Unveiling Truths
Middleton, UK
Several Weeks Ago
The weight of the revelation hung heavy in the air as LJ and his mother sat in the dimly lit living room of their modest apartment. LJ's mind raced with a whirlwind of emotions, his heart heavy with the weight of the truth he had just learned. On the coffee table in front of him, sat open the file with all the details that he had been searching for but could never quite get...until one woman with a vendetta showed up at their doorstep, suddenly carrying all his answers.
"Why, mum?" LJ's voice was barely a whisper, filled with a mixture of confusion and hurt.
Rebecca sighed, her eyes glistening with unshed tears as she met LJ's gaze. "I'm sorry, Lyle. I should have told you about them sooner."
LJ shook his head, a wave of frustration washing over him. "But why didn't you? Why did I have to find out about Miles and Bri like this?"
Rebecca reached out, taking LJ's hand in hers, her touch offering a small measure of comfort amidst the storm of emotions. "Lyle, I... I was afraid."
"Afraid of what, mum?" LJ's voice was tinged with frustration, his heart aching with the weight of his mother's words.
Rebecca took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts before speaking. "I was afraid of hurting you, of opening old wounds that I thought had healed. Mora, their mother, was my best friend, LJ. She was like a sister to me. And when I found out about your father's other family, I... I didn't know how to tell you. There was also your father’s life..."
LJ's brow furrowed in confusion, his mind struggling to make sense of his mother's words. "But why, Mum? Why keep it from me for so long?"
Rebecca's gaze fell, her voice barely above a whisper as she spoke. "Because I felt like I betrayed her, baby. Mora and I, we were inseparable. And when your father came into our lives, I... I gave into him, despite knowing what kind of man he was. I let him in, and I let him hurt us. I always said the best thing he ever gave me was you, but I wasn’t sure if I could even reach out. Mora was left with two almost teenagers, by herself. If she had known... even if she did, I don’t know how she would have reacted."
A heavy silence settled over the room as LJ processed his mother's words. The truth behind her silence was like a dagger to his heart, piercing through the layers of pain and confusion that had clouded his mind for so long.
"I'm sorry, Mum," LJ whispered, his voice filled with remorse. "I didn't realize..."
Rebecca reached out, pulling LJ into a tight embrace, her arms wrapping around him in a gesture of love and forgiveness. "It's okay, LJ. But look, I don’t know how they are going to react, if you are serious, I will support you if you want to try and connect with them. You deserve that much after all this time. I hope that they will accept you. I’m sure with how your father was, they will be initially surprised as we all were. We'll get through this together, as a family."
As LJ and his mother held each other in the quiet of their living room, a sense of healing washed over them. The truth may have been painful, but it was also a catalyst for healing and reconciliation, paving the way for a brighter future filled with love and understanding.
More towards the Present Day
“So you’re sayin’ that even when he was alive, our old man was never there?”
LJ looked on at his big brother who sat across the table. It’s been a whole month since those two became aware of one another and since then Miles had felt like he was answering questions non-stop. He leaned forward, elbows on the table, his hands clasped together, fingers tapping lightly as if to emphasize his points. “I don’t have a lot of memories of him that he wasn’t drunk and violent. He would take it out on me mostly when I finally got old enough to stand up to him to protect my mum and Bri.”
“So you’re saying that I probably dodged the bullet.”
That caused Miles a good laugh.
“Who honestly knows. I found out as I got a little older just what kind of person he was. Low level strong arm who pissed away everything he ever made on stupid decisions and I don’t mean his families.” as he motions between the two of them, “If it wasn’t for my mum working and making the right friends, we would have been homeless and starving.”
“Same with my mum...at least what I could remember.” LJ smirked, “Of course I was 3 and she was able to get me into school as soon as she could and worked when I was there.”
Miles could tell he wanted to expand so, let’s, “Tell me about her.”
LJ leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms as he thought for a moment. “Well, her name is Rebecca. She’s a paralegal with a pretty good law firm, she made sure that I kept my nose clean and supported me through everything....including sports.”
That caught Miles’ attention, “Football?”
“Lacrosse actually.” LJ said with a proud grin, his eyes sparkling with fond memories.
And with a nod, “Impressive.”
“Thank you. She pushed me hard to keep to my studies, so if it wasn’t for her, I probably would have never gotten into college.”
“I was lucky to make it through grade school. Course by the time I hit 18, I was too much of a punk...if I wasn’t working, I was running the streets.”
This is what his mum was telling him about, but he needed to know from the man himself, “Almost followed in his footsteps, didn’t you?”
“Pretty damn close. If it wasn’t for my mum, Bri following me practically EVERYWHERE and a mate of mine, there was an almost certainty that I was going to end up in a gutter. Thankfully I found other outlets and outs to get me away from that.”
The smile that the brother shared were so similar you could finally see the resemblance, “Wrestling?”
“Something it appears we have in common besides a half of a DNA.” Miles smirked, “I started with yardin’ and then got invited to come to a school in Manchester, I paid my tuition working in the gym. I grew so fast that they shipped me to New York to train with the Russows and from there...well Wolfslair and then to Vegas.”
LJ felt a little comfortable admitting this but they weren’t holding secrets back now, “I’ve actually been watching you for the last 4 years.”
“I’m not sure if I should be flattered or concerned.”
“Flattered, by all means. I got to uni and friends of mine were watching one night and well lets just say you have a way to make an impression.”
Miles takes a sip from his cup as he is in mid thought and finishes, “Let me ask you one more thing and then you can stop over-inflating my ego and we get back to you.”
