Ryan stormed toward the table, his eyes locked on Ed with a fierceness I’d never seen before. The room’s laughter dwindled into an uneasy silence, as guests exchanged worried glances. My heart raced – not just from the shock of what had happened, but from the anticipation of what my brother might do.
Ed’s smirk faded when he saw Ryan’s determined stride. “Hey, man, it was just a joke,” Ed said, hands raised defensively, attempting to diffuse the situation with a chuckle.
But Ryan was undeterred. He stood in front of Ed, his demeanor calm but his intensity palpable. “A joke?” Ryan asked, his voice steady yet filled with an authority that commanded attention. “A joke is supposed to be funny for everyone, Ed, not just you.” His gaze shifted to me, his expression softening. “You okay, Sis?”
