be willing to fill in the gaps if we needed it. And we needed to remain calm and patient while we tried to get through this video. Emmett was reeling still while he heaved a broken sob as he stared at me, but he must've finally read some unspoken answer on my face because he gave in and sunk back to the couch. He remained as far as possible from his adoptive parents while he scowled at the TV screen. Carlisle looked defeated and sat back down beside Esme who's crestfallen face was heavy as she watched one of her adoptive sons grieve at this bit of news. I turned and nodded back to Jenks to continue playing the video. He nodded back to me and pressed play once more.
"You see you two, when Emmett was young there was day where he scared the living shit out of us - Renee and I. Renee was inside the house with Bella when she heard me shouting in panic in the backyard. I came inside in a whirlwind holding Emmett in my arms who had split his head open. We were two young parents still learning everything in trying to handle two young babies that were so close in age. So we rushed to the hospital where we had our first meeting with Carlisle Cullen. There Carlisle did his best to help our young Emmett in healing from his injury - and upon doing so, they had found it. A developing tumor within Emmett's brain. It was happening at the base of his brain stem; the injury inflammed it somehow and would've swollen up if we didn't act fast. We didn't care about the costs at the time for the surgeries or the aftercare involved - we begged Carlisle to start it immediately and do whatever needed to be done to save our boy. Ever the gracious man Carlisle abided by our wishes and sprung into action saving Emmett. At this time we met... the Masens as well as Esme." Upon hearing the last name that was Edward's birth name, I could hear Edward gasp quietly beside me. "While Emmett was in recovery, for only a brief moment or so, Edward Sr. and Elizabeth arrived to Forks with their young son - Edward Jr. Elizabeth... was Esme's sister. Renee and I were outside Emmett's room when they all came by one day, and the two young parents were just as enamored with our baby girl Isabella as Renee was smitten with a baby Edward. Esme loved to see the two children interact with one another, and she also fell in love with our boy Emmett as she's heard all about him through her own husband. Renee and I later found out that Esme was unable to have children yet she was more than happy when she'd see her nephew anytime they came to visit. So Esme took on the role of helping out Renee and I with Bella while we tried to focus on caring for Emmett." Edward's hand grabbed onto mine when he heard this next bit of shocking news. I knew he had to be just as floored upon hearing this revelation as Emmett and I were reeling from our own.
Esme was Edward's aunt. This whole time they were actually related and they never told him, much like they never told Emmett the truth.
"Soon though... things started piling up. The care and bills were starting to become too much for Renee to handle. She felt like a failure of a mother; her firstborn was in and out of a coma while in the hospital undergoing tests and drugs that would likely alter him forever. And she had a young daughter to care for at the same time, a daughter that was unaware of the severity of the situation and only demanded the attention a little girl that was going to be turning three by the end of the year, needed; Bella would cry and be in distress throughout this whole process on and off. Emmett celebrated his third birthday in that hospital whilst in a coma, and that was Renee's breaking point... She lost it and gave me the hardest choice to make. She couldn't stand seeing her son sick in the hospital anymore and yet came to the craziest notion that as she was such a terrible mother, she felt like giving up on Emmett - rather, she felt that giving him up for adoption was the solution to our problem. We were draining everything money wise to keep him going but it was putting a strain on us mentally, physically, emotionally. I was willing to give up everything, be homeless and starve if that meant my boy could live..." Charlie within the video was becoming choked up the more he talked about Emmett and his past situation; tears even fell from his eyes to which he wiped at. "But I also had little Bella to think about. Renee and I aruged back and forth for a long time before I went to the last person I could talk to about this; Carlisle. He heard me out on everything, could see I was a lost man at my wits end unable to comprehend on what I could do. And so he offered me the solution that I live to regret to this very day and will regret even as I'm rotting away in the ground - he offered to adopt Emmett and all the debts that came with his recovery from the surgeries and his aftercare. It would give him the best chance of survival. He wanted me to know that my son would live and be cared for, as he knew I still needed to care for my daughter - and with the route I was going for medical care, with not much money to our name at the time, it would spell a nasty end for everyone if I continued. But he informed me that... with the drugs and medication involved, some would act as a beta blocker for his brain. It would likely alter his emotions - and wipe most of his memories that he has. Meaning... he