Thank you for your patience. I have one more chapter written and with the first set of eyes then… nothing. May is a busy month but I do get writing done on the weekends I work so fingers crossed.

Thank you, as always, to Team Harpy.

This chapter starts from when Bella left him after they shot the last scene.

Chapter 21

Edward

I watch her walk away from me, knowing she won't look back. I stand there for a moment and curse that the scene we just shot mirrors our real-life situation. Like most of them have since the beginning.

Only something is different now. There's no going back, and I can't let her go. In flight or fight deterioration response, she picks flight, and for once, I pick fight. I thank the crew, grab my shit, and head to the penthouse. It hasn't been home to me in a long time, far longer than I ever wanted to admit.

It's empty, which I'm thankful for, though I do have to face Jess soon. I start throwing the rest of my things in trash bags—clothes and some items I left behind the first time. I'd grabbed all of my important things when I went to my parents in case she felt the need to destroy some other shit. I realize that I don't own much here. The majority of clothes and furnishings are things she picked out and I bought. I don't want any of it.

I place my two trash bags by the door and check my office one last time in case I left any important documents in there. I find a manila envelope and pull out its content– our marriage license. I look at it dumbly for a few minutes, tracing the lettering. Edward Anthony Cullen and Jessica Michelle Stanley.

We've known each other for over a decade. That's a decade of holidays, birthdays, laughter, and yes, love. It's a lot to throw away, but it's time.

"What are you doing here?"

I glance up, and she's glaring at me, but I ignore it and her, looking back down at what I'm doing. "This is still my home."

"Not when I'm done with you, it won't be. I've already hired a lawyer after your joint statement was released. I figured you'd made your mind up with that."

"You'd be right." I keep my voice even. "You can keep the penthouse, but how are you going to pay for it on your salary?"

"We've already started filing for emergency alimony. You should get a summons soon."

I now turn my full attention to her. "And what if I lose my job? My very high-paying job that's in jeopardy right now due to some highly incriminating photos that were leaked to the press. Now, while I acknowledge that it's my fault that those pictures even exist, there's a big difference between my two careers. Even if I'm made to pay the highest percentage to you, which is doubtful considering the length of our actual legal marriage, if I get fired, that's less than one hundred grand a year if I go back to my old job."

"Find another acting gig."

"Now why would I do that when I didn't want one to begin with? By the way, I handed in my resignation today to Alec."

She immediately goes apoplectic, her eyes bulging out of her face in shock and anger.

"He didn't take it, but that doesn't mean anything for next season." I stand up. "So enjoy the money while you can, but it won't last long, Jess."

"You'd better have a good lawyer, Edward, because I'm about to put you through the wringer," she warns.

I look back at her with a sardonic smile. "What else is new? See you in court." Then I grab my trash bags and leave but not before I hear her breaking anything made of glass in my former office.

She can clean up her own messes for once. I have enough of my own.

My mother raises her eyebrow a bit when she sees my belongings. I kiss her forehead as I drop them by the kitchen island where she's preparing dinner.

"I didn't have time to get suitcases or moving boxes. I'll take them upstairs in a minute. Fighting with my future former wife is proving to be exhausting."

She doesn't say anything for a moment, instead concentrating on slicing some vegetables. I know she's gathering her thoughts as this whole situation has put her in a precarious situation as well.

"Are you sure about all this?" She gestures toward the trash bags.

"It's time. And I'm sorry. I know you love Jessica. And I know this is causing problems since she works with you."

"That's true on both counts, but I love you more. I want you to be happy, and your father and I know you haven't been for a while now."

I open my mouth to ask a question, but I hesitate. My mother, though, notices everything so she raises an eyebrow and waits.

"Do you blame Bella for this?"

Astonishment lights up her face. "Of course not! Now, I don't condone how it went down. Quite frankly, you should have pulled your head out of your ass before it got out of hand like this. Then you wouldn't be looking into the eyes of possible financial ruin. At least, Washington is a no-fault state."

"Meaning what exactly?"

"You need to research divorce laws here and fast. It means adultery doesn't matter here, as far as divorce proceedings go. She can list it as grounds for the divorce, but it won't get her more or less alimony."

"I looked up alimony rates only when shit hit the fan. I'm probably going to get hit hard."

"Yes, you will, and I'm sorry, but those are the consequences of your actions, Edward. My advice to you is to stay as amicable as possible toward Jess, even if it's not reciprocated. The judge will notice hostility, and it doesn't need to come from your side."

I nod. "What about your working relationship with her?"

"I'm not going to terminate her, if that's what you're asking. I asked her to remain civil while talking about you in my presence, and so far, she's respected that boundary."

"I'm not asking you to fire her."

"Good. Now, grab me a bowl and tell me about your immediate future plans."

I turn to the cabinet to grab her big salad bowl and hand it to her. I sigh. "I don't know about my future plans. I'm gonna stay here for a little while, if that's okay. Just until I figure out how much I'll be paying Jess."

