chapter eleven

The moment the DNA results came in, everything seemed to shift again. Zilla was sitting next to me on the couch, his fingers nervously tapping against his phone.

The text had just come in, and the moment we saw it was from the lab, we both froze. There was no going back now. The result was either going to confirm what we'd all been trying to accept, or it was going to throw everything we'd been building into chaos.

I knew it would say what we were all hoping for, but it still felt like my stomach was in my throat. Zilla opened the message, his eyes scanning it with that familiar intensity that made me nervous.

But then, just as quickly, his whole body seemed to relax. A small, stunned smile tugged at his lips, and he showed me the phone.

"It's official. She's mine," Zilla said quietly, his voice barely more than a whisper.

I couldn't help the huge smile that spread across my face. I wanted to scream, to jump up and down, but at the same time, it was almost too surreal. A baby. Zilla's baby.

"Wow," was all I managed to say as I leaned into him.

Zilla laughed softly, a sound of relief mixed with something else I couldn't quite place. "Wow's right," he said, shaking his head. "I still don't know how the hell we're supposed to make this work."

I had no idea either. But I knew one thing for sure: We'd make it work.

India was already changing everything about Zilla's life, and the fact that she was his daughter made it all the more real. This wasn't some passing situation. This wasn't just a test or a momentary crisis. This was a lifetime. And for better or worse, we were all in this together.

Over the next few weeks, things settled into a routine, but it wasn't easy. Zilla had his wrestling schedule to figure out. The man had always been a whirlwind of energy, constantly on the move, always out of town for matches, training, or media appearances. I didn't have to be a genius to know that this wasn't going to work long-term. India needed stability, and Zilla couldn't be here all the time.

His mother, Leata, had been incredible in helping take care of India, but she had her own life to live. She wasn't in a position to be a full-time babysitter. She had a job, a house to manage, and her own responsibilities. I could see the toll it was taking on her, the exhaustion from juggling too much.

One night, after a particularly long day of juggling my own schedule, I found myself sitting on the couch with Zilla. India had just gone to sleep in the room, and we were both exhausted. Zilla had just gotten home from a grueling match, his body bruised and tired, but his mind was still racing. His gaze was distant, like he was somewhere far away. I knew what he was thinking.

"How are we going to make this work, Kayla?" he asked, his voice quiet. "I'm on the road almost every weekend. We can't expect my mom to take care of her all the time. You've got your own life, your own job, and I can't put that on you."

I understood where he was coming from. He was feeling the weight of it all—the pressure to be there for his daughter, but also the demands of his career. It wasn't an easy balance. Hell, I'd never signed up to be a full-time stepmom, and India wasn't even my child. But there was no question about it now: this little girl was part of our lives.

"I'll figure it out," I said, without even thinking. It wasn't something I had to consider. It was already a done deal in my mind.

Zilla turned to me, his eyes searching mine like he wasn't sure if he should believe me. "You don't have to, Kayla. I know it's a lot. And I—"

"I said I'll figure it out," I interrupted gently, my voice firm. "We'll figure it out together."

His shoulders slumped in relief, but I could tell that the weight still hadn't completely lifted from him. The truth was, neither of us really knew how this was going to go. We were both in uncharted waters.

"I never thought I'd be in this position," Zilla said, rubbing his forehead. "I always thought I'd be a good dad, but... this is bigger than anything I ever imagined. I feel like I'm just stumbling through it."

I could see the vulnerability in his eyes, the cracks in the tough exterior he'd built up over the years. It made my heart ache, knowing how much he was struggling with this new role. But I also knew one thing for sure: Zilla was a good person. He might not know exactly how to do this, but I had no doubt that he would try his damned best.

"You're not alone," I said softly. "I'm here, Zilla. We're in this together. Don't think for one second you're doing this by yourself. You're a good dad. We'll make this work."

Zilla looked at me, his expression softening. "You really mean that, don't you?"

"I wouldn't have said it if I didn't," I replied, giving him a small smile. "And don't worry about me. I've got this. I know what it's like to step up and take on responsibility. Phil and April... they've been perfect role models for me."

Phil and April were my foster parents—two of the most selfless people I knew. They had taken in kids who weren't their own and created a family, despite the obstacles that came with it. They didn't have all the answers, but they made it work, no matter what. They gave me the example I needed to know that it was possible.

Zilla seemed to take a deep breath, a quiet weight lifting from his shoulders. "I just don't want to screw this up."

"You won't," I reassured him, reaching over to squeeze his hand. "We'll figure it out. Together."

I think that was the moment when it hit Zilla that I wasn't going anywhere. It wasn't just about what I said—it was about my actions, the fact that I was already committing to this, to him, and to India. He didn't have to face this alone. We didn't have to do this alone.

The next day, as we sat down with Leata to discuss what we'd do moving forward, there was a quiet understanding in the room. Zilla's wrestling career wasn't going to slow down anytime soon. And while Leata was willing to help, she had her own life to manage. We all knew that much.

Kayla, though? I knew I had to step up. I had to become part of this little girl's life—permanently. There was no other choice. I'd taken that responsibility on willingly, and it felt right.

Leata looked at me and Zilla, a knowing smile on her face. "I told you she was a keeper," she said, her voice warm with pride.

Zilla chuckled softly, his gaze turning toward me. There was gratitude in his eyes, but also something deeper. Maybe it was the realization that this wasn't just some passing situation. Maybe it was the understanding that no matter how difficult things might get, we had each other.

"You were right, Mom," Zilla said quietly. "I don't know what I'd do without her."

I smiled, feeling my heart swell with warmth. I hadn't expected this—hadn't expected to find myself in this situation. But here I was, and I was going to do everything I could to help Zilla raise India, to help create a family, no matter how unconventional it might seem.

Because, like Phil and April, I knew that family wasn't just about blood—it was about love. And that was something we all had in abundance.

We had a long road ahead of us, but together, we could handle whatever came our way.