would forgot about me, about his birth mother, and about his sister. He would forget we existed. I was so desperate... I took the offer with the heaviest of hearts. We went through the arduous adoption process while Emmett laid unconscious. By the time he was officially made as a Cullen, I had drawn up my divorce with papers for Renee in my anger and heartbreak. Renee was bitter towards me due to all of the fighting we had over finances and what was best for Emmet. Part of me couldn't blame her, but I was in that hazy fog of emotion that I couldn't see to reason with her on it - nor did I want to. She drove me into a corner instead of wanting to be there for her son but I knew that we were left with no good options that would allow us to continue having Emmett in our lives. In one aspect I battled within myself for years - and still do to this day - that I felt that in one part it was the right thing to do to offer Emmett a better chance at living with a family that could care for him through everything; Renee and I had a meager life with my job as a young police officer back then and her in between jobs here and there. So I felt that it wasn't fair to Emmett to be likely stuck with the most mediorce care if he stayed with us after recovering from everything, and that it also wasn't fair that we would also be shorting Bella on her life as well. But still... to this day I kick myself because no father wants to EVER give up their blood, their child. I wanted to be there for you, son. I wish I could've been better, could've had more money and more time to dedicate it to your recovery... But I couldn't and I'll never forgive myself for it." Charlie continued his explanation as to why Emmett was seperated for us, from me when I never even knew he was my brother.
It would explain then why I never had any real memories of a brother. I was so young and I never truly had any memories of my childhood at that young age until after my parents separated. I was too oblivious as a baby to really remember Emmett. And as my dad had said in the video, the drugs and medications Emmett was on as a young child served to wipe his memory of his childhood as a Swan before he was adopted into the Cullen family.
"Of course what a time too for my poor son to be adopted by the Cullens... Around this time, I heard news of the Masens being involved in a deadly car accident. Edward Sr. and Elizabeth had passed away while on their way to the hospital yet Edward Jr. - who had been saved thanks to his car seat in the back of the car - survived only with cuts and bruises to his small baby body. Elizabeth's only close relative and the one that was assigned as his godmother was Esme Cullen so near the same time they had gained Emmett, Edward Jr. was adopted into the Cullen family at the same time. But what further drove the knife into my heart as I was going through my nasty divorce with Renee, is that Carlisle advised it'd be best if we did not interact with Emmett post care. He felt that it could trigger an episode if he was exposed too soon to his birth family at such a young age while he underwent his medication process for recovery. I wished to see Emmett get better with my own eyes but I took Carlisle's advice; if it meant that Emmett could get better and be healthy again, I would do it even if it hurt me." Charlie in the video went on, hanging his head and holding it in one hand as he wiped at his tears. Edward, Emmett and I all now glanced over at Carlisle and Esme who looked so defeated as the truth came out the more Charlie spoke in the video. Jenks paused the video once again as he could sense the tension in the room.
"You knew..." Edward began then and I almost pulled my hand away when I heard his tone. He looked so heartbroken that this secret was kept from him yet I could feel this radiation of emotion - hurt, betrayal, anger - coming from him. I glanced up to see Edward staring at his adoptive parents - or rather more accurately his aunt and uncle - with eyes showing an insurmountable of grief. "You never once told me that you were my blood relatives this whole time... I was too young to remember you two fully since we rarely left Chicago. But I thought this whole time that I had no other family left alive after losing my parents." Edward murmured, letting go of my hand to only hold his head with both his hands.
"That doesn't even begin to still scratch the surface that I've been left in the dark this whole time about my real family." Emmett growled, looking over at his adoptive parents infuriated. I frowned when I noticed Esme jumped from his biting tone and focused her eyes on her lap, where I could see tears forming in her eyes.
"Emmett please, let up on Esme and Carlisle." I spoke up finally, standing up for them. Emmett whipped his cold gaze to me then but I held my ground. "You have every right to be upset about this - I'm upset too you know that I'm only finding out now that I've had a brother this entire time and yet neither Charlie nor Renee wanted to clue me in on it. Carlisle and Esme were doing this with your health and emotions in mind. You heard him in the video. He was struggling with finances to maintain everything and wanted to you to have the best chance of survival - Carlisle and Esme were your best chance in living." I began to reiterate what my dad said in his video will reading.