“Shoot.”
“My relationship status, doesn’t bug you at all?”
“Not in any way. You and Carter make an amazing couple, and I do wish he wasn’t so...stand-offish with me.”
“You’ll learn real quick that Carter is as protective of me as I am of him. And truth be told, we have been spending a lot of time together since and well..”
“Well maybe one day I’ll find my own life and won’t be tagging around like an annoying little brother.” LJ said with a chuckle, “But back to why it doesn’t bug me, is my mum...is actually married...to a lawyer in her firm.”
This confused Miles and with a shake of his head, “Not following.”
“Her name is Joan.”
Miles raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. “Joan, huh?”
“Yeah, she's been around for a while now. They got married about five years ago.”
The corners of Miles' lips twitched upward into a smirk. “Sounds like you've got yourself a whole other family tree to explore.”
LJ chuckled, shaking his head. “Yeah, it feels like I'm just starting to untangle the branches.”
“I’ll drink to that.”
A brief moment of silence passes between the two, before LJ finally bucks up the courage to ask, “Hey Miles can...can I ask you a question?”
“Seems to be a theme. But go on...”
That caused LJ to laugh nervously and he looks around, “What can you tell me about Ally?”
Let’s Just Keep This Simple...Because Nothing Else In My Life Is
The quaint town of Vimy Ridge, France, serves as an unlikely backdrop for LJ's moment of introspection. Nestled amidst rolling hills and lush countryside, its cobblestone streets and rustic charm offer a stark contrast to the high-octane world of professional wrestling.
"Vimy Ridge, France. SCW Battleground tour. A historic setting for what promises to be a pivotal moment in my career. This is where I make my mark, where I prove to the world—and to myself—that I belong in the ring with the best of them.
Aiden Reynolds. A fellow Wolfslair member. A man I respect, both as a competitor and as a colleague. But Sunday, respect will have to take a backseat. Sunday, it's about proving who's the better man, who's hungrier for success.
I may have been eliminated from the Blast from the Past tournament, but that's in the past. Sunday is about the future. It's about seizing the opportunity that's right in front of me and making the most of it.
I'm young, I'm hungry, and I'm in the mood to prove myself from the word go. Last week was just the beginning—a taste of what I'm capable of. But Sunday, I take it to the next level. I show the world what I'm made of, what I bring to the table.
I've been training for this moment my entire life. Every early morning, every late night, every sacrifice—it's all led to this. And I'm not about to let it slip through my fingers.
Aiden, if you're listening, know this: I respect you, I admire you, but Sunday, I'm coming for you with everything I've got. I won't hold back, I won't hesitate. I'll leave it all in the ring, and when the dust settles, there will be no doubt in anyone's mind who the better man is.
So let's do this, Aiden. Let's give these fans a match they'll never forget. And when it's all said and done, when the final bell rings and my hand is raised in victory, they'll know that LJ is a name they won't soon forget."
LJ stands alone on a deserted street corner, the only sound the distant chirping of birds and the soft rustle of leaves in the breeze. He takes a deep breath, inhaling the crisp, clean air, letting it fill his lungs and calm his nerves.
With a sense of purpose, LJ begins to speak, his voice echoing off the ancient stone buildings that line the street. His words are a declaration of intent, a vow to himself and to the world that he is ready to seize his moment.
As he speaks, LJ's gaze wanders, taking in the quiet beauty of his surroundings. The sun hangs low in the sky, casting long shadows across the cobblestones, painting the town in a warm, golden light.
In the distance, the spires of a medieval church rise majestically into the sky, their ancient stone facades a testament to the town's rich history. LJ watches them for a moment, feeling a sense of awe wash over him at the sight of such enduring beauty.
"Vimy Ridge, France. The very name sends shivers down the spine, doesn't it? A place steeped in history, a battleground where heroes fought and sacrifices were made. Sunday, it becomes the stage for my own personal battle, my own quest for glory.
Aiden Reynolds stands across from me, a man I've admired, a man I've trained with. But Sunday, none of that matters. Sunday, he's just another obstacle in my path, another challenge to overcome.
Last week's elimination from the Blast from the Past tournament was a setback, no doubt. But setbacks are just setups for comebacks, and Sunday, I'm ready to make my comeback. I'm ready to show the world what I'm truly capable of.
I've been waiting for this moment my entire life. Every grueling training session, every painful bump, every ounce of sweat and blood—it's all led me here. And I refuse to let it go to waste.
I'm young, hungry, and determined to prove myself. I've got something to prove not just to the fans, not just to my opponents, but to myself. I want to look in the mirror after Sunday's match and know that I left everything I had in that ring.”
But his focus quickly returns to the task at hand. Sunday's match looms large in his mind, a daunting challenge that he is determined to conquer. With renewed determination, LJ squares his shoulders and sets off down the quiet street, his footsteps echoing in the stillness of the evening.
“Aiden, if you're listening, know that I respect you. But respect only gets you so far in this business. Sunday, it's about who wants it more, who's willing to push themselves harder, who's willing to go that extra mile.
So let's make history Sunday, Aiden. Let's give these fans a match they'll never forget. Let's leave it all out there in that ring, and when it's all said and done, let the world know that LJ is here to stay."
As he disappears around a bend in the road, the town of Vimy Ridge seems to hold its breath, as if waiting in anticipation of the battle to come. And in that moment, LJ knows that he is ready. Ready to face his opponent, ready to prove himself, ready to make his mark on the world of professional wrestling.
