Buying Love Update

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Edward was out with Emmett, getting some driving lessons. I was working in my office, recovering from a mild case of bronchitis that I’d gotten while in Hawaii. With the injury to my lungs from being shot, I was more susceptible to upper respiratory infections that could morph into bronchitis or even worse, pneumonia. Our trip to Kauai caused me to catch a bug that turned into bronchitis. While Edward ran his errand upon our arrival, he was kind enough to call Dr. Banner. He prescribed an antibiotic and steroid nebulizer.

However, when Edward came back from his errand, he was quiet, almost jumpy. I asked him what was wrong, but he didn’t reply, deflecting or changing the subject. I figured he had to process it with his journal or talk to Marina. When he was ready, he’d approach me.

My reverie was interrupted. There was a quiet knock on my door. With my raspy, husky voice, I beckoned them to enter. My dad walked in. I bristled, still pissed about his recent asshole-like behavior. “You sound awful,” he said.  

“It is what it is,” I shrugged. “What do you want, Charlie?”

“I wanted to talk to you about Edward,” he sighed, sitting down across from me. His face was stern, almost pinched. “Did you know he came to see me?”

I blinked up, wanting to smack the self-satisfied smirk off his face. “I wouldn’t put it past him. He was pretty pissed about your little bombshell, Chuck,” I snapped. “If Edward Masen Sr. was such a good friend, why didn’t you know that he died? On top of that, why didn’t you treat Edward better when you met him? You said that Edward was almost the spitting image of your bestie! Yet, you treated him like shit. And let’s not talk about the way you acted while I was in the hospital? Completely reprehensible!”

“I know,” he growled. “I’m a shit father. I get that. I heard it from Edward and your reminders are just fucking salt in the wound.”

“So, Edward said that you were a bad dad. Good for him. You were,” I sneered. “Especially after Mom died. Yes, I had access to the best nannies, best education, best opportunities, but the one thing I needed was a parent, Dad. I needed to be loved and if it was Edward who pointed that out; he’s smarter than you.”

“I’m not going to win with either one of you,” he sighed, falling back against the chair.

“What do you expect, Charlie? Whatever Edward said was probably warranted and I’m still unbelievably pissed off at you. I don’t know if I’ll be able to forgive you or trust you. I know that Edward decided to invoke his partnership in Swan Hotels LLC.,” I said, arching a brow.

“He gave me the paperwork when you got back. You and Edward now own Swan Hotels, LLC.,” Charlie muttered. “I got everything I wanted … a chance to retire and live out my life without having to stress out about my hotels. But, at what cost? My daughter? My family?”

“It would appear so. Dad, you made your choices. In time, I might be able to get over this, but for now, I need time. A lot of time. Edward needs time and if you think this coming to tattle on him is going to make me choose you over him, it’s not going to happen,” I said, narrowing my eyes. “I will always love you, Dad. I just don’t think that what you did was forgivable. You abandoned me and you treated Edward like crap, a man who survived hell. Your behavior didn’t ingratiate you to him and I don’t blame him. Now, if you don’t mind. I have to run my company.” I turned to my computer, looking at the screen and scrutinizing the quarterly expense report. As I was checking different ways to further promote the hotels with a new advertising agency, my dad got up and left. 

Buying Love Update

Buying Love Chapter 91 Update on FicPad

Buying Love Chapter 91 Update on AO3

Buying Love Chapter 91 Update on FFn

Buying Love Chapter 91 Update on TWCS

Buying Love Chapter 91 Update on Wattpad

“Dad?” I squeaked. “What are you doing here?”

“Come, baby girl,” he said, taking my arm. “Let’s head back home.”

“Where’s home?” I snarled. “The hotel?”

“Bella, let’s just get out of here and we can hear what your dad has to say,” Edward said quietly, his arm around my waist. I gave my dad a glare as we made our way through the reporters and into the waiting limo. Everyone clambered in, including my father. Edward barked that we wanted to go to the hotel. I was grateful for him because if I opened my mouth, I would tell my father to fuck off. I stayed cuddled in Edward’s arms as we made our way to Swan Towers. Parking in the garage, we all got out and rode up to my father’s suite. I was anxious and sick, even though I should be cheering that Esme was found guilty.

“If you don’t mind, I’d like to talk to my daughter and her boyfriend alone,” Charlie said.

“Why should she listen to you?” Rose snapped. “You abandoned her while she was fucking recovering, you asshole.”

“Rosalie, you’re still my employee,” Charlie growled.