"That doesn't excuse the fact that they could've still told me this at any given point rather than leaving me in the dark. I have to find out that I had a father that was alive, that I have a mother and a sister that I've been unknowingly going to school with - and this whole time they knew and never bothered to talk to me about it." Emmett seethed, leaning forward to now mirror Edward's position. He let loose a broken sob then which caused me to jump from the suddenness of it. "I never got to even say goodbye to him! You had him your whole life, got to spend everyday with them growing up - you had that luxury of knowing he was your father to the day he passed. But I didn't..." Emmett grieved aloud, where I could see his fingers curling into his curly hair tightly, knotting themselves to his skull in anger and frustration.
"Emmett..." Esme weakly trailed off as she listened to her adoptive son's grieving.
"We're truly sorry for keeping this from you - from both of you." Carlisle stated then addressing both Edward and Emmett. "We've wanted to tell you both for so long but we weren't sure when would be the right time. Charlie never knew either when it could've been the right time to let the truth come out - but I guess he never thought to factor in his death as a wrench to the whole ordeal either. We had no idea either that he somehow knew his day was coming sooner than he expected; we thought his behavior leading up to our trip was strange but he promised us that there was nothing for us to worry about with him. He just wanted us to promise we'd keep you safe on the trip, Bella, and that you enjoy your time up north with us as well. But never once did he let on about what was really going on... We had discussed long in the past of trying to find the right time to tell you, and likely when you two would've gotten through with your Junior year - or at the very least when you two would graduate from high school - is when we would've come together as a group to let the truth come out. But..." Carlisle rambled, shaking his head at the end. The unexpectedness of my dad's passing definitely changed their laid out plans of when they'd finally reveal to us the truth about everything, but what was even more baffling is that they thought to leave it go unsaid for so long - keep us all in the dark for a long time before they felt we'd be ready to hear the truth. A previously earlier date would've honestly sufficed more than waiting until we would've been done with school, in my personal opinion. So with my dad passing and having to out the truth now in his will, honestly has left things more of a mess I guess.
"You would've been okay with that? Leaving me in the dark about all of this," Emmett spoke up then with an underlying tone of anger laced in his broken tone. He briefly raised his head to glower at the two adults, and gestured openly to the room we were in. "Until after I would've graduated from high school? You would've been perfectly fine with that, lying to me for another year or more, rather than telling me? Or hell, you should've told me when I was younger!"
"You weren't ready when you were younger Emmett." Esme argued back, frowning. "You were still developing emotionally and mentally. You were still going through so much therapy - physical and emotional - that we didn't want to suddenly tell you and throw you off - or worse throw off your recovery."
Emmett looked more upset at the mention of his therapy he must've undergone over the years growing up. Edward hadn't really told me too much about what all Emmett's gone through growing up when the two of them had entered the Cullen family together roughly at the same time; he's only ever told me a few stories of them bonding as adoptive brothers, to some of the silly incidents they've gotten into or some of the upsetting pranks they've pulled on each other or on Alice that had led to them having some spats. But they'd eventually make up to one another and go back to being friends. So hearing that Emmett had gone through a period of therapy to recover - likely from his diagnosis and bout of surgeries he had went through as a young child - was news to me but nothing I could question out loud about, especially at this delicate time. I glanced over at Edward noting he finally lifted his head from his hands and sat to watch the exchange between his aunt, uncle and adoptive brother with a blank expression. I wanted to badly comfort him as I knew he was also still reeling from finding out that he never really lost all of his family the night his parents had died. For years Edward thought he lost every last known Masen with that car crash and believed he was the sole survivor to the name, before he was adopted by Carlisle and Esme. Now with the knowledge that he has living relatives all the time and he never knew, he must be going through a lot himself.
"I call bullshit with that excuse." Emmett's biting answer to Esme's reasoning had me snapping my gaze back to him.
"Emmett, don't take that tone." Carlisle admonished him, scowling at him now as Esme shrank under the cold answer she received.
"Why should I listen to you? You're not my dad." My heart broke for Carlisle and Esme when Emmett turned scathingly cold towards the two adults. Esme's eyes turned watery as she cast her gaze to the carpet, while Carlisle's eyes flickered with the same sort of sadness like someone had been stabbed in the back. Jacob and Billy glared at Emmett's tone, unhappy hearing this sort of behavior. They kept themselves quiet during this whole ordeal we were all going through but I knew they weren't keen hearing him be so cruel to his adoptive parents either.
