Chapter 10 No Way

Bella's pov

Morning came after a night counting time as never before. I could tell by the soft morning light invading my room and the sound of birds already gossiping outside.

This smell. The scent of flowers blooming in the garden. The ground and moss freshened by the morning dew.

I took a deep breath. Roses, tulips, daisies... Well, the ones I could identify in the magical perfume that was in the air.

I stretched my hand to the right where I always keep my glasses. I put them on and the world around me cleared. I'm alive, at least... Tired, but alive.

I forced myself to get up and only after a long hot bath I could feel my system working properly again.

Wrapping a towel around my wet body I turned to the mirror.

Deep bags under my eyes. My hair, all ruffled and wild. Tiny red pimples creeping through my skin... "Just a day... just a day and my face already looks like this." I took my concealer and applied it under my eyes. I glanced across my room to the window. "The sun is already infernal outside." I sighed inwardly, "Oversized hoodie won't work today."

I opened my closet and searched among my clothes. A white floral dress was the first my eyes caught. I sighed again,"Is this or nothing."

It was still early in the morning, and I was bored, so I went to the kitchen to help Rosa with breakfast. "Good morning, Rosa." I said at the moment I saw her in the kitchen preparing something.

"Oh. Good morning, Bella. What are you..." She trailed off at the moment her eyes met me, "Aww, princess." My heart flushed at her sweet words making a big smile appear on my lips-she reminds me of my mum. I wish she was here, "Thank you."

"What are you doing here so early in the morning, princess?" Well, anxiety was keeping me from sleeping.

"I got excited to help you with breakfast." I said instead.

"Oh, really?" She raised one of her brows, " You have no cure, do you?"

"Not at all." I shrugged, "What will we make?"

"What about some pancakes with blueberry glaze, chicken waffles, and cornbread?" Boring.

"I bet you're american." She nodded, "Let's try chicken stuffed pharantas, halwa and stir-fried idli. It's indian. I can teach you."

"Pha..what? Id- idly..." She couldn't pronounce, "What- h- how do you know that?" You learn a lot after a year of loneliness, trying to forget about a past that insists to haunt you.

"YouTube." I said instead.

"Help me with the onions."

I had barely started slicing the first onion when footsteps padded into the room.

We looked at the stairs and there was him, Sarah's father, as elegant as a businessman.

It didn't take long for him to notice us. The moment our eyes met, a wave of shivers ran through my spine. His gaze swept over me from head to toe making me lose straight. They were cold, lacking any emotion, making me uncomfortable in every way possible.

"Good morning, Edward." Rosa greeted.

He just nodded to her.

"Good morning, Sir." I greeted him politely. He looked at me for half a second and in no time he was out of our sights.

What have I done wrong?

"Don't mind him," Rosa said, "he is not always like that." I smiled at her, but inwardly I was saying, "I bet the contrary." We continued cooking and after that I prepared Sarah for school.

"You guys can eat without me. I have something to do now." I said after setting the table. Lie. I had no appetite.

I went to the garden. The warm sunlight of the morning was giving me a hint of the peace that doesn't exist in this house.

Lying down on the grass, I closed my eyes. I just don't get it.

He is cold and almost impossible.

How can I get him close to Sarah, if I can't get close to him myself?

And I... I can't get close to him. His silence already affects me. Already hurts me. What a mess... What should I do? I took a deep breath. Maybe if I...

"Hello. What are you doing?" A girl's voice interrupted my thoughts. Sweet-Too sweet, but not real. Fake.

I opened my eyes and met a beautiful girl, around my age. Blonde, light eyes, princess body, fake smile. I'm not blind. Wait... I am. Kinda. But even a blind person can see.

"Hello. I'm enjoying this magical spot." And you just disturbed my peace.

"Oh, I see. I'm Cleo by the way."

"Nice to meet you. I'm Bella."

An awkward silence took over.

She wants to ask something. What is it? I was still questioning myself when the most ridiculous words came out of her mouth,

"Do you like Edward?" WHAT? Is she mad?

"How would I like him? I don't know him. I'm just a nanny."

"Oh, I thought..."

"Then you got it wrong." I cut in, "If you somehow, for any reason existent in this universe, like him, rest assured. I'm not, by any chance, interested." In such nonsense.

She pressed her lips together, probably with more questions to ask, but decided against it and left, restoring the peace.

I decided to make lunch just to keep my mind from overthinking. There is nothing normal in this house.

I was setting the table when Sarah and Mr Wilson came. I found myself smiling again. Normal people.

"Did you cook again?" Mr Wilson asked. I raised a brow in confusion. How does he know?

"Rosa doesn't know indian." He crossed his hand on his chest.

"Well, I just helped."

"I see. What other talent are you hiding, your majesty?" He asked, making a wave of heat rush in my cheeks.

Hummm, do I tell him?

"Hum, you already know I'm an engineering designer... but you don't know I'm a math prodigy."

"No way. What is 4765x4597?"

"It's 21904705." Easy. It was really cool to see their surprised faces and Mr Wilson checking the result on his phone.

But as I thought, it was too good.

The main door closed violently and Mr Wilson... uh, Edward... Sir Wilson just got in, and the house was fast filled with his killing aura.

"What's up brother. Came to eat?" Mr Wilson asked.

"Forgot my laptop." Sir said not even looking at us. Our eyes closed for half a second and my body froze on the spot. Anger. For the first time I could read an emotion in his eyes.

He climbed the stairs and disappeared.

We got ready to eat. I didn't enjoy the food. It was tasty, but after that! There was no way.

The rest of my afternoon routine was done. After an eternity it was evening. I never saw him again. I don't know if he left again, or if he is in his office.

Wherever he is, stay right there. I'm not ready to face him so soon.

I took a long bath and got ready to sleep in a big t-shirt and shorts. The sun was gone, but it was still hot as sahara.

I leaned in the bed and closed my eyes. As usual I couldn't sleep.

I got up and took a book to read. It's one of my ways to feel at peace with my mind and body. Maybe this will help me get sleepy.

The living room.

It's majestic just like this book's theme. An impossible love story. Prince, princess. Breaking the rules for love. There is no better place to read this piece of art.

I stepped out of my room and headed for the stairs, clutching the book to my chest. I lifted it to my face, inhaling its scent, old paper tinged with something almost... majestic.

I wasn't even halfway down the staircase when my bare foot landed on something slick.

In an instant, the world tilted.

My breath caught. Gravity yanked me forward with no mercy. The book slipped from my hands as the steps rushed up to meet me. My heart slammed against my ribs. This was it. I could feel the air tearing past me, the cold touch of panic wrapping around my throat. I closed my eyes, expecting the worst. And the worst happened, but not as I expected.

I fell, but the floor was not as hard as I remember.

It was strong. Solid. Firm. But...it was warm.

I opened my eyes, but everything was a blur. My hands flew to my face. "My... my glasses..."

I groaned and shifted, trying to sit up, but the floor beneath me felt strange-uneven, warm, and breathing.

Wait.

The floor doesn't breathe.

I froze. Slowly, reluctantly, I reached out and felt the firm outline of a chest. Not wood. Not carpet.

Human. Man.

Then I heard a voice, deep, dry, far too close for comfort, "What the... "

Dread pooled in my stomach. "No way." I squinted up at the blurred shape above me, already knowing who it was.

Please, no... anyone but him.