“No, she’s mine,” I argued. “But, we’ll be fine.” Rose gave Charlie a glower and got off on her floor with Carlisle and Elizabeth. Edward and I rode up to the top floor where my dad’s penthouse was located. It looked exactly like mine, with the layout, but the décor was different. We walked inside and settled onto the couch. Charlie tossed his coat onto the dining room table and sat down on one of the chairs. “What do you want, Charlie?”

“Enough with the attitude, Isabella,” he snapped.

“I think her attitude is warranted, Mr. Swan,” Edward retorted. “She’s not a child and the way you acted while she was in the hospital was deplorable.”

Scrubbing his face, Charlie sat back and sighed. “You’re right. I was an asshole. What I did was appalling. Bella, you are my only daughter and I abandoned you when you needed me the most.”

Buying Love Teaser

“Dad?” I squeaked. “What are you doing here?”

“Come, baby girl,” he said, taking my arm. “Let’s head back home.”

“Where’s home?” I snarled. “The hotel?”

“Bella, let’s just get out of here and we can hear what your dad has to say,” Edward said quietly, his arm around my waist. I gave my dad a glare as we made our way through the reporters and into the waiting limo. Everyone clambered in, including my father. Edward barked that we wanted to go to the hotel. I was grateful for him because if I opened my mouth, I would tell my father to fuck off. I stayed cuddled in Edward’s arms as we made our way to Swan Towers. Parking in the garage, we all got out and rode up to my father’s suite. I was anxious and sick, even though I should be cheering that Esme was found guilty.

“If you don’t mind, I’d like to talk to my daughter and her boyfriend alone,” Charlie said.

“Why should she listen to you?” Rose snapped. “You abandoned her while she was fucking recovering, you asshole.”

“Rosalie, you’re still my employee,” Charlie growled.

“No, she’s mine,” I argued. “But, we’ll be fine.” Rose gave Charlie a glower and got off on her floor with Carlisle and Elizabeth. Edward and I rode up to the top floor where my dad’s penthouse was located. It looked exactly like mine, with the layout, but the décor was different. We walked inside and settled onto the couch. Charlie tossed his coat onto the dining room table and sat down on one of the chairs. “What do you want, Charlie?”

“Enough with the attitude, Isabella,” he snapped.

“I think her attitude is warranted, Mr. Swan,” Edward retorted. “She’s not a child and the way you acted while she was in the hospital was deplorable.”

Scrubbing his face, Charlie sat back and sighed. “You’re right. I was an asshole. What I did was appalling. Bella, you are my only daughter and I abandoned you when you needed me the most.”

“What do you want, Charlie?” I repeated. “Because, if you didn’t hear, Esme was found guilty and we want to celebrate that fact. You kind of put a damper on that.”

Buying Love Update

Buying Love Chapter 90 Update on FicPad

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Buying Love Chapter 90 Update on FFn

Buying Love Chapter 90 Update on TWCS

A week had passed since my testimony. Harold finally apologized to me and I was given the opportunity to finish my statement with Liam redirecting me. Once I was done with my testimony, I was excused and the defense started calling their witnesses.

There weren’t many.

A few of her former clients said that she was being framed by the FBI and Harold even provided fabricated evidence. Liam cut the witnesses down and obliterated the evidence with proof from the biggest and best forensic scientists. After two days of defense witnesses, closing summations were given and the trial was handed over to the jury.

Esme’s fate was in the hands of nine women and three men.

I was sick to my stomach, terrified that they would find her not guilty.

However, Bella, Rose, Carlisle, Uncle Peter, Emmett, my mother … they were all in my corner and did their best to distract me while the jury was deliberating. Carlisle and Emmett gave me driving lessons. Rose and I worked on the Swan Towers website. Uncle Peter got me out of the hotel or Jared’s home. He took me to his gym and we worked out. Or, we’d go on random trips around Seattle. Uncle Peter was very athletic and we bonded over that, working out, running along the many paths in Seattle or geeking out at the local public library. My mom shared memories about my dad, from when they started dating and their first few years of marriage, before I was born.

And Bella … my Bella … she was my saving grace. After my explosion in the gym in the hotel, she had been my rock. Even more so now. She helped me continue to heal, with talking to me, encouraging me to journal, spending time with me after I had sessions with Dr. Benson and just making me feel like a normal man.

A few days after the jury began deliberations, I got a text on my cell phone while I was reading in the living room of Jared’s, erm, my house. It was Liam. Jury’s back. Court is reconvening tomorrow morning at nine. Bella walked into the living room, her phone in her hand. “Are you okay?” she asked.

“Nervous,” I said, putting the phone on the cocktail table. “Do you think that the jury found her guilty?”

“We’ll find out tomorrow, baby,” she said, sitting down on my lap. I burrowed my nose against her soft hair.