"Emmett fuck off with that shit." I jumped when I heard Edward's normally smooth voice, suddenly spoken up with a steely edge. I glanced back towards him to see him glaring at Emmett. His cut in had Emmett turning his dark grey eyes towards him now. "You have every right to be hurt and upset that you had this truth kept away from you - believe me, I understand that. But don't go and fucking be an asshole to them. They're your parents as much as Charlie and Renee are. You should be upset with all of it equally but Carlisle and Esme still raised you, took care of you, fed you, clothed you, and loved you like you were their own flesh and blood just like they have done for me, and for Alice too. Carlisle is your dad as much as Charlie was, and the same for Esme being your mom like Renee is your birth mom. You don't have the right to act like a giant prick to them, just only being upset they never told you the truth until today." Edward leveled with him, his voice thick with reserved anger.
"Horseshit, I have the right to act like this." Emmett growled, standing angrily to his feet. Edward stood up to match his anger, not backing down from his glaring. "I deserved to have the truth be told to me - it should've happened when Charlie was alive! But they never thought to tell me, to tell all of us!" Emmett continued in his haughty state, gesturing to both Carlisle and Esme, as well as to Edward and I. "They were content waiting until we graduate from high school! Don't you think they should've told us when we were kids?!"
"You weren't ready to hear it when you were younger." Edward muttered to him, shaking his head. "You were unstable as a kid, Emmett. I didn't understand fully what you were going through when we were growing up, but I can see it now that you were unhinged as a kid. I understand now why you were like that and Esme is right - if they had told us when we were kids while you were trying to recover from what all you went through, it would've done so much damage and thrown out what all you had managed to recover from, out the window." he continued to argue for the reason why we had the truth kept from us.
Emmett glared down at him angrily and shook his head. "No... you're wrong. I would've took it just fine." he countered weakly. "What about her?" Emmett asked suddenly then, and I jumped when he turned his glaring down at me. "She was perfectly fine and would've been fine to take the news that she had a brother this whole time." Emmett muttered. Edward shifted himself to stand slightly more in front of me then, as if to shield me from Emmett's wrath while I looked away to glare down at the carpet. Emmett had no idea just really what I had been put through growing up before coming back to Washington and living with Charlie. So there's no way he could know my own set of trauma I had to endure. "Why the hell are you doing that?" Emmett grumbled then and I glanced back up to see him scowling at Edward's shift in position.
"You don't know what kind of shit she's been through man." Jacob spoke up then, breaking his silence. Emmett whipped his scowl over to Jacob who was now leaning forward in his seat. "She's been through her own set of demons more than you could ever realize, but it's not your business either unless she's willing to talk about it. So don't try and belittle what all Bella's had to go through growing up thinking that she had the perfect family dreams." Jacob spoke with deep conviction and protectiveness evident in his tone. He knew of all the trauma I had faced thanks to Joshua and was there when he could be when I let him know of my past. Jacob was always like a brother to me in that regard and I was thankful for him. Billy was just the same in nature like how Charlie had reacted when he found out about what happened, and would do anything to beat Joshua down if he could much like Charlie wanted to hunt him down. "I'm sorry you went through everything that you did man, and while I don't know you at all, I'd say no kid should ever have to go through with what you had faced growing up. But don't try and say shit like you know her, thinking she didn't face her own issues." Jacob concluded gruffly, and I cleared my throat then which drew everyone's attention.
"Please... can we just continue with this will reading then?" I spoke softly, turning my gaze back to Jenks pleadingly. I wanted to avoid having my past ousted, at least keeping it at bay for a little longer as I didn't want Emmett to find out in the midst of his fit of upset. Jacob wasn't outright telling him what all I have been through and was respecting my privacy over it, but he was doing his best to defend me as a family friend over this. Edward was even standing up to him for me and protecting me from his ire as Emmett thought he knew me and that he assumed I had it perfectly easy growing up. I didn't want a fight to break out though between the two of them as Edward's actions to protect me from him could spell more trouble. I wanted to get through this will reading and try to digest everything that's going on.
