*Annabell’s POV

  Huh, did I fall asleep? I guess I tired myself out a little more than I thought. I was surprised when I realized that at some point, one of my earphones must have fallen out of my ear, and I could hear my audiobook, two chapters further than what I remembered, from the other earphohat stayed in pce. My body felt somewhat numb.

  “Annabell is sleeping, we’re alone…” Came Catelyn’s voibsp;‘We’re alone?’ Who we? I straightened up on the coubsp;Don’t tell me she’s bringing her dates here or something. Ran through my mind. “Don’t worry, she won’t wake up.” She was reassuring what I thought was her date. Why was she so certain though? Obviously, she was wrong.

  “What?” While Catelyn sounded like she was luring a kid on dy, this voice seemed ral. As if enting on the weather. But… that’s, that’s Jasper… I froze. What is going on?

  “Yes! I knew you’d e, so I put a sleeping pill in her drink. There’s o worry about being caught, sweetheart. We have the house currently all to ourselves.” What…? Recalling how she made sure that I fihe gss of juice she handed me, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I trusted her… why would she do that?

  “Yed Annabell? Why?” Asked Jasper surprised. So he didn’t know. That fact provided me with a tad of relief for a sed.

  "To celebrate and spend some quality time with you, of course!" Excimed Catelyedly. What does that mean? Is there somethiween them after all? A cold shiver ran down my spine when I imagined Jasper betraying me like that. Maybe… "She's finally eighteen today so she is eligible to use her family wealth and I am getting a nice sum from it for taking good care of her." I frowned. Money? Seriously?

  “So you’re with her for money?” Asked Jasper again indifferently. I was still quite in shock at what was being revealed to me and it appeared that not even Jasper realized that I am no longer asleep. It would seem he’s too busy…

  "Why, yes! Just like you, darling. It's obvious that such a fine young man like yourself 't be seriously ied in a blind introvert like her.” Is this what she thinks of me this whole time?! “There's no way she satisfy you. She likes you but she's so inexperienced and likes anyone who shows her a little kindness. I, oher hand, know how to make a man feel good. Let me show you how thankful I am for your help when she fell dowairs." Excuse me?! "I was worried I'd have to care for a cripple. She may be blind but care of her doesn't require much. If she couldn't walk though, that's a different story." What does that mean? What would she do then? I pinched my hand to make sure that I’m really not dreaming. It hurt. The sad truth was that I was indeed awake.

  “I thought you were her friend. She thinks of you as family.” Catelyn was not reted to me in any way but like very few others I did sider her a family. Was all the kindness she showed me these past two years only a calcuted sacrifi a way to easy money?Once I was eighteen, my guardian was supposed to get a nice sum of money. Officially that was aunt Marry. However she spends a lot of time traveling after her business so she had Catelyn sign a tract that she will receive the money in her pce since she helps me. “Please don’t touch me.” Said Jasper. It would seem she not only wanted my money but also my mate. It probably sounded like a casual request to Catelyn but I could hear the hint of warning in his void stood up from the couch.

  “I told you that there’s o worry. I gave her enough to make her sleep for the rest of the day.” Giggled Catelyn. I overcame the first shod was getting angrier with Catelyn's every word. I may be blind but I sidered myself a det judge of character… Jasper cleared his throat but it sourange. Almost like a growl. Could it be that he utting up with her because of me? Oh love, I am truly blind. In more ways than one. I ’t believe this bitch!

  “We have so much fun together.” tinued Catelyn. “Oh!” She excimed then as if she got a brilliant idea and lowered her voice. “You know, Annabell has life insurand if anything happens to her after she is eighteen, I get the money. Maybe... Annabell doesn't o wake up anymore. All it takes is one pillow…” You’ve got to be kidding me! “And lit the money.” Not only strange vampires that want my blood, now even supposed family members are after my life! And for what? Stupid money!

  I was done listening, when Jasper growled for real this time. “If you dare to touch her…” He warned her but it was a sight of me that got the right rea from her.

  “Annabell?! How are you awake?” Seeing me up arently too much of a shock to keep her cool and try to pretend again.

  I just wanted her gone. “Get out. Get out and never e near me or my man again. Alset that you’d get another penny from my family.” My voice was ft, void of aion.

  “But-” She didn’t get it. I did not want to hear another word from her mouth. I didn’t care tue with her about details when I heard everything she said. I finally learned of her true nature and I wouldn’t let her bother my mate anymore either.

  Today was mom’s death anniversary as well as mine and Jasper’s birthday. It’s supposed to be our day. And I won’t stand for her ruining another sed of it! “Get out!” I finally lost it and started screaming. I just wanted her gohat instant. “Get the hell out of my house or I'll call the police! You po kill me in my sleep? Well guess what? Get in the fug line!” I couldn’t believe that she sidered killing me. I hardly noticed her quick steps heading out and then the sound of her car fading in the distance.

