Rayne's POV

I sat in the bathtub to myself quietly letting the water run against my skin, simply reflecting on what has become of my marriage. Something I had never expected to happen, had ultimately occurred years ago. I kept imagining that woman with her hands rubbing against my husband, enjoying the things I've enjoyed, touching places I've only touched, and her lips trailing the same way as mine.

I brought my knees up to my chin and wrap my arms around them, holding myself tight. No matter how much I shut my eyes, I still saw them. I let a few tears fall, rolling down my shoulder and into the water. I tried to quiet my sniffles so I wasn't heard, but the thought of Michael being with someone else is utterly heartbreaking.

He and I have always had our issues but nothing THIS bad. We've had our thoughts but never acted on them from what I knew, and now I sat here thinking on my next move if this child was his. The water ended up getting cold so I decided to finally get out, drying my face on my towel and throw on some comfort clothes, one of Michael's sweatsuits for when he's in disguise. Even though my eyes were pretty red from tears, I attempted to splash some cold water in my face to cool the heat from crying.

My son walks in with a grin mumbling a "hi mommy" causing me to smile. He manages to climb on Michael and I's bed and crawls in my lap to hug me. I chuckle wrapping my arms around him tightly. My kids made everything easier when it came to Michael and I's problems. We dealt with everything because our kids remind us they are better than anything we could ever create together and they deserve the best we could offer.

Although that little thought of Michael and that woman crept around my mind, I managed to move throughout the day a little easier. I carry Michael downstairs where his father sat on the couch quietly, looking like I did in the bathroom. I greeted him with a small throat clear and sat beside him, a large amount of space between us. His eyes met mine before diverting back to the ground where they searched.

"Did you talk to her yet?" I ask quietly, my eyes watching Mikey roll his toy truck around.

He subtly shakes his head, "no..left a voicemail." He responded. "I don't understand it's been a week and I haven't heard anything.." he groans.

I nodded at his response. The thing was, Michael and I hadn't even discussed the fact he cheated on me, he just confirmed it happened. We were too focused on his public image, with it already being tarnished because of the scandal with Audrey back in the 90's, I didn't want anything to mess him up. Especially with him working on an album and possibly a tour, anything could ruin him.

The house was relatively quiet until Camille came home from school for the last time until next month. We'd be traveling to New York after this weekend for Michael to focus back on his album. Even with Camille home, there was very little dialogue between Michael and I. We packed the kids up and get them ready for our flight the next Monday morning. Michael ended up finishing up with Mikey before I did with Camille, so when I walked in on him packing, he looked surprised.

"I pulled out your suitcase.." he muttered, folding a shirt to place in his suitcase.

"Thank you." I reply. I grab it and roll it to the opposite end of our bed. We both quietly packed, sneaking glances at each other, as if we're trying to gauge each other's emotions. Almost like we're trying to read who's gonna speak first.

Michael lets out a small chuckle, causing me to look up. "What?" I ask.

"Remember that shaving cream I was looking for?" He asks, holding the unopened bottle in his hand.

"Oh.." I smirk, placing another pair of jeans in my suitcase.

"Are we gonna talk about this?" Michael asks cautiously. My breath hitched silently, he didn't really wanna talk about the problem as much as I didn't. He just wanted an excuse to talk to me period.

"Michael, I really don't want to.." I sigh, keeping my eyes on my clothing.

"I don't want to either.. but I miss your voice." He says, "I miss your smile.. this has gone on for a week Ray."

"I'm not intentionally not talking to you.." I begin, "I just don't have much to say." I shrug.

"Why not?" He asks, honestly that question annoyed me enough to release a long sigh and toss a piece of clothing to the side.

"What am I supposed to say Mike?" I ask. "I'm tired of arguing with you. I'm tired of being upset.. so I'm just quiet." I explain.

"I know you're upset-" he says.

"You have no clue how upset I am.." I mutter, putting my finger to my temple.

"We've both made mistakes and I don't want this to mess us up Rayne."

"We have Michael, but I've never acted on my temptations. I can't close my eyes without seeing you and her.." I tear up, wiping them before they fall. "Everything I've had, she's had.. down to your child." I add.

"Baby, we don't know if that kid is mine. Stop putting that in your head." Michael practically begs. He doesn't want this child more than me because he knows this could potentially make or break our relationship.

I shake my head, "it doesn't stop the fact you actually cheated on me. I told you I didn't want to talk about this.. can we just pack up?" I ask.

Michael finally concedes, quietly closing his suitcase for the night. I continued packing, grabbing things from my dresser and placing them in my bag.

Michael's POV

The next morning was my morning to cook breakfast for the kids. So as I woke up, I looked over to see Rayne sleeping. Our conversation last night didn't go the way I wanted it to at all, understandably because it's difficult to think about. I'm just praying this all goes away because at this point my marriage is at stake. I kissed her forehead swiftly before heading down stairs.