Edward and Emmett looked at one another for one more moment before finally Emmett huffed and sat back down on the couch, eyes fixated on the TV. Jacob nodded to me before he took turned himself back to the TV, sighing as Billy patted his shoulder roughly. Edward settled back beside me and immediately took my hand back in his, ignoring the side-eye he was getting from Emmett. I relished in his touch, but kept my eyes on the TV as Jenks nodded his own head and hit play to continue the video. Charlie had calmed himself down from his own crying within his video for a few minutes before he sighed heavily and focused back on his task. "For everything that has happened, I know that I'll never be able to say it to your faces when you two find out - but I'm so sorry that this has been kept from you kids, Bells and Emmett. I want you to know that I love you both dearly and at the time, I felt this was the right choice to be made to keep you two safe and healthy. I wish I could've told you two myself about the truth of you two being related but there was never a right time that I could think of telling you two when I wanted you both to grow into yourselves, recover from your own troubles and everything surrounding that. I never stopped loving you son, and I knew the Cullens were doing the best they could to provide that love for you that I couldn't give to you to ensure you'd grow up healthy." Charlie spoke then with a gruff voice, directing this message at Emmett and I. Emmett shifted in his seat, but I didn't look to him to see if he was still reacting visibly with anger over hearing Charlie speak.
Charlie heaved a heavy sigh then before wringing his hands. "With that out in the open now, I can at least move onto the next two steps in this whole ordeal. This is to remain at least between everyone in this room and the Forks Police Department - and not a word of this is to be spoken to anyone else that isn't invited to this will reading. This involves the reason of why I'm making this will reading as sudden as I am, why it's out of the blue and as if I'm expecting my time to come sooner than I would've thought of. And I'm sorry, sweetpea, because this is about to open some old wounds. But... I'm making this Will reading as soon as I am because I will be murdered in the coming days. And I know who my murderers are." I gasped and felt my heart pick up its pace when Charlie admitted this aloud on the tape. Edward squeezed my hand then when he heard me gasp, whilst the rest of the people within this room made their own noises of astonishment when they heard Charlie speak this. Jenks didn't pause the video and let Charlie continue to say his piece. "You see, ever since Thanksgiving when someone - rather, two someones - broke into my home and ransacked Bella's bedroom, I've been seeing an increase of activity around my property; footprints from someone unknown casing my home late at night. Things being destroyed outside my home or items missing. The worst few instances being that I had messages graffitied onto my car that threatened me, threatened Bella's safety, to the fact I had windows smashed on my cruiser or the fact windows were broken on my home. It's been getting more and more out of hand to which I was forever grateful that Bella was at school on that campus and away from home, nowhere near this chaos. When she finally left for her ski trip, I knew she'd be safely away from here during the winter break. I know my time is coming - and I know who the murderers will be. They aren't exactly smart considering they've left their fingerprints everywhere for me to lift and hand over to the Forks Police department. They have them in our records, where now the trickiest part is catching them as no one can find them." Charlie explained in great detail what all's been happening back home while I've been gone at school.
My breath hitched itself in my throat the more that Charlie revealed in the tape, but I was wholly unprepared for what I was about to hear next. Charlie looked directly at the camera when he began to speak again. "My murderers will be Joshua Lyser and James Anderson. They've been escalating with their destruction and showing they don't care they are pulling more stunts around my home - their threats that they'll do something to my daughter has led me to believe they'll be taking me out at some point while Bella is away - eliminate one source of protection that she has in order to get to her. I don't know when or how they'll be able to get away with it because there is no way for me to prepare for this instance. I'm not saying I'm going to willingly accept my death but I will fight to keep myself alive - to try and keep myself on guard for whenever they may show up. But seeing as I'm making this will reading - well this is just for the case if they win and kill me." Charlie explained.
"No..." I breathed out, feeling the tears begin once more as they streamed down my eyes. I tore my hand from Edward's and wanted to sprint from the room to puke, to sob and scream out into the void, but I didn't get too far. I stood and stumbled from the couch falling to the floor as Edward ran after me to catch me. A wracking sob escaped from my mouth while Edward held me to him. I could hear Esme let out a gasp of her own along with Jacob letting loose a roar of anger and heard him standing to his feet noisily; Billy called to him weakly to calm down. "No, no, no, no..." I murmured in a broken mantra, shaking my head.
