Ch. 551..560
Chapter 551 No Trouble
Arissa glanced at the clock and was startled to find that it was already very late.
She went over to Mary. “What would you like for dinner, Mary?”
“Let’s just eat at the hospital. As I’m not a big eater, there’s no need to trouble yourselves for me.”
Mary thought about the amount of food she had brought back at noon and felt it was a waste if she did not finish it.
“It’s no trouble,” Arissa said as she tucked Mary’s quilt in for her. “We want some dinner anyway. There’s no trouble in having you join us. I’m just happy to be able to care for you. Are you hungry now? I’m about to head to the hospital cafeteria to get a snack myself.”
Mary shook her head. “I’m not hungry. I just had some breakfast food with you, remember? That hasn’t even been digested yet!”
At that moment, Ethen entered with a big bag of food. “These are from Mr. Graham, Ms. York.”
Arissa did not expect Benjamin to follow through with his promise. “What is it?”
“It’s a delicacy around these parts.” Ethen placed the box on the coffee table as he spoke. “These are for you and the children.”
Arissa came over. “Is there anything Mary can have?”
“I asked Mr. Bailey. He said she could have these saltine crackers.”
Ethen opened a packet and filled the whole ward with its fragrant aroma.
Though they looked like dessert crepes, these crackers were of the savory kind.
With a side of horseradish sauce and sprinkled with crushed peanuts and sesame seeds, it made for a very authentic and satiating snack.
Just looking at it made the children’s mouths water.
Jesse swallowed. “Wow! It looks delicious!”
Ethen smiled. “There’s more in there! Hurry up and have some, Ms. York. They taste their best while they’re hot!”
Arissa nodded and gestured at Ethen. “Please, join us.”
“Would you like to try some, Mary?” she said after bringing some back to the hospital bed.
Mary waved her hand. “Enjoy it, my dear. Don’t mind me! I’m not hungry.”
“Just a taste?” Arissa coaxed, aware that the older woman was simply being polite.
Mary gazed at the remaining crackers in the box. “Do you have enough for yourselves?”
“Plenty for all,” Ethen replied with a smile as he beckoned the children to eat. “I bought enough for everyone to each have their own packet!”
Arissa sat beside the bed and fed Mary.
“Set up the tray, will you, Issa?” Mary requested with a gesture. “I can manage on my own.”
“All right.” Arissa agreed it would be at Mary’s convenience to have a table, so she obliged the latter before continuing to feed Mary.
“I can’t finish the entire packet,” said Mary. “Leave me a few pieces, and you can have the rest. You can have some too, Tim!”
Mary told Arissa that as she spent most of her time lying on the bed, her digestion was so slow that she was still full from the snack she had had prior.
“All right, Mary.”
Noticing Mary’s uncomfortable squirming, Arissa obliged the old lady by apportioning a few pieces for her.
“Hurry up and eat it while it’s hot! I’ll do the same.”
Mary picked one up and nibbled at it slowly.
Arissa watched her for a while. She only began to eat at Mary’s second reminder.
She looked at the children and saw to her satisfaction that all six were seated and eating obediently.
“I’m going to see if Bradley is here.”
Arissa walked to the door as she ate and found the corridor outside empty.
“Have you seen Mr. Hinton, kids?” She turned back and asked the children.
“Mr. Hinton?”
“Mr. Hinton was just here!”
“Did he go to the bathroom?”
The children exchanged confused glances.
Arissa pursed her lips. Turning to glance at the corridor again, she saw Benjamin engaged in discussion with Shaun, Kingsley, and several doctors.
She put her cracker down and hurriedly wiped the corners of her mouth before walking over.
“Why isn’t Mommy eating anymore?” Jasper wondered aloud as he hurriedly followed her to the door.
Oliver followed suit. Bringing with him his morsel, he leaned against the door to peek outside.
“Mommy went to look for Mr. Hinton!” Jasper announced, his interest piqued in an instant.
Oliver giggled.
“I don’t see anyone else. I’m positive that’s not where she went!”
Oliver glanced at Jasper as he spoke and deduced something from his brother’s expression.
Chapter 552 The Report
Jasper saw the doctors in white coats frowning when he got closer.
“Are they discussing Grandma’s illness? Let’s go have a listen!”
