But in the dark of the night, Bella was facing an unsettling truth: she was beginning to fall in love with Edward, hopelessly, deeply in love with a male who had never uttered a word of interest relating to any connection with her more meaningful than sex. A male, moreover, who had virtually blackmailed her into marrying him and who, while declaring respect for fidelity, had still been rampantly unfaithful to his fiancée.

'I CAN'T HELP being curious to know what you know about my father,' Bella admitted stiffly to her uncle on the drive to the registered office.