CHAPTER 96: PLEASE, STOP

Jake’s tires screeched as he pulled into the sweeping driveway of the Stones mansion, the grand white structure standing still and silent against the dusk.

Jake’s hands clenched the steering wheel so tight his knuckles turned pale. He’d driven here straight from Raymond’s empty apartment—empty, just like the explanations he’d been trying to make for his brother since he saw the CCTV Footage.

No lights on at Raymond’s, no sign of him anywhere. Of course. The coward had run back home to their parents’ house — the one place Jake hadn’t wanted to storm into, not tonight. But after everything he’d seen, everything he’d learned, he couldn’t hold it in any longer.

If their parents were going to find out then better. At least, maybe they could help him ask Raymond what he did to deserve such act of wickedness.

The butler opened the door even before Jake had reached for the bell, startled by the sound of his footsteps pounding up the marble steps.

"Mr. Stone," the butler stammered, straightening immediately, "Good evening—"

"Is Raymond here?" Jake’s voice cut through the calm like a blade. His tone was so sharp the older man instinctively stepped back.

"I—yes, sir, he arrived not long ago. Mr. and Mrs. Stone are about to have dinner—"

Jake didn’t wait for the rest. He shoved past him, boots striking the polished floor as he strode inside. The scent of roasted meat and wine drifted from the dining hall, laughter echoing faintly — a sound that burned against the fury pounding through his chest.

He didn’t care that he was interrupting dinner. He didn’t care that his parents were there. All he saw was red.

The moment he stepped into the hallway, his mother appeared from the dining room, a warm smile lighting her face.

"Jake!" Evelyn Stone exclaimed, setting down her napkin. "Oh, sweetheart, what a surprise! You didn’t say you were coming over. Come in, dear. We’re just about to have dinner—"

"Where’s Raymond?" Jake’s voice was cold, direct. No greeting. No warmth.

Evelyn blinked, her smile faltering. "He’s here, darling. Why—"

"Call him," Jake snapped, ignoring her outstretched hand. His chest rose and fell with barely contained rage. "He has to come down now."

Behind her, Charles Stone looked up from his glass of wine, brows knitting in confusion and concern. "Jake. Son. What’s the matter with you? Sit down first. Whatever this is can wait."

"No, it can’t." Jake’s voice cracked like thunder. His father had always commanded the room but not tonight. Tonight, Jake’s fury overpowered them all. "Where’s your youngest son? Ask the helps—Mary, Rose—anyone to get him out here."

"Jake!" Evelyn said sharply now, alarm flooding her voice. "What’s gotten into you? You’re scaring me. What has your brother done that you’re looking this upset?"

He turned his blazing eyes on her, chest heaving. "That is why you should call your youngest son here and ask him what he’s been up to."

The echo of his shout seemed to shake the chandeliers.

The dining hall fell silent except for the faint clatter of silverware. A long, tense moment stretched then a calm voice drifted from the hallway.

"Brother," Raymond’s voice came smooth, casual with the perfect tone of innocence. "What’s with the yelling? I could hear you from upstairs."

Jake turned, his eyes locking on the man descending the stairs, hands casually in his pockets, expression touched with mild concern. Raymond looked calm, unruffled, and collected. And right now, that composure only poured oil on Jake’s rage.

Raymond stepped into the light, feigning confusion. "You’re pacing like someone set the house on fire. What happened? Is something wrong?"

Jake laughed, a harsh, humorless sound. "Is something wrong?" He took a step forward, his voice rising. "Tell me, Raymond, are you really my brother?"

"Jake!" Evelyn gasped, eyes wide. "What are you saying?"

"I’m asking because I can’t tell anymore," Jake said, turning his fury back on Raymond. "Because I can’t wrap my head around the fact that you, my own blood, would betray me like this."

Charles stood from his chair, his voice firm. "Enough of this nonsense, Jake. If you’ve had a disagreement, we can talk about it properly. Why do you need to doubt your brother’s love?"