As I mixed the mixture of milk, eggs, and cinnamon for my French toast, my office door was open and I heard my office phone ring. I run in to grab it, checking the caller ID to see Maria's phone number.

"Hello Michael.." Maria says calmly.

"Good morning." I respond.

"I got your call.. firstly, Is your wife ok? I haven't heard anything about her since her faint."

"She's fine, she's very upset. I need to know why you told her you and I have a child?" I ask agitated.

"Because we do. You and I made love and created a son." Maria chuckles sarcastically.

I scrunch my eyes, "We did not create a son. I need a test immediately. I'll fly you two out to meet me in New York if I need to."

"I knew you'd do this.. Michael why can't you accept that this is your son. I'll go to the media."

I sigh, why me? I'm always being extorted for something by somebody. I swear if it weren't for my kids and Rayne I'd end my career. "Maria, please don't go to the media.."

"Then admit to your wife that you have another child! Stop being a little boy and grow up."

"I'm not saying he's my kid. He's not."

"Fine, then I'm going to the media!" She hangs up swiftly.

"No! Fuck!!" I yell, startling Camille.

"Daddy! That's a bad word!" Camille gasps.

"I'm sorry." I mumble. I was so angry I could punch a hole in my wall. I slam the phone back on the receiver and head back to the kitchen to continue the kids breakfast. I placed Mikey in his booster and put his plate in front of him then placed Camille's in front of her and head back upstairs to my room completely enraged.

When I entered, Rayne was putting on her shirt. She caugh a glimpse of my face before asking me "what's wrong?"

"She's going to the media. I wouldn't claim her child so she's going to the media." I explain, pacing the room.

"She called??" Rayne says sitting on the bed.

I nod quickly, "This is going to ruin everything. My album, concert, my image.." I say looking at Rayne. "Shoot... my marriage is already fucked up. I'm sorry baby. I'm so sorry." I crouch to lean my head on her chest.

I feel her hands rub my back softly, as she gives a sigh. "...Maybe we should fly them out to New York and get a test." She says.

"I already suggested that.." I reply.

"Then let's go to Detroit.." Rayne says,

I sigh, "I can't, I delay this album anymore, I'm getting fined." I bury my head into her lap. I wished she could tell me things were ok, but she couldn't even tell herself that.

The rest of the day I walked around the house in fear that something would pop up on the television about me having a son. I wasn't mistaken, when I saw a photo of Maria and I compared with her son. I groan loudly catching Rayne's attention in the kitchen.

She pops her head out, "what happened?"

I point to the television, my face plastered with the words "LOVECHILD" across the screen. "Where'd she even get the photo from?" I mutter.

Rayne sat next to me on the couch. "So what happens now?" She asks quietly.

***

A couple days after the media leak, Rayne, the kids and I were settled in New York for the month. I decided to try and fly Maria and her son out one more time, and this time she accepted. Wayne came with me to meet them in the airport lot and escorted them to another hotel room not far from ours.

"Michael THIS your son Carlos." Maria smiles as she introduced us.

Carlos was a fairly quiet kid and I didn't want to hurt his feelings by proclaiming he wasn't my child. But he's not, Maria needed to know that more than anyone. My cellphone rang in pocket and it was Rayne, I contemplated answering but given the situation I'm in, nothing could get worse.

"Hey babe." I answer as Wayne escorts the paternity doctor inside to take the test.

"Where are you?" She asks loud enough for Maria to hear.

"He's here with his son!" She yells.

"You're with her??" Rayne says disgusted.

I try to stop her from getting upset even more, stammering over my words to explain.

"So what you had this all planned out? I cannot believe you Michael." She says before hanging up.

"No Rayne please listen.." I sigh.

Maria chuckles, "she couldn't take the truth? She wasn't for you Michael. Just come be a family with Carlos and I."

"Why are you doing this?" I ask.

"I wasn't the only one. I didn't make this child alone. You need to be responsible for what's yours Michael."

The doctor takes a swab of my mouth and places it into a small tube, then swabs Carlos and puts into another tube. "Ok, so I have the samples.. I'm going to take these back to the lab and I'll get back to you Mr. Jackson."

"How long is it gonna be?" I ask.

"I'd say two days." He responds, heading out the door.

I follow Wayne out before Maria gives me a sinister grin, "see you in two days."

I meet Rayne and the kids at the studio I'd be working at. To say Rayne was fuming was an understatement. "Babe please listen."

"What were you doing with her? Why didn't you tell me she came?!" Rayne says annoyed.

"I didn't want you to come with me like I know you would want to.." I start.

"Why not? So you could screw her again? Michael I've never been-"

"No!! Ray, I got her to let me test her son... I'd never do that to you... again." I explain. "The results won't be back for two days. She'll be here for two days and then she'll be GONE. I promise."

"I want to meet her." Rayne says stubbornly. I sigh.