When they returned home, the attic window had been smashed.
Rayna had jumped from the high floor and vanished.
The staff found one of her shoes and a trail of uneven footprints.
This meant she’d twisted her ankle.
The attic contained only a note with a single tear–stained line:
[Since you don’t believe me, I won’t be an eyesore anymore. Hope you’re all happy…]
“Screw that! If she wants to leave, let her!”
Dad threw the shoe down, too angry for words.
Jaxon tore up the note:
“If Rayna left, don’t let her back in when she returns!”
Mom was equally cold:
“Our priority is finding Harper. She’s an outsider–what’s she throwing tantrums for?”
But that night, Jaxon rushed out of the mansion like a madman.
Mom and Dad immediately followed in their car.
After searching all night, they finally found Rayna on the beach–hair wet, hugging her knees, staring into space.
“RAYNA!”
Jaxon was breathless, his eyes bloodshot.
The moment he saw her, his eyes turned red.
“Jaxon…”
“Dad… Mom…”
She stumbled to her feet with a pitiful smile:
“I know you don’t like me anymore. I promise I’ll never show my face again.”
She turned and limped away.
But Jaxon rushed behind her and wrapped her in a fierce embrace:
“Enough… doing this… you wanna KILL me?”
10:14
My Tamily Left Me for Dead. Now My Vengeful Husband Is Their CEO.
57.1
Chapter 9
“Jaxon…”
Rayna’s breathing shook:
“Don’t… I don’t deserve it…”
“ENOUGH!”
Jaxon gripped her shoulders and spun her around:
“No matter what happens, don’t leave me again. Don’t leave the Mitchell family.”
“You doing this–it’s like murdering me.”
Mom and Dad stood nearby. Mom cried into Dad’s arms, while Dad looked at his trembling adopted daughter with clear pain and protectiveness.
Rayna was brought home with the highest honors.
Despite their earlier anger, the little princess they’d raised from childhood could make them melt with just red–rimmed eyes.
Rayna became their precious girl again.
The three of them stopped doubting her, so they started doubting me instead.
The more they thought about it, the fishier it seemed.
How convenient that they’d discovered all that evidence right before departure.
It HAD to be my elaborate setup: I was definitely acting, trying to make them feel guilty so they’d start loving me.
“She wanted to put on a show and ended up making Rayna suffer!”
The disownment letter was stomped underfoot:
“Some disownment letter! Just a trick to mess with our heads while she’s living it up somewhere safe. Disgusting!”
Jaxon stomped on the letter repeatedly.
Dad snorted:
‘She likes acting? Fine. We’ll announce that we’re cutting ties with her.”
‘Since she wants drama, let’s make it REAL!”
Jaxon nodded:
‘People like her need special treatment. Don’t worry–she’ll come crawling back to apologize to Rayna soon enough.”
The media quickly released a statement-
#The Mitchell family was severing all ties with eldest daughter Harper Mitchell.
I was pretty surprised when I saw the news abroad.
10:14
61.9
My Family Loft Mo for Dead Now My Vengeful Hushand Is Their CEO
Chapter 5
I’d expected them to drag things out for a while before giving in. Didn’t think it’d happen this fast.
Great.
Otherwise I’d be stuck dealing with messy connections that would just drag me down.
According to the Mitchell family’s logic, seeing this news should’ve made me panic.
Then I’d come home crying, begging them not to abandon me.
At which point they could make all kinds of demands–like having me kneel and apologize to Rayna.
To get back into the family, I’d definitely obey.
But a month passed with zero signs of me coming home.
Jaxon was getting antsy:
“Isn’t she done with this act yet? Or is she waiting for us to find her?”
Dad took a drag of his cigar, confirming with his assistant again:
“You’re sure the statement went out everywhere? No chance she missed it, right?”
“Absolutely, Mr. Mitchell. I’ve been in PR for years–I don’t make mistakes like that.”
Dad frowned around his cigar.
“ENOUGH!”
Mom burst through the door:
“You guys won’t look, so I will! I’m bringing my daughter home MYSELF!”
“Wait!”
Jaxon and Dad Sterling Mitchell jumped up.
Just as they were about to say they’d go together, Rayna’s urgent voice rang out:
“Dad! Mom! Jaxon! I found Harper!”
