I finally managed to get this out for you! Sorry for the delay, but I was kind of blocked.

Writing A Second Chance helped. If you haven't checked that one out I suggest you try it.

Double Deceit

Chapter 26

Uncovered Deceit

Bella:

The drive to the Black's house was a blur, each mile a tightening knot in my stomach. I had to confront him, all of this was ending today. I was letting him know I knew everything.

Pulling up, my breath hitched. My father's car was parked in the driveway. A wave of dread washed over me. This wasn't good, my courage suddenly wavered. Jacob was supposed to be alone today.

Inside, the living room was filled with boisterous conversation. I greeted everyone, a forced smile plastered on my face, and inquired about Jacob. Sarah told me he was in his room with a friend.

My legs moved on autopilot, each step echoing in the sudden silence of the house. I reached the door to Jacob's makeshift room in the family room and paused, my hand hovering over the knob. A sound, a muffled laugh, reached my ears. I pushed the door open.

I was completely surprised by the sight that greeted me. Jacob, shirtless, his eyes closed, was entangled with Leah. She straddled his uninjured leg, her shirt open, her chest and breasts exposed. They were locked in a passionate kiss, their bodies pressed together, completely oblivious to my presence.

The TV played some muted show in the background, the flickering light casting shadows on their intertwined bodies. The scene was so intimate, so raw, that for a moment I felt like an intruder, watching a piece of their lives that was never meant for me to see.

With my phone I quickly took a photo of them and quietly left the hall.

"What happened?" Dad asked when he saw me return. They were in the kitchen eating.

"There was a reason why I asked you to go out with Black's dad, but you didn't do it!"

"Well I didn't think it was appropriate to leave Jacob alone in his state…"

"Oh for goodness sake Sarah, he can take care of himself! He's fine right now!"

"What happened?" Mom asked, alarmed.

I didn't answer her. I walked past them and headed out of the house, my heartbeats accelerated and I didn't want to have a pressure spike.

I opened my messages and attached the picture with the caption: See you all in the boardroom Monday morning.

My phone rang as I was backing up and turning to leave. "Bella what happened?"

"You want to know what happened? Read my last message, goodbye!"

I asked the voice assistant to call Angela, she picked up immediately.

I didn't even give her a chance to greet me, "Do it, Angela,"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I want this over and done,"

"Bella there's a lot of things…"

"You were the one who investigated him, you need to do this!" I insisted.

"Do it!" I commanded.

"Consider it done," she said and hung up.

The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows that stretched across the cluttered rooms of our once-shared home. The air was thick with a suffocating silence, contrasting the emotions swirling inside me. I paused for a moment, surveying everything, half-dazed by the reality of what had just happened. It was finally over. Jacob had crossed many unforgivable lines, and I was finally ready to cut the ties that had bound us together, even if it meant admitting my own faults.

I knelt beside the box I'd carried in from the car, my heart hammering against my ribcage. Inside lay carefully curated remnants of our shared life, framed pictures, gifts, and tokens of affection. Why? Because none of them were true, they were all a facade. These objects had once filled my world with warmth; now were nothing but remnants that held the weight of his deceit.

"Why didn't you just tell me?" I whispered to the empty room, expecting no answer from the walls. A single tear escaped, making a narrow path down my cheek, but I didn't wipe it away. If I had to feel this pain, then I would feel it fully. I wasn't hurting because I loved him, I was hurting because of all the years I dedicated to him. I gave him my whole life.

With each item I gathered, I recalled the laughter that filled the air at our wedding, the promises we exchanged between fervent kisses under a veil of hope. Throwing away our wedding picture felt liberating. I stuffed the photo into the box and clenched my jaw, forcing myself to keep going.

I moved to our anniversary gifts: the bracelet he'd given me, delicate and beautiful, I ripped it from my wrist and dropped it into the box with a degree of violence that I didn't know I was capable of. How could something so beautiful disguise such a treacherous heart? The anger erupted in my chest, hot and fierce.

Around me, the house felt like a frozen moment, trapped in the echoes of our shared life. I grabbed the stack of love letters, tainted by the knowledge that while I had poured my heart into those pages, he was pouring his affections into someone else entirely. I ripped them up, the sound of paper tearing mirroring the unraveling of the trust I once held so close.

Finally, I made my way to the backyard. A small pile, no, a bonfire of memories sat waiting for me. Under the afternoon sun, I tossed in the contents of the box, each item, each memory igniting a small flame of catharsis. Photos curled and blackened, the love notes shriveled into ash, and the bracelet and other jewelry flickered crimson before disappearing into nothingness. I found myself not only tossing away material things but also letting go of anger, hurt, and betrayal with each item that ignited. I went back inside and continued throwing things into the fire, I wanted nothing of him. I burned every single thing he gave me. I would have burned down the house, but arson is a felony.

