Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or any of the characters. Story is inspired by the Mexican novela "Caer en Tentation"
Bella
I stood, frozen in my spot as I read the banner on the news channel. First they reported that police had found human remains in the woods on the outskirts of Forks, Washington as the search for Rosalie continued. Now, it was confirmed.
Police have confirmed that the human remains found have been identified as Rosalie Cullen. Cause of death is still unknown.
She's dead.
Oh, god. Rosalie is dead.
"This just in on the ongoing missing person case on Rosalie Hale-Cullen. Seattle police were granted a search warrant for a property on the outskirts of Forks, Washington Thursday night. Investigators found a body buried at the property. The body has since been identified as the remains of Rosalie Hale-Cullen by her husband, Edward Cullen. This is a developing story, stay tuned for more information."
Oh, god. Oh, god, oh god oh god. This can't be happening. This really can't be happening.
"They found her," Rita said from beside me, almost as a whisper.
"She's dead..."
We're both frozen, staring at the TV as the news anchor moves on to a different story. I don't know how long I stand there until a quick knock on the front door brings me out of my stupor. Rita shoots me a quick look before walking over to the door and checking the peephole. She sighs in relief before pulling away.
"It's Detective Black."
"Stay with the boys in the kitchen, please. I'll talk to him." I mute the TV and walk to the door. Rita gives me a quick hug before going to the kitchen where the boys are having breakfast. I take a deep breath before opening the door. "Detective."
He's wearing a black shirt, a leather jacket and denim jeans. Not really work attire. The bags under his eyes also indicate he hasn't been sleeping much, making a stark contrast against his tan skin.
"I'm sorry for the intrusion. I have some information about the case that I thought you should know."
I step aside, opening the door wider. "Come on in. Would you like a cup of coffee?"
"No, I'm good, thank you."
He steps inside, taking in our home. At our family picture that has now replaced the missing wedding picture on the coffee table. It was the day we took the boys to Laguna Beach. We were huddled together on the sand, Noah on my lap, Jaime sitting between us as Emmett took the photo. When Detective Black noticed the news channel, he looked back at me.
"How are you holding up?" He asked.
I shrugged, because I really didn't know what I felt at all. Disbelief? Denial? Happiness?
Was I happy she was dead? No, of course not. Vindicated? I had no idea. This wasn't the outcome I wanted. Not for me, especially not for Edward and his little girl.
"Do you know what happened to her?"
"We're waiting on the autopsy report. The cabin where we found her was in her name, but based on your husband's financial records, it looks like he purchased that property along with a BMW we found there as well. The BMW was the car that ran him off the road. All evidence indicates we are looking for a third person."
"E-exuse me." I stumble toward the couch. Detective Black is quick to grab me by the arm, helping me on the couch. He takes a seat next to me. "I'm sorry."
"No, don't apologize. I understand this can be overwhelming."
Overwhelming doesn't begin to cover it. It was too much information to process in less than thirty minutes. Rosalie was dead, and apparently my husband had it so bad for her that he gave her a car and a property in her name. But a third person being there?
"Is there anyone you think might be involved?" Detective Black asked.
I shook my head. "No, not anyone who comes to mind. But then again, what do I know? As it turns out, I barely know my husband at all." I paused, trying to control my shallow breathing and kept my arm pressed against my chest, hoping that would keep me from falling apart. "They were heading there that night, weren't they?"
"It appears so."
"Why?"
Detective Black shrugs. "Perhaps to leave the BMW there. Maybe to pick up something before heading to the airport. We can't be sure yet, but I can assure you I will get to the bottom of this."
I nod. "Thank you, Detective."
"Of course." He stands up. "If you can think of anyone or anything that can be crucial to the case, please don't hesitate to call me, okay?"
I nod, again. Unable to speak.
Detective Black leaves without another word and a sob breaks through me the moment the door is closed behind him.
Rita came out when she heard the door close. She asked if I was okay, and all I could say was, "No."
