Page 4 of Challenging Jayce

He recognized the handwriting as Jasmine's. When they were first married, she had sent him numerous letters while he was deployed. The charm quickly wore off.

Dear Shaun,

The letter wasn't even written to him. He wanted to shove it back at Shaun but curiosity won out in the end.

If you're reading this, it means I didn't win the battle. I'm writing you this letter because I'm too ashamed to admit the truth to your face. I knew you would be disappointed in me and I couldn't bear to see that look on your face. Before I confess, after the lies I've told you over the years, I want you to know just how sorry I am. I never intentionally set out to hurt you but I needed a way out and saw you there, staring at me.

Michael isn't your son. I never cheated on Jayce with you. I made it all up and used your drunken state to my advantage. Jayce was so determined to start a family that I started tracking my cycle like crazy to ensure it never happened. The night we conceived Michael was a mistake. I went out with my friends and had too much to drink. We all know how horny I would get after I drank. I realized my mistake the next morning and knew I had to fix it. I contemplated getting an abortion but I could never do that to an innocent baby. Just because I didn't want a family with Jayce didn't mean I never wanted to be a mother.

All week I tried to figure out a way to fix things but it wasn't until the ball that I figured it out. You were passed out drunk and all it took was me slipping into your room to make it look like we slept together. I never thought you would do the honorable thing and marry me.

But you did, and over the years, I came to love you. You were a great father to Michael. I couldn't ask for someone better, but I needed you to know the truth. You can choose to tell Jayce or not. That's your decision. I never wanted the life of a career military wife. I knew as soon as Jayce told me he was considering staying in longer, I needed to get out of the marriage.

I'm truly sorry for the hurt I caused you. I just ask that you don't let this hurt Michael. He doesn't deserve to be punished for my choices. I did love you.

Jasmine

Jayce crushed the note in his hand and threw it on the ground. "She didn't care if you told me? What a self-centered bitch, even in death."

"I'm not disagreeing with you that she had a few flaws."

"A few flaws?" he snapped. "Is that what you call cheating on your husband, hiding the birth father's identity, and thennot caringif I ever found out either way?"

Shaun sighed. "You read the note. You know she never cheated on you. She just made it look that way.”

He scoffed. That’s if he believed what her note said. He wasn't sure about that yet.

"Why did you call Luke? You could've ignored what she said and I never would've been any wiser."

Shaun looked down at the tiled entry floor but didn't say anything at first. It was several minutes of silence that slowly ate away at Jayce’s patience. "I always felt bad about what happened. I told you at the time I didn't remember sleeping with Jasmine. I never would've done that to you. I knew how badly you wanted a family with her. When I read the note, it was a no-brainer. You deserved to know."

Huh. Maybe there was a decent bone in Shaun's body after all.

"I want a DNA test. I know what the note said but I want proof. I wouldn't put it past Jasmine to pull something over on me, even from the grave."

Shaun nodded his head in agreement. "The lab already has Michael's. They just need yours. I can have it rushed so you aren't forced to spend too much time here."

It wasn't a hardship. The ironic part was they lived in Seattle. This whole time they hadn't been far away, but he wasn't about to share and details of his life with anyone until he knew what the results were.

"I should probably get . . ."

He didn't get to finish the sentence before the front door was opening up at his back.

"Michael? What are you doing home so early?" There was no mistaking the panic in Shaun's voice. It had him turning around quickly to see what was going on.

"Today was an early release."

The whole world melted away when he got a look at the boy. There wouldn't be a need for a DNA test. He was looking at a younger version of himself, just with shaggier hair.

Jayce whipped around and shot daggers at Shaun. "Are you fu . . ."

Shaun cut him off when he spoke to Michael. "Michael, this is Jayce. He once knew your mother and me. How about you run upstairs and start your homework. I forgot you were getting out early today."

"But I don't . . ."

"Please, Michael." Shaun sounded like he was at the end of his rope. Jayce wanted to wring the man's neck for snapping at his son.

"Fine." Michael pushed his way through the group without another word. If he noticed the resemblance between himself and Jayce, he didn't say a word.

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