𝐍𝐎𝐒𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐔━︎━︎ C. Cullen ✓︎

𝐓𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐲

CHAPTER TWENTY:
A REAL SMILE

**WARNING: THIS CHAPTER DOES BRIEFLY TALK ABOUT MENTAL ABUSE.**

BELLA'S EYEBROWS FURROWED IN confusion. "What do you mean, our mother?" Echo let out a sigh. She didn't want to tell her sister this because she knew how good of a relationship Bella had with their mother.

"I don't want this to ruin your relationship with her, Bella." Echo pleaded. Bella stood up off the couch and looked at her sister in the eye.

"What did she do, Echo?" Bella asked. Echo looked at her and let out a sigh.

"Unlike you, I didn't get the good treatment as a child. Renée never laid a hand on me. Ever. So before you start thinking that, just know that's not what happened. But, she was mentally abusive. She put me down all the time, told me that I was never good enough, that I was never going to be good enough, etcetera. Bella, she's the reason why I left home." Echo's voice was gentle and it was filled with painful memories.

"Mom always supported you." Bella defended.

"She wanted me out of the house, that's why she supported me. She didn't give a damn if I died during the job. So, when I left I was determined to prove her wrong. I was determined to show her that I was good enough. And when I accomplished that, I realize that no matter what I did, she wouldn't care. She never would. There's a reason why I never came home. And she was it. So, when I read your letter that you had moved in with dad, I decided that I was going to complete the mission I was on and come back home. But not to Renée. To you." Echo frowned sadly at her sister when she noticed how upset she looked. "I will always love Renée because she raised you right. You grew up to be this amazing person, and I could never thank her enough for that. But, I will always hate her as well. Because I was so used to the mental abuse, I never realized that Alaric was doing the same thing that my mother had been doing to me.

"So, when I saw Victoria in the woods after our argument, I was just so tired. I was so tired, Bella, and I wanted to give up. She appeared when I was having a moment of weakness. And I let her kill me. I didn't fight back. I just stood there and patiently waited for death only to realize that I was simply going to come back again, whether it be as a vampire, or a human with a slow ass heartbeat." When Echo stopped talking she looked at Bella who looked like she was going to cry. She then looked at the Cullen family, a sad smile on her face. "So, there you go. My shitty life story, all told in the matter of thirty minutes."

"I didn't know. Oh god, Echo I'm so sorry." Bella quickly said. Echo removed herself from her position and walked up to Bella, cupping her face in her hands as she sent her a reassuring smile.

"Hey, you have nothing to be sorry about." Echo softly said. Bella quickly wrapped her arms around her sibling and Echo copied her action. To say a weight was taken from her shoulders was an understatement. She was glad that Bella knew, and she was glad that the Cullen's knew because she trusted them, and she didn't like it one bit. Because trusting someone meant she would have to let them in, and every time she did that she received disappointment. When she looked up at the family, they all had small smiles on their faces.

Even though they all knew it was a danger for a human to know what they are, they all couldn't help but accept Echo. They had told her their secret and she responded with telling them the truth. Even Rosalie, who still didn't like Bella, couldn't help but accept Echo. And the older Swan sibling couldn't help but be thankful for that.

꧁꧂

Echo walked into work the next morning feeling refreshed. She had gotten a full eight hours of sleep that night and a smile was on her face.

"Well look at you, all happy and everything." Alyssa commented, handing the girl her coffee. Echo gladly accepted it and sent Alyssa a real smile.

"Today's a good day, Lys." Was all the girl could respond before going to grab a chart only to see their wasn't any. She furrowed her eyebrows. "No patients?"

"Nope. Today has been very quiet." Alyssa answered. Echo nodded her head. "Oh yeah! Uh, Dr. Cullen said to tell you to go to his office when you got here."

"Oh lord." Echo rolled her eyes, but the smile never left her face. "Pray for me." Alyssa laughed and Echo smiled again before making her way to his office. She knocked on the door and opened it. Carlisle looked up from his desk, sending the girl a small smile and motioning to the chair in front of his desk. Echo sat down after closing the door and looked at him expectantly.

"I was told to see you?" Echo asked, her professionalism making it's way through her smile.

"Yes you were."

"Is everything alright?" She asked with seriousness.

"Everything's fine. I just wanted to see how you were, after the whole. . ." He trailed off and Echo nodded her head in understanding before she shrugged her shoulders.

"I'm fine, amazing actually. I haven't felt this. . . relieved since. . . ever." Echo responded.

"Well that's good." Echo narrowed he eyes at him.

"You seem like there's something else on your mind. Come on, spill. What's wrong?" Echo cocked her head to the side as she placed her cup on his desk. He didn't say anything. He was hesitant and Echo could tell that he didn't want to somehow trigger or alter her mood. Echo sighed, knowing what it was. "It's the mate thing, isn't it?"

He opened his mouth to respond, but instead closed his mouth and nodded his head. Echo sent him a gentle smile before saying, "Well, I'm free tonight. We can go out, take a walk around the town."

"Is that a demand or a request?" Carlisle asked. Echo smirked.

"Would you slap me if I said both?"

"I'm too nice to hit someone." He continued.

"I'll believe it when I see it. Tonight, after work, pick me up from my house." Echo said. She grabbed her coffee cup and got up, walking out of the room with a smile on her face as well as a warm sensation flooding through her body. Carlisle watched her retreating figure. He chuckled before shaking his head. Echo was something else. She was different. And he couldn't help but love it. He couldn't help but love her.

1,137 words
Authors note: I hoenstly loved this chapter. And it apso gave you the rest of Echo's background.

I hope you all enjoyed! Stay safe! Until next time, bye lovelies!♥️

@HAHA_LIFEISTOUGH