Skyler

The next morning I woke up with Shane's strong arms surrounding me. I must have slept while we were talking. Shane was still asleep. I slowly moved his hand away from me and covered the blanket around him.

I quickly freshened up and then I decided to make breakfast. It was a Sunday and we didn't have work today. I went into the kitchen and take a look in the fridge. I quickly made some pancakes and toasted some bread. I chopped some berries and served the pancakes on a plate along with whipped cream and the chopped berries.

I was preparing everything when Shane grasped me from behind placing his head on my shoulder placing a kiss on my cheek. I was startled because I was not expecting it and it was sudden.
"You scared me, Shane."

"Oh is it." He chuckles and then turns me around forcing me to look at him. "What are you making?"

"I made pancakes and some toasted bread. Now I am making coffee."
I smiled at him. He kissed my hands and looks straight into my eyes. "Lovely. Let me set the table then."

"You go freshen up. I will set it up."
Shane went back to his room and I set up the table. He came downstairs and we sat down.
"It's not good as you make but I tried."

He eats while saying. I smiled at him."It's tasty and I am not joking. I want more."

"If you say so." I look at him eating his breakfast admiring him. He does love me. He did say that right.
I wonder about how things changed overnight. I was beyond happy. He notices me looking at him and he smiled."I can't wait for tomorrow."

"I am excited too," I exclaimed. We were going on a date tomorrow and I can't wait. I was looking forward to it. As much as I was loving this, I felt guilty that he didn't know the truth yet.

"I have to be at the office after breakfast." He wipes his mouth with a handkerchief.

"On a Sunday," I asked. What work he has on a Sunday.

"Tyler called me this morning. I will probably be back before lunch. I just have some papers to sign and some other things." He explained. I persisted in going along with him but he said it's a small thing and I won't be needed.

With Shane leaving me alone at the house. I decided to go shopping to buy a dress for the date. I didn't have anything to wear. Or I have.

Girls cannot have enough clothes.

Everyone will agree to this.

I went to the mall and did some dress shopping. I liked a few dresses and it took me three hours. When I went back home, I expected Shane to be home but he wasn't.

Then he sent me a message that he will be late and that I shouldn't wait for dinner. I have to make dinner now. I opened the fridge to find something and there it was my savior.

Pizza...

My lazy ass would go to sleep starving rather than making something. I reheated it in the microwave and ate it.

Shane was still not back. I was reading a book on the couch while I was waiting for Shane.

*****

The next morning I woke up and found myself on the bed with a blanket over me. I must have slept waiting for him and he must have carried me to bed.

Adorable.

*****

The day went by pretty quickly. After I woke up we ate breakfast and binged watched web series that we didn't realize the time.

We went back to our rooms to get ready. It was finally time for our First Date. We both were pretty excited. I took a shower and put on my outfit I bought from the mall yesterday. I already decided on my outfit yesterday from the five dresses I bought. I put on my favorite perfume and some makeup. I hear his voice from outside."Skyler, Are you ready?"

"I need 15 minutes more," I yell back. I was feeling a little unwell but I didn't want to spoil our date for that reason because today I was going to tell him the truth no matter what happens.

"Fine. I am waiting by the pool."
He says and I hear the footsteps fading away. I stood in front of the mirror and exhaled. You can do this Skyler, He deserves to know the truth. I hope everything goes well.

Something was missing. My earrings, The Gala. I left my earrings on the cabinet that night. I went downstairs to search for them when I found a piece of paper with my name on it. I picked it up. It was from the hospital. The envelope was open. So Shane did check the reports without me.

Why didn't he tell me anything about it?

I think he didn't say anything because everything is fine. I took out the piece of paper and unfolded it but when I read it. I was shocked. I fell on my knees. I couldn't believe what was written in the reports. I burst into tears. No this can't happen, not now. The envelope was open. Does Shane know about this?

I called out for Shane but he didn't answer. "Shane..."

I yell out his name several times but he didn't answer. I was in tears but I couldn't stop them. I went to the pool. I saw him standing, his back facing towards me. I went running to him and hugged him from the back. Now I couldn't stop my tears. I was shocked after seeing the reports? I can't believe this was happening to me.

