Chapter 9 This Is My Granddaughter

"What are you ranting about, you little troublemaker!" The woman, clearly aware of her own actions, snapped when she heard the girl's accusation and saw that no one else caught on. She then attempted to grab the bread from Jasper's grasp. Amidst the commotion, Helena, who had just awoken, overheard Summer's comment and mocked, "My granddaughter noticed you have hot breads in your bag. Why not offer one to the boy? Cold food isn't good for children—they need something warm, especially given their sad situation!" Feeling accused, the woman clutched her bag tightly and retorted, "Nonsense! There are no hot buns in my bag. Stop spreading lies, you little brat!" Summer pursed her lips, ready to respond, but was interrupted by the chubby boy who suddenly lunged forward, knocking his grandmother to the ground. Ignoring his grandmother's plight, the boy sat on her and screamed, "I want a bread, a big one! You useless old woman, why won't you feed me?" "You! You!" His grandmother, curled up in pain on the floor, could barely articulate her words, merely groaning and sweating heavily. "Quick, someone help her up!" The man with glasses leaped from his seat, rushing to assist her. As he did, the old woman groaned, her eyes rolled back, and she fainted, accidentally pinning the man beneath her. "Oh, no!" The situation escalated as the old woman collapsed, trapping the man. "Quick, help him too! Don't let them both get hurt!" The middle-aged woman, struggling to restrain the chubby boy, also called out to Jasper, "What are you waiting for? Help out!" Summer, witnessing the chaos, turned and stood quietly next to her grandmother, observing the unfolding drama with wide eyes. Jasper, after giving Helena a quick nod, immediately hoisted the unconscious old woman onto his back. Despite feeling slightly awkward, as a soldier, he knew he could not just stand by idly. "This old woman seems to be in real trouble," remarked the middle-aged woman, scooting away as if to distance herself from the unfolding drama. "You'd better take her to the train staff fast! If something serious happens, you're going to be blamed!" Jasper's expression hardened as he shot back, "If you can't say anything helpful, better to say nothing at all!" Turning to Helena, he instructed, "Mom, you and Summer stay put. I'll be right back." Before Helena could reply, Summer puffed out her chest and declared, "Protect Grandma!" Jasper could not help but smile at Summer's bravado as he quickly exited the carriage, taking a mental note of the faces of the few people around before hurrying towards the train attendant's area. As the old woman was carried away, the chubby boy attempted to follow, crying out, "I need to find my grandma—you've hurt her, I'm going to get someone to arrest you and make you pay!" However, he was restrained by the middle-aged woman. When he continued to protest, the woman, losing patience, slapped him sharply across the face. The sound of the slap echoed, leaving a vivid handprint on the boy's cheek. Summer flinched, instinctively covering her own cheek in sympathy. The harshness of humans toward their young always surprised her. "What are you looking at? Want to fight back?" The middle-aged woman noticed the chubby boy holding his face silently but glaring at her with resentment. She scoffed. "I'm not your timid grandmother. Keep it up, and I'll knock you out cold!" Intimidated, the chubby boy pulled back, choosing not to cause any further disturbance. "Don't hit the kid like that!" the man with glasses interjected from his seat, unable to keep silent any longer. The woman sneered, raising her hand menacingly toward him. "Who are you to lecture me? Want me to teach you a lesson too?" The man quickly retreated under his blanket, mumbling defensively, "A real man doesn't fight with women!" Summer suddenly looked over and called out cheerfully, "Sir!" The man with glasses peeked out, scanning the middle-aged woman cautiously before addressing Summer, "Yes, what is it?" "Hurt?" Summer gestured towards her waist and then back at herself, offering help. "Massage?" Helena observed the spark of interest in the girl's eyes, similar to when Liam had handed out the money, and wondered to herself, Is he somehow rich? But what connection could he have with Summer? Could it be ... Suddenly considering Summer's knack for sensing trouble, Helena's guard went up, and she reassuringly gripped the rolling pin inside her bag. Silently cursing Jasper for the trouble he always seemed to stir up, Helena watched as Summer approached the man with glasses. He chuckled and lay down. "Okay, let's see how well you can do this, girl!" The middle-aged woman scoffed disdainfully at the scene. "Always the first to jump in—likely a bad deal!" Helena's expression soured but she held her tongue. Summer did not seem to notice the disturbance around her; she discreetly slipped inside the bed curtains, concealing herself completely. In just under five minutes, the area inside fell silent. Then, emerging with a bread and a handkerchief in hand, Summer politely said, "Thanks!" While Helena was relieved, the middle-aged woman and the chubby boy looked suddenly tense. Summer approached the boy with the bread, smiling as she extended it toward him. "It's warm!" The boy, now placid, was forcibly fed the bread by Summer. His eyes flashed with anger, his face flushed red, and he raised his hand to hit her. Shouting as he struck, "Who asked you, a worthless girl, to feed me? I want my grandma!" The boy seemed like a mischievous child lashing out after being upset. However, Summer quickly pushed him back, pressing down on his raised arm. A crisp sound of bone snapping filled the air. "Eat!" Summer continued, pushing the bread into his mouth as if nothing had happened. The middle-aged woman's forehead was slick with sweat as she hastily intervened, "If he doesn't want it, don't force him!" "What my granddaughter does is none of your business!" A rolling pin pressed firmly against the back of the middle-aged woman's head as Helena's voice echoed ominously from behind her.