CHAPTER 16

THE BITTER END

It was the day after their return from Seattle. Bella and the others were relaxing at home when Alice approached her, saying that she needed to go to the store to get some fashion magazines. "You want to come with me?"

Recalling that moment at the hotel, when Alice appeared to have had a vision, Bella recognized the pretense at once. "Sure, I'll go with you."

Minutes later, the two were in Alice's car, the engine purring as she navigated the long, narrow drive. It was 1:33 pm, and as was usually the case, the day was overcast.

"Alright, Bella. Talk to me. I need to know what's going on." Before Bella could even reply, Alice anxiously went on. "Your marriage to Edward… it disappeared from your future. I mean I still see you with us, with the family, but that's all I can glean."

"Are you saying there's a gap in your vision?"

"I am. I know that there's more that I'm not seeing. But you and Edward… your futures are separate now."

If Alice had said this to her months ago, Bella would never have believed it. But now…

"I'm your friend, Bella. You can confide in me. I promise I won't tell anyone."

Bella lowered her gaze for a moment. But then, grateful to finally have an outlet, she began her confession. "Things are so complicated, Alice. My love life is an absolute mess."

"Did anything happen with Edward?"

"Things are better now, but yeah, there were things here and there that rubbed me the wrong way." It wasn't easy to admit out loud, but Bella couldn't keep it in. "How can I put this… I love him, but things have changed, and I don't feel the same as I did before."

"So, you've fallen out of love with him."

Bella gave a reluctant nod.

Alice took a moment to absorb her answer, her tone devoid of judgement when she said, "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Does this have anything to do with that weekend you spent with Carlisle?"

Bella hoped that her silence would be enough of an answer.

Alice gasped. Softly, she said, "Oh my God… you're falling for him, aren't you?"

Bella buried her face in her hands. Thinking there was no point in lying, she looked to her friend once more. "I am. I can't help it. It's like… gravity has taken hold."

"Have you two…"

"No. Nothing happened between us since that weekend. But I would be lying if I said the attraction wasn't there."

A part of her feared that Alice would be upset by this revelation. But that wasn't the vibe she got. Although Alice bore a look of worry, she also had the look of someone who wanted her friend to be happy. "What are you going to do?" she asked.

Bella sighed. "I suppose I'm going to have to do the right thing. By pretending everything's okay, I'm not being fair to Edward. And if I marry him, it won't be fair to me."

"I understand. And you're right; he deserves to know. Not only that, but… you deserve to be happy. Whatever you do, I'll support you, Bella."

While the women fell silent, their drive to nowhere continued for a little while more.

"I have an idea," Alice said at length. "Jasper and I will go away for a few days. When I make the suggestion, Emmett and Rosalie will seize on the idea, and will want a getaway, too. That'll leave you with Edward and Carlisle."

"And how do you think that will go?"

"I don't know the specifics. My visions are like that sometimes. But waiting to tell Edward would be a mistake, I think. It would make things worse somehow."

"Do you think he'll be okay?"

Sorrow veiled Alice's features. "Not at first, no. But over time, he'll find healing and move on."

Bella hated the idea of hurting Edward, but Alice was right. "I've dragged this on long enough. I'll talk to Edward. As difficult as it will be, it's time he knew the truth about my feelings." For his sake and mine.

Alice's plan went off without a hitch. As soon as she made the suggestion to go on a getaway with Jasper, Emmett and Rosalie decided to do the same.

While Alice and Jasper had chosen a trip to Alaska, Emmett and Rosalie opted to go to Europe. By 6:00 pm that day, they had already packed their things and left.

Having just eaten dinner, Bella was washing her dishes when she glanced toward the neighboring living-room. Presently, Edward was sitting on the sofa, reading a book. Talking to him would be difficult, she knew. But she had put this off long enough.

That being said, Carlisle—who had been working a day shift—would be home any minute. Even if he was part of the equation, what Bella had to say was between herself and Edward. For that reason, she promptly finished the dishes before going to Edward, saying, "Can we talk?"

When he saw her expression, his brows creased in a worried frown. "Sure."

"Not here, though. Would you mind if we went to that spot by the river? The one you showed me last year?"

"Okay." He set his book down.

After grabbing her coat, Bella made her way to the backyard, where she climbed onto Edward's back.

"Hold on, Spider Monkey," he said, then took off through the ferns, avoiding trees and webs of moss as he ran.

Knowing this would be her last forest trip with Edward, Bella relived some of their happier memories. One last time, she thought.

A short while later, when they finally reached the river, Bella climbed off his back, and looked at their surroundings. The spot looked the same as it did the year before—dark waters flowing over green-hued stones. The trees on either side were majestic giants, and between their lofty trunks, Bella could glimpse some faraway mountains.

"Why are we here, Bella? Why couldn't we talk at the house?"

"Because Carlisle is due to come home, and I wanted to talk to you alone."

Hand rising to scratch behind his ear, Edward gave a nervous smile. "Why do I get the feeling that I'm about to get some bad news?"

Not knowing how to respond to that, Bella was slow to answer. Too slow as it turned out.

"Are you breaking up with me?"

Her heart clenched within her chest. "Edward, I…"

As Bella fell silent, air rushed out of his lungs, his features falling as he read between the lines.

So much for letting him down easy. But then, there was no way to cushion this. No matter how she phrased it, this was going to be a slap in the face for him.

"Why?"

"Because people change. Because I've changed. Our relationship… it isn't the same as it was before. We both know that."

"You don't love me anymore." It came out more as a statement than a question.

"I still love you, but… not in the same way I used to."

Hands rising to sink into his hair, Edward turned on the spot as he absorbed the blow. When he looked to her once more, his features were twisted in slow-simmering anger. "What brought this on? It's him, isn't it? It's Carlisle."

"Carlisle isn't the reason I'm not in love with you anymore."

"What, so you're saying it's my fault? Name one thing I did to push you away."

Now it was Bella's turn to be angry. "Are you being serious right now?"

"Okay, so I admit, I was something of a jerk when you came back from your weekend with Carlisle, but I've stopped all that. Things have been better recently. Haven't they?"

"It's true that you were a jerk for a while, and it's better now. But that's not the only reason. Edward, you asked your brother to sleep with me!"

"Because I love you, and I wanted to give you what you wanted! And you went, didn't you?" He pointed an accusatory finger at her. "You slept with him! No one forced you to do that!"

"What about all of those arguments?" she countered. "What about all the times I said no? Maybe you didn't force me, but you wouldn't let it go." Bella was breathing hard, her anger and frustration making her see red. "And do you want to know why I said yes at first? I said yes because I thought you would come to your senses, and beg me not to go through with it. You never did."

"Why did you, then? Why did you sleep with him?"

"Because I was angry. Because I was backed into an impossible corner! Maybe it makes me selfish, I don't know. But I wanted that one human experience before my life comes to an end."

"And how was it?" His tone was acid. "Was it worth it?"

Feeling the sting of gathering tears, Bella clenched her fists. "I'm not discussing that with you."

"And what about now? Are you still fucking him?"

"That's enough!" Her breath hitched, her voice lowering in anguish and sorrow when she said, "Damn you."

"Fine." Holding his hands in mock surrender, Edward took a backward step. "I'm done here. You're not good for me anyway."

The moment the words were out of his mouth, Bella knew she had fucked up by asking him to bring her here, in the middle of nowhere.

"Have a nice life," Edward said, his bitter stare lingering until he turned and ran away.