Bloody fantastic chapter! Edward ran the gamut of emotions. Poor guy--trying to juggle his lust, his business interests, his responsibilities, his love life.

I must say, I didn't see this coming. Marriage of convenience...very clever.

Classic little girl lost syndrome. Not only is WORK more important to Edward than Bella (in Bella's mind anyway), but he LIED to her and she believes he blew her off for Tanya.

Yeah, I understand why she's pissed. Edward is pretty clueless when it comes to relationships.

Great story. Love it.

Whoa! I'm totally hooked! So many questions. So enthralled. Cant wait to read more.

It's sad. BUt what precipitated this "stalking" behavior? Why did Bree snap? And how did she become so savvy as to change her name? That makes it seem all the more planned and makes her less sympathetic.

So, are Lily and Mary FEDS?

Alec is sick. Demented. Trouble.

I can't wait to see more of your feisty Bella

I'm dying to know why, just like Bella.

I'm thrilled that she's healing, but I'm not thrilled that she's letting him close to her. I don't trust him. I still don't think he's owned up to what he did or truly explored the reasons behind his betrayal.

The fire still burns. Lovely line. Fire can be passion or fire can be pain. Interesting...

Three years. OK. But how long were they together prior to his "jealousy" and subsequent cheating to deal with his "jealousy?" 

Three years. But he's a man on a mission. He's driven to get what he wants. What happens when the going gets tough? What happens when he has a reason to feel "jealous" or something else again? How will he deal with it the next time some woman comes on to him? 

I just don't trust him. I hope those questions and answers that Bella alluded to in a previous chapter offered some rational explanation for Edward's actions back then. I wish I knew what they were.

Without that, I just think that sooner or later he's going to regress into that selfish ass again. Fear only motivates until you get what you want and believe you can't lose it. After he gets her to say "I do" then what? No more fear. No more motivation for staying faithful?

Something seems off. Haven't they been dating for the past six months?

All I think is "famous last words."

He's persistant. He's relentless. But has he changed? He hasn't plumbed the depths of his "motivations"; he admitted as much to her. He doesn't seem to 'want' to. So, how can he be so different?

OK. She loves him, or she loves the "old" him. 

I wish I knew some of those questions and answers Bella alludes to. Perhaps I'd feel more compassion for Edward and not believe that this road is eventually (it may be years, but eventually) leading right back to where they came from.

Where's Rosalie?

So sad. The death of a baby is excruciating.

Bella's had to deal with this loss (albeit she wasn't dealing with it well) for six years.

How's Edward going to deal with it, especially since I imagine he may blame himself in some ways for his daughter's death? Or any other parent would anyone, who knows, perhaps Edward is still too selfish?

I'm confused by her thought, "You weren't callously fucking women behind my back, laughing at my stupidity for not seeing it."

The second part--ok, maybe. His explanation is that he was cheating on her because he was "jealous". (I still don't buy that explanation and I'm surprised Bella hasn't pushed for more from him.) Perhaps he wasn't laughing at her, but what exactly was the point of the cheating in response to the jealousy if he didn't sooner or later expect her to discover his unfaithfulness. Why was he unfaithful then? What was the point of it? Did it somehow assuage his jealousy?

The first part of her thought--she's fooling herself. He was most definitely callous and he was most definitely "fucking" other women and he was most definitely doing it behind her back. What the heck is she thinking here?

The 

The flame is now gold. Not the red of anger or blood or rage. Again, lovely metaphor.

Perhaps one of the children could have Bella's initials. It seems to make it all revolve around Edward a bit.

I wonder about Edward always having to inform her of his whereabouts. Sweet, yes, but healthy? Not sure. Bella says she trusts him. Does he trust himself? She says he's "suffocating." It's been 6 years. Will he spend the rest of his life "proving" himself? Sounds like a tough way to live the rest of one's life. Has he come to grips with the reasons why he was so callous and unfaithful? Perhaps if he would he'd be able to trust himself.

A truly captivating and gripping tale told in short sound bites. Very "twitter-like." In a few spots more than 143 characters would have been nice in order to flesh out some motivations.

Thank you!

I like their push and pull relationship. Two people are best together when they challenge one another.

I hope Edward has resolved his reasons for cheating on Bella (still wish I knew what they were). I admire Bella for accepting his reasons and forgiving him. I admire her even more for trusting him again.

Immaturity - check. I get that.

Insecurities - hmmm. Not sure I understand. He's not just a player. He's cruel. To Bella. To Lauren. He knows it and apparently he doesn't care.

Sounds like a huge excuse. People need to make plans, sign leases, etc. So she asked him, he said he wasn't ready. Then, when he was ready he got JEALOUS? What?

