Chapter 39: Are You Not Afraid of Guns?

Samuel, who had been lying weakly on the bed, sat up in shock. Raylee stared at the gun in her hands, dazed and unable to react. “Ray-Ray, are you okay?” Jeremiah’s voice was anxious.

She glanced up at him, her eyes falling on the blood staining his shoulder. “You’ve been shot!”

Jeremiah’s lips curled into a faint smile. “I’m fine. You grabbed the gun in time, so it only grazed me. It’s just a surface wound.”

“So, you’re the adopted daughter the Goodridge family raised for eighteen years? The one who stole my eldest daughter’s necklace a few years ago?” Victor’s gaze was unreadable as he stared at Raylee. She met his eyes and nodded.

“Aren’t you afraid of guns?” he asked.

Raylee shook her head. During those four years of imprisonment, hadn’t she seen all kinds of knives, guns, and torture devices? The horrifying instruments of punishment she had endured were a thousand times more terrifying than any gun. Victor didn’t reprimand her for her curt response. Instead, a flicker of admiration surfaced in his eyes.

“Ray-Ray, this has nothing to do with you. Step aside; I need to get justice for my son!” Alaric said, his tone strained.

Harriet came over and helped Raylee up, but Layla reached out, gripping Raylee’s arm firmly. Her expression was solemn. “This has everything to do with her! My brother resorted to violence because Samuel was bullying Raylee! She couldn’t take it anymore, so she instigated my brother to pull the trigger!”

Kaylee stared at Layla in disbelief. Why would she say that? But within seconds, she understood. Layla was shifting the responsibility onto Raylee so the Goodridge family would have no grounds to hold the Lorimer family accountable.

Taking the blame? It’s not like it’s my first time.

She nodded numbly. “That’s right. I influenced Mr. Lorimer.”

“Ray-Ray, don’t just say things like that!” Harriet’s frustration was evident. “How could you possibly instigate someone to shoot your own brother? He’s your brother, for heaven’s sake!”

“Raylee, stop lying!” Waverly protested. “I was there! You didn’t manipulate Mr. Lorimer at all!”

“Could you hear me from that far away?” Raylee’s voice was emotionless as she turned away, falling silent.

Victor suddenly pointed at her, his voice thundering in anger. “Fine then, you little troublemaker!” he snapped. “Four years ago, you stole my eldest daughter’s heirloom necklace, and now you’re instigating my son to shoot someone? You’ve turned my family upside down. What exactly are you up to?”

“I’m sorry,” Raylee murmured, bowing her head.

Victor’s expression was serious as he turned to Alaric. “Alaric, you heard her yourself. Your daughter admitted she was the instigator. My son isn’t to blame, and now he’s even been shot. Do you still want to pursue this matter further?”

Alaric’s expression darkened. It was like swallowing a bitter pill, knowing he had no way to refute the situation. He could only…

Just as Victor was about to lead his family away, Jeremiah suddenly shouted, “This has nothing to do with Ray-Ray! She didn’t instigate me!”

“Jeremiah, just let it go,” Layla whispered urgently. “Don’t make things worse.”

Victor shot him a warning look. “Shut your mouth, you little brat!”

“Hold on, Victor,” Alaric said with a frown. “Let your son finish. I heard him clearly—he said this matter has nothing to do with Raylee.”

Jeremiah’s sharp gaze swept over Alaric and Harriet. “Hmph, so you only care about your son’s well-being? What about your daughter?” His voice grew colder. “Isn’t an adopted daughter still a daughter? Raylee has been your daughter for eighteen years, yet in your eyes, she’s worth less than a dog?”

“Jeremiah, stop,” Layla pleaded, her eyes red with worry. “This is their family matter.” After struggling so hard to turn the situation around, she didn’t want her brother to endure any more suffering.

Jeremiah shot her a glare. His voice, low and almost growling, said, “You know Samuel bullied Raylee, but do you even know how? He pushed her into the water. She nearly drowned. If I hadn’t saved her in time, she would be dead by his hands!”

“Impossible!” Harriet immediately denied it. “Raylee knows how to swim! How could she possibly drown?”

“Exactly,” Alaric agreed. “I remember clearly—she even won a medal on the swim team.”

Jeremiah pulled a folded medical report from his pocket and tossed it at Alaric’s feet. His voice was laced with fury. “Open your eyes and read it carefully. The doctor diagnosed Raylee with a Level Four disability. Can she swim? She can barely walk properly, let alone live a normal life!”