Title: Your Kisses Were Punishment.

Chapter Four: Realizations and Decisions.

Rating: M (for adult themes and future lemons)

Category: Romance, Family

Pairing: Edward/Bella

Summary: It was a marriage neither wanted but she stuck by her decision. She worked day in and day out to make it work but his family members made it impossible. Two years passes and when a secret surfaces that she hoped would remain hidden, she finally decides to leave but he wouldn't let her. After living in the background of the illustrious Cullen Family, Isabella must fight for the one thing she desires…FREEDOM.

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

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Since Isabella's confession to Charlotte, the following days were filled with a predictable routine starting with Isabella staring blankly at her breakfast only to eat it when Mrs Dalton refused to move from her side. She then wandered off to a various part of the house and would remain there until she was found by Sam several hours later. She would then opt out of dinner and sink into a hot bath before she crawled into her bed.

Today however, was going to be very different. As soon as Jasper entered the compound, Mrs Dalton pounced and informed the already infuriated Whitlock of everything; from Isabella's sudden dislike of food to her candid confession to Charlotte.

"Is she still asleep?" Jasper groaned as he yanked his tie off and threw it on the table next to him.

"No. She's outside on the patio. She hasn't touched her breakfast yet." Mrs Dalton sighed.

"I'll deal with her." He said as he took off his shirt but chose to leave on his undershirt.

When Jasper bought this house, he pictured several things. He pictured relaxing in his boat while fishing with his brother while Isabella and Charlotte sipped their favoured drinks. He imagined Isabella laughing at him as he paced in the library, complaining about some business deal gone bad. Above all else though, he found himself yearning to fall asleep with Isabella wrapped up securely in his arms. However, as soon as he took in Isabella's broken appearance, Jasper felt his dreams slipping away.

"Isabella." Jasper drawled causing Isabella to jump.

"Jasper." Isabella winced; her voice sounding very coarse from disuse.

"How are you?" Jasper asked as he quickly spun his chair around and straddled the seat so that his chest was pressed against the back of the chair.

"Alive." She murmured turning to her attention to the tiny bird sitting on the deck.

"But barely." Jasper noted, pointing to her frail appearance.

"Are you here to yell at me?" Isabella asked in a timid voice.

"Never. I will never yell at you." Jasper whispered softly reaching out for her hand.

"Then why are you here? I thought Charlotte told you what I said." Isabella murmured leaning towards him.

"I already knew you were thinking that way." He sighed, gently playing with her fingers. "I knew there was nothing that would change your mind so I tried to change your heart."

"He's my husband, Jasper." Isabella sighed as she pulled her hand away from him.

"But he is not the one you love." Jasper said and without hesitation he grabbed back Isabella's hand and played with the ring he had placed there two days after the death of Isabella's children. "They say that you always hurt the ones you love the most so I must ask you why are you hurting me this way, Loving?" Jasper asked in a pained voice.

Isabella gasped and reeled back as if she was struck in the face.

"Jasper." Isabella murmured, tears spilling from her eyes. "Please, don't say that."

"What else am I supposed to say or think Bella? How long has it been since I told you that I had fallen in love with you? How long have I waited for you to leave him? How many times have I begged you o leave? How many times have I had to stop myself before I killed him? What do I have to do to prove that there is better out there for you?"

"You're a married man, Jasper. You're married to Edward's sister. I will not be the reason why your marriage fails." Isabella spoke furiously.

"You will never be the reason why my marriage failed. You are the reason why I use my voice. You are the reason I keep fighting day and night so I am begging you not to walk this path that you are setting yourself on." Jasper pleaded. Quietly, he stood from his chair and walked over to Isabella and bent down to rest his head on her knees.

"It's hard, Jazz." Isabella sighed as her fingers began to play with Jasper's hair.

"I know that, sweetheart but you can't give up. I will not let you do that." Jasper purred as he felt the tension he carried melt away into nothingness.

"What will you have me do then?" She asked cautiously.

"Talk to Marcus." Jasper said bluntly.

"You want me to talk to a shrink? Are you out of your ever loving mind?" Isabella screamed and pushed Jasper away and took off through the house hoping to lock herself in her room away from the infuriating man.

"Don't run from me!" Jasper screamed as he refused to allow her to escape. "You need to stop running."

"Don't tell me what I can and can't do!" Isabella rebutted, grabbing a vase from nearby table and throwing it at his head.

Jasper ducked just in time but by now he had lost control of his anger.

