So, this is what he meant by humiliation.
Claire Randall closed her eyes, enduring the pain as tears streamed down her face unchecked. Unfortunately, he couldnt see them, or perhaps he simply didnt care. The tears of another woman were precious, causing him heartache. Hers were seen as deceitful, something to be scorned and despised. Edward Cullen, do you want to say that even if Elizabeth Bennet is tainted, she is still the apple of your eye? And she, Claire Randall, is nothing more than a dirty body without a soul. Is this the humiliation you speak of?
Claire felt the torment and pain acutely. Her body was a tapestry of old and new scars, some still raw and unhealed. Edward seemed oblivious to them, his actions growing heavier with each passing moment. Her back felt as though it was being rubbed raw by the floor, a searing pain that consumed her. Old wounds were torn open, and new ones were added to the collection. This man made her feel all the pain, and all the love too...
...
The telephone rang suddenly, and Edward answered it, his voice softening to a level that almost suffocated Claire. "Yes... Ill be right back..." "Dont worry, Ill take care of it, trust me..." "Yes... be good..."
His silhouette was bathed in light, the epitome of a devoted lover. Yet when he turned to face her, all that remained was a chilling coldness. "Elizabeth has stabilized her emotions a bit now. Im going to deal with those thugs. Youd better stay put! Dont try anything funny!" His gaze was filled with suspicion and annoyance.
Claire turned her head away, "Why should you have any say over me? Because youre my husband?"
"Do you even deserve that title?" Edward retorted mercilessly. "I know exactly what youre like."
"Five years ago, you were after my grandfathers jade seal. Now, what valuable thing in the Cullen family has caught your eye?"
Claire looked into his eyes, her tone earnest. "To me, the only thing of value in your Cullen family is you."
"You used to be the same, always spewing shameless lies to deceive me. Why, after all this time, do you not have any new tricks?" Edwards mouth was taut with derision.
A flicker of guilt flashed in Claires eyes as she lowered her head, her voice filled with exhaustion. "Edward, I have lied to you about many things, but my love for you, from the beginning, was real."
"I had many reasons for my actions, all to protect you..."
"Love, as in unhesitatingly shooting me? Love, as in getting those people to kill my mother? This is your idea of protection?" Edward was almost roaring now.
He had loved too.
But his love had not only betrayed himself, it had also dragged his loved ones into the abyss...
Hearing this, Claire stood up in surprise. "What happened to mom? What happened to her? Tell me!"
Seeing Claires seemingly uninformed expression, Edward found it ironic.
"You, of course, wouldnt know. You were so satisfied with getting the seal; you turned around and left. You didnt see the blood I shed, or rather, you just didnt care, right?"
He stared at her intently, as if wanting to return all the pain and torment from that year to her.
"Mom, fearing I would bleed to death, tried to escape when your men werent looking and was shot on the spot."
His voice trembled severely; his eyes were already red.
"Impossible... He promised me, he wouldnt threaten your lives..." Claire couldnt believe it as she cupped her face, tears seeping through her fingers.
"Impossible?" Edward let out a mirthless laugh. "If not for the fear of you soiling my mothers grave, I would have made you kneel at her tomb until you died!"
With that, he gave her a final, scathing look. "Now, stay put! If you dare to scheme again, I will truly kill you."