The words rang loud and jagged through the room, cutting the air like glass.
What did he mean by not his brother?
Jake's expression went blank, shock flickering across his face. Evelyn blinked, unsure she'd heard right. "What… what did you just say?" she whispered.
Raymond's chest rose and fell rapidly. His lips curled into a bitter smile. "You heard me," he said, his tone eerily calm now. "Stop calling Jake my brother. Because I know he's not."
A stunned silence followed. Even the ticking clock in the hallway seemed to stop as everyone's mind spun with questions.
Jake stepped forward slowly, his voice low, controlled, but dangerous. "Raymond, what the hell are you talking about?"
Raymond met his gaze, unflinching. "I just said, you're not my brother. You're not a Stone, Jake. Mom and dad has been lying to us, giving you everything leaving me, their son with nothing!"
Evelyn's hand flew to her mouth, her body trembling. "Raymond, stop. That's enough."