Oliver’s eyes flashed as he pulled his younger brother in the other direction.
“Where are you going?” Zachary shouted after their shifty figures.
“We’re going to pee!” Oliver called back and ran in Jasper’s wake.
“They’re over there!” Jasper indicated to Oliver.
“We have to eavesdrop,” Oliver declared as he took Jasper for a detour around the back, “they won’t let us listen when they see us.”
Meanwhile, Benjamin shot Shaun a look of warning as Arissa approached.
“There shouldn’t be too many men standing guard over Mary’s ward, Benjamin,” Shaun said tactfully to change the topic. “She needs some quiet. A man or two should be all the help she needs.”
“Good point.” Benjamin looked at Arissa. “Tell her that.”
“I heard you.” Arissa glared back at him before turning to Shaun.
“Has Mary’s examination report come out, Dr. Bailey?” she asked, anxious to find out beforehand if Mary’s condition was severe.
Shaun glanced at Benjamin before answering Arissa, “It’s out. Her condition is slightly more complicated than we anticipated.”
Arissa became nervous. “What complications are we talking about here?”
Benjamin glared at Shaun.
“Mary’s diabetes is more serious than my initial diagnosis,” Shaun admitted, deeming it better to tell her the truth than to have her anxious imagination run amok. “Her other ailments are not easily treated as well, I’m afraid. Surgery is required to get rid of her kidney stones, for starters. Aside from those, the rest are just common symptoms of the elderly. Being as fragile as they are at that age, even the smallest bumps and bruises has the potential to become something much worse if left untreated.”
“Are those the only two serious conditions?” Arissa urged.
Shaun nodded. “This is Mary’s test report. Here, have a look.”
Arissa took it from him. Skipping the jargon, she went straight for the summary.
“Mary has a pretty bad cough too,” he continued. “Being a victim of bronchitis, her heart and lungs are more vulnerable than most. We have a gradual treatment plan, so it’ll be a load off your shoulders. However, there is no cure for diabetes at this point, so the best course of action would be to control the disease.”
Arissa nodded, thankful that that was the extent of it.
Carefully perusing Mary’s physical examination report once more, Arissa read the details she had skipped earlier.
In addition to what Shaun said, Mary was also afflicted with gynecological inflammation, arrhythmia, and cerebral vascular sclerosis.
Arissa sighed.
Benjamin took the report in her hand before turning to Shaun.
“Work out the best possible treatment plan for her you can and let me know what you come up with.”
Shaun nodded.
Kingsley and Bradley also sighed when they heard that Mary was so sick.
“I wouldn’t worry too much,” Shaun went on. “As long as sufficient rest is had post-surgery, Mary would still regain the health a person her age has the right to be. However, long-term consumption of medication is necessary to control her other diseases. Some may be cured, but others, such as diabetes, will never be.”
“Right.” Arissa nodded. That’s not so bad. I’d expected it to be much worse.
“Dr. Bailey, can Mary return to Dellmoor for treatment?”
As Arissa was expected to be at work and to send her children to school, having Mary treated in Dellmoor would be the most convenient for her. Besides, modern medical amenities in the big city were more readily available.
Shaun maintained his smile as he gazed at Benjamin.
Arissa, too, was watching the man.
“Why don’t two of you talk it over?” Shaun grinned uncomfortably. “It’s not my place.”
“Aren’t you a doctor?” Arissa demanded hotly after an initially startled pause. “I’d say it is your place. What would he know? He isn’t a doctor!”
Shaun was stunned at her bravado for daring to challenge Benjamin.
Though Benjamin was not an expert in medicine, Shaun was familiar with the former’s capacity to learn. If Benjamin devotes himself to medicine, he will be a far greater doctor than I could ever be.
Chapter 553 My Boss Is A Pro
Even Kingsley couldn’t stifle his laugh and teased Benjamin. “I guess there are still some things you don’t know, huh?”
Benjamin scowled in response.
Ethen turned around, trying to conceal a smile.
Bradley merely shot Benjamin a glance and dared not laugh. Still, he greatly admired Arissa. My boss is such a pro!
“Can we change hospitals?” Arissa asked Shaun.
With a nod, Shaun turned to Benjamin and began to explain after seeing the latter remain silent.