"I'm shocked, Isabella. You throw things at me yet you refuse to fight back with Edward." He taunted cruelly, skidding to a stop.

Isabella gasped in shock. Her breath left her in a whoosh. She grabbed at her chest, desperately trying to rib herself of the pain that radiated from her heart. She braced her hand against the wall and within seconds she felt the hot tears spill down her face.

"You gave him this power." Jasper spoke softly as he made his way towards her. "You say it was out of fear but sometimes it feels like you still love him. I am begging you to break these ties." Jasper murmured as he gently placed his hands on her shoulder.

"You only want me to do this so that you can have me as your own." Isabella sighed and wiped her tears away.

"No, Isabella. I will admit that I am in love with you but my love for you will bring me to my knees every minute of every day and it is my love for you that compels me to beg you to see about getting some help. You stood by their family for so long and they threw you to the side but I will not watch you give your life for a family that should mean nothing to you." Jasper pulled Isabella into his chest where she cuddled up against him.

"You talk like I am dying." Isabella murmured.

Sighing, Jasper pulled away from Isabella and took her hand gently in his before he guided her into the room he planned to spend the next month.

On entering the bathroom, he pulled down a scale from his cupboard and gently nudged Isabella to stand on it. Within seconds, the digital scale revealed a shocking number which caused Isabella to gasp.

"At your height, dearest, you should be at least one hundred and twenty pounds." Jasper murmured as he wrapped his arms around her waist. "What does the scale say you weigh?" Jasper prompted.

"Ninety-two pounds." Isabella whispered, staring at the numbers in disbelief.

Jasper allowed Isabella a few more seconds before pulling her over to his full length mirror. Slowly, he pulled Isabella's robe open and gently lifted her top to expose her stomach. Gently caressing her skin, Jasper lowered his lips to her neck as Isabella began to cry.

"The first time I meet you, you were so beautifully plump with curves in all the right places. I envied Edward because he had this beautiful creature at his side. Now all I feel when I hold you is bones. All you see when I lift your top is your ribs and you are still allowing this abuse to occur."

"Why do I keep letting him destroy me this way, Jasper? I have you and you love me so much. I let him do this to me. I let them destroy me. Why Jasper? Why?" Jasper cried, her knees going weak.

Jasper scooped Isabella up quickly and moved her to his bed. He said nothing, choosing to just allow Isabella to let it all out. It felt like hours later when Isabella lifted her head to look at Jasper.

"I really should talk to Marcus." Isabella admitted while playing with Jasper's undershirt.

"I'll make the call." He whispered as he kissed her head softly. "Now, would you care to join me for a meal? I think we already missed lunch and it is a bit early for dinner but my stomach is making noises that I am not sure is human so I think it would be best if I deal with it now." Jasper chuckled just as his stomach growled causing Isabella to giggle.

"I would love that but I need to shower first." Isabella wiggled out of the bed and ran into her room since Jasper lunged for her.

"You have ten minutes, Bella!" Jasper shouted as he walked out his room and passed the firmly shut door that led to Isabella's room.

"Okay." She laughed in response.

Still chuckling, Jasper made his way to the kitchen where he asked Mrs Dalton to have a meal prepared for him and Isabella.

Smiling, the older woman directed the kitchen hands on how to quickly prepare a pasta dish that always had Jasper and Isabella fighting for it before informing Jasper that the cell phone he had abandoned on a table in the entryway had been constantly ringing.

Jasper nodded and quickly made his way to where the phone lay. He was not surprised to see that Edward had called him for seventeen times already.

Ignoring the missed calls, Jasper called the office of Dr Marcus Volturi and left a message asking for the doctor to call him at the earliest available minute. Just as he was getting ready to switch his phone off, his phone rang. Jasper groaned as Edward's number popped up yet again.

Grumbling, Jasper answered the phone.

"Where is my wife, Whitlock?" Edward roared.

Jasper chuckling as he pictured Edward turning beet red from his anger.

"She's in the shower actually." Jasper responded.

"This is not funny. I want her back. I want her home." Edward spat.

"She is not your possession." Jasper drawled.

"God damn it! Fine but I will find her if it's the last thing I do." Edward threw out, his threat ringing through ever word.

"Listen to me, Cullen!" Jasper's voice went cold within seconds. "Mark my words; I will meet you at the gates of hell before I allow you to hurt her more."

Two hundred and fifty-seven miles away, Carlisle Cullen laughed openly as his son went pale with fear.