"If I could, I’d be your servant for life!"
The room was filled with laughter. Outside, Mrs. Lee could hear Ella’s voice and smiled, shaking her head. Her young mistress was truly charming—Ella not only paid her a generous salary of one million but also caught herself a wealthy suitor.
Around noon, Ella was discharged from the hospital under the protection of Eric and his team. Despite the media camping outside the hospital for two days, none managed to get close. Eric’s presence led people to speculate that his new girlfriend might be Ella.
Back home, it was just in time for lunch. Hannah’s heart raced upon seeing the handsome man in the living room, but her joy quickly turned to despair when she saw his gaze fixed on Ella.
"Mr. Nelson, Ella, let’s have lunch and chat," Brianna said cheerfully. Kevin was absent, but her demeanor was as if nothing had happened.
"Let’s eat first," Ella said, putting down her phone and pulling Eric towards the dining room.
Everyone sat down, and Hannah couldn’t help but steal glances at Eric. Unfortunately for her, Eric only had eyes for Ella.
The meal was somewhat strained. Despite Robert’s attempts to lighten the mood, Ella remained aloof, and Eric was stern-faced.
As the meal drew to a close, Eric leaned in and kissed Ella on the cheek. "Take care. Mr. Davis, if I find anything wrong with my girlfriend, you’ll have to provide a good explanation."
Ella smiled slightly, and Robert forced a smile, nodding in agreement.
Eric left with a cold smirk, having publicly asserted his relationship with Ella. She didn’t object, knowing she needed this status for her current situation.
Ella sat back in the living room, leisurely picking up her phone, playing with it single-handedly.
Robert eagerly approached. "Ella, are you really Mr. Nelson’s girlfriend?"
"Yes, he said... we will get married after graduation," Ella replied calmly.
Hannah’s eyes flashed with a chilling light at these words, but Brianna quickly nudged her to mask her anger.
That wretched girl had truly snatched Eric away.
"Congratulations, Ella. Mr. Nelson is a wonderful person. Many women would love to marry him," Brianna said with a light laugh.
Robert also smiled. "No wonder my secretary called this morning to say that Nelson Group wants to collaborate with us! It’s all thanks to you, Ella!"
Ella gave a small smile. "Dad, my injuries make it difficult to attend school, so I’d like to take a week off."
"I’ve already arranged for your leave. And... your brother was too out of line, so I’ve sent him to a reformatory. After three months, he will attend a fully enclosed school. You don’t need to worry about him," Robert said with a forced smile. The enormous profits from Nelson Group’s collaboration were his real gain, thanks to Ella.
Though Ella had many shares, who knew if any unexpected events might occur? So, what was in his hands, what he could grasp, was the most real.
"What?" Brianna screamed in shock.
Before Ella had returned home, Robert had sent Kevin away, supposedly to Grandma Davis’s house. But she hadn’t expected Robert to be ruthless enough to send him to a reformatory!
"Husband, how could you send our son..."
"Shut up! It’s your poor parenting that caused this mess! He almost got Ella killed. What do you expect?" Robert snapped coldly.
Brianna’s face turned ashen as she forced a smile at Ella. "Ella... I’m truly sorry. It’s my fault for not raising him well, causing you to get hurt. But he’s so young, this won’t happen again. Couldn’t you plead for him?"
"Auntie, I respect Dad’s decision, so I won’t intervene." Ella shook her head, coldly refusing.
Brianna’s face paled even more, and she glared coldly at Robert.
What kind of place was a reformatory? It was for juvenile offenders!
Hannah, equally distressed, pleaded with Robert. "Dad, how could you do this? He’s only ten... That place is a nightmare!"
"A nightmare? Do you realize the mess he’s caused? If we don’t send him there, how can any of you show your faces in public?" Robert sneered. Despite his love for his son, nothing was more important than the Davis Group.
Sending Kevin to the reformatory wouldn’t leave him with a criminal record but would present a strong response to the public. Moreover, the discipline could benefit Kevin, ensuring the Davis Group had a future.
Otherwise, if the company fell into the hands of a wastrel, what future would it have?
"Enough! I’ve made my decision, and I won’t change it! Ella, if you’re tired, go rest."
Ella nodded lightly, a trace of concern in her eyes. "Dad, about the press conference..."
"I’ll handle the press conference. You don’t need to worry about it, especially with your injury. Sending Kevin to the reformatory is our answer to the media."
Robert smiled, gently comforting Ella. "Kevin was too much. I won’t go easy on him. You can rest assured."
"Thank you, Dad." Ella nodded, slowly turning to go upstairs.
Once Ella left, Brianna’s rage exploded.
She glared hatefully at Ella’s disappearing figure, then turned her furious gaze to Robert. "Why didn’t you discuss sending Kevin to the reformatory with me?"
"Discuss with you? You can’t even raise our son properly, so why should I consult you?" Robert’s cold, disdainful look at his once-beloved wife was cutting.
Brianna felt suffocated.
"Isn’t he your son too? It’s my fault for not raising him well, but you bear no responsibility?" Brianna shrieked, losing her composure for the first time since their marriage.
"I’m busy with the company all day. What about you? You’re a housewife! Our son is only ten and already caused such a disaster! What if he had injured someone else? Brianna! Do you realize that because of this incident, the Davis Group has lost billions? The stock price is still falling!"
Robert’s long-held resentment burst forth, his cold gaze fixed on Brianna. "All you do is eat, drink, and play at home, failing even to raise our son properly. What right do you have to be his mother?"
Brianna’s face twisted with rage. "Yes! I’m unfit. But do you think you are? Robert! You’d rather spend time with other women, fooling around, than come home and discipline your son!"