“Yes, but you’ll have to wait until Mary’s condition stabilizes. If nothing critical happens from now until tomorrow, there won’t be any problem changing hospitals. She’ll just be transferring to Dellmoor, anyway, not to some other hospital in Northstream.”
“Okay. I’ll let Mary know.”
Arissa nodded and returned to the ward.
“I’ll come with you.”
Benjamin followed her.
Arissa paid him no attention.
She could feel the man giving her an occasional glance, but she pretended not to notice.
“Are you upset?”
Benjamin’s lips curled slightly at the sight of the woman looking angry.
“I’m not!” Arissa huffed.
“You look like a puffer fish with your cheeks like that,” Benjamin remarked while pinching her face.
Arissa turned and glared at him. “Did you ask Shaun to hide the truth from me?”
Benjamin’s brows knitted slightly. “Didn’t you see the report?”
The woman pursed her lips. It was true she had seen it.
“Is Mary really okay?”
Seeing how worried she looked, Benjamin gave her cheek another pinch.
“She’s fine. Shaun was telling you the truth. I initially told him not to, but that moron went against me anyway!”
Arissa’s lips twitched. “Well, I would’ve found out sooner or later, wouldn’t I? In fact, I can take better care of her now that I know how she’s doing!”
“Look. You’re frowning again.”
Benjamin reached for her forehead.
Evading his touch, the woman turned and headed into the ward.
Inside there, she saw only Gavin, Zachary, Jesse, and Tim.
“Where are Oliver and Jasper?”
“They went to take a poop, Mommy,” Zachary answered solemnly.
Nodding, Arissa stood next to Mary. “Is your head still hurting, Mary?”
“I’m much better now, thank you.” Mary just had her IV needle removed.
Then, Arissa noticed how the green on the back of Mary’s hand seemed to be spreading further. “Does it hurt here, Mary?”
“Yes, from the needle.”
The elderly woman glanced at her hand. She had grown accustomed to its appearance.
“We have to do something about this.” Arissa furrowed her brows tightly as her heart ached.
Will she be able to continue getting injected on this hand?
I can’t even see her veins anymore.
Tim walked over with a frown.
“This always happens to Grandma, Ms. York. Whenever she gets hurt, her small injuries turn into big bruises. It takes about two weeks for the bruises to disappear,” he elaborated, feeling Arissa’s pain.
Arissa gazed at Mary in shock. “Is that true?”
“It is. I get large bruises just from bumping into something, and it takes so long to heal,” the old woman replied, not thinking much of her condition.
Hearing that, Benjamin explained, “This is a sign of diabetes. Even a small cut takes a long time to heal. That’s because when your blood sugar levels are too high, your white blood cells become less capable of fighting off infections.
Irregular blood sugar levels also cause your platelets to gather excessively at the site of an injury, which is good for stopping any bleeding, but not when it comes to healing. In fact, high blood glucose causes stiffening of your arteries and narrowing of your blood vessels, which then impair wound healing because of insufficient blood supply.”
He continued, “Diabetes affects the nerves too, but it’s worse on the legs. You’d feel numb and weak, and once you get hurt, you’d become increasingly less sensitive to pain.
All of these affect how your wounds heal. It’s not as bad if you get an injury on the upper limbs; you’d probably just have a bruise. But if you get hurt on the lower limbs, every injury tends to grow into a large patch. Your entire calf could even turn black depending on how severe the injury is. These are what reduce your body’s ability to heal wounds.”
Chapter 554 Admiration In Their Eyes
“Just take care of yourself and try not to get hurt. It’d be hard to recover once you bleed,” Benjamin concluded.
Arissa stared at him in awe.
How does this guy know so much?
Mary couldn’t quite believe her ears. I have diabetes?
Meanwhile, the children’s eyes were filled with admiration.
He’s so smart!
However, Tim wasn’t just amazed; he was also concerned. “Will Grandma get better, Mr. Graham?”
There was a pang in Benjamin’s heart as he saw the anxious look in the boy’s eyes.
“There’s no way to cure diabetes at the moment, Tim,” he answered while crouching down and pulling the child over. “We can only try to control it and keep her condition stable. It doesn’t help that she’s had this illness for a while now and that she’s old, but Mr. Bailey has said that things won’t get worse for her as long as she takes her medication for as long as possible.”
