BPOV

"She's so cunty," Ang says once I finish telling her everything that happened with Rose a few days ago. "She's always been unbearable but I really think there is nothing to redeem her now."

I sigh as I skim the rack in front of me.

Edward was horrified when I relayed everything that happened to him but I also kept my version to him very diplomatic since this is his sister.

"She was still vague about what he exactly did to her, but I could see it in her eyes, he made her into this," I say honestly.

Ang puts the dress she was looking at back and starts shaking her head.

"Nope, we're not doing this, or better yet you aren't doing this."

"What?"

"Bella what happened to her was beyond unimaginable but she can't be given a get out of jail free card for this every time she does something unspeakable. If she murdered someone, her lawyer wouldn't be like oh, she was brutally violated in her youth so she deserves a pass," she says dryly.

I wince because she is a hundred percent correct.

"You said so yourself that her uncle put her on leave after her outburst," she points out.

I nod.

Jasper Sr. basically told her that she needed to get help before she even considered coming back to work. He told me that someone needed to start holding her accountable for the way she treats people.

In a way, I think he slightly blames Esme and Carlisle for not being as on top of this as he thought they should be, but in all fairness, she kept this to herself.

"I understand that she's a beast, but she is also human, and unfortunately my soon-to-be sister-in-law," I tell her for probably the third time since we started our search for my wedding dress.

"See, this is where you start to humanize her and give her excuses," she points out. "That girl was literally handed everything she has – regardless of who her parents are."

I know she tacked on that last part because she knows who Carlisle and Esme are as people.

"She's privileged," Ang says with a shrug.

I know what Angela is really saying. Rosalie is tall, thin, blonde, and blue-eyed. She has walked through life knowing that she could hold the world in the palm of her hand.

I acknowledge the privilege I have as well, but that's the difference between me and Rose, I acknowledge it, where she does not.

Being Hispanic, Ang had to work pretty damn hard for where she is in life. She faced adversity her whole life, so when it comes to Rose, her sympathy wanes.

"She is," I nod in agreement.

"Also, you need to start seeing what she's robbing you of," she says. "You're getting married and should be ignorantly blissful, but because she's miserable, she needs to drag you down with her. She's pissed that Em hasn't proposed to her yet."

I raise an eyebrow, surprised she's actually named he who shall not be named.

We don't really discuss Em unless it's for me to tell her he'll be at an event or at our house for something.

I think Emmett's failure to commit to her, when he's now head over heels for Rose, irks her more than she'd ever say.

What does Rose have that she didn't?

Which is a good question.

Angela is the end game, which is fortunate for Ben.

He's the mellow to her vivacious personality.

That was the problem with her and Em, they were so spirited together, which made them a powder keg waiting to go off.

With Rose, Em was always off in a corner whispering with her. It was almost like he was constantly trying to calm and comfort her.

I sigh.

"I hate this," I tell her honestly.

"As you should, you're marrying into a near-perfect family," she says with a roll of her eyes. "If it were me and Ben had a mega-cunt sister, I'd put her in her place each time she fucked with me. You know if you dish it right back to her, Edward would support you."

She was right, and after I told him what happened at work, he tried to leave so he could go confront her.

Since we talked about everything, I was seeing more of the guy from our early days of dating. He had been that guy up until after our engagement.

~PR~

I sigh as I sit my weekend bag in Edward's foyer.

It had been a long day, and though we had dinner reservations, I was close to asking if we could cancel them to stay in.

"Bell, is that you?" Edward calls from somewhere in his apartment.

"Yeah," I say, slipping my heels off. "Where are you?"

"Living room."

I walk down his spacious hallway.

Even with his furniture being so sparse, you really could get lost in here. My apartment was about half the size and I preferred its coziness, but with Ben practically living with us, it was becoming more cramped than not.

With that being said, every time Edward brings up moving in together I'm slowly caving to the idea.

When I spot him, he's sprawled out on the couch with his laptop on his chest.

He's in a t-shirt and sweatpants so he's been home for some time.

"Working?" I ask taking a seat next to him on the couch.

He shakes his head.

He has to be doing some aspect of work because his tongue is peeking out between his teeth as he navigates his trackpad.

I take a look at what has him so focused on his screen.

"What's this?" I ask seeing blueprints fill his screen.

"I've been contemplating selling this place and possibly building something," he explains while meeting my eyes.

This surprises me.

We haven't really had an in-depth conversation about where this was going other than when I had Covid. I still sometimes wonder if what I remember is a hallucination.

