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."
Charles drew in a steadying breath, trying to calm the storm spiraling before him. "Jake," he began evenly, though his knuckles tightened on the chair's back, "if this is just about him calling Helena over, then we can all sit down and talk about it. I'll personally invite Helena and let her know this was all a mistake and you won't have to take responsibility. There's no need to be this furious—"
Jake's glare snapped to him, blazing. "It's not just about calling Helena, Dad!" His voice thundered through the hall. "Raymond didn't just call her—he drugged me. He set me up! Aren't you all listening to me?"