They were students. Leases are signed for a year. You don't leave your friends and roommates in the lurge.

What a self-absorbed prick. Is there more? Please god I hope there is more because so far he's spouting crap.

That's it. There's no more.

He cheated on her because by the spring he wanted her to live with him after she asked him in the fall and he wasn't ready.

Who does that? Does he not have an ounce of logic or common sense in his head?

No one has any potential with this loser.

Good grief Edward, grow the f up. Actions...consequences. You made your bed, now lay in it. Get over yourself. You loved being god's gift to women more than you loved Bella. She knows this. Why would she believe that would ever change? Why would she believe that she would ever be enough to inspire faithfulness in any man? You did this to her. You stripped her of hope and faith. And now you whine. You are pathetic.

I feel so sorry for Bella. She's master of her universe, but it's a cold, lonely place. She's so afraid of feeling pain again, she can't even imagine risking anything.

What a great story you are writing!

Go Bella. I don't blame you.

However, Edward was smart for calling in a professional. That's what Bella needs.

Great story!

OK. Here is my amateur stab of psychoanalysis:

Yes, Bella made choices following the death of her daughter. Here's how I see it.

Bella catches her long-time true love having sex with another woman. She finds out there's been more than one other woman. She's left alone with feelings of betrayal and inadequacy.

Bella has one thing left of her cheating once thought to be "forever" true love--his child. Then, at 29 weeks that child is born dead. To go through labor to deliver a dead baby...how horrific.

Bella chooses to survive the only way she knows how. She goes on. She copes. Is it ideal? No, certainly not. But I have to give her credit for protecting herself in the only way she knew how. She continued on after betrayal and loss and grief and anger. I can't even imagine how she managed. But she did. She didn't choose suicide. She managed to be a successful professional.

If she had been a man, would it seem so bad? Our society views men womanizing to mask pain and protect themselves from intimacy much differently than women.

I'm glad she's getting help. I'm surprised she's using Edward's choice, Dr. Hale. I think that definitely says something about her subconscious. Deep down she needs Edward to grieve the loss of their child with her. But does she need Edward? She certainly doesn't need the "old" cheating Edward. How can she even begin to trust this current Edward?

But first things first. Bella needs to take care of Bella. And I don't think that she'll ever be that smiling girl that Edward remembers. That girl is gone forever. He killed her. However, Bella can be someone other than the walled-off, unemotional professional she's become. I hope so anyway.

Psychiatrists say that it's not healthy for issues to remain buried. I suppose not, but to deal with them can be more than some people can truly deal with. Pain is "forgotten" or ignored in order to live, to go on.

I feel for Bella. She is being asked to deal with her pain. She's kept it numb and walled off for so long. The meaningless sex was a way to feel something safely. It makes sense.

So, how is Edward's "meaningless" sexcapdes back when he was with Bella any different than hers during these past 6 years? Edward had sex with other women while in a committed relationship to "feel" something. (Not sure if even Edward knows exactly "what" he was trying to feel, but something)

At least Bella is masking genuine and real pain with her choice to have meaningless sex. Not a smart move, but one that can be understood. What's Edward's excuse?

Edward's touch burns. Interesting. Does Edward's touch bring on the emotional pain? No one else's touch (her many sex partners) has any "emotional" sensation attached to it. Just his.

I hate him. He seems like he's just winging his way through this. He's not dealing with anything either. Perhaps he's not self-destructive, but then again he's the one that cheated, not the one that was betrayed. He didn't have to give birth to a dead child. 

When does Edward get to suffer? Poor Bella.

Great story. Just great. Love it.

I love that last line. Love it.

So, Edward tried to have "relationships" after Bella. Lucky, lucky him. Too bad they didn't work out. I think she's got him pegged. He's hardly a martyr. It's what he wants, not what anyone else needs or wants.

Still hate him.

Oh dear lord. When he said he was just "stringing them along," I didn't think he actually led them to believe that they were doing more than dating. Lauren thought he was her BOYFRIEND?!?! Wow! Just Wow!

That explains even more of Bella's reactions over the past years. No wonder she's shut down emotionally. I can't imagine how hard it would be to trust again after a betrayal of that magnitude.

Gosh I love this story.

You've got me hooked! I like it.

Is there a chapter missing between 13 and 14?

I thought Edward had a house?

I'm looking forward to understanding the past relationship between E & B. Did I read it correctly? She is 32 and he is 46?

I wondered who Felix was...child, cat,...assistant.

So, lots of anger from Edward...hmmm.

I like this story so far. I'm eager to hear more about Edward's demons and Grace and John are great characters.

Great beginning. A new and intriguing twist. Looking forward to reading more.

Lovely on so many levels. We love who we love.