Chapter 3

The table fell silent again. Emily appeared to be talking about truffles, but there was clearly more to it than that.

Bella glanced up, noting Edward's impassive expression, and let out a soft laugh. "Miss Watson certainly likes to control things, even what other people eat? Everyone has different tastes. Even the finest delicacy isn't worth a bite if I don't enjoy it."

Edward's friends exchanged looks before one spoke up, "That's exactly right. If Edward wants to share his food with his girlfriend, what's it to you, Emily? Let's just continue our meal."

The hint was clear—they wanted Emily to drop it.

But Emily persisted. "Funny, I never heard Edward had a girlfriend. Which Obelon family heiress are you?"

Edward set down his silverware, his expression cooling. "You're awfully chatty tonight. Running a background check?"

"Just curious," Emily smiled. "I was under the impression you hadn't been with anyone since we broke up."

Bella lowered her gaze. So it was not just an arranged engagement.

Suddenly the gourmet food before her lost its appeal, turning tasteless in her mouth.

Why had she mindlessly agreed to join Edward for dinner tonight? She was practically asking for heartache.

Edward scoffed. "Bella's right—you're overstepping. Why do you care who I'm with? Maybe you should move to the coast—plenty of room to be nosy there."

Emily was speechless. "I—"

One of his friends interjected, "Edward's the one at fault here, hiding his girlfriend like some precious treasure. If there were drinks here, you'd owe us three shots for keeping her secret."

Edward chuckled softly, tacitly agreeing.

Bella felt a flutter of happiness seeing his response.

The entire evening had been an emotional roller coaster courtesy of Edward, making dinner less than enjoyable—especially with Emily scrutinizing her from across the table, fishing for information at every opportunity.

Growing irritated, Bella seized the excuse of a call from her parents to stand up, grabbing her violin case. "I should go."

Edward immediately set down his utensils and reached for his jacket.

"Don't bother," she waved him off. "I can manage."

"I'll drive you," he insisted.

Bella gave him a pointed look. "I'm going to my parents' house. You want to come?"

Edward frowned slightly. "I can't meet your parents?"

Her gaze remained steady. "In what capacity?"

"As your boyfriend. Is that acceptable?"

Bella smiled without answering.

Boyfriend. For three years prior, Edward had never gone public, much less called himself her boyfriend.

Whatever. Pretty words meant nothing if Edward had no intention of marrying her.

They seemed caught in an endless loop.

Emily watched with undisguised interest, clearly enjoying the show.

Bella refused to argue with Edward in front of his ex. "Enjoy the rest of your dinner. I'm leaving."

As she walked through the club's main doors, Edward caught up with her.

"Do you have to make a scene?" he asked.

Bella's grip tightened on her bag strap, a wave of hurt washing over her.

So in Edward's eyes, she was just making a scene?

Was it wrong to need a stable marriage, to want a husband to spend her life with?

Edward had always wanted different things than she did. Bella had always known that.

Three years ago when they'd become official, he'd made it crystal clear: marriage was off the table.

Three years later, he still didn't want to marry.

Bella had accepted it.

So why wouldn't Edward just let her go?

Bella fought back the lump in her throat. "I'm not making a scene. I'm just accepting reality."

Edward's intense gaze bore into her. "Being with me makes you feel shortchanged? Be honest, Bella—have I mistreated you these past three years?"

No.

Edward had been good to her.

Too good, actually.

That's why she'd allowed herself these impossible hopes.

"Edward," she said his name softly.

"Is it so wrong to want marriage, to want stability?"

Edward's brow furrowed deeply. "Aren't we stable now? Why this obsession with marriage? What the hell is so great about marriage that you're fixated on it?"

Tears threatened to spill as Bella asked, "Can we really live like this forever?"

Edward stepped forward, cupping her face with one hand as he kissed her. His hot breath made Bella dizzy. He kept the kiss shallow, just gentle pecks against her lips.

"Why couldn't we live like this forever? Marriage is just a constraint. Why jump into that trap?"

Bella's fingertips trembled. "But I need it."

Frustrated, Edward bit down on Bella's beautiful lip, not releasing until he tasted blood.

Bella swallowed her whimper of pain, noticing the darkness in Edward's eyes, and quickly pushed him away.

"We're in public. Don't lose it."

Edward ran his tongue along the inside of his teeth, savoring the metallic taste. He grabbed Bella before she could escape, half-carrying her to his car, unceremoniously tossing her violin case into the back seat.

He drove toward home without a word.

Bella grew nervous, knowing exactly what Edward was like when angry.

She watched as they drove into increasingly deserted areas, streetlights becoming sparse.

"Stop the car."

"Edward!"

"STOP THE CAR!"

The Rolls-Royce Cullinan pulled into a secluded corner of a park, plunging them into darkness, not another soul in sight.

Now Bella was truly alarmed.

Edward leaned over to unbuckle her seatbelt, then his own, pulling her forcefully onto his lap in front of the steering wheel.

Straddling him, Bella felt his arousal pressing against her as he gripped her chin, kissing her hard.

The kiss was wild and merciless, like a violent storm, as if he wanted to devour her whole.

She pushed against him, but he restrained her hands behind her back, invading her mouth as his free hand slipped under her dress. Desire surged through her, mingled with fear.

Tears slid down her cheeks. Edward didn't stop, but tenderly kissed away the crystal droplets. "Why are you crying? Does it not feel good?"

Bella shook her head, trying to escape his lips as they trailed down her neck, but the confined space of the car left her nowhere to hide.

She had nowhere to run.

Her entire body trembled helplessly.

...

Edward brought Bella back to his villa.

The car stopped in the underground garage, and Edward carried her limp form into the elevator.

He placed her in the bathtub, warm water flowing over her skin. Edward stripped off his own clothes and joined her, holding her close.

Bella had cried herself out, her cheeks flushed red, her body covered in marks.

She raised her hand and slapped Edward across the face.

"You're such a bastard!" Her voice was hoarse from crying.

He seemed oblivious to the breakup.

Edward accepted her blow and abuse, leaning in to kiss Bella again. "Yes, I'm a bastard."

He raised an eyebrow, looking at Bella's body. "A bastard who's left you in quite a state."

Bella's chest ached with anger, but the physical differences between them were painfully obvious.

When it came to sex, she had never been a match for Edward.

So Edward received another slap.

But her strength was so diminished it felt more like a caress.

Edward shrugged it off. "Didn't you enjoy it?"

Bella froze.

"We fit together so perfectly. Aren't we meant for each other?"

Edward's confidence was unshakable.

After a moment, Bella gave up. "You really are a bastard."

She had truly been conquered by Edward.

Edward smiled. "Yes, I'm a bastard."