Chapter 3 Leaving The Family

When Kathryn arrived home, she found her biological parents and three brothers gathered around Jolene, showering her with all kinds of care and attention. A bitter laugh escaped her lips as she took it all in.

Without wasting a second, she closed the distance between them and grabbed a handful of Jolene's hair.

Before anyone could react, Kathryn slapped her hard across the face, the sharp smack echoing loudly through the room.

The Brown family stood frozen, completely stunned to see it was Kathryn who had just hit Jolene. Hadn't she been with those kidnappers?

Jolene held her cheek, crying out in disbelief, "Kathryn, have you completely lost it?"

Austin was the first to snap out of his shock. "Kathryn, what are you doing? You come home and start hitting Jolene? You better apologize right now!"

Anne Brown, their mother, frowned deeply, crossing her arms. "Kathryn, what kind of trouble are you stirring up this time? Since you've come back, there's been nothing but chaos. Maybe we never should have taken you in."

Kathryn shook her head, finding their accusations almost laughable. "Me? Causing trouble? Why don't you ask Jolene what she's really done? She's the one who set up that whole kidnapping to get rid of me."

When Kathryn was born, she was intentionally switched with the nanny's own daughter, Jolene, and then left to be abandoned. Luckily, Kathryn was adopted and raised by a mentor who cared for her deeply.

About six months ago, the Brown family discovered the truth and brought Kathryn back home.

But because they favored Jolene, who had been carefully groomed and was skilled at manipulation, they treated Kathryn coldly.

Jolene kept framing Kathryn, and even when her lies were uncovered, the Browns always forgave Jolene. This left Kathryn feeling deeply hurt and disappointed.

Anne was caught off guard by Kathryn's retort-and by how far she'd taken it. Her expression clouded with displeasure. "Jolene would never do something like that. You're misunderstanding the situation."

"Misunderstanding?" Kathryn's voice dropped low but sharp as a knife. "The kidnapper confessed it all. How can you just brush that off?"

Anne hesitated, then sighed heavily. "Why are you being so stubborn? Jolene got hurt too, but she's been doing everything she can to help find you. What more could you possibly want?"

"What do I want? I want out of this family. From now on, I won't care about any of you!"

Saying that, Kathryn turned and went upstairs to pack. After some time, when she came back down, Jolene's voice stopped her in her tracks.

Jolene was holding onto Anne, her nails digging into her own hand, but her face was pale and full of tears. "Kathryn, you've got it all wrong. How could I have anything to do with those kidnappers? They're ruthless monsters. If I had planned anything, how did you manage to come home alive?"

Rage bubbled under Jolene's tears. This kidnapping was supposed to be foolproof. Kathryn was meant to be violated and left for dead. How could things have gone so wrong?

Kathryn laughed coldly. "Looks like you won't admit the truth until you're staring it straight in the face."

She didn't even look at Jolene anymore. Instead, she fixed her gaze on the Browns, her eyes calm but filled with a deep, bitter resignation. "You all think I'm lying, that I'm just being stubborn and unreasonable, right?"

Anne frowned. "Isn't that exactly what's happening? Jolene has laid out her side very clearly."

"Oh, I see," Kathryn said, pulling her phone out slowly. "Then let me clarify things a bit more for you."

Static hissed through the speaker, and then two voices filled the room-the first Jolene's, the second a sleazy man's, unmistakably the kidnapper's leader.

"When it's done, the last payment will be twice as much. I want her completely destroyed-no chance of her ever returning to the Browns!"

"Don't worry. My men will handle everything, and we might even capture some unforgettable shots, haha!" the man responded with a laugh.

"Make sure it's done quietly. No evidence that connects back to me, got it?"

"Understood! You can trust us to get the job done."

Though the recording was short, every word was crystal clear, each sentence landing heavily.

The living room sank into a heavy silence, so still that even the faintest sound seemed loud.

Jolene suddenly stopped crying, her face turning pale as her whole body shook with fear.

The Browns stared at her in stunned disbelief.

"No... this can't be real. It must be fake!" Jolene yelled desperately.

"Fake?" Kathryn's eyes flashed with icy contempt. "Do you want me to send this to a professional for verification? Or maybe call the police and let them handle it? After all, attempted kidnapping isn't something to take lightly."

"No! You can't call the cops!" Jolene's voice cracked as she broke down. Switching tactics, tears streaming, she pleaded, "Kathryn, I'm sorry, please hear me out. It's not what it seems. Don't be angry. I'm the one who should leave this house. I'm the outsider here..."

The Browns softened at her tears, their expressions shifting to sympathy. They looked at Kathryn like she was being unreasonable.

"Kathryn, Jolene's apologized. Just drop it," Anne urged, his brows furrowed in concern.

Kathryn watched this absurd spectacle with a sinking feeling in her chest. Even with solid proof, they were falling for Jolene's act.

Grabbing her luggage, Kathryn declared, "It's either her or me. Since you've chosen her, I'm out of here."

Her determined exit left the Browns speechless, with Anne stomping her foot in frustration. "Can you believe she actually has the guts to walk away?"

Taking advantage of the moment, Jolene burst into tears. "I'll do whatever it takes to bring her back. I'll even leave the house myself if that's what it takes."

Anne hugged her tightly. "Don't say that. You're my precious daughter, and you're not going anywhere."

Laurence Brown, their father, nodded angrily. "Exactly. That troublemaker Kathryn has upset everything since she came back. If she wants to leave, so be it. She's grown up and can manage on her own."

"That's right," Austin added. "Jolene's beautiful and kind. There's no way Kathryn can even come close to her."

Jolene hesitated, biting her lip. "But she owns 35% of the company's shares. What if she tries to mess things up using that?"