Twelve

Whispers of the Past

Bella's POV

As we drove up the long, winding driveway, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the sheer size of Edward's house. Calling it a house felt like an understatement—it was more of an estate, sprawling over acres of lush, manicured grounds. The building itself was an imposing structure of stone and glass, a mix of old-world elegance and modern design that somehow felt like it perfectly encapsulated Edward himself.

"Wow," I murmured as we pulled up in front of the main entrance. "This place is incredible."

Edward smiled, a hint of pride in his expression. "It's been in the family for generations. My parents, Carlisle and Esme, left it to me when they passed, but I've made some changes. Added a few touches to make it my own. It's Alice and Emmett's too, but they both prefer their apartments."

As we stepped out of the car, I couldn't help but glance around, taking in the grandeur of it all. The house was surrounded by dense woods, giving it a secluded, almost mysterious feel. A large fountain dominated the circular driveway, water cascading down its tiers with a gentle, soothing sound.

Edward led me inside, and the first thing that struck me was the sheer size of the foyer. It was vast, with high ceilings, marble floors, and a grand staircase that curved up to the second floor. The walls were adorned with elegant paintings, and there was a warmth to the space despite its size—something that felt inviting, lived-in.

"I'll give you the full tour later," Edward said as we walked further into the house. "But first, how about we start with the kitchen? I've got something special planned."

The kitchen was just as impressive as the rest of the house—massive, with state-of-the-art appliances, gleaming countertops, and a large island in the centre. It was clearly designed for someone who loved to cook, and I couldn't help but be reminded of the "Be Our Guest" scene from Beauty and the Beast as Edward moved about, gathering ingredients and setting up for dinner.

"This place is amazing," I said, leaning against the island. "It's hard to believe you live here alone."

Edward's smile faltered slightly, and I saw a shadow pass over his face. "It wasn't always that way. This place has seen things," he admitted. "When my parents were alive, this house was full of life. Parties, gatherings, friends… But after they died, I… well, let's just say I prefer the quiet now."

I nodded, understanding that there was more to his story than he was letting on. But before I could ask, Edward's expression softened again, and he gestured toward the far end of the house.

"There's an area of the house that no one goes to," he said, his voice quieter. "The West Wing. It's… well, it's where my parents spent a lot of their time. I haven't touched it since they passed. I send the cleaner there once every so often, but that's about it."

There was something in his tone that made me hesitate to press further, so I simply nodded, letting the subject drop. Instead, I let my gaze wander around the room, and that's when I noticed a framed photograph on the countertop. It was a picture of a handsome couple, smiling warmly at the camera—Carlisle and Esme, I realised, looking so happy and full of life.

Edward followed my gaze and sighed softly. "That was taken not long before they died. They were on their way back from a weekend trip, and we'd had a huge fight before they left. They wanted me to come home from college for Thanksgiving, but I refused. My girlfriend at the time… Jessica… she turned me against them. Told me they didn't understand me, that they were holding me back. So I stayed, and…"

His voice trailed off, and I could see the pain in his eyes as he struggled to continue. I reached out, placing a hand on his arm. "You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to," I said gently.

"No, it's okay," he replied, his voice steadier now. "They died in a car crash on the way back. I've never forgiven myself for the way things ended between us. Jessica… she was manipulative, made me believe I didn't need them. Even after they died. By the time I realised how wrong I was, it was too late. I was young."

My heart ached for him, and I felt an overwhelming urge to comfort him, to let him know that he wasn't alone in his grief. "I'm so sorry, Edward," I whispered. "I can't imagine how hard that must have been."

He nodded, his gaze distant as he stared at the photograph. "It's something I've had to live with every day since. Carlisle and Esme… they adopted me, Alice, and Emmett when we were babies. They were our parents in every sense of the word. Losing them was like losing the ground beneath my feet."

I took a deep breath and stepped closer to him, placing my hand gently on his arm. "Edward, you can't keep blaming yourself for what happened. They loved you, and I'm sure they understood that you were going through something difficult. They would have wanted you to be happy, to live your life without carrying this guilt."