He just stood without any movement. He let go of my hands off him and turns around to face me."Did you know?"

I see the necklace in his hand and immediately figure out that he already knows. This is the worst timing ever. I wanted him to know it from me. Now he will think I hid it from him even after knowing the truth."I can explain, Shane."

"Answer the damn question, Skyler. Yes or no." He yells. He was fuming. He won't listen to me and I could hear it in his voice. Anyone would have angry if it were him. I said in a soft voice with my face hung down. "Yes."

The day at the police station.

I entered the police station and I was nervous. A different kind of nervous. Today was the day I finally get to meet them.

I had ro meet them for so long and The last time I met them I was sixteen and before that, I was six. The officer let me in and I see them already waiting. I went to hug them and then sat.
"I missed you both so much.."

"We missed you too, Skyler" Dad said and Mom replies smiling.
"You have grown so much since I last saw you."

I took a deep breath. They had to know about grandma."Mom, Dad before anything I have to tell you something. Grandma passed away. I am sorry I couldnt get permission for you to attend the funeral."

Mom started crying and Dad pat her back to calm her down.
"I couldn't attend my mother's funeral. It's a punishment for my sins."

"Maisha, it's fine...Skyler tell us more about you"

I smiled faintly."I got a job a few months ago. It was my dream to work there.."

"That' great. We are proud of you."

"Where did you get the job?" Dad asks me. He was overwhelmed to see me all grown up. He was happy for me.

"The Blitz. I am the assistant of the former CEO, Shane Smith..."
When I told them, they shared a look and it was saying that there is something relating to Blitz...

"It's time we tell her..." I looked at them confused. What do they have to tell me? What is it?

"The truth...How did we end up here?" Dad replies with a frown on his face. His eyes filled with guilt and remorse.

I never knew how my parents ended up in jail. They never told me. Grandma hid it for me too and I understood her reasons for it. I never pestered her into telling me and finally today I get to know.

I didn't know what to say...

"I was Shane's father David's ex-girlfriend in high school. I cheated on him and used him for his status."

"I was Ava's ex-boyfriend and I harassed her during high school. I was up in jail because her maid filed a report against me. I was blinded with rage and I wanted revenge for I had to spend so many years in jail. That's when I found Maisha."

"I wanted to get back with David and he wanted to get back at Ava. So we worked together."

"We threatened Ava with fake documents that we will destroy David if she doesn't leave and she did. She was pregnant with Shane then."

"David had already caught us and We went into hiding. We never at one place because the police were after us. We kept a record of everything with Ava and David. Four years into hiding you were born and we left you at my mother's care. Six years later Ava came back with Shane when he was five and you were two at the time and we made a plan to kill David because I wanted to see Ava long for him when he was gone."

"Ava came in between and saved him. We left and waited for the right time and planned an attack on their wedding. Unfortunately, Shane had already spotted us and Informed the cops, and We were arrested.."

"We got nothing from that hatred. We are sorry for what we did...We are punished now for our sins"

"We regret everything we did to them..."

I didn't say a word in between as they said the entire truth. I couldn't believe them. As I learned the entire truth. It took me a minute to compose myself after knowing the truth. Many questions filled my mind.

How am I going to face Shane after this?

My parents didn't love each other. Was I a mistake?

They weren't good people.

"Mom, Dad this makes me feel so guilty to be called your child. To even carry your surname. Every time someone bullied me for my actions. I defended you. I hoped. No, my parents are good. Maybe they are trapped.

"I was a kid and now hearing the truth from you. I am going to live with Shane at his house. I think I really love him and now will I be able to face him after this?"

"All my life I was judged because of your actions, I was punished for things I didn't commit and I didn't care about it because why should I care about others. It used to hurt me a lot but I made myself strong to not break in front of others. Now when Shane knows the truth. He will never accept me after knowing and how. I can't even look at you now."

I could hear Mom sobbing but I couldn't see them anymore. After knowing the truth, I couldn't sit there anymore.