As the flames licked upwards, a strange calm settled over me. I watched the blaze consume everything that had once been so significant in my life. With every flicker, every pop of burning wood and paper, a piece of my heart was freed, liberated from the chains of memory that had bound me for too long.

"Goodbye, Jacob," I murmured, my voice steadying as I spoke the words out loud for the first time. It was a release, an affirmation that I was taking control back, carving out my identity in the ashes of what was once us.

The sun dipped lower, bathing the backyard in an orange glow as the fire began to die down. I felt lighter now, exhilarated by the weight that had fallen off my shoulders. I had shed Jacob's deceit like a snake shedding its skin. In its place was a rawness that was unsettling and yet refreshing, a blank space where the memories once lingered.

By the time the flames were reduced to a smoldering pile of ash, the hurt remained but transformed. I could breathe again, I took a deep breath, taking in the clean scent of burnt memories, and I smiled. With every bit of fire flickering before me, I felt a spark of hope ignite deep within my chest, and as the last flame flickered out, I felt something new, a sense of freedom interwoven with the promise of a future with Edward.

—

Grabbing my mail, I made my way to Edward's home…Our home, my heart pounding in anticipation.

I arrived and went straight to his arms, there I found solace. It felt so good to vent my anger at the fact that Jacob had been lying to me for so long.

"This is what he was doing when I got there," I said, showing him the picture of Jacob and Leah kissing. His face saddened knowing he had been cheated too.

"They never loved us," I added, Edward nodded, hugging me to him.

"It's going to be okay, Bella," Edward said, his voice soothing as he calmed me down. I reassured him that on Monday, the truth about Jacob's deception would unravel. As he held me close, a sense of calm washed over me, I couldn't let my pressure spike, our daughters were more important.

Edward cooked something comforting for me, I managed to eat it without feeling nauseous. "It was really good, Edward, thank you."

"No need to thank me, love, I'm glad you liked it." Edward smiled as he washed my plate.

"Hopefully, I'll be able to enjoy my pregnancy after all of this is over," I stated.

"You will, I will make sure of it, although there's something else we need to do at some point," Edward mentioned as he wrapped his arms around me.

"What?" I asked looking up, although I had an idea of what he was going to say.

"We have to tell our parents the truth," he sighed.

*DD*

After dinner I took a bath trying to relax. Once out of the tub Edward was waiting for me.

"Sit down, let me take care of you," he asked.

I disrobed and did as told. Edward stood before me, and with gentle hands he spread cocoa butter lotion on my belly, to prevent the appearance of stretch marks. Then he took my moisturizing lotion and gently spread it all over my body, paying special attention to my breasts and thighs. He kissed my neck, his breath warm and comforting against my skin. His touch was gentle, his hands exploring my curves with a softness that made me feel cherished.

Edward's kisses grew more urgent, his tongue tracing the curve of my ear, sending shivers down my spine. His hand slid down my side, over my hip, and found my thigh, urging my legs apart. I felt his weight shift as he positioned himself above me, his body a warm and comforting presence that I had come to crave. He entered me slowly, filling me completely. Our breaths melded into one as our bodies became one, moving together.

Each caress, each kiss, a sweet reminder of the bond we shared. I felt his heartbeat sync with mine as we moved in unison, creating a rhythm that was uniquely ours. His eyes searched mine, seeking approval and finding it in the softness of my gaze.

The room grew warmer, not just from the candles Edward had lit to relax me, but from the heat our bodies generated. Sweat glistened on Edward's forehead, a testament to the passion that burned between us. His touch grew bolder, more demanding, yet it remained tender, as if afraid to break me. I arched my back, my breath hitching as his hand found its way to my most sensitive spot, teasing and circling until I was trembling beneath him.

Our eyes never left each other's, a silent communication of love and need passing between us. I could hear the soft sighs that escaped his lips as he kissed along my collarbone, the gentle sound of the bedsheets caressing against our skin as we moved together in perfect harmony towards our climax.

*DD*

On Monday I woke up to Edward's voice in my ear, "wake up baby, you've snoozed your alarm twice," he said.

I got up and saw that on the nightstand he'd placed a cup of tea and my vitamins. I drank them as I did every morning and started getting ready. Today I was going to deal with Jacob, I was going to be free of him and the burden of the Blacks for once and for all. I spent the rest of the week and weekend conferring with Angela and the lawyers on the best way to deal with all of this. Is a good thing Angela had already started the process and everything was ready?

