2brown-eyes is a reading rockstar!

Whatever's going on, Mr. and Mrs. Cullen are doing their level best to keep us in suspense. Shortly after my breaking news alert, Edward showed up at Charlie's and swooped Bella away from all the media that had gathered.

Whether that was because their marriage is still on is another matter entirely. Maybe he's pissed that she spilled the tea, or maybe he's just making sure she doesn't say anything more. Either way, this is doing nothing to quieten the rumors.

Meanwhile, Tanya Denali is still sporting her look-a-like ring.

What does it all mean?

When I know, so shall you!

AKA

Flashes go off the outside of the car and the yelling has been dulled to a murmuring roar. For a brief second, I feel relieved, but that fades quickly when I remember that Edward is seated across from me with a disapproving frown on his face.

"I'm sorry," I mumble, my eyes falling closed. "I shouldn't have said anything."

"No," he says, his voice much softer than I expected. "You shouldn't have, but that wouldn't have been a problem if you'd not tried to work, especially since I was completely against it."

And so, so swiftly, the red flag waves. "You don't get a say anymore, Edward."

He tuts, pursing his lips like something tastes bad. "Are we really going to play this game, wife?" he asks, his voice three octaves lower.

The sound vibrates through the air and settles low in my belly. It's annoying that he has so much sway over my body, but my mind is fortified. I refuse to be a side chick or even the main chick if there's a possibility of another woman.

Between Tanya Denali and I, there's no competition which one fits seamlessly into his world. Whether they have the chemistry he and I do is another matter entirely. It'd be hard to imagine, but we're proof that chemistry doesn't make a marriage, and I foolishly allowed it to blind me to his faults.

"It's not a game." The car is moving now, and I wonder where Jasper is taking us. "I'm not a game, and so far, that's how you've treated me."

"I'll admit I'm not perfect," he murmurs, his long legs shifting, which draws my eyes to them. "But I've never treated you with anything but respect."

"Lying to me is not respectful," I bite out, frustrated that we're traveling in a direction that doesn't take me to Rose's apartment. "Where are we going?"

"Home," he says simply.

I move to the seat beside him, furiously knocking on the window. "Jasper," I yell, suddenly feeling desperate. "Stop the car. I want out. Jasper, please." The dark window gives, opening several inches. "It's kidnapping to forcibly drive me somewhere I'm unwillingly going."

"Bella," he says pleadingly, shifting his eyes to the glowering man beside me. "I'm only doing what I'm told."

"Don't cause Jasper problems, Bella." Edward sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I've allowed this to go on because I thought you'd get over your anger and come home, but clearly, that hasn't worked yet."

I twist in the seat, leveling him with an incredulous stare. "Let me get this straight," I say, holding up my fingers. "You lied to me, gave me a copycat ring, and stayed at the Gala, or somewhere, with your ex for hours after I left, and I'm supposed to just get over it?"

"We're married," he says with a shrug. "It'll take a little more than a minor infraction to end this relationship."

"Like an annulment?" I lift a bitch brow.

Something that looks a lot like pain passes over his face, and I want to scream. "There will be no annulment."

"Oh, yeah." I huff a laugh, and it's a cold, sarcastic one. I'm trying to hurt him because I hurt, even though I don't have that power. "Our marriage was definitely consummated."

His eyes rake down my body and come back up, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips. "It most definitely was."

"Why are you doing this?"

"Doing what, exactly?"

"Trying to save this when what you wanted all along is here for the taking?" I steel myself for him to tell me that he's already taken it.

His answer comes slowly, after a few seconds of thought. "I married you, which means I have an obligation to see this through."

"Don't deny yourself on my account." It's bitter and cold, and I realize that's because I'm bitter. I allowed myself to fall too deep, too quickly, and I got burned.

"I can't stop thinking about you," he whispers, brushing my jaw. "Us."

I move back to the seat across from him. "I refuse to be in a marriage that includes three people."

He holds my gaze before dipping his chin.

Then he knocks twice on the window, and the car pulls to the curb. "Take this," he says, holding out a black card. "Things aren't going to be easy with the press and every gossipmonger in the city hounding you, but I refuse to let you worry about where you're going to sleep. There's no limit. In fact, please spend some money. Find you an apartment and a car, or whatever you fancy." He pulls my hand over, the warmth from his seeping into my skin, and pushes the card into my palm. "Jasper will take you home, and I'd love it if you could pass me your number through him when you get a new phone."

Even if I wanted to say no, he wouldn't allow it, so I don't. For the first time in my life, I won't have to worry about the roof over my head not being there the next week, and I deserve that.

"I think I will," I say, offering him a small smile. "Thank you, Edward."

"No." He pushes open the door. "Thank you."

He's standing on the sidewalk as we pull away.

I almost panic, but another car pulls up within seconds and he slips inside.

And now I feel sick.

Is it Emmett?

Or was Tanya waiting in the wings?

I give good drama hahaha

See you Sunday!