He looked at me, his eyes teary, reflecting the turmoil within him. "But I said things… things I can never take back. And then they were gone."

"You were young," I said softly, squeezing his arm. "And Jessica manipulated you, turned you against them. But that doesn't change the fact that they loved you. They would have died loving you, Edward. No argument, no mistake, could ever change that."

His expression softened, and I could see the weight of my words beginning to take hold. "Do you really believe that?"

"I do," I said, my voice filled with conviction. "They were your parents, and they knew you, knew your heart. They would want you to find peace, to let go of the guilt and remember them with love, not regret."

Edward let out a shaky breath, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I've tried… but it's been so hard."

"I know," I whispered, reaching up to cup his cheek. "But you don't have to do it alone anymore. I'm here with you. We'll get through this together."

He leaned into my touch, closing his eyes as if drawing strength from my words. "Thank you, Bella. You have no idea how much that means to me."

I smiled softly, my thumb brushing gently across his cheek. "You're not alone in this, Edward. And you're not cursed. You just need to learn to forgive yourself."

Edward looked at me, the turmoil in his eyes slowly beginning to fade as he absorbed my words. "Maybe you're right," he murmured, almost to himself. "Maybe that's exactly what I need to do."

"And this merger," I continued, the pieces falling into place in my mind. "It's like the wilting rose. The longer it goes on, the more it eats away at you. The more you lose touch with who you really are."

Edward looked at me, something deep and raw in his gaze. "I never thought of it that way. But… you might be right. This merger… it's been tearing me apart, making me question everything."

I stepped closer to him, my hand resting on his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath my palm. "You're not cursed, Edward. You're just… lost. But you don't have to be lost anymore."

Edward looked at me, his eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Bella. That means more than you know."

We stood in silence for a moment, the weight of the conversation settling between us. Then, slowly, Edward's expression softened again, and he smiled, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "There's something I want to show you. Come with me."

He led me out of the kitchen and down a long hallway, past several closed doors, until we reached a large, heavy-looking door at the end. He pushed it open, revealing a room that took my breath away.

It was a library, but not just any library—it was massive, with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves filled with countless volumes. A large fireplace dominated one wall, and there were plush armchairs and couches scattered throughout the space. It was like something out of a dream, like the library in Beauty and the Beast brought to life.

"This was my father's library," Edward explained, his voice soft. "He loved books—collected them from all over the world. After he died, I couldn't bring myself to change anything in here. It's like… it's like having a piece of him still with me."

Edward's gaze drifted over the rows of books, a wistful expression settling on his face. "I wish you could have met them—my parents, I mean. They would have loved you, Bella. Carlisle and Esme… they were everything to me. They shaped who I am in ways I'm still discovering."

He turned to me, his eyes reflecting a deep, quiet sorrow. "Bringing you here, to this library… it's the closest I can get to introducing you to them. It's the next best thing, in my mind. When I'm here, surrounded by everything they loved, I feel closer to them. And sharing this place with you… it makes me feel like they're still a part of my life, like they're still watching over me."

I reached out, taking his hand in mine, offering a squeeze of reassurance. My heart absolutely bursted at his gesture. "I'm sure they are, Edward. And I'm sure they would be incredibly proud of the man you've become."

He smiled, though it was tinged with a hint of sadness. "Thank you. It means a lot to hear you say that. I just… I want to make them proud. I want to be the man they raised me to be."

"You are," I assured him, my voice filled with warmth. "And they'd be proud to know that you're letting love back into your life. That you're not letting the past define you. Patching things up with Emmett, caring for Alice like you do. They'd be proud."

Edward's smile grew a little stronger, a little more genuine. "Having you here, in this library… it feels right. Like a connection between the past and the present. It's… comforting."

I smiled back, feeling a sense of peace settle between us. "I'm glad I could be here with you, Edward."