"So, you want to build a house?" I ask curiously.

"I do," he says with a smirk. "I'd like to build a house with you."

I laugh but I know he is serious.

"You know there are perfectly good houses already built. Lake View has brownstones suitable for your taste," I tease.

He shakes his head and the smile never leaves his face.

"Do you see yourself living in the city?"

"I do live in the city," I respond.

"You know what I mean. Would you want to get married and start a family here?" he asks and I realize how serious he is.

"I never thought about it," I say with a shrug.

I know that we're serious and are headed toward moving in together, but I hadn't thought about marriage or kids.

"Never?"

"I'm trying to wrap law school up," I point out.

It was true, I really couldn't see beyond that, not that I didn't want to, but I needed to make sure I could secure a first-year associate slot at a firm here before I could promise Edward anything.

"If I build a house, it will be yours, too," he tells me. "I'd like your input."

"What if I can't find a job here after I pass the bar?" I ask honestly because that is the main reason I've been dragging my feet with the whole moving in with him.

"Then we can sell it and move wherever you get a job," he says as if it isn't a big deal.

"Your work is here—"

"If the pandemic has proven anything, it's that I can work anywhere," he finishes before I can argue. "Also, what happened to your firm offering you a job?"

"Nothing is written in stone, a lot could happen between now and then," I tell him.

He rolls his eyes before going back to the blueprints on his screen.

"You're serious about this," I state knowing he seems pretty serious.

"I wouldn't have paid an architect to draw these up," he says dryly.

"Okay," I agree.

His head whips up and he searches my face.

"Okay?" he asks.

"Yeah, you have convinced me," I say with a shrug.

"I really thought it was going to take more than that," he says almost thoughtfully.

I roll my eyes.

"Show me these plans," I gesture at his screen.

His smile lights up his face as he delves into the plans. His excitement is palpable and makes me realize that I shouldn't have been so resistant to this.

I've reflected a lot on how life was in Seattle and how it is here in Chicago. I never would have thought that I wouldn't be homesick for Washington, but since moving here I think it's one of the best decisions I could have made.

Forks had always been home because it was where Charlie raised me. He was born and raised in the small logging town. He won state for the Spartans baseball team. He gave his life trying to protect the town that made him who he was.

When I moved to Seattle it was safe because it wasn't far from home and I was still close enough to visit Charlie's grave. I felt guilty the first few months in Chicago because I couldn't visit like I used to.

Something changed and I felt less guilty and realized that Charlie would want me to live my life. I was finishing school and had a boyfriend that was beyond supportive. Chicago was now home or maybe it was Edward who became my home.

~PR~

"You're being quiet," Angela says after a while of us roaming the racks.

I have a few dresses picked out and waiting for me in the fitting room.

"I'm just trying to take everything in," I sigh as I gesture around us.

She eyes me.

"Esme should be here soon," she adds as if that is going to help everything.

It was part of the reason Ang wanted to discuss Rose before she got here. I had a feeling Esme might bring it up since I knew her brother talked to her about Rose's behavior.

Royce's new representation reached out to see if I had taken any notes about his case. I sent them right over with the files we had and so far that is the only contact I've had with anyone involved with Royce.

"You wanted me to be blissful so I'm soaking this in," I argue.

She holds her hands up.

"Do you think she'll like what you've picked?" she asks, referencing the dresses waiting for me.

I shrug.

"She said this is my day so she's just here for support," I add.

"You are blessed to have her. Some mothers of the groom have opinions on what the bride should wear," Ang says.

"My mother has sent me multiple texts asking when we were doing this. I didn't want to have to deal with her so I've just been ignoring her," I point out.

Ang gives me a sympathetic smile.

Esme breezes into the room giving us both hugs and kisses.

"Sorry, I'm late," she apologizes.

I shake my head.

"Totally fine, we have quite a few selections waiting in the fitting room," I tell her.

She cups my face and smiles at me tenderly.

"How are you?" she asks.

"I'm good," I tell her as I squeeze her hand.

She glances between me and Ang but lets it drop.

The girl holding my dresses for me steps forward and asks if we're ready.

I nod.

It takes two hours, twenty dresses, and a lot of tears but I find the one.

A/N: Still unemployed and only have had a few interviews at this point. They have been within the past few weeks so that's where the hold up has been with this chapter. I am having double jaw surgery done in September so I will try and update a few more times before then hopefully. Thanks for reading and reviewing!