I shut myself in my room, not wanting my boys to see me cry and slide down the door until I'm on my knees on the floor. I've tried my best this whole week to hold it together and be strong for my children, but I'm only human and I can only handle so much. And this was my breaking point. I took the picture from our honeymoon on my nightstand. We're at the beach and Emmett had me on his back, my legs wrapped around his waist, the both of us smiling widely at the camera.
We'd been walking down the beach that day, enjoying the amazing weather hand in hand when he suddenly stopped a stranger and in his terrible Portuguese asked for a picture. The man he asked was enthusiastic to take our picture, so when he took the camera from Emmett, Emmett swept me off my feet and carried me on his back. It's one of the happiest times we have together, but thinking back now, knowing what I know, it's like a knife piercing right through my heart.
So, I cried. I cried for my marriage, I cried for Emmett, for my boys and me. I cried as I've never cried before.
Everything I do is to protect you, Bella.
Yes, Emmett, that was the idea. But who was going to protect me from you?
~S&L~
No rational person would go to her husband's mistress's memorial.
As much as I hate Rosalie Hale-Cullen, a woman whom I never met and yet hurt me beyond what words could describe, I'd never wish death to another human being. I also couldn't seem to get Edward out of my head. Our conversation at his garage keeps replaying in my head, the way he wanted to compensate for their humble lifestyle with being devoted to her and their daughter. I need to know how he was doing. How he was coping.
"Mom, why are we going if we don't know the person who died?" Jaime complained, pulling at the collar of his black shirt as we walked to Edward Cullen's home.
"I know her husband," I said. "And we need to pay our respects. So stop complaining and leave your collar alone."
The house was crawling with people and the media. Most of the people here I guessed were neighbors, but I still felt like an outsider. Their home was small. Probably two bedrooms with a mixed living room and dining area and the kitchen behind it. There was a table set up with all the food and coffee and a picture frame of Rosalie stood next to the window. The media kept their distance, but it was still an invasion of privacy.
As soon as I walk in with each of my boys at either hand, Edward, who was talking to a short woman with pixie hair, looks in my direction. His eyes widen when he sees me. He dismisses the woman quickly and makes his way to me. He's wearing a black button-down shirt and black jeans. The sleeves are rolled up to his elbows, showing off his tattoos and tightening around his biceps and torso. I have to look away from his body before I start staring.
"Bella, I wasn't expecting you."
"I wanted to pay my respects," I said.
His brows rose for a second, surprise taking over his handsome features before he looks down at my boy. That surprise melts away, replaced by a gentle smile as he says, "Hi, there. I'm Edward."
"I'm Jaime."
"And I Noah."
He kneels to their height. "It's nice to meet you two. I have a daughter, her name is Lucy. She's a little younger than you, but I think she'll like you."
"Can I play with her?" Noah asked, looking up at me pleadingly. He never misses the opportunity for a playmate. "Please, Mommy."
I look to Edward, just to make sure it's okay. He gives me a slight nod and turns to Noah.
"She's in the backyard on the trampoline. Go ahead."
"You have a trampoline? Yes!" He runs off, dodging a few people who are standing in the way.
"I'm gonna get something to eat, Ma," Jaime said, tugging at his collar again.
"Go ahead, honey. I'm gonna stay with Mr. Cullen." I kiss the top of his head. Jaime nods dismissively and goes to the table that has been set up with food. Edward straightens up, putting his hands in his pockets.
"They're adorable."
"They're so much like their father," I said, looking at my boy getting his plate of Mac and Cheese. I turn back to Edward. "How are you holding up?"
Edward points to the door. Yeah, this might not be the conversation to have in a crowded room. We walked outside to his yard, away from the crowd.
"I'm a bit overwhelmed. My family hovers, the neighbors won't stop bringing casseroles and Lucy still hasn't noticed her mother's absence."
Yes, no wonder he is overwhelmed.
