DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN ANYTHING!

AN: So I've had this chapter edited for a while now, but life got in the way and gave me little time to post it. Anyway, I want to thank everyone for their reviews, and I'm sorry that it took so long to get this out. Hopefully it won't be this long before the next update. BTW: I must say thanks to by beta for her wonderful help! Without any more rambling here's the next installment.

CHAPTER 1: PAIN REARS ITS UGLY HEAD

It's been two weeks since the paternity shocker, and my life has been a living hell. It's impossible for me to be around my wife, much less think about her, without feeling such intense pain and hatred. It amazes me, how I can be completely in love with Rory one minute, and then can't stand to be around her the next. But, I have to put all these feelings I now have for her aside if I want my plans to succeed.

I was getting one aspect of my plans going, when my father walked into my office, at DuGrey Enterprise.

".. okay, I'll see you in 30 minutes then. Thanks for doing this Jon. I know how you feel so I really appreciate you doing this. Bye," I said, ending my conversation. I didn't want my father to know what I was talking about.

"Was that Jon Callaway you were speaking to?" my father asks, as he takes a seat in one of the leather chairs in front of my desk.

"Yes it was," I state.

"Jon Callaway, as in Jon Callaway attorney-at-law?" he asks again. It is obvious that he is trying to figure out want I am up to.

"Is there another?" I reply, getting tried of his behavior. I know he won't approve of my plan. He thinks of Rory as a daughter, but I can't let him, or anyone else, get in my way.

"I know for a fact that there are no meetings scheduled today that requires you or our DuGrey Enterprise head attorney, so care to tell me why you're meeting Jon?"

"Father, I know you find this hard to believe sometimes, but I am a capable adult, able to handle my own affairs…"

"In other words, butt out?"

"Exactly."

"Hate to break it to you son, but until I'm dead and buried, I'm always going to want to know what's going on in your life…"

"I could remember a time when you didn't care what the hell I was doing." He is really starting to get on my nerves. At this point I wish it were years ago, where he didn't care about my coming and goings, maybe then we wouldn't be having this conversation.

"That was then, Tristan. You know I'm sorry for the way I treated you back then and I'm trying to make things right."

I see a shadow of hurt in his eyes before it disappears. My anger is geared towards Rory, not my father. "I know," I say in an apologetic voice.

Wanting to know what I am up to, he continues his questioning. "Okay then, this thing it's not business related, so it must be personal. Meaning it must have something to do with Rory. Am I right?"

"Yes." I am willing to drag this out for as long as it takes, hoping he would get fed-up and leave it alone.

But, with my luck lately, I should have known that he isn't going to stop until he gets some answers.

"Are you filing for a divorce?" He asks.

"No," I respond, getting up out of the leather executive chair, facing the floor to ceiling windows, with his back to his father.

"Are you planning on getting one?"

"Should I be?"

"I can't answer that son. It's you who have to make that decision on your own. But, if it's not about a divorce then what's it about."

"The paternity suit," I decide to share, knowing he isn't going to let it go, and wanting to get it over with.

"What about it? Are you and Rory trying to fight it?"

"No."

"Then what?" he asks perplexed.

I turn to face my father, so that he would know that I'm serious about what I'm about to tell him. "I am petitioning the court to postpone the paternity until after the baby is born."

A look of shock passes over my father's face. "How?" he shakes his head as he clears out his thoughts. "…I'm trying to ask you -why postpone the test? It's at least seven more months? Tristan, why put your self through all that pain of not knowing?" he asks, trying yet again to understand the logic behind my actions.

"It's safer for the baby," is my only response.

"Cut the crap Tristan, and tell me the real reason," he is getting fed-up with the run-around I was giving him.

"That is the real reason," I reply, trying to sound as sincere as possible.

"No, its not. You and I know that those tests are not a real threat to the baby, so why are you doing this? I know finding about Rory's affair hurt you badly, on top of that the child she's carrying could possible not be yours; a child that you so desperately wanted and loved the minute you found out she was pregnant. So tell me why your putting off knowing if its yours or not?" He stands and leans over my desk, bring his face closer to mines. "And I want the truth this time."

Turning back towards the windows, I start to inform my father of my plans. "Did you know, when I was a kid, and there was a crisis going on in the family, and all you those involved would congregate in your study, I would sneak down and listen to what was going on?"

"No, I didn't but what does this have to do with now?"

"The main thing that I used to hear was 'no one messes with a DuGrey and gets away with it'. We even say that now when someone is stupid enough to cross us."

"Tristan, what are you planning?" He asks nervously.

I turn back around to look my father straight into his eyes.

"No one messes with a DuGrey and gets away with it," I say in a cold voice, showing no emotion whatsoever.

I could tell that my facial features and tone of voice scare my father, but I don't care. I collect my things, and head towards the door, but my father stops me before I could leave.

"What are you planning on doing to this Jess person?" he asks.

"Nothing…yet." I say. Of course I have plans for Jess, but he isn't my top priority.

"But, you just said…" He stops as realization dawns on him. "Tristan, she's you wife, who you love dearly."

"She's also the one who betrayed me," I state.

With that said, I walk out of my office, leaving my father wondering how far I will go.

At this point I need you to click the little purple button and review, review, review! Any and all are welcome!

Zoe