Kevin continued to hurl insults, "You bitch... you don’t deserve to be my sister! I only have Hannah as my sister... Bastard, if you dare tell Dad, I’ll kill you!"
The security guard, a young man with a strong sense of justice, couldn’t stand it any longer. He slapped Kevin on the back, "Shut up! What kind of brother are you? Miss, do you want to call the police?"
"No... no need," Ella shook her head, tears threatening to fall.
People around shook their heads, thinking Ella was too scared to call the police. If she did, would her family let her off?
"Ella, what happened?" A familiar voice sounded, and Ella looked up to see Mrs. Taylor.
Mrs. Taylor, a friend of Ella’s late mother, quickly understood the situation from the murmurs of the crowd.
Mrs. Taylor, her heart aching, approached and pressed on Ella’s wound. "Someone, take this little brute to the police station! At such a young age, he’s already stabbing his sister. What will he be like when he grows up?"
Ella lowered her head, tears falling onto Mrs. Taylor’s hand.
"Don’t cry, dear. Your stepmother is clearly vile. It’s evident your life has been miserable. Come stay with the Taylor family for now," Mrs. Taylor offered.
Ella shook her head quickly. "But... I came to buy groceries. My brother is young and doesn’t understand. Please don’t send him to the police, it’s not good for him..."
"You bitch... stop pretending! Let me go! I’ll kill that bitch..." Kevin, restrained by the security guard, continued to scream.
Ella glanced at him, then turned her head in fear.
"Wow, so this is the Davis family’s upbringing! A child of about ten curses and stabs his sister... It’s clear what kind of abuse Ella must endure at home!" Mrs. Taylor, seething with anger, wanted to slap the boy herself.
Just then, a group hurried over: Brianna and four bodyguards. Seeing Kevin restrained and Ella injured, Brianna was visibly shocked.
"Mommy! Save me! This bitch hit me! Mommy, take her to the police and lock her up!" Kevin yelled excitedly when he saw Brianna.
Ella smirked inwardly. Brianna had probably expected the perfect scene to unfold before arriving. Unfortunately for her, things had not gone as planned.
"Mrs. Davis, your son is quite something. Not only did he insult Ella, but he also stabbed her! You’ve really raised some children!" Mrs. Taylor mocked upon seeing Brianna.
"Ella, Kevin, what happened?" Brianna’s face changed slightly. Despite her experience, she felt uneasy about the situation.
"What happened? Exactly what I said. If you don’t believe me, you can check the supermarket surveillance," Mrs. Taylor sneered, giving Ella a sympathetic look. "Poor child, with a mother who died early, a father who doesn’t care, and a stepmother who hates her. Sigh!"
The crowd’s expressions turned strange.
"Mommy! That bitch said she would tell Daddy! She wouldn’t buy me the mini airplane and insulted you and Hannah, so I wanted to beat her..." Kevin blurted out.
"Smack!" Brianna stepped forward and slapped her son across the face.
Her heart ached, and she put on a sorrowful expression. "Kevin, how could you hurt your sister? I know you two don’t get along, but how could you do this..."
Brianna started to cry, her tears flowing. Kevin, even angrier, shouted, "Mommy! She hit me first! She hit me!"
The crowd erupted in an uproar.
"What a shameless child, beating his sister and then playing the victim!"
"Yeah, if he’s this violent now, what will he be like when he grows up? Today it’s his sister, tomorrow it might be his mother!"
"Parenting these days is worrisome. That boy is so young yet so ruthless. I can only imagine what his sister goes through at home!"
As people gossiped, Brianna felt a wave of panic and embarrassment. She cried, waving her hand, "Take the young master and miss home!"
"Oh, Mrs. Davis, trying to sweep this under the rug, are we? This is your family matter, but Ella is hurt. Are you just going to let her wounds fester to save some money? Not even taking her to the hospital?" Mrs. Taylor shouted as four bodyguards approached to take Kevin.
Ella quickly grabbed Mrs. Taylor’s arm. "Auntie, Mom isn’t like that... This injury is minor..."
Brianna awkwardly approached. "Ella, I’m sorry... I didn’t teach your brother well. This hasn’t happened before, and I didn’t expect this. Take the young lady to the hospital to treat her wounds."
Forcing Ella home might provoke Mrs. Taylor even more.
"Hmph, all stepmothers are wicked. Ella, I’ll take you to the hospital!" Mrs. Taylor said, glaring at Brianna.
"No need, it’s just a small injury!" Ella shook her head quickly. Kevin, momentarily stunned by Brianna’s slap, started to throw another fit but was silenced by a harsh glare from her.
"Shut up and go home quietly," Brianna ordered.
Kevin shot a hateful look at Ella. "Just you wait, I’ll get you at home!"
The bodyguards took Kevin away, and Mrs. Taylor, eyes filled with disdain, took Ella by the arm. "Mrs. Davis, your son and daughter both assaulted Ella at her coming-of-age party and now in the supermarket. Tsk tsk! Ella should stay with me!"
"It was just a misunderstanding. I assure you it won’t happen again!" Brianna forced a smile, sending pleading looks at Ella.
Ella bit her lip tightly, her eyes red, her expression pitiful and aggrieved.
"Assurances? Mrs. Davis, your promises are as flimsy as bubbles. Ella, let’s go to the hospital first," Mrs. Taylor insisted, supported by other ladies.
Ella was led away by Mrs. Taylor, with Brianna following dejectedly. Going home now would make her seem even more heartless.
Ella’s arm wound wasn’t deep, but the doctor warned it might leave a scar.
Mrs. Taylor was heartbroken, while Brianna shed a few insincere tears.
"Ella, maybe you should stay in the hospital for a few days. I heard Kevin kicked you several times too. Let’s keep you under observation," Mrs. Taylor suggested.
Ella’s forehead was bruised from Kevin’s punch, and her face bore faint finger marks.
Brianna nodded lightly. "Yes, stay in the hospital for a few days. I’ll go home and properly discipline that boy!"
"Sounds so good, but raising a child from an angel to a demon speaks volumes about your parenting. I bet you can’t even bring yourself to scold him," Mrs. Taylor retorted, her face full of disdain.