I stop walking, turning to him. "Look, I know it may seem weird, but if you need anything, maybe just a night to yourself and someone to watch Lucy, I'm here."
Edward arcs a brow, looking genuinely puzzled. I know how weird this may seem. A strange woman offers to look after a child, the child of her husband's dead mistress, but something inside me wants to help him make it better. Do something.
"I do care, Edward. I'm not a heartless person."
"I can see that..." There's a small hint of blush on his cheeks when he looks down and kicks at the rocks. "I like that about you. Thank you, Bella."
"Daddy!"
We turn to a beautiful little girl running in our direction. She's the only person wearing a bright pink dress in a house full of people dressed in black. Her blonde curls bounce off her back as she runs in our direction, Noah following close behind. She runs right into Edward's arms.
"Daddy, I made a new friend!"
Noah hugs my legs, giggling.
"That's great, baby. Look, this is daddy's friend and Noah's mommy, her name is Bella." He points to me.
Lucy smiles at me. "Hi, miss Bella! I'm Lucy!"
"Hi, sweetheart, it's so nice to meet you. I love your dress." I play with the ends of her puffy skirt. "It's very pretty."
"Thank you. My mommy got it for me." She wiggles out of Edwards's arms and takes Noah's hand. "Come, Noah, I have a ball!"
"Bye, Ma!" Noah waves at me before running back with Lucy, disappearing into the backyard.
I look at Edward. "She's a beauty."
"She - what are they doing here?" Edward's eyes glare over my shoulder.
I look back at the driveway, where Detectives Black and Denali are walking up with two other cops escorting them. They were walking with determination and the look on their faces told me they didn't come bearing good news.
"Edward Cullen, I'm going to need you to come with us," Detective Black said, pulling out a pair of handcuffs.
"Wait, what's going on?" I asked, stepping between them and Edward.
The media on the other side of the street catches on quickly and they run to the house until the cops stop them. It stopped them from getting close, but it didn't stop them from snapping pictures.
"The autopsy report came back. Rosalie Cullen was shot and our team found the gun buried not far from where Mrs. Cullen was buried," Detective Denali said. "Your husband didn't own a gun, but Mr. Cullen did. And it just so happened that it was his 9mm we found buried."
"What? No, no, this has to be a mistake," Edward snapped. "I didn't do anything."
"We'll be the judge of that," Black said. "Right now, you're coming with us."
"What's going on?" A woman yelled from behind us. I turned to see two women, one was the short, pixie haired one Edward was talking to earlier and the other was an older, caramel hair. She must be his mother. "Edward, what's going on?"
"It's okay, Mom. Please go back inside."
"What are you doing with my brother?" The woman in the pixie hair yelled at the cops. "Why are you taking him? He didn't do anything!"
"Alice, stop!" He snapped as they put his hands behind his back and handcuffed him. Edward looked at me with pleading eyes. "Bella, Lucy-"
"She's going to be okay, Edward. I promise."
The look on his face broke my heart. Detective Black and Denali then took him to a cop car and let him in. They ignored all the questions the press started shouting at them and left without another word.
I stood there, shocked as his family began shooting questions as well, trying to stop the cops from taking him. But it was too late. He was in the back of the police car and soon after, they were pulling off his driveway.
They found his gun…
Rosalie was shot...
They found his gun.
Edward couldn't have killed her, could he?
But he didn't react to the news of their affair from what I remembered. "I'm surprised it didn't happen sooner," he'd said, but what if that was a lie? Maybe he knew about the affair and what they were going to do, so he went after them, killed his wife and tried to kill Emmett. I hardly knew this man. I knew nothing.
Maybe he was the devoted husband and father he told me he was.
Maybe this all was a big misunderstanding.
A terrible dream.
Or maybe he was a murderer.
Author's Note:
I'm just gonna leave this here and run...
Chapter Six Preview -
"It seems to me like you're trying to coerce a confession out of me, Detective."