  “Ann…?” Brought me Jasper’s now soft voice along with a geouch of his hand on mi of my trance. I realized my hands were shaking. Firmly embrag him, I let my tears fall. “I’m so sorry, angel.” He forted me, stroking my head.

  “How could she…?” I just held onto him. He was my safe haven. Wasn’t he? He wouldn’t help Catelyn with her pn, right? He wasn’t tired of waitiher…right? I didn’t know what to believe anymore.

  “If I knew… I’d never leave you aloh her. How are you feeling, angel? She said she drugged you.” Inquired Jasper, ed.

  “From what I tell, n has as long an effee as on normal humans. When it has any at all. Whatever she gave me must have been really strong.” I paused, realizing something horrifying. “Remember what Carlisle said about morphine whereated me? It had no effect at all… I think that if I was an ordinary human, Catelyn wouldn’t need a pillow after all.”

  “Love, what are you talking about?” Asked Jasper fused.

  “The fact it made me sleep for over an hour means that, was I an average person, I would most likely die from overdose.” My own words made me shiver and Jasper hugged me tightly.

  “I’m gd that you are not an average person, angel.” He pced a kiss oop of my head.

  “Why did you not tell me about her? She was too sure of herself for this to be the first time she made a move.” I pulled away, but Jasper didn’t let me go.

  “Ann, wait. I had no idea about her pns. I mean…yes she was shamelessly trying to seduce me, but I still thought she really cared about you too. So I just ignored her behaviour towards me and expected her to get tired of it with the y response and move on.” Expined Jasper and I wao believe him. “There were no signs that she’d want to hurt you. If I suspected that she did, I’d never leave! Please five me my love.”

  I didn’t want to think about the possibilities. I wao believe that over everythiried to hide from me, I trust my mate. Unsure what to believe or do I just resignedly stood there. Jasper kept oly holding my hands and caressing them with his fingers. “I uand your hesitation, my love. But I swear there was really nothiween me and Catelyn. What she revealed today was just as much of a surprise for me as it was for you.”

  Jasper let go of one of my hands and strangely lowered himself. Did he just… kneel down? I still stood there pletely dumbfounded. “I wao wait for tonight but… Annabell Bck, you are and always will be the only woman for me.” He announced and I felt him slip something cold on my finger. A ring…? It was getting harder to breathe. “Will you do me the great honor and marry me?” My knees gave out. “Ann!” Jasper caught me and securely held into his arms. “What’s wrong?” He demanded, worried. “I’m taking you to Carlisle.”

  “No! I… nothing. I’m ok. I-it’s… there’s too much happening at ooday…”

  “Shhh…” He pressed me close to him, stroking my back. “I’m so sorry, angel. Don’t worry, you don’t o answer right away. Take as much time as you need. I just need you to know that woman I’d betray you for, does .” I managed a weak smile and then we heard a car on the driveway. What now? “Rosalie. It’s definitely her car.”

  “ht.” She was supposed to pick me up. Jasper helped me to my feet and I nearly ran to the door. Jasper didn’t move. Right now I needed space. I stopped when I reached the door but didn’t turn back. “I’ll be waiting for you…” And then I was out of the door. Rose waited for me in the car.

  “Hey! You… don’t look too excited. What happened?” Her enthusiasm evaporated whe a good look at me.

  “Please, just drive for now. I uhh… need a moment to process it all first.” Rose didn’t press for more and I was gd she left me to my thoughts for the time being as I absentmindedly pyed with the ring on my left hand.

  *

  “Alright, I’m smashing his fa when he shows up!” Announced Rose after we arrived at Cullen’s house and I told her what transpired before she came to pick me up. Now I was sitting on her bed and she angrily paced around her room.

  “No. I mean… I still don’t know what to think about it. He could have told me so many times but stayed quiet.” I paused, pying with the ring he gave me again. “And then he… he asked me to marry him…” That stopped Rosalie’s stomping and the moment she was by me.

  “What? Omg!” She excimed when I showed her my hand with the ring. “Annabell, that ring is beautiful! It has a stone of the same colour as your eyes… What did you tell him?”

  “It’s the same as my eyes?” I was a little stunned. I heard of diams. I could feel that this ring had a stone and just assumed it was one like that. Diamonds were supposed to have no colour. But if this one was green like my eyes, he must have thought about it a lot.

  “Yes! It’s emerald and I tell you, that is not easy to e by. Tell me you agreed.” She said excitedly.

  “I… I didn’t give him my answer yet. I just found out that a person I trusted and sidered a family for a long time po kill me and was sedug my mate…” I gritted my teeth as the anger bubbled in me again. “I didn’t know what to think.”

  “Well, I’m not going to tell you what you should think. But, I’ll tell you what you should do. You should wear the geous dress, let me do your hair and makeup and go out with him. You’ll find out how serious he is. Although I’m telling you. The stone says it all.” She giggled.

  “Hmmm, alright." I agreed