I was standing at the head of the table, the blacks to my surprise had arrived an hour earlier to the meeting, but per my instructions, Alice didn't let them in until I gave the order.

Angela was standing beside me, and the lawyers took the first few chairs of the table.

"Open the portfolios in front of you, there you will find the agenda for today's meeting."

My father said first, "Jacob what the hell is this?"

Jacob's eyes shot open when he opened his portfolio. He looked at me, his gaze filled with a mix of shock and guilt.

"Bella," Jacob stammered, "I-I can explain."

But I didn't want explanations. Not now. I came here to unmask him and he'd beat me to it.

"There's nothing to explain," I said, my voice eerily calm. "It's all very clear."

My father's eyes darted from me to the evidence in front of him, then back to Jacob, his face angry. "Jacob, what's going on?" Billy asked.

"Are you blind?" Dad asked angrily.

"I'm sure there's an explanation," Sarah said in Jacob's defense.

"Oh for fucks sake! You have got to be kidding me Sarah!" Dad said.

"This is why you wanted Billy and Sarah out of the house," I nodded.

Jacob looked at me with a pleading gaze, I gave him the coldest stare I'd ever given a person.

"Bella, I'm sorry," he managed to say, his voice low and tight. "It's not what it looks like."

Everyone was waiting, looking at me, then at Jacob, then at my father, who was pacing back and forth, his fury barely contained.

"What do you mean it's not what it looks like?" I asked, my voice steady, my eyes never leaving Jacob's. "I think it's pretty clear."

"You don't understand, Bella," he said, her voice quivering. "It's complicated."

My father's eyes narrowed. "It's simple enough for me," he said, his voice a low growl. "You two have some explaining to do."

Jacob's parents, Billy and Sarah, exchanged a look of shock and disbelief. "What's going on here?" Billy asked, his voice a mix of confusion and anger.

"It's not what it seems," he insisted, his voice rising. "Jacob, tell them!"

But Jacob remained silent, his eyes still locked on mine. He knew he had been caught, and no words could change what was in front of us. A picture does speak a thousand words, and we had a lot of pictures. With all I was aware of, this was just the beginning.

"Why are you doing this, Bella?" Jacob's voice was a desperate whisper.

I turned to face her, my eyes icy. "Because you're a snake," I spat out.

Jacob's gaze dropped to the floor, unable to hold my accusation. I stepped closer to him, the anger in my voice growing. "You had all of my trust, and you threw it away!"

"Bella," he started, but I held up a hand to silence him.

"I don't want to hear it," I said, my voice shaking with rage. "You had everything in that file laid out for you. The evidence of all the lies, all the manipulation. Did you think I wouldn't find out? That I'd just sit there, blindly trusting you?"

Jacob swallowed hard, his eyes still fixed on the floor. "I didn't mean for it to go this far," he murmured.

"Go this far?" I scoffed, my voice filled with incredulity.

"You didn't mean to betray me?" I scoffed.

"Or was this just another lie you told yourself to justify your actions?" I said throwing the file on the bed.

Jacob's eyes snapped up to meet mine, a flicker of anger crossing his features. "You don't understand," he said, his voice tight. "You weren't supposed to see this."

"Oh, I understand perfectly," I said, my voice laced with sarcasm. "You've been playing me all along. Using me, lying to me. What's not to understand?"

Jacob took a step towards me, his expression a mix of regret and frustration. "Bella, please, let me explain."

"Explain what?" I snarled, the file clutched tightly in my hand.

"Everything in that file, it's not what it seems. I can explain."

"Explain what?" I threw the words at him, my voice echoing off the walls.

"How you've betrayed me. lied to me, cheated on me? That all those sweet nothings were just a ploy to keep me in the dark?" I waved the file in the air, the pages fluttering like a bird desperate to escape.

"You expect me to just believe whatever lies you're going to spit out now?"

Jacob's jaw clenched, his eyes flickering with a mix of guilt and defiance. "You're not giving me a chance," he said, his voice strained.

"You have been lying for years! Don't you dare to deny it! Jacob, the emails, the texts, the late nights - it's all there!" I shouted, my voice cracking with emotion. "How could you do this to me?"

"Bella, it's not what it looks like. I was just trying to protect you," he said, his eyes searching for some semblance of understanding in my eyes.

"Protect me?" I scoffed, the anger in my voice rising like a crescendo. "By lying to me? By hiding behind a façade of friendship? By pretending to be my husband? I gave you everything Jacob, everything!"

"I told you to stop seeing her Jacob! Why didn't you listen!" Sarah said.

"You knew?" Dad and I said looking at her.

I know it's not much, but this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Jscab is going down!

See you on the next one! :-)