𝐋𝐄𝐆𝐀𝐂𝐘: Bronny James

42

Bronny's POV:

I gripped the steering wheel tightly as I sped down the highway, the needle on my speedometer creeping higher and higher. My chest felt tight. The voice in my head kept replaying the same words over and over.

"Julie's not your daughter."

I slammed my palm against the steering wheel, letting out a growl of frustration. How could Taylor do this to me? How could she let me believe I was the father for all these months, knowing it wasn't true? And Julie—I had already fallen in love with that little girl. My little girl.

Except she wasn't mine.

My phone buzzed in the cup holder, but I didn't check it. I didn't want to talk to anyone right now. I just wanted peace—answers, maybe—but mostly peace. Somehow, through all the chaos in my head, I found myself driving toward USC.

Sophia.

I didn't even think about where I was going. My heart had decided before my brain could even catch up. I needed to see her.

•••

Sophia's POV:

The soft hum of the TV played in the background as I scrolled through my laptop, working on an assignment. Angeline was lying on her bed, watching some reality show and eating chips.

A knock at the door startled both of us.

"I'll get it," Angeline said, hopping up and heading to the door. She opened it, and my heart skipped a beat when I saw Bronny standing there.

"Hey, Bronny," Angeline greeted, stepping aside to let him in. "What's up?"

Bronny didn't respond right away. His eyes scanned the room until they landed on me. The tension in his shoulders eased slightly, and for a moment, he just stared at me like I was the only stable thing in his chaotic world.

"Hey," I said softly, getting up from my desk. "You okay?"

"Not really," he muttered, stepping into the room.

"Should I leave?" Angeline asked, glancing between the two of us.

Bronny shook his head. "Nah. Stay. It's fine."

He sank into the chair by my desk, his elbows on his knees and his hands covering his face. I'd never seen him like this before—Bronny was always the composed one, the one who had everything together.

"What happened?" I asked, sitting on the edge of my bed.

"Is your daughter okay?"

That question seemed to snap something in him. He looked up at me, his eyes filled with frustration and something deeper—something that looked a lot like heartbreak.

"She's fine," he said, his voice tight. "But Taylor... lied to me."

"What do you mean?" I asked, my heart sinking.

Bronny looked at me, his eyes glossing over. "Julie. She's not mine."

Angeline gasped. "What??"

I froze, trying to process what he'd just said. "What? What do you mean she's not yours??"

He sat back, shaking his head. "The tests came back. Julie's blood doesn't match mine. She's not my daughter."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Julie wasn't Bronny's daughter? None of this was making any sense to me.

"She lied. The whole time." he continued. "She knew I wasn't the father, but she tried to trap me because she wanted to keep our image as some perfect couple."

Angeline's jaw dropped. "That little—"

"Ange," I warned, sensing she was about to go off.

"No, Sophia! I knew that b*tch wasn't right. I should've beat her up when I had the chance!"

Bronny managed a weak smile, but it quickly faded. He took a deep breath, but his voice cracked when he spoke again. "I already fell in love with her, you know? Julie. I thought she was mine. I thought... I thought I was her dad."

I stood up and knelt beside him, placing a hand on his arm. "I'm so sorry, Bronny. I can't even imagine how you feel right now."

"She was so small," he said, his voice breaking. "And I was ready to give her everything. I was ready to be a girl dad. And now... now I don't even know where I stand."

Angeline sat back down on her bed, clearly shocked. "I can't believe Taylor would do this. That's beyond f*cked up."

Bronny sighed. "She even said the real father's some MLB player. I should've known she was sneaking around when we were still together... but I didn't."

"Bronny," I said softly, "this isn't your fault. You loved that little girl because you thought she was yours. That doesn't make you stupid. It makes you a good person."

He nodded but didn't look convinced. I noticed a single tear trying to escape his eye, and it broke my heart. I'd never seen him so vulnerable before. I leaned and hugged him, caressing his body and kissing his cheek.

"I just need a few days," he said finally, his voice barely above a whisper. "I need a break from all this baby stuff. I need to clear my head."

"Take all the time you need," I told him, squeezing his arm. "We're here for you."

He stood up, his movements slow and heavy, like he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.

"Thank you guys," he said, giving a small, tired smile. "I'll see you guys soon."

As the door closed behind him, the room was silent. Angeline sat back with her arms crossed, shaking her head in disbelief.

"That girl is evil," she said finally.

I nodded, still processing everything. "I cannot believe she did that to him."

"Bronny doesn't deserve this," Angeline said. "He's too good for her."

"He is," I agreed softly.

We sat there in silence, both of us feeling the weight of what Bronny had just shared. It was heartbreaking, and all I could do was hope he'd find the peace he needed.

END OF CHAPTER 42.