Initial Plot (Truth and Conflict)

Thomas felt alive for the first time in years, waking up next to Avril was something of a dream. He didn't want to wake up for fear that she would dissipate like a cloud of smoke. She stirred a little at the sound of his phone ring, he answered instantly, making his way to the bathroom to converse with the caller.

"The mystery is no longer a mystery." Draven's deep baritone echoed through the line.

Thomas instantly felt the mist of sleep lift from his being. He had been awaiting this news for far too long. "Go on," he probed.

"Skylar and Colin never existed as a couple or anything of the sort. In fact, the truth of the matter had been covered and buried from the light." Draven sounded serious, tentative and slightly angered.

"What truth?" Thomas was beginning to feel the knots in his stomach tightened.

"Skylar had been missing for weeks, she was last seen at a bar with friends, Colin was in that vicinity as well." He inhaled, "to be honest small towns are very easy to manipulate, there was almost no record of what happened, not even of her disappearance. Her friends didn't want to say anything, but while there, a junior officer sought me out after my appearance at the precinct."

"Did he prove any evidence?" Thomas interrupted.

"He had been given orders to destroy evidence, but he claims he couldn't. I have everything in my possession, I would have given it to you last night but..." Draven cleared his throat, "You were busy."

Thomas smirked, "I could say the same thing about you."

Draven ignored the quip altogether. "Turns out that Colin kept Skylar imprisoned, while he assaulted every day for that time period. I am assuming he let her go because he knew it would be buried. Skylar's pregnancy isn't a result of a relationship with Colin, it's the result of an assault."

Thomas exhaled sharply, wondering if Austin should be told. Skylar didn't want him to know and maybe she had the right idea, maybe she wasn't ready to let him know the truth. She had been bearing the indignation of Austin's mother silently.

"Are you planning on letting him know?" Draven questioned.

"I am not sure."

"He has to know eventually, Colin can still cause problems for them. He is dangerous." Draven advised.

"I know, I will give them a few days before I let Austin know. They have only recently gotten close. I don't want to ruin that."

"From what I say last night, Austin is too bewitched by his wife to allow anything to ruin them. Especially something that was neither of their faults.

***

Skylar began clearing her office; she was going on maternity leave and wanted to make space for the person who would temporarily take up her duties. She gazed around the room, she had a small space but it had been hers. She played with the idea that the next time she saw this room she would have given birth and become a mother.

She placed her palm over her belly, she was showing, her clothes two sizes too big were no longer capable of hiding it.

"How happy you seem."

Her blood chilled and the hairs on the back of her neck rose in a sickly motion. She didn't dare to look upon the face of the devil.

"Are you going to ignore me, beauty? Is it right to ignore the father of your child?" his voice eerie, sending shocks throughout her body.

"How are you here?" her voice small, her heart heaving. He walked around to stand in front of her; his eyes angry.

"I am your brother by law, who would restrict me from seeing you?" his voice began to betray him, hissing deadly poison.

"You and I have no relation." Sky managed between breaths. "Leave." She tried to muster some strength, but his presence paralyzed her.

"How bold." He gripped her face in his hands. "Have you forgotten how to submit? Should I give you a final lesson?" his free hand moved to the neckline of her top.

Skylar wrenched away. Her head feeling dizzy, she promised herself that she would never let Colin defile her again, not while there was breath in her. When she had escaped his clutches the first time, she tried to bring him to justice but no one was willing to up against such a powerful family. She had been on the edge of life until she found out she was pregnant. Her mother urged her to abort, but this baby gave her the will to live.

"Leave!" she screamed when he took a step closer towards her, murder in his eyes. The commotion altered some of her co-workers.

"You dare to oppose me? You have no right to be happy without my permission."

"You need to leave before we call the authorities." Skylar's employer walked into the room when Colin showed no sign of leaving. He walked out, Skylar felt all the energy in her body draining, she felt exhausted.

"Are you alright?" she was handed a handkerchief and it was then she realised that her tears were flowing freely down her face.

"I'm-" she stopped, her hands going to her belly. She let out a sickening scream as she fell to the floor on her knees, her vision became blurry. Her co-workers rushed to her side, an unbearable pain spreading across her lower abdomen, she felt as if she couldn't breathe.

"Call an ambulance, now." The words were distant to her as if she were recalling it from a dream.

Her fingers touched something warm; she began to sob between her breaths, the sight of blood making her hysterical until the intense pain caused her to lose consciousness.

"Your wife is fine, however, regretfully we were unable to preserve the life of your child."

Austin clenched his hands at his side. "Why?" he said between clenched teeth.

"The pregnancy was terminated due to a condition known as eclampsia. It occurs when the mother is experiencing malignant hypertension, it causes the placentae to detach from the mother. When she was brought in, she was already experiencing an episode of vaginal bleeding, at that point all our efforts were futile."

"Basically, my wife lost our baby due to stress?" Austin asked incredulously, his heart sinking, yet he could not help thanking the heavens that she was safe.

"Can I see her?"

"She was given some sedatives and painkillers to ease her discomfort. She will be asleep."

"I would still wish to see my wife." He insisted.