The sound of the interloper caught both Edward Cullen and Isabella Swan off guard. Edwards hands, which were just about to tie Isabellas sash, froze in mid-air.
"Ah, I seem to have arrived at an inopportune moment. Please, carry on, carry on!" came the voice of Mrs. Eleanor Oliphant, the wife of the Secretary of the Treasury, who had returned from a banquet seeking a box of Dr. Cullens renowned Snow Skin Lotion. Upon witnessing the scene, she hastily retreated, calling for her coachman to drive away.
Dr. Cullen stood speechless, his face a mask of frustration.
"An ill attempt, indeed..." Isabella muttered under her breath, then with a self-satisfied air, she sauntered into the courtyard, helped herself to a seat at the stone table, and poured a cup of water. Leisurely, she took a sip, enjoying the moment.
Dr. Cullen struggled to contain his anger, his face dark as a thundercloud. "Isabella Swan, what exactly do you want?"
Isabella set down her cup, propped her cheek on her hand, and looked at him with feigned innocence. "Well, originally, I just wanted to confess my feelings, but now Ive changed my mind. Ive decided to stay here and take full responsibility for you, or perhaps you could take responsibility for me."
Dr. Cullen stared at her in shock. "What responsibility?"
"Do I need to remind you of what happened between us earlier?"
"Enough!" Dr. Cullen swiftly cut her off, his face now as dark as a stormy sky.
"If youre not willing, thats fine too. Ill just go back and tell everyone that Dr. Cullen, unable to control his desires, took advantage of me and now refuses to take responsibility. And we do have a witness, after all." Isabella straightened her clothes nonchalantly and began to walk away.
"Stop right there!" Dr. Cullen gritted his teeth, his gaze fixed on her retreating figure. "You win!"
Isabella turned with a smirk, her eyes twinkling as she looked at him. "Then, I look forward to your guidance in the future!"
From that day on, Isabella took up residence in Dr. Cullens home. Her father, Atticus Finch, played along perfectly, claiming that all his daughters were occupied and unable to collect her when Jamie Fraser went to inform him.
Although she had settled in, it was clear that neither Dr. Cullen nor Jamie were particularly pleased with their unexpected guest. Isabella consoled herself, thinking, "Not bad, not bad, one step closer to my goal. Cant be too greedy, now, can we?"
One day, as she searched through Dr. Cullens extensive library for medical texts, she found herself precariously perched on a ladder, reaching for a copy of "The Materia Medica" that was placed just out of her reach.
"What do you think youre doing?" Dr. Cullens voice startled her, causing her to lose her footing.
With a scream, she fell towards the ground, and in a twist of fate, the ladder tipped over, pulling Dr. Cullen down with her.
For a moment, time seemed to stand still as they both stared, wide-eyed and shocked, at their unintended lip-lock.
The world around them faded away, and all that remained was the sound of their pounding hearts, echoing like drums in their ears. Thump, thump, thump, as if trying to break free from their chests.
Before Isabella could gather her thoughts, Dr. Cullen pushed her away, his ears flushed red as he stammered, "You, you..."
But no coherent words came out.
Isabella, on the other hand, touched her lips in disbelief, then looked at him with a blushing face and a surprised delight. "Dr. Cullen, if you like me, you can just say it... youre making me quite embarrassed!"
Dr. Cullens face turned a shade of red and white, clearly at a loss for words. "Isabella Swan, do you have no shame?" he finally managed to say, exasperated.