Raymond raised a hand gently, his expression composed, his voice calm. "Dad, it’s okay. He’s probably upset over something I don’t even know about." Then, turning to Jake with a faint frown, "What’s this about, huh? What betrayal? How can I even betray you? I’m sure it’s just a silly misunderstanding."

"Silly misunderstanding? As if you don’t know what I’m talking about——"

"Of course I don’t. If I did, I wouldn’t be asking——"

Jake scoffed, cutting of whatever nonsense Raymond was saying. "Don’t you dare pretend you don’t know."

"I really don’t," Raymond said, brows furrowed in mock concern. "Is this about last night? I already told you. You were drinking, Jake. You were out of it. Maybe you’re mixing things up—"

Jake’s temper finally cracked. He lunged forward, slamming his hand down on the dining table so hard that the cutlery rattled. "Don’t play dumb with me!"

Evelyn jumped at the sound. "Jake, stop this right now!"

"Stop?" He turned to her, his voice breaking with anger. "You want me to stop? Fine. Then tell your precious son here to stop pretending!" He faced Raymond again, voice shaking. "You think you can twist this around? You think I wouldn’t find out?"

Raymond’s eyes flickered, but he kept his tone even. "Find out what, Jake? This can’t be because you had too much to drink and called Helena over yourself, is it?"

Evelyn blinked in confusion. "Helena? What does she have to do with this?" she asked, looking from one son to the other.

Charles’s gaze hardened, his tone sharp. "I thought you said you didn’t like that girl, Jake. So why are you calling her over to your house now?"

Jake’s chest rose sharply. His fists trembled at his sides. "I didn’t call her," he bit out. "That’s the point. I never wanted her near me. And yet, somehow, she ended up in my house—in my bed—claiming we slept together."

The color drained from Evelyn’s face. "What?" she whispered. "You slept with...."

"I didn’t!" Jake snapped, the fury in his voice edged with despair. "I didn’t touch her! I don’t even remember anything. I didn’t even know she was there until I woke up and saw her in my house! She set me up!"

Charles’s face went rigid. "This is serious, Jake. But what exactly does that have to do with your brother?"

He jabbed a finger at Raymond. "It has everything to do with him, dad. Because your youngest son here, alongside Helena set me up."

Evelyn gasped softly. "What are you saying?"

"I’m saying," Jake ground out, "that Raymond drugged me and then set me up with Helena."

The words dropped like stones into a silent pond.

For a moment, nobody moved. Evelyn blinked, her mouth opening slightly. Charles froze mid-breath, disbelief etched across his features. Only Raymond stood still, his face carefully blank.

Then, almost smoothly, Raymond let out a small, disbelieving laugh. "You can’t be serious."

Jake’s glare didn’t waver. "Oh, I’m dead serious and you, more than anyone here know that."

"You think I’d do something like that?" Raymond asked quietly, voice calm but eyes calculating. "Drug my own brother? Come on, Jake. That’s absurd. What possible reason would I have?"

Jake took a step closer, voice trembling with fury. "That’s what I want to know! What could I have done that made you hate me enough to destroy me?"

"Jake!" Evelyn cried. "Please! Stop saying these things!"

But he wasn’t listening anymore. The anger that had been clawing inside him all day finally burst free.

"You called me that night," Jake said, his voice hard, his words tumbling fast, sharp, uncontrollable. "You said you needed to talk. I gave you the address. You came to the lounge. We talked. We drank. I didn’t even drink up to two glasses before I blacked out! That’s because you drugged me!"

He slammed his hand against his chest, eyes burning. "Next thing I remember, I wake up half-naked in my bed with Helena in my house claiming I called her over! And you—" he pointed, shaking with rage, "you acted like nothing happened. Like you didn’t know a damn thing!"

Evelyn’s voice trembled. "Jake... are you saying...?"

"Yes, mom!" Jake snapped. "If Helena and I had been talking, if there was even a chance of it, maybe it would’ve made sense. But I never liked her! I never even had her number! Yet somehow, she ends up in my house claiming I called her and gave her my address."

Evelyn and Charles exchanged glances, and then looked from one son to the other. This can’t be happening in their house. They’d raised both children with love so there’s no way they’d be rivalry up to drugging someone between them.