Jenks paused the tape then, and tried to call back the group to order. "The rest of the Police force know of this?" I could hear Billy ask him then.
"Yes. Deputy Thompson has spoke with me about this ongoing investigation where after some time they had finally found a match in the system to the prints that were left behind in the Swan residence - both during the home invasion at Thanksgiving, and of the recent murder that took place. James Anderson and Joshua Lyser had been put into the system at a young age, mostly regarding..." Jenks paused then, trailing off. Edward held me to him as he stood us back up and sat us back down on the couch. Out of the corner of my eye I could see Jenks looking to me carefully. I knew why they finally were able to find their prints in the system, how they found out it was the two of them. I knew why.
"Shhh, Bella..." Edward murmured to me gently, hugging me to him as I curled into his chest while I cried. I could feel Emmett looking over at us, but neither of us paid him any attention as Edward took to comforting me.
"It has something to do with her." Emmett surmised out loud then to break the silence that Jenks had left on. I let my eyes focus on Emmett through my tears and could see a hardened look now on his face. Edward stroked my hair and I could feel him tense when Emmett made the first step of a connection regarding the two who killed my dad, and what all it had to do with me.
"Yes..." Jenks trailed off then, sighing. "I shall be continuing the video for now though. Let us press on with the reading." he quickly said then, trying to get us through this will reading. He pressed play and we all refocused our attention back to the TV.
"In this case that you are viewing this will reading, it'll be known by now that they've succeeded in killing me - but I know that with their laziness they failed to cover their tracks and will be caught after I am gone. It's about time those two faced real justice after everything they had gotten away with - all the wrongs that they've done especially to my girl. We did what we could and what the justice system did in their minimal effort to serve them justice for their crimes, but they still managed to slip through everything somehow. Not this time though." Charlie's voice began again on the tape, and I looked up to see his gruff face was taking an expression hardened but determined that even after his death he'll take down my two tormentors. "And I know that you'll be kept safe after I'm gone Bella. You have Jacob and Billy there for you, but you also have Edward to protect you just like we had discussed. As long as you stay safe with them, and keep yourself guarded on campus, you will get back in one piece while you just need to let the Forks Police Department carry their investigation out to capturing those two who have put you through so much."
"Hold up." I jumped yet again as Emmett's booming voice interrupted the reading. Jenks paused the tape and I turned my head to see that Emmett was leaning forward in his seat while casting his hardened eyes over at Edward and I. Edward still held me to him yet was still tense as if preparing for the verbal onslaught that was about to come our way. Emmett was now finding out about more than we wanted to be let out at this time, and it was all thanks to Charlie. "Why did he now specifically say you're there to protect her from these two creeps? You've met her dad but why would that be a thing... What the hell is going on?" Emmett muttered, casting an accusing glare at us.
"Emmett -"
"Don't try to speak for them." Emmett snapped at Carlisle when he tried to interject on our behalf.
"Son you need to learn to not be so disrespectful of your parents." Billy growled then, glowering at Emmett. But Emmett ignored him and continued to scowl at us.
"Talk, Edward."
"Emmett it's not important right now." Edward muttered at him but continued to hold me.
"It is important. First I'm finding out about who my mom, dad and sister are after all of these years. Next I'm hearing that my dad knew who would be murdering him and it has everything to do with her - my sister that I never knew I had. And now I'm hearing that you are involved in protecting her from these two freaks that are involved with her past? I have every right to be questioning things, demanding answers because they are fucking important!" Emmett seethed, his dark grey eyes narrowing as he stared down hard at Edward.
"None of it concerns you."
"Bullshit it does!" Emmett snarled, and I tensed in Edward's arms from the scathing, harsh tone Emmett was speaking in. "I need to know! You've been hiding a whole slew of fucking secrets and I'm starting to find out now at the worst possible time - don't try to fucking lie to me!"
"Enough!" I cried, ripping myself from Edward's arms all of a sudden; I couldn't take it anymore listening to Emmett shouting at us as he proceeded to get angrier by the minute.
"Bella -"
"No!" I yelled, knowing Edward wanted to pull me back to the couch. Edward looked briefly hurt that I rejected him but I couldn't anymore. It was all too much facing this the more I sat through this will reading. I couldn't fully comprehend everything, as much as I tried to quell the loud voices in my head.