He nodded, then turned to the fireplace, his movements slow and deliberate as he set about starting the fire. As the flames flickered to life, casting a warm, golden glow across the room, Edward stepped back and looked around, as if seeing the library with new eyes.

"There's something calming about this place," he said quietly, almost to himself. "It's like… it's a sanctuary. A place where the rest of the world can't touch you."

I walked over to one of the bookshelves, running my fingers along the spines of the books, marveling at the sheer number of them. "It's beautiful," I said, my voice filled with awe. "He must have been an incredible man."

"He was," Edward agreed, his voice filled with pride. "He was my hero."

I smiled at that, feeling a pang of my own loss. "My mother loved to read to me," I said quietly. "She would make up the stories, change the endings to make them happier. After she died, I couldn't bring myself to read those stories anymore. It just… it hurt too much."

Edward stepped closer to me, his hand gently resting on my shoulder. "I'm sorry, Bella. Losing a parent is… it's something you never really get over, is it?"

I shook my head, blinking back the sudden tears that had welled up in my eyes. "No, you don't. But you learn to live with it."

He nodded, his thumb brushing gently against my shoulder. "Would you like to spend some time in here? I can set up the fireplace, and we can have dinner here tonight. Just the two of us."

I looked up at him, touched by the offer. "I'd love that."

Edward smiled and moved to set up a cozy space in front of the fireplace. He disappeared for a moment, returning with a tray of food, which he carefully arranged on the coffee table. He'd even brought in cushions and blankets, turning the space into a warm, intimate retreat.

As we sat down to eat, the atmosphere was peaceful, almost magical. We talked about everything—our pasts, our hopes, our dreams—but we avoided the topic of the merger, both of us content to let that particular issue lie for now. At one point, I mentioned that Rosalie and Emmett had a date tomorrow night, and Edward chuckled, clearly pleased.

"They're good together," he said, leaning back against the cushions. "I can tell."

I nodded, smiling at the thought. "Yeah, they are. I think they might actually have something real."

We spent the rest of the evening snuggled up by the fire, the warmth and comfort of the moment wrapping around us like a blanket. I could feel myself growing closer to Edward with each passing minute, the walls I'd built around myself slowly crumbling in his presence.

As the fire burned low and the night deepened, I felt a sense of peace that I hadn't felt in a long time. Here, in this room filled with memories and warmth, I realised that I was no longer just investigating Edward—I was falling for him.

And that scared me more than anything else.

As we sat by the fire, the warmth of the flames wrapped around us, and the conversation flowed easily. But as the evening wore on, I noticed the way Edward's gaze lingered on me, the way his touches grew more frequent, more deliberate. It wasn't long before the atmosphere between us shifted, becoming charged with an undeniable tension.

Edward reached out, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear, his fingers lingering on my skin. "Bella," he murmured, his voice low and rough, "I don't know what it is about you, but you make everything else disappear."

I felt a shiver run down my spine at the intensity in his eyes, the way he looked at me like I was the only thing in the world that mattered. Without thinking, I leaned in closer, closing the distance between us until our lips met in a soft, lingering kiss.

The kiss quickly deepened, the initial softness giving way to something more urgent, more intense. Edward's hand slid to the back of my neck, pulling me closer as his other hand traced the curve of my waist.

I melted into him, my fingers curling into his hair as the kiss became more heated, more desperate.

His lips moved against mine with an enthusiasm that sent my heart racing. I could feel the fire between us building, an unstoppable force that neither of us seemed willing to resist.

Edward's hand roamed down my back, pulling me closer until I was practically in his lap, our bodies pressed tightly together.

I moaned softly into the kiss, the sound muffled against his lips. The response seemed to spur him on, his grip on me tightening as his tongue teased my lower lip, coaxing me to open up to him.

I complied eagerly, parting my lips and allowing the kiss to deepen even further.

The taste of him was intoxicating, a heady mix of warmth and desire that made my mind spin. I found myself craving more, my hands moving from his hair to the buttons of his shirt.

