The energy in the Kaseya Center in Miami was electric as Monday Night Raw was in full swing. Backstage, the atmosphere was just as chaotic-producers giving last-minute directions, wrestlers preparing for their segments, and crew members rushing to keep the show running smoothly.

Jey Uso had been riding a high all night. Ever since Carmen's pregnancy announcement, he had thrown himself into work, convincing himself that his focus needed to be on the future-on the family he was about to build. Not the one he was leaving behind.

But that illusion shattered the moment he saw his mother walking through the backstage area, holding the small hands of Sofia and Mateo.

He wasn't expecting them. He hadn't even called them.

His stomach twisted as he instinctively started toward them, but before he could take another step, Sofia's bright eyes scanned the crowd-and completely skipped over him.

"Uncle Jimmy! Uncle Solo!"

With a delighted squeal, she broke free from her grandmother's grasp and ran straight to her uncles. Jimmy barely had time to turn before Sofia barreled into him, wrapping her arms around his waist. Solo, standing beside him, cracked a rare smile as he ruffled her hair.

At the same moment, Mateo's small hand slipped from their grandmother's grasp, and he took off-straight for Roman.

Jey's heart dropped.

Roman, who had been mid-conversation with Paul Heyman, barely had time to react before Mateo latched onto his leg. Slowly, Roman looked down, surprise flashing across his face before he softened. He crouched to Mateo's level, resting a big hand on the boy's back.

"What's up, little man?" Roman murmured, his voice softer than anyone backstage was used to hearing.

Mateo grinned up at him. "I missed you, Uncle Ro."

Jey stood frozen.

His kids hadn't even looked at him.

His mother, who had been watching quietly, finally turned to him, her expression unreadable. But there was something in her eyes-something that made his stomach churn even more.

Disappointment.

Jey clenched his jaw and forced himself to move, shoving his hands into his pockets as he walked past the scene in front of him. He wasn't about to cause a scene here. Not yet.

But he knew exactly who to blame.

Isa was in the trainer's room, going over a medical report, when a familiar presence filled the doorway.

Roman.

She glanced up, immediately catching the serious look on his face. She straightened, setting the clipboard down.

"What happened?" she asked, already bracing herself.

Roman stepped inside, shutting the door behind him. "Your kids are here."

Isa's brows furrowed. "What? With who?"

"Jey's mom."

That surprised her. Isa had always gotten along well with Jey's mother, but she hadn't expected her to bring the kids to Raw without at least a heads-up. Still, that didn't explain why Roman looked so grim.

Before she could ask, he continued.

"They ran straight past Jey. Sofia went to Jimmy and Solo. Mateo went straight to me."

Isa's stomach twisted, but she forced her expression to remain neutral. She nodded slowly. "I see."

Roman studied her. "Do you?"

She sighed, rubbing her temple. "Jey made his choice, Roman. He stopped calling, stopped showing up for them. They're not stupid. Kids know when they're being ignored."

Roman nodded once, approving of her response. "Just thought you should know."

Isa exhaled, crossing her arms. "How did Jey take it?"

Roman smirked slightly. "Not well."

Before Isa could say anything else, the door swung open.

Jey.

His chest rose and fell quickly, his nostrils flaring. His mother stood just behind him, looking between them with a wary expression.

"What the hell did you do?" Jey snapped, his voice low but filled with barely restrained anger.

Isa's eyes narrowed. "Excuse me?"

"You turned them against me." He took a step forward, fists clenched at his sides. "My own kids acted like I wasn't even there."

Isa let out a sharp laugh, shaking her head in disbelief. "Wow. You really don't get it, do you?" She took a step toward him, her voice deadly calm. "That's what happens when you choose to ignore your kids."

Jey flinched. The words hit him like a slap to the face.

His mother sighed, stepping between them before things escalated further. "Enough," she said firmly, looking between them. "This isn't the time or place."

Isa took a deep breath, reigning in her frustration. "I'm done fighting you on this, Jey," she said quietly, looking him straight in the eye. "You want to pretend like they don't exist? Fine. But don't act surprised when they stop waiting for you to come around."

Jey's jaw tightened, but for once, he didn't have a response.

Isa turned away, grabbing her clipboard and forcing herself to focus on anything but the burning frustration in her chest. She wouldn't let him see how much this hurt.

Jey's mom placed a gentle hand on his arm, giving him a look that said everything Isa didn't have to.

This was his mess.

And it was up to him to fix it.

Jey stood frozen for a moment, his mother's hand still resting on his arm. The weight of Isa's words pressed down on him, suffocating.

That's what happens when you choose to ignore your kids.

It echoed in his head, louder than the chaos of the backstage area, louder than the damn heartbeat pounding in his ears.

Isa didn't spare him another glance as she turned back to her work, her posture stiff, her focus seemingly elsewhere. But Jey knew better. He knew her well enough to recognize when she was holding back, when she was keeping herself from saying more.

And somehow, that stung even worse.

His mother finally let out a small sigh and dropped her hand. "Joshua," she said, her voice calm but firm, using the name she only called him when she was serious. "Come with me."

Jey clenched his jaw. He didn't want a lecture. Not from her. Not from anyone. But one glance at her face told him he didn't have a choice.

He shot one last glance at Isa, expecting some kind of reaction. Maybe a smirk, maybe a glare-anything to give him an opening to fight back. But she didn't even look at him.

That, more than anything, made his stomach twist.

With a grunt, he turned on his heel and followed his mother down the hallway.

They found the kids with Jimmy, Solo, and Roman in the catering area. Mateo was sitting comfortably on Roman's lap, eating a small plate of fruit while Roman listened intently to whatever story the boy was telling.

Sofia was perched between Jimmy and Solo, swinging her legs as Jimmy whispered something to her that made her giggle. Solo sat beside them, arms crossed, but his usual stoic expression had softened slightly.

Jey's chest tightened.

This should've been him.

His kids should've run to him.

His mother stopped beside him, watching the scene with an unreadable expression. "Tell me," she said quietly, "when was the last time you called them?"

Jey's lips pressed into a thin line.

His mother didn't let up. "When was the last time you saw them before today?"

He swallowed hard, suddenly unable to meet her gaze.

"That's what I thought."

Jey dragged a hand down his face. "Ma-"

"You need to fix this," she cut him off, her voice gentle but firm. "Before it's too late."

Jey's stomach churned.

His mother shook her head. "They ran to Roman, Jimmy, and Solo because they show up, Joshua. They make the effort." She looked up at him, her gaze sharp. "But you? You've been too busy chasing something else."

Jey stiffened. He knew exactly what she was implying.

Carmen.

The baby.

His supposed new family.

And yet, as he stood there, watching Mateo grin up at Roman and Sofia lean into Jimmy like she belonged there, Jey couldn't shake the feeling that he was the one being left behind.

His mother gave his arm a small squeeze before walking over to the kids, leaving him standing in the doorway. He watched as she kissed Sofia's forehead and gently stroked Mateo's back, grounding them with the kind of love that Jey had been too distracted to give.

Isa's words echoed in his head again.

That's what happens when you choose to ignore your kids.

Jey took a shaky breath, his fists clenching at his sides.

Because for the first time, he realized-maybe Isa was right.