The Florida night was thick with humidity as Jey drove through the quiet streets, the weight of everything that had happened pressing heavy on his chest. The conversation with Carmen replayed in his head, each word slicing deeper than the last. The baby's not yours. He should've felt relief, but all he felt was exhaustion. The lies, the manipulation-it was finally over.And yet, his mind wasn't on Carmen anymore.It was on Isa.Without thinking, his hands had guided him here-to the one place that had always felt like home, even when he had been too stubborn to admit it. Isa's house was dark except for the porch light, casting a soft glow over the driveway. He turned off the engine and just sat there for a moment, gripping the steering wheel as he tried to steady himself. He didn't even know what he was going to say-he just knew he needed to see her.Stepping out of the car, Jey made his way to the front door and knocked softly, not wanting to wake the kids. A few seconds passed before he heard movement inside, then the sound of the door unlocking.Isa stood there, wrapped in a loose T-shirt that hung off one shoulder, her hair slightly messy from sleep. She blinked at him, her expression shifting from confusion to concern. "Jey?" Her voice was hushed, but he could hear the worry laced in it. "What are you doing here? It's late."Jey exhaled heavily, running a hand over his face. "I needed to see you."Isa hesitated for a moment before stepping aside, letting him in. He moved past her into the dimly lit living room, the scent of vanilla and something faintly familiar wrapping around him. It was the scent of home.She closed the door behind him and folded her arms across her chest. "What's going on?"Jey let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. "Carmen finally told me the truth." He looked up at her, his dark eyes filled with emotions he wasn't sure how to name. "The baby's not mine. It's Austin's."Isa's lips parted slightly, surprise flickering across her face before she schooled her expression. "She admitted it?"Jey nodded. "Yeah. After weeks of lying, of making me believe... I don't even know why I let it go this far." He sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. "I feel like a damn fool, Isa."Isa watched him carefully, her gaze softer than he expected. "You're not a fool, Jey. You just wanted to believe in something."He huffed, shaking his head. "Yeah, well, believing in Carmen got me nowhere." He finally met her eyes, the words hanging heavy between them. "But it took me too damn long to see what I should've been focusing on all along."Isa swallowed, shifting her weight. "Jey...""I messed up," he admitted, his voice quieter now. "With you. With Sofia and Mateo. I should've never let Carmen come between us the way she did. And I hate that I let her."Isa let out a slow breath, looking down for a moment before meeting his gaze again. "Jey, this isn't just something you can say in the middle of the night and expect everything to be okay.""I know," he said quickly. "I know it's not that easy. But I need you to know... I don't want to waste any more time on things that don't matter. You and the kids-you're what matters. You've always been what mattered."Isa's expression softened, but there was still hesitation in her eyes. "Jey, this isn't just about us. It's about them. They need you to be sure. They need you to be here."He stepped closer, reaching out to gently cup her cheek. "I am here," he murmured. "And I'm not going anywhere."Isa closed her eyes briefly, leaning into his touch for just a second before pulling away. "You should get some sleep," she said quietly.Jey searched her face for a moment before nodding. "Can I stay?"Isa hesitated, but then she sighed and nodded toward the couch. "You know where the blankets are."A small smirk ghosted across Jey's lips, but he didn't push for more. He knew Isa needed time-needed to see his actions, not just hear his words.As he settled onto the couch, the house quiet around him, he finally felt something he hadn't felt in a long time.Hope.