The shift was almost immediate.

Isa noticed it the very next day when Sofia and Mateo called Jey after school, excited to tell him about their day. Normally, he'd pick up right away, laughing at Sofia's dramatic storytelling and asking Mateo about his latest soccer practice. But this time, the call went straight to voicemail.

At first, Isa brushed it off. Maybe he was busy. Maybe he was in a meeting or training. But then it happened again. And again.

A few days passed, and the twins' enthusiasm started to wane. By the end of the week, Sofia stopped rushing to grab her iPad to call him, and Mateo barely looked up from his homework when Isa mentioned his name.

The realization settled in Isa's chest like a heavy weight. Jey was pulling away.

And she knew exactly why.

Standing in the hallway of the WWE arena, she watched from a distance as Jey stood with Carmen, their heads close together, speaking in hushed tones. Carmen's hand rested on her stomach, playing up the role of the expectant mother. Jey's face was unreadable, but he was there-engaged, present.

Something he wasn't for his own children.

Isa clenched her fists. He was really doing this. He was letting Carmen sink her claws into him, letting her dictate his every move. And worst of all? He was too blind to see it.

She turned on her heel, heading for her locker room, when her phone vibrated in her pocket. A message from Sofia lit up the screen.

Mommy, did Daddy forget about us?

Isa stopped in her tracks, her heart twisting.

No. She wouldn't let this happen. She wouldn't let Jey's stupidity break their kids' hearts. If he wasn't going to step up, she damn sure would.

Taking a deep breath, she sent a quick response: Never, baby. He's just busy. I love you.

Then, with a new fire burning in her veins, she made a decision.

Jey wanted to ignore their children? Fine. But Isa Reyes was going to make damn sure he remembered exactly who he was hurting.

The backstage area was buzzing with activity as Isa made her way toward the catering area, her mind racing. Every corner she turned felt like another reminder of the growing distance between her and Jey. And the kids? They were caught in the crossfire, left to wonder why their father seemed to vanish without explanation.Isa's footsteps were deliberate, sharp, as she moved through the chaos. She couldn't shake the thought of Sofia's message, the way her daughter's words echoed in her mind. Did Daddy forget about us?It was an innocent question, but one that cut through Isa like a blade. She knew the truth; Jey was starting to pull away, and it wasn't just from her-it was from their whole family. And it wasn't because he was busy or distracted with work.It was Carmen.Isa stopped in her tracks when she saw them again. Jey and Carmen were walking down the hall, side by side, laughing over something. Jey's laugh was different, lighter. The tension that had once defined him-the weight of responsibility, of being a father-was gone. He looked... free. But Isa knew it was a false freedom.Carmen's hand was gently resting on her stomach again. Isa could feel her presence like a shadow, looming over everything, slowly suffocating the life they had built.She clenched her jaw and forced herself to keep walking."Isa."She didn't need to turn around to know who it was. Paul Heyman's voice always had that distinct tone, one that was both commanding and cautious.Isa slowed her pace, forcing herself to maintain composure. She didn't need anyone's pity today, not from Paul, not from anyone."Everything alright?" he asked, falling into step beside her.Isa shot him a quick glance. "Does it look alright?"Paul didn't flinch. "No. It doesn't."She stopped walking and turned to face him. "You know what's going on, don't you? You've seen it. You've seen how Carmen's worming her way into everything."Paul looked around before lowering his voice. "I've seen. It's hard not to. But you need to be careful, Isa. Jey's a grown man, and you're not going to control this one.""Control?" Isa scoffed, crossing her arms. "It's not about control. It's about protecting my family."Paul's expression softened slightly. "I get it. But you know Jey has always been... complicated. He's not one to listen to anyone, especially not when his heart's involved."Isa's chest tightened at the mention of Jey's heart. "This isn't about his heart. It's about his responsibility. His kids are sitting at home, wondering why their father doesn't care anymore."Paul sighed. "And Carmen knows exactly what buttons to push. That's what makes her dangerous."Isa took a step back, her frustration mounting. "I don't need a lecture from you right now, Paul.""You're right. You need action." He paused, glancing around the hall again. "I've got your back, Isa. But you have to be smart about this. No one will believe it if you make a move too soon."Isa's gaze hardened. "I don't need their approval. I just need to protect my kids."She could feel the weight of his gaze, but she wasn't listening anymore. Paul could offer advice, support, even a hand in this fight, but in the end, this was her battle.She had fought for Jey before, when everything seemed impossible. But now? Now, she had to fight for Sofia and Mateo, and that was something Jey couldn't take away from her.As she walked away from Paul, her phone buzzed again. Another message from Sofia: I miss Daddy. When's he coming home?Isa's heart twisted in her chest. She typed a quick reply: I'm sure he'll be home soon, sweetheart. I love you.But as she hit send, a familiar figure appeared at the end of the hallway-Jey. His eyes immediately found hers, and for a moment, everything else fell away.But then she remembered.He was slipping away.And as much as she wanted to run to him, as much as she wanted to tell him to fix this, Isa knew that was never going to happen. Not unless he was ready to see the truth for himself.So, she stood her ground, her eyes meeting his with a cool, unwavering resolve.Jey opened his mouth to speak, but she turned away before he could get a word out.He didn't get it. Not yet.And Isa wasn't sure how much longer she could wait for him to figure it out.