Edward's pov
She wiped her tears and put on her glasses again. “You thought I was flirting with your brother… how would I give myself another chance to get hurt. To suffer. To feel the pain of being hurt by a person who was supposed to love me… try only to be misjudged, betrayed…” Her voice trembled at the end. “people hurt.”
I wanted to say something, anything—but I had already said too much. And no words would undo the damage I'd caused .
The sound of the door opening broke the heavy silence. George walked in with a weak smile that didn't reach his eyes. “It's great to see you awake, Miss Bella. How do you feel?”
“I feel…” she paused, searching for words, “alive… Weak, but alive.”
“Do you mind if I check your pulse?”
Her eyes flicked to me. Her face was blank. For the first time s
