Behind Enemy Lines

Chapter Twenty-Two

"Mom?" Her voice was small, uncertain.

"Baby, I'm so sorry," Rosalie said, climbing through the window with fluid grace. "Edward... he manipulated me. He made me believe things that weren't true."

Marissa took a step back, her arms crossing defensively over her chest. "What things?"

"That you had chosen them over us. That you didn't love us anymore." Rosalie's voice broke. "I was so afraid of losing you again that I pushed you away myself."

"Again?" Marissa's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean again?"

Rosalie realized her slip immediately. They had never told Marissa about the years of searching, the desperate hope every time they found a lead, the crushing disappointment when it led nowhere.

"When we found you in the snow," Rosalie said carefully, "we spent months trying to find your biological family. I was terrified that if we did, you'd want to go back to them. That we wouldn't be enough."

"So when you thought I was choosing Paul over you..." Marissa's voice was flat, understanding dawning in her eyes.

"I panicked. I said things I didn't mean. I hurt you in the worst possible way because I was afraid of being hurt myself."

Marissa sat heavily on the bed, staring at her hands. "You told me I wasn't part of the family anymore."

"I was wrong. I was so, so wrong."

"Were you though?" Marissa looked up, and Rosalie saw something in her daughter's eyes that made her cold heart sink further. "Maybe I don't belong with you anymore. Maybe I never did."

"Don't say that."

"Why not? It's what you were thinking, right? That I'd rather be with the wolves than with my real family?" Marissa's voice was gaining strength, anger replacing hurt. "Maybe you were right. Maybe I do belong with them more than I belong with you."

Rosalie felt panic rising in her chest. This wasn't how this was supposed to go. She was supposed to apologize, Marissa was supposed to forgive her, and they were supposed to go home together.

"Marissa, please—"

"No." Marissa stood up, her posture straight and defiant. "You don't get to take it back now. You made your choice when you kicked me out. You made it clear that your love comes with conditions."

"That's not true."

"Isn't it? Love me, but only if I choose you over everyone else. Love me, but only if I never make you uncomfortable. Love me, but only if I fit into the perfect little box you've created for me."

Each word hit Rosalie like a physical blow. "I love you unconditionally."

"No, you don't." Marissa's voice was quiet now, certain. "And maybe that's okay. Maybe it's time I stopped trying to be the daughter you wanted and started being the person I actually am."

Rosalie reached out, but Marissa stepped away from her touch.

"I think you should go," Marissa said softly. "Bella's dad will be home soon, and I don't think he'd appreciate finding a vampire in his house."

"Marissa, please. Let me make this right."

"Some things can't be fixed with an apology, Mom. Some things are just... broken."

The finality in her daughter's voice was devastating.

Rosalie left through the window, her shoulders shaking with silent sobs. But as she disappeared into the night, I heard something that made my blood run cold—her whispered words carried on the wind.

"Edward convinced me you'd already chosen them. He said he saw it in Alice's visions."

The pieces clicked into place with sickening clarity. Edward hadn't just been against my relationship with Paul—he'd actively orchestrated its destruction. He'd used my mom's deepest fears against her, knowing exactly which buttons to push.

I was out the window and running before I'd fully processed what I was doing. The Cullen house wasn't far, and fury gave me speed I didn't know I possessed. I didn't bother with the front door—I kicked it open, the wood splintering under the force of my rage.

The family was still gathered in the living room, the aftermath of my departure heavy in the air. Edward stood by the piano, his back to me, but I could see the tension in his shoulders.

"You manipulative bastard," I snarled.

He turned slowly, his golden eyes meeting mine without surprise. "Marissa."

"Don't." I held up a hand, my voice shaking with barely contained fury. "Don't you dare say my name like you care about me. Not after what you did."

Alice stepped forward. "Marissa, let us explain—"

"Explain what? How Edward played puppet master with my family? How he used my mom's abandonment issues to turn her against me?" I laughed bitterly. "Oh, I think I understand perfectly."

Emmett appeared at the top of the stairs, hope flickering in his eyes until he saw my expression. "Snow?"

"Did you know?" I asked him. "Did you know what he did?"

"We just found out," Carlisle said quietly. "Edward confessed after you left."

I turned back to Edward, who had remained silent through the exchange. "Why? Why would you destroy my family just because you don't approve of Paul?"

"Because I saw you die," he said simply, his voice devoid of emotion. "In Alice's visions. I saw the wolves fail to protect you. I saw your blood on Victoria's hands."

"So you decided to play God."

"I decided to save your life."

"By destroying it instead?" I stepped closer, my hands clenched into fists. "You didn't save me, Edward. You broke me. You broke all of us."

His mask slipped for just a moment, and I saw the guilt flickering in his eyes. "I thought—"

"You thought wrong. You took away my choice, my agency, my family's trust in each other. You made my mom believe I didn't love her anymore." My voice cracked on the last words. "Do you have any idea what that did to her? What it did to me?"

"I was trying to protect you."

"No, you were trying to control me. Just like you try to control Bella, just like you try to control everyone around you." I shook my head in disgust. "You're not a protector, Edward. You're a manipulator who hides behind noble intentions."

The silence that followed was deafening. Even Jasper, who usually tried to calm tense situations, remained still.

"I trusted you," I whispered. "I looked up to you. I thought you were the brother I never had."

"Marissa—"

"Don't. Just don't." I backed toward the door. "You want to know the really sick part? Your manipulation might have actually worked. My mom might never forgive me now. The damage you caused might be permanent."

Edward's face crumpled. "I can fix this. I can talk to Rosalie, explain—"

"You've done enough." I turned to face the rest of my family. "I love you all, but I can't be here anymore. Not with him. Not after this."

Alice stepped forward, tears she couldn't shed shimmering in her eyes. "Where will you go?"

"Somewhere he can't manipulate anyone else I care about."

As I walked out of the house for what I knew would be the last time, I heard Edward's anguished voice behind me.

"I was trying to save you."

I didn't turn around. "You were trying to save yourself from the pain of losing me. There's a difference."