"You're welcome to stay here until you move to LA."

"If I move to LA." I snort derisively.

"If you don't, you go back to working with your father and find an apartment near the hospital. Or …"

"Or?" I prompt.

"I'm sure LA needs doctors, and a very beautiful brunette lives there. All you have to do is get licensed to practice in California …"

"Are you encouraging a relationship between Bella and me?"

She rolls her eyes. "Oh, get real, Edward. You didn't end your marriage over nothing. And Bella is and always has been lovely. Your father and I aren't thrilled with how this went down, and it makes for some awkward conversations in our circle with your picture strewn across tabloids, calling you an adulterer and Bella a whore." She smiles and softens her tone. "But we know you two, and we'll stand behind you no matter what you decide to do."

"Thanks, Mom." I move to grab my bags and start to head up to my room.

"However …" I halt and face her once again. "It's not often you get a second chance. Don't mess it up."

I nod but don't answer her and spend the next few hours stuck inside my head, skipping dinner and crashing into a deep sleep.

I wake up and wince at the dryness of my mouth before sitting up gradually and grabbing the room-temperature bottled water on my bedside table and taking a big swig. I grab my phone and realize I didn't charge it, so I hook it up and throw it aside but not before catching the date on the display.

May 27, 2023

Charlie Swan's wedding day.

Bella is probably spoiling her future stepmother right about now. Making sure everything is going as planned.

The urge to see her is overwhelming. So much so that I make a decision right then and there. I jump into action and into the shower before throwing on a pair of slacks and a button-up. While I have zero intention of crashing the wedding, I still don't want to show up in jeans and a tee shirt. I grab my phone and keys, say an abrupt hello and goodbye to my mother, and I'm out the door.

I'm about twenty-five miles out of Seattle when I realize I'm not entirely sure where the wedding is being held. I know the bride is Quiluete, so I'm fairly sure it's being held in La Push, but what if it's on private property? Am I being too rash? Who drives four hours to see someone from afar?

I've almost decided to turn around when my phone starts ringing. It's Bree.

"Hey. Is everything okay?"

"La Push. Second Beach. 7pm."

"Wh … Ho … huh?" I sputter.

"I have you on Life 360, and I'm with Ang, waiting for our flight to take off. I've also worked with you long enough to know that while you're meticulous at work, you're not so much with your personal life. And you're also a man, so I knew you didn't have details or even know where to go once you got to Forks. So, La Push. Second Beach. 7pm."

I smile widely. "Thank you, Bree. And Ang."

I hear a clear "You're welcome" from the latter come through the phone.

"Edward?"

"Yeah?"

"Don't mess this up," Bree says before she hangs up.

"Don't mess this up," I repeat to myself.

Easier said than done.

I park out of sight from the other vehicles at approximately 6:45. I've said it before. Forks and its surrounding communities have always been very protective of Bella and her privacy, but I don't know if the media is lurking, and I don't want that for her or her family.

People are still arriving, so I just slump down in my seat, trying to decide what to do. A thought occurs to me. What if Paul came as her date? That was the initial plan, after all. Am I reading this all wrong? Am I reading her all wrong?

Am I too late?

I grab my phone to reach out to someone, anyone who can talk some sense into me, but discover my phone is dead.

Fuck.

I hear music start, and I decide everyone should be preoccupied enough not to notice me, so I walk a little closer and stop cold when I see her. She's beautiful in that blue, the same color she wore at prom. It's always looked so amazing against her pale skin. She's smiling up at her dad as she gets ready to escort him down the aisle.

Suddenly, a scene from a possible future invades my mind. Only, she's on the left of her dad, and I'm the one at the altar, waiting for her to walk to me and our forever. I let it permeate there for a while, and for the first time in a long time, I smile.

Once I shake myself out of my own head, the wedding is in full swing, with Bella next to whom I'm guessing is her new sister, paying full attention to the proceedings. It's a simple ceremony, filled with a lot of love and laughter. I clap along with everyone else but take a seat on a driftwood log as I watch the reception start up. There's a fire and music and eating, but I just keep my eyes on her for the longest time. I'm relieved to see Paul is nowhere around, though I do see Jake and his husband.

But somewhere along the way, I've lost her. I stand up and search for her, wondering if I've once again let her slip through my fingers. But then I spot her at the shoreline, her shoes in her hand as she watches the sun go down.

It's now or never.

I approach her silently, smiling at the peaceful look on her face. I'm terrified that I'll erase it, but fear is what got me in this position, and I have to at least try.

I take a deep breath and let it out. "Bella?"

She stiffens, but I wait patiently anyway as she processes my presence. Then her shoulders relax, and she turns around.

"Edward?"

Remember when we couldn't take the heat?

I walked out, I said "I'm setting you free"

But the monsters turned out to be just trees

When the sun came up you were looking at me - Out of The Woods, Taylor Swift