Edward's Elusive Beloved

Bella Swan awoke with a start, her heart pounding as if it were about to burst through her chest. The remnants of a dream clung to her consciousness, a sensation of lips on hers and a deep,磁性 voice whispering promises of a future bride. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldnt discern the face of the man in her dream. All she was left with was the racing heartbeat and a vague sense of longing.

She tried to recall when she had agreed to be his bride, but the memory eluded her. Instead, she found herself in a wedding venue, dressed as a flower girl in a white gauzy dress, being led down the aisle by a warm, large hand. She strained to see the face of the person she was walking towards, but her vision was a blur. Whose wedding was it, and why was she the flower girl? The question lingered as a sharp pain stabbed her chest, and she was engulfed in a sea of flames, hearing a desperate cry. "Bella!"

The cry jolted her awake, her back drenched in sweat, the scar on her left cheek throbbing with a dull ache. Strange, she thought, why do I keep having this strange dream? What have I forgotten?

For six years now, every summer she had the same recurring dream, yet her mind was devoid of any memory that could explain it.

She rubbed her sore shoulders and glanced at the sleeping figure of the headmistress in the hospital bed. Folding the critical illness notice in her hand, she quietly left the room. She had been so busy since morning that she hadnt even had time to change her clothes. Still in the cheap wedding dress from the event, and without having washed her face, she had rushed to the hospital upon receiving the call.

She had called every relative of the headmistresss family, begging for help, but no one was willing to assist. Exhausted and upset, she had dozed off, only to wake up two hours later.

The air was oppressively stuffy, and even in the middle of the night, the heat showed no signs of dissipating. The atrium downstairs was quiet, with only the occasional chirp of cicadas breaking the silence. Bella sat on the steps in front of the lobby, her gaze falling on the cheap wedding dress she was still wearing. With a determined clench of her jaw, she unlocked her phone and dialed a number.

The ringtone echoed through the phone, each ring a dull knife cutting into her heart. She held the phone tightly, like a prisoner awaiting a verdict, listening with a desperate and helpless heart to the voice on the other end. Her full, moist lips were pressed into a straight line as she looked up at the sparsely starred sky.

The hospital demanded payment of the overdue medical fees before they would arrange for surgery. If she couldnt raise the money before dawn, the headmistress wouldnt make it to the operating room and might not live for more than three months.

After a long while, the silent phone finally produced an impatient female voice. Bellas eyes ignited with hope, and she tried to sound calm. "Catherine, can I advance the payment for the next performance?"

Before she could finish her sentence, the call was hung up on her. She stared blankly at the black screen of her phone, sliding down the marble pillar of the hospitals awning, her strength seemingly drained in an instant.

No help from the headmistresss family, no friends to speak of, she only knew the boss of the part-time wedding dress shop, Catherine Morland.

The expected result...

A soft sigh echoed in the deserted night, only to be dispersed by the wind in an instant.

Bella wiped her eyes hard, her hands gradually wet with tears, a sharp pain in her eyes. It was the headmistress who loved and cared for her the most, yet all she could do was watch her suffer from illness, powerless to help.

She didnt know how much time had passed when a pair of black mens shoes appeared before her eyes. The British-style shoes were spotless, reflecting a hint of luxurious light under the pale light.

Her gaze moved up, over the long legs encased in trousers, to the mans hand that suddenly pinched her jaw, forcing her to look up. His fingers were slender and well-defined, and the coldness from his palms instantly seeped through her limbs.

His face was hidden in the shadows, his features indistinct, but an aura of power and intimidation emanated from him.

Bellas eyes widened in fear, her body trembling uncontrollably. "What... what do you want to do?" She stammered, shocked that such a大胆 move would be attempted in a hospital setting.

"I can help you," the mans voice was as cold as his demeanor, devoid of any warmth.

Bellas heart skipped a beat, her fear quickly replaced by hope. "Really?"

At that moment, several men dressed in black emerged from the darkness, surrounding the man. One of them spoke in an even, unemotional tone. "No press, no one else, its safe."

The man made a monotonous sound, his dark and deep eyes gazing deeply into Bellas. "How much do you need?"

"A hundred... thousand," Bellas jaw ached from his grip, her voice trembling slightly. "I dont need much."

Was he here to help or to take her life? It hurt so much.

The man released her jaw, his lips pressed together in silence, his deep and unfathomable gaze falling on her face, unconsciously frowning.

She had been crying, her voice still thick with emotion, her eyebrows like a painting over a pair of attractive peach blossom eyes, making them look even more moist and beautiful. The slightly upturned eyes still held traces of tears, her gaze drunken and confused.

Perhaps the tears had smudged the cheap makeup on her face, revealing the frightening scar on her left cheek.

The man narrowed his star-like eyes, a meaningful light flashing through his eyes as he turned to his assistant. "Simon, give her a check."

His little wife didnt remember him, her once delicately contoured face now terrifying and frightening.

"Mr. Edward, its already written." In just a few seconds, Simon tore off the written check, his gaze on Bella carrying a hint of disbelief.

Mrs. Edward didnt remember Mr. Edward!

Bella didnt notice his gaze, all her attention on the man in front of her.

He was extremely handsome, with black hair neatly trimmed and elegant, dense sword eyebrows under deep, mysterious eyes that exuded a mysterious allure, a high nose, and thin, sexy lips.

However, he carried an aloofness that made him seem unwilling to be friends with mere mortals, his face filled with disdain.