You have a brother.
Your father and mother never told you, lied to you all these years that you were an only child.
You never were told you had a brother and went unaware of what all he faced after been ripped away from you.
You faced so much trauma growing up after being abused with a boy you thought you loved and could care for, could trust.
He did unspeakable things to you. He promised you to another boy that he could do whatever he wanted to you as well.
Even after fleeing from them, they're constantly coming back to haunt you - and now look at what they've done to your dad.
"Bella, please, calm down." Jacob's voice broke through then; he was still standing after hearing Charlie's admission over the revealing of who had killed him. Edward then stood up behind me but didn't try to reach for me again. Emmett now stood as he watched the two of us still with accusatory eyes.
"What in the hell is going on between you two? Why is my adoptive brother involved in this situation with Charlie and his killers?" Emmett muttered then.
"Emmett fuck off." Edward growled behind me.
"He's involved because he met Charlie, Emmett." I heaved out through my tears, as I was still crying after hearing my dad's admission that he knew who had killed him. "He met Charlie because Edward and I are dating each other. Okay?!" I continued, wiping my tears with the back of my hand. Jacob and Billy looked floored at my admission - not that they didn't know, but that I was admitting this out loud. They had sworn themselves to the same secrecy as the others that had been involved with our secret relationship. I glanced over to Carlisle and Esme and could see they too looked shocked I was finally admitting out loud. When I looked behind me, Edward was frozen as I let our secret out in front of Emmett, to which when I finally turned back to see his reaction Emmett's eyebrows had risen high up and his jaw slackened.
"W-What?"
"You heard me." I grunted, shaking my head. "Edward and I have been boyfriend and girlfriend this whole time... He met Charlie after I had my house broken into - when they ransacked my room. Charlie trusted Edward enough to protect me from the two guys Charlie mentioned in the tape because they're fucking obsessed with me! Charlie felt like I would be safe in Edward's hands - that he didn't have to worry about me getting hurt!" I continued to let the word vomit flow as I finally let out our long withstanding secret to Emmett. "You finally got your answer on why Edward's involved with this - please just stop harassing him over it now."
"Bella..." Edward breathed and I glanced behind me to still see him shell-shocked that I exposed our secret as suddenly as I did.
"I'm sorry." I whispered before I turned and ran out of the room, needing to escape.
It's all become too much, and I need a breather. So I ran.
A/N: Dun Dun Duuuunn. Uh... poor and hasty ending? Yes. But I felt like this chapter should possibly have a break. I could've continued with it because ending it where I did - very suddenly and complete with a harsh shift of attitudes with our main characters - is likely a poor choice to take as it's jarring no doubt. However at the same time I did feel like the chapter was starting to become too lengthy with how much was actually being revealed within the will reading. It's a lot to cover for that matter.
With the fact that it's been revealed finally that yes, Emmett and Bella are related along with the fact that in actuality Edward was adopted by his aunt and uncle (godmother and godfather however it could be viewed), it's also slipped out that Charlie did indeed know who would be his killers and thus slightly lead into the weird behaviors that he was exhibiting when Bella was off to the ski trip. I guess I was trying to allude to that when originally typing up the chapter, and whether or not I was successful in it it's hard to say. I'm not completely in love with how much whiplash has likely went on through this chapter so if it's jarring that's my bad but I hope I can fix it or better explain it in the next chapter that -spoiler warning- will be continuing from where this chapter left off. And besides, I wanted a little bit of drama thrown in so really with poor Bella just having everything thrown at her all at once - the truth that Emmett is her brother, that she has to undergo this will reading after she's trying to recover from losing Charlie only to find out he knew he was being killed and who his killers were going to be - poor Bella's got whiplash of her own and needs a moment to catch up. But the fact that Emmett was breathing down their necks about everything she was pushed to the edge way too quickly for her own liking. Is that a good enough reason for the sudden cliffhanger ending? Likely not.
Any feedback is always appreciated as usual, any and all kinds of course! I'm also trying my best to proof-read and catch mistakes as I type as well as when I go about the final editing process before publishing. But I'm human with a tired brain and tired eyes so there's bound to be mistakes still that slip past me.
Until the next time I update this story, signing off!
~Lady Eleanora~