My fingers fumbled slightly as I began to unbutton it, desperate to feel the warmth of his skin beneath my touch.

But just as I managed to undo the first few buttons, Edward suddenly pulled back, his breath ragged as he stared down at me with a mixture of desire and restraint.

"Bella," he whispered, his voice hoarse, "we need to stop."

I blinked up at him, my mind still foggy with the heat of the moment. "Why?"

Edward sighed, closing his eyes briefly as he tried to regain control. "Because… I don't want to rush this. I don't want to ruin what we're building. You mean too much to me."

I could see the sincerity in his eyes, the way he was fighting with himself, and it made my heart ache. I nodded slowly, understanding even though every part of me wanted to continue. "Okay," I whispered, reaching up to touch his face. "We can take it slow."

He smiled softly, pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead before helping me sit up. "Thank you."

We settled back down in front of the fire, the heat between us still simmering, but now tempered by a mutual understanding. Edward pulled me into his arms, and I rested my head against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart as the flames crackled softly in the background.

It wasn't long before the warmth of the fire and the comfort of Edward's embrace lulled me into a deep, peaceful sleep.

I woke to the soft morning light filtering through the windows, casting a golden glow across the library. The events of the previous night played in my mind as I blinked awake, still nestled in the warmth of Edward's arms. He was sleeping peacefully beside me, his expression relaxed and content. It felt like a perfect, sweet moment—until my phone buzzed insistently on the coffee table.

Careful not to wake Edward, I slipped out from under his arm and grabbed my phone, my heart sinking when I saw the name on the screen—Dad.

With a deep breath, I stepped quietly out of the room and answered the call, trying to sound as normal as possible. "Dad? What's up?"

"Bella, where are you?" Charlie's voice was sharp, edged with an unusual intensity that immediately put me on edge.

I hesitated, glancing back at the library where Edward was still sleeping peacefully, completely unaware of the tension on the other end of the line. "I'm… I'm just at a friend's place," I lied, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Don't lie to me, Bella," Charlie snapped, his tone harsher than I'd ever heard before. "I've been going through some CCTV footage, and I saw you. You're at Edward Cullen's, aren't you?"

My heart raced as the lie crumbled around me. He knew. There was no point in denying it. "Dad, I—"

"Bella, what are you thinking?" he interrupted, his voice rising in anger. "Do you have any idea what you're getting yourself into? Edward Cullen is under investigation! This isn't a game. You're putting yourself in danger, and for what? Some guy you barely know?"

Tears stung my eyes, but I forced myself to stay composed, refusing to let my father's anger shake me. "Dad, I know what I'm doing. Edward… he's not what you think. He's… he's good."

Charlie let out a frustrated sigh, his voice heavy with a mix of anger and fear. "Good? Bella, you don't even know him! And even if he was 'good,' it doesn't change the fact that he's involved in something dangerous. You need to come home, right now."

"I'll come home soon," I promised, my voice barely above a whisper. "But Dad, you have to trust me on this."

There was a long pause before Charlie spoke again, his voice softer but still filled with concern. "Just be careful, Bella. Please."

"I will," I repeated, the guilt gnawing at me as I ended the call.

When I returned to the library, Edward was awake, his expression a mix of concern and curiosity. "Was that your dad?"

I nodded, feeling the weight of the conversation pressing down on me. "Yeah, he's… he's worried about me."

Edward reached out, taking my hand in his. "And you? Are you worried?"

I looked into his eyes, seeing the man behind the rumours and the fears—the man I was starting to care about more deeply than I'd ever anticipated. "No, Edward. I'm not worried about you. But I do think we need to be careful."

He nodded, his gaze steady and reassuring. "Then let's figure this out together, Bella. Whatever happens… we'll face it together."

I smiled softly, squeezing his hand. "Together."

As we stood there, the warmth of the morning sun filling the room, I knew that whatever challenges lay ahead, I wasn't ready to walk away from Edward.