Chapter 7
Caden was a friend I’d known since before college.
He’d applied to Harvard a year ahead of me and successfully broken free from his own toxic family.
After going abroad, we’d gotten together.
Over the years, we’d been quietly building our own business empire.
Caden had a year’s head start and was better known in our circles.
So the Mitchell family only recognized Caden for now.
“You accused my wife of being a sex worker and called me some random guy. Think you owe me an explanation?”
“Harper Mitchell… and you…?”
Jaxon couldn’t believe it.
Rayna stared at Caden blankly, then suddenly realized something:
“No way! Mr. Brooks! She TRICKED you!”
Caden looked puzzled.
Rayna pointed at me:
“The engagement between the Brooks and Mitchell families was supposed to be MINE! Back when she wasn’t even part of the
family yet!”
“Mr. Brooks! YOU were supposed to marry ME! Not HER!”
Sterling Mitchell caught on too:
“That’s right, Mr. Brooks! When our families arranged the marriage, it was Rayna we set you up with! Harper’s just some latecomer–don’t let her fool you!”
“I don’t follow, Mr. Mitchell.”
Caden looked down at them:
“You’re saying I got tricked by a girl I’ve known for seven years? That I should marry some stranger I only met a few times as
a kid?”
Sterling Mitchell was stunned.
“But unfortunately, Mr. Mitchell, I married Harper not because she’s a Mitchell family member, but because I love her. That’s
it.”
All four of them stood there in shock.
10:14
My Family‘ Left Me for Dead. Now My Vengeful Husband Is Their CEO.
85.79
Chapter 7
That day, the Mitchell family was escorted out of the summit.
But when I finished the event and came out, they were waiting by the exit.
“Harper, we’re sorry.”
Jaxon stepped forward first. “We totally screwed up…”
Mom and Dad approached too:
“Harper, we had no idea you went through hell like that…”
“The accountant just filled us in–those ten days before you left, you were pulling three jobs a day, making fifteen grand.”
“He said you were running on three hours of sleep, looking like death warmed over when you took off…”
“And we still treated you like garbage…”
“We’re so sorry, Harper…”
Their eyes filled with tears as they looked at me:
“You haven’t been home in ages. Dad, Mom, and your brother really miss you.”
Looking at their red–eyed, regretful faces made my heart ache.
This was exactly what I’d desperately wanted to see–them regretting it, starting to love me.
But how much of their regret now came from genuinely caring about me?
And how much came from realizing I was successful enough to compete with them, even control their company’s fate?
I pulled out my phone and showed them the Mitchell family’s public disownment statement:
“Did you forget your own words?”
Their breathing hitched as they frantically explained:
“We just wanted to get a rise out of you, make you come crawling back!”
“Harper, we’ll pull that statement right now–you’ll always be a Mitchell!”
I put away my phone:
“You can’t just take back what you put out there. What makes you think I’d agree just because you changed your minds?”
“Besides, I already paid back every damn thing I owed the Mitchells.”
They wanted to say more, but Caden had stepped forward to put his arm around my shoulders.
Then shielded me as we walked toward the Rolls–Royce.
They tried to get closer but were blocked by his security team.
10-14
My Family Left Me for Dead. Now My Vengeful Husband Is Their CEO.
90.5
Chapter 7
They never would’ve imagined there’d come a day when they’d be desperate to see me, and I’d want nothing to do with them.
The Mitchell family never gave up trying to meet with me.
But they failed every time.
First, because I refused.
Second, because I didn’t believe their regret was genuine.
Since we’d already cut ties, I had no reason to go easy on the Mitchell family.
Before long, the Mitchells were kicked out of the Fortune 500.
Then they went into freefall–worse each day.
What they didn’t expect was-
Rayna was sentenced to heavy prison time for smuggling contraband.
And the evidence? Of cause came from me.
The day Caden and I showed up at that club, we were targeting the same private room where Rayna had her party.
That weird smell made me suspect she was using some kind of illegal substance to enhance her… urges.
Sure enough, Caden and I caught her red–handed.
The Mitchell family gradually faded from my view.
The last I heard, they’d filed for bankruptcy.
The whole family was now living on welfare.
Falling from grace isn’t easy.
Mom started self–harming pretty quickly.
axon and Sterling Mitchell drank themselves stupid daily, their health deteriorating until they were unconscious most of the
ime.
Sometimes they’d call out a name, like “Mitchell… something.”
o neighbors had the imprisoned Rayna write them letters.
But they tore them all up.
‘hey said they were calling for Harper Mitchell–their real daughter, real sister.
just found it ridiculous.
he rest of my life would be free of their interference.
This time around, I finally got to live for myself.
