The following week dragged by for Jey. He had been more focused than ever, throwing himself into his matches and his time with Isa and the kids. It was easier that way-keeping busy, staying focused on the family that truly mattered to him, and distancing himself from the chaos that Carmen seemed to bring into his life.

But life, as it often does, had a way of throwing curveballs when you least expected them.

It was an early afternoon, just a few days before the next Raw show in Nashville, when Jey found himself back in the arena after a morning of meetings. He had decided to take a quick walk through the backstage area, needing some space away from the commotion of the locker room. But as he made his way down the corridor, a familiar voice caught his attention.

"Jey!"

He turned, finding Paul Heyman approaching with a smile. The man's suit was always impeccable, but there was a slight glint of something in his eyes-an emotion Jey couldn't quite place.

"Hey, Paul," Jey greeted, though his tone was slightly distracted.

"Just wanted to update you on a few things, but I'm sure you're aware of everything going on between Carmen and Austin Theory. You've been keeping a low profile about it, huh?" Paul raised an eyebrow, waiting for Jey's response.

The mention of Theory's name sent a jolt through Jey's chest. He had been hearing rumors swirling around backstage for weeks now, rumors about Carmen and the young up-and-coming star. But hearing it out loud-coming from Paul, of all people-struck a nerve he didn't expect.

Jey's gaze hardened. "What do you mean?"

Paul's expression remained neutral, but there was an unmistakable hint of concern in his voice. "You didn't know? Carmen and Austin have been... well, let's just say their relationship has become more than professional." He lowered his voice, glancing around to ensure no one else could overhear. "It's no secret that they've been involved for a while now. And I've heard... some things. About her pregnancy. It's not yours, Jey."

Jey's heart skipped a beat. For a moment, the world seemed to slow down around him. He had heard the rumors before-whispers, half-truths, things he'd hoped weren't true-but hearing it from Paul, someone he trusted, hit harder than he'd anticipated.

"That's... that's impossible," Jey murmured, shaking his head. His mind raced as he tried to process what Paul was telling him. "No. It can't be."

Paul's expression softened, though his eyes still held a sharp edge of caution. "I don't know for sure, Jey, but what I do know is that Carmen's been spending a lot of time with Austin Theory-too much time. She's not been hiding it. And you know what they say about what happens behind closed doors."

Jey clenched his fists, the blood in his veins turning cold. It was hard to breathe as the weight of the revelation settled in. His mind flashed back to the day Carmen had told him she was pregnant. He had been overwhelmed with confusion, unsure of how to process the news, especially when it came so soon after everything had fallen apart between them.

The pieces that hadn't quite fit started to snap into place. The way Carmen had acted-always pushing him for more, always trying to get him to buy into the idea of a future that wasn't really theirs. The way she'd told him about the pregnancy with so little emotion, as though it was just another piece of the puzzle she was trying to manipulate.

But now, hearing this... it changed everything.

"Damn it," Jey whispered under his breath, his mind swirling with thoughts of betrayal and confusion.

"You need to ask yourself if this is the life you want, Jey," Paul added, his voice low but firm. "If you're going to keep playing into this... you'll end up in a situation you can't control. I've seen it happen before."

Jey didn't respond right away, still processing the implications of Paul's words. His eyes wandered to the ground, his thoughts on Isa and their children. He had spent so much time focused on what he could salvage from his past, but now, the truth had hit him with a force he wasn't prepared for.

Could the baby really be his?

As if to answer that question, his phone buzzed in his pocket. Jey hesitated for a moment, but instinctively, he pulled it out, seeing Carmen's name flashing across the screen. His stomach turned, but he answered anyway, unable to ignore the urge to confront the woman who had caused so much turmoil in his life.

"What do you want, Carmen?" Jey's voice was firm, his tone colder than usual.

There was a pause on the other end of the line, and for a moment, he almost thought she wouldn't respond. But then her voice, soft and uncertain, came through.

"Jey... I need to talk to you. About everything."

His heart raced, but this time, it wasn't out of confusion. It was anger, resentment, and disappointment. "What's there to talk about? You've already made your choice, Carmen. You and Austin... you two have your own little world now. What more is there to say?"

She sighed, her voice trembling slightly. "Jey, it's not like that. It's complicated."

"Complicated? You've been seeing him behind my back, Carmen. I'm done with the lies," Jey snapped, feeling the weight of betrayal and the loss of trust gnawing at his insides.

"I never meant to hurt you, Jey," Carmen whispered, the words coming out choked. "I was confused. But I'm pregnant, and I thought... I thought we could still make this work. But I'm scared, Jey. I need you."

A sickening feeling twisted in his stomach. "You're not scared, Carmen. You're just trying to pull me back into your web, but I'm not playing along anymore."

There was a long pause before Carmen finally spoke again, this time her voice quiet and resigned. "The baby... it's not yours, Jey. It's Austin's."

The words hit Jey like a punch to the gut. He froze, the air around him feeling thick and heavy. The truth he hadn't wanted to face, the truth he had feared, had been laid bare.

His mind reeled, the anger boiling over in an instant. "So you lied. You made me think this was my responsibility... all for what? To keep me hooked into your drama?" His voice was a low growl, each word dripping with frustration.

"I didn't want it to happen like this," Carmen replied, her voice breaking. "I didn't know what else to do."

Jey exhaled sharply, his hands trembling with the realization. The knots in his stomach were replaced by a cold, seething anger, but also an overwhelming sense of clarity. His focus wasn't on Carmen, or the baby that wasn't his. It was on Isa. It was on the life he wanted to rebuild, free from the manipulation, free from the lies.

"You're on your own with this one, Carmen," Jey muttered, his voice firm. "I'm done."

He hung up without another word, staring at the phone screen for a moment longer. His mind wasn't on the mess that had just unfolded-his thoughts were already back with Isa and their kids, the only family that truly mattered.

And for the first time in a long time, Jey felt a sense of peace.