The biggest question remains How will Shane react when he comes to know about it? Will he accept me after he knows the truth and Will be okay with it. I can't hide it from him. I took a taxi to his house and when I reached it, he opened the door and I broke down. I fell on my knees and Shane got hold of me.

For the first time, I was scared.

Scared to lose someone.

Back to present

"Shane please listen to me before you act." I choked on my words. Just when I thought things couldnt get worse. It did. He says calmly."Leave Skyler."

"I have been wanting to tell you all this while. The night of the Gala.The first time we had breakfast.The day when I was discharged from the hospital." I did and every time I tried. Something or the other came up and I couldn't. The reason because I was scared of losing him. I knew the truth cannot be hidden. It had to come out someday.

I wanted to do it today even if it meant losing the love of my life but I didn't get the chance to.

"I can't lose you too, Shane. Not now of all times. You are the only one I have. I need you, Shane." I sobbed. I know this wouldn't change his mind but I had to. I can't lose him now. I can't as much as it seems. I need him. People said I was strong for what I went through but I don't think I am strong enough for this. I can't leave him but I have to.

"I don't want to listen to anything. You knew it for so long. I saw you at the police station that day but I didn't raise a question and I thought that someday you will tell me why. I trusted you, Skyler. I never did anything wrong with you. This is what I get for loving you. You hid the truth the entire time. You knew it but you didn't tell me. Don't you think I deserve to know the truth? You promised Skyler you won't hide anything from me then why did you hide this?" He had tears in his eyes and his voice broke when he said.

"I was scared that I will lose you after you know the truth. I can't lose you too, Shane. Not now of all times. I have no one except you. I need you, Shane. I will leave at once but you have to listen to me once." I couldnt stop crying for once. Tears streamed down my cheeks and I couldn't stop them. The pain in my chest increased and I took deep breaths.

I look at Shane and seeing him in with tear-filled eyes broke me more than the pain I was feeling. I never saw him like this and it was because of me.

"Your dad used to force himself on mom. Your mom cheated on Dad with his best friend. My mom took years to cope up with it and Dad lost faith in love. If that's not all she blackmailed mom with forged papers. It was because of your parents my dad couldn't see my childhood and I missed five years of him. Whenever I used to ask Mom about Dad, she would tell me he is on a secret mission and tried so hard not to break down in front of me but I saw the tears in her eyes."

"How can I forget how they tried to kill Dad but mom got in between. Do you know what I went through when she was taken to the hospital? To have to see the strongest person that is my Dad cry and I couldn't do anything about it. Whatever I say wouldn't have been enough. If it isn't for me your parents might have killed them at the wedding."

"What would have happened if I didn't call the police? My mom was pregnant with Tyler and Taylor then. Tell me Skyler all of it happened because of your parents. Are you here to ruin my life too?"

It hurt me more to listen that Shane thought I was here to ruin his life. I couldn't say anything. It made me break more. I can't take the pain now. I didn't know if I could handle it anymore.
"I will leave. Just know I truly loved you. I am sorry, Shane."

I turned around to leave and then stopped in my tracks.
"If I broke my promise, you broke yours too. Goodbye Shane."

I didn't have to pack a lot of things. After I was packed I left. When I stood by the door I took a look back at the house and it reminded me of all the memories of us.

I should have told him the moment he said he loved me. He was not the only one. Everyone has judged me before but it hurts more when he did.

What was I thinking that he would accept me after I knew who I was? I was fantasizing about my future with him when he said he had feelings for me too.

I was on cloud nine. The truth had to be out someday and it came out eventually yet I didn't want him to find out this way. I wanted him to know it from me but it's too late.

For a moment I forgot that he would judge me like the others. I guess this was how it was supposed to be. It ended before it even started. I would try to forget him and if...

With nowhere to go this late, I just kept walking. The pain in the chest was increasing and it was difficult for me to breathe...

(Shane knows the truth about Skyler. Skyler is the daughter of Harry and Maisha. What did Skyler see in the reports? How will Shane react to this?)

To know more about David and Ava's story. Read my book Time Flies.

...Thank you for reading...

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