"AJ is mine," I insisted, being demanding. I couldn't be calm, no matter if I tried. The determination in me was too strong to know.

"Sophia, why did you not tell me," I asked. "Was it to hurt me," I questioned.

She stood frozen in place, fear shining in her eyes. Her silence irritated me because I desperately needed something.

"God, damn it answered me!" I yelled," Why does AJ look so much like me?" I asked, anger seeping into my voice. The thought of missing six years of my son's life gnawed at me. And to know Aj's named after another man. My blood was hot.

Her eyes brimmed with tears as she looked at me. Seeing her cry stirred something in me, but this was too important to ignore.

"No- No- No," she stuttered.

"There's a chance he could be mine," I stated, my voice raw with emotion. I searched her face for answers.

"No, it's impossible," she whispered, avoiding my eyes as her tears flowed freely, her voice cracking. She shakes her head in denial.

Before, I would have comforted here, but now I needed the truth I already suspected. Sophia put herself in this position, and she still wants to lie.

"Look me in the eyes and tell me now! You're certain without a doubt he has no chance of being mine," I demanded, stepping closer. The air between us felt electric.

Her eyes darted away from mine.

"I want a paternity test," I  stated, approaching her.

"It can't be," she sobbed. "We only did it once, and we used a condom. Don't do this, please," she begged.

"It's possible, isn't it?" I asked, wiping a tear from her cheek.

But we both knew it was a real possibility. AJ was born in early February, which fit the timeline perfectly. I had to find out the truth. I deserved to do this for AJ.

Before I could react, a fist collided with my face, sending me staggering back. Blood filled my mouth as I spat it out.

Alex was red, filled with anger, his fist balled with my blood on it."I invited you into my home, and you're telling me you think you're the father of my son and berating my wife?" Alex's voice thundered with fury.

"Get the fuck out of here now, before I fucking paint my house with your blood!" he warned as some guys approached to escort me.

"I'll leave for now, but I'm going to fight for the truth," I told Sophia. "You're wishing for pain," Alex yelled as he tried to rush at me.

He stopped as Sophia cried out. He turned to comfort her, and I couldn't help but laugh at the irony.

"How pathetic," I stated with a glare directed at them as I pushed the guys off me, "I will leave by myself, "I declared, walking out the door.

I drove straight to Jules's home. Her event was over, but  I didn't care. I needed her to provide me with the comfort I sought. As I arrived, I spotted Keilen's black G Wagon parked outside.

Emily opened the door, and once her eyes saw me at the door, it hardened. She tried to slam the door on me, but my foot prevented it. It hurt, but my blood was seeping with anger. The pain didn't affect me.

'Ethan, what do you want," Emily annoyingly asked as I tried to look behind her. "You're a dick, so go home," Emily angrily stated as she shielded Jules from me.

"Em, it has nothing to do with you. I need to speak to Jules," I angrily started trying to reach Jules.

"Ethan, you messed up, so stop," Keilen agreed with Em as he prevented me from entering.

"It's okay. I need to speak to Ethan," Julia started as she approached me, her eyes red from crying. She had her hands wrapped around her body with a small distance between us. She walked outside the door with me.

It was hurtful she didn't let me in, my heart growing heavy, but I knew my honesty would get through her.

"Jules, I am-" I started as she raised her hand, stopping me.

"You knew this was important to me and promised to take me," she softly stated with honesty as her hand remained raised, "I would have understood if you replied. I got nothing, and everyone called you. Only your mom eased my worries by indicating you would reach shortly, but you never came." she sadly stated.

"Ethan, I do love you," her voice trembling. I hated where this was heading.

"I believe some part of you loves me too, but you can't fully be with me while you're still chasing after Sophia in your heart. It's evident in the way you act," she said.

"Are you breaking up with me?" I asked, taken aback. "I'm not chasing after Sophia; I just need to know if AJ is my son."

"Where were you when I needed you," Julia asked calmly. I kept quiet, "you were with Sophia."

"I knew you were going to win, and this was important," I defended myself.

"That might be important to you," she conceded, "I have to respect your choice, but you have to mine as well. I need to be honest with you."

"You can't be mad," I angrily thought.

" I wanted the truth if he was my son," I expressed with tears falling from my eyes. I knew it was a feeble attempt.

" AJ is Sophia's and Alex's child, and genetics doesn't need a child to look identical to their parents," she expressed softly, "You just want an excuse to be with Sophia. And I can't fill the void she left," she somberly expressed, a tear slid down her cheek.

"Ethan, I can't be on this journey anymore with you. I can't compete with someone when I've always been their understudy," she said softly, kissing me gently and walking back.

As I stood there, watching her retreat, the weight of the truth pressed down on me. I had to find out about AJ, but I lost Julia. The answers I sought came at a cost I wasn't ready to pay. Tears fell from my eyes without stopping.

She opened her door to the entrance and slowly turned to me, "Goodbye, Ethan," she replied and closed the door.

To Be Continued