Chapter 263: The Eldest Son Draws a Line

"Dad, I—" Adrian Stone began, only to be cut off by his younger brother.

"Dad! Second Brother has a girlfriend!" The younger Stone slammed his hands on the table, grinning. "Everyone in the neighborhood knows Valerie Mercer has been waiting for him all these years. Come on, Second Brother, you're the man—why are you dragging your feet when she's too shy to make the first move?"

He was practically gushing. In his eyes, Valerie Mercer was the perfect woman—gentle, thoughtful, and always bringing him treats whenever she visited. A girl like her deserved better than his cold, stoic brother.

Sylvia Stone's head snapped up. She hadn't put him up to this. That foolish niece of hers had gone behind her back and manipulated the boy? Utterly idiotic.

"Don't talk nonsense," she interrupted sharply. "Your brother isn't that kind of man."

She knew Adrian too well. This clumsy scheme would only backfire. As for that Elena Ward... Sylvia's lips curled in disdain. Just some nobody doctor with no connections. Crushing her would be child's play.

But Nathaniel Stone perked up. "Valerie Mercer's a good girl. Adrian, if you like her, you should settle things sooner rather than later."

"Dad!" The eldest Stone brother scoffed. "You think trash like Valerie Mercer is worthy? You already married one disaster—now you want to drag Second Brother down too?"

"You insolent—!" Nathaniel slammed his fist on the table. "What's wrong with Valerie Mercer? How dare you speak like that! And she's your mother!"

"My mother died years ago!" The eldest brother shot to his feet, his chair screeching against the floor. "I lost her when I was eight."

The living room plunged into suffocating silence.

Nathaniel's hands trembled. "You... you're still holding onto that?"

"Holding onto it?" The eldest brother's smile was razor-sharp. "Dad, you made me lie and say I got lost on my own—just to protect her. From that day on, I stopped having a father."

His gaze shifted to Sylvia, cold as steel. "Listen carefully. Stay away from my brother. You ruined me—but over my dead body will you ruin him too."

Sylvia gripped Nathaniel's hand so tightly her nails drew blood. She knew better than to doubt his words. The eldest Stone always kept his promises.