Tim bit his lip. That means she’ll have to go through this every day?
Benjamin caressed the boy’s head. “Diabetes is a chronic illness. Taking long-term medication is the only way to deal with it.”
Arissa gave Mary an assuring look, although the latter insisted she was fine.
Then, the younger woman came over to give her son a hug before shooting Benjamin a glare. “Couldn’t you have put it in a gentler way?”
How worried this poor boy must be now!
Benjamin merely glanced at her. Mary wasn’t in a critical condition, but he silently agreed to be more tactful with his words.
“Now that we’ve figured out the cause of Mary’s condition, things will get better for her once she takes her medication. She won’t have to suffer like she used to. She’ll be much better for sure. We’ll just have to take good care of her, make sure she doesn’t get hurt, and keep track of her diet. She can live the same way we do!”
Tim nodded despite still biting his lip. He was just worried about his grandmother.
It pained him that Mary still had to go through such ordeals at her age.
The child walked over and held the old woman’s ashen palm. “Don’t be afraid, Grandma!”
Mary felt incredibly touched. “I’m not afraid. Haven’t I gotten by all this while without any medication? Besides, your daddy just said this is a chronic illness. I’ll be fine as long as I take more pills.”
Tears threatened to spill from the sides of Tim’s eyes, and the sight of that made Mary’s heart hurt.
She reached out to wipe his tears.
“Don’t cry, silly! I’m not going to die!”
Arissa gazed at the old woman. Keeping a positive mindset was beneficial when one was ill.
“Trust in Dr. Bailey and his team, Mary. They’ll give you the best possible medication. In fact, you may even be able to stop taking medication if you get better. What matters most is to watch your diet. Try not to eat or drink anything that has a lot of sugar.”
Mary nodded in response. “I’ll be sure to watch what I eat.”
She then caressed Tim’s head. “Help me keep track of my diet, okay?”
“I will!” Tim nodded fervently, making a mental note.
Then, Arissa took his hand. “Go pour your grandma a glass of water.”
“Okay!” The boy quickly did as told.
“Get some rest, Mary.”
After tucking the old woman in bed, Arissa began to advise her on things she had to look out for.
“Diabetes is a serious condition, but you can get better as long as you’re treated on time. We’ll have to make sure you don’t catch a cold, though, because it’d also be difficult for a person with diabetes to recover from that…”
Benjamin walked toward the couch, his heart feeling relaxed from hearing the woman’s tender voice.
Gavin and the other children were more relieved after hearing his explanation of Mary’s condition.
“Is her condition really no big deal?” asked Gavin.
Benjamin turned to the children who now gazed at him eagerly.
“It won’t be as long as she follows through with her treatment,” the man answered with a slight nod.
Gavin beamed. “We’ll take good care of her!”
Then, Benjamin’s gaze fell on Zachary and Jesse.
“Don’t you two have to go to school?”
The three children instantly exchanged glances.
Chapter 555 Go To School
“We still have to go to school while we’re here?” Zachary asked in astonishment.
Benjamin felt tickled to see the children’s intense reactions, but he tried to play it cool and nodded expressionlessly.
“Of course.”
He couldn’t help but want to tease them. “I’ll get Ethen to take you to school.”
The children’s jaws fell to the floor.
“But we want to go to the school in Dellmoor!” Gavin was the first to protest.
It’s not like we’ll be here for a long time! Why do we have to change schools?
Benjamin stared at him for a few seconds.
This kid still hates going to school?
“Your brothers will go with you.”
A look of envy formed on Tim’s face as he heard Benjamin talking to the other children about school.
He wanted to go to school too, but he didn’t have the money.
“Will Tim be going too?”
Zachary gazed at Benjamin with puppy eyes before turning to Tim, who was in the midst of bringing his grandmother some water.
“Of course! All six of you have to go to school.”
Upon hearing that, Tim became so filled with excitement that the hot water from the glass began to spill.
Arissa rushed over and put the glass aside before wiping the water off her son’s hands.
“Does it hurt?”
Tim’s heart skipped a beat when he saw the woman use her own shirt to clean him up.
“No,” he answered, shaking his head.
Arissa then observed the boy’s hand. It’s not red.
Feeling concerned, Mary sat up too.
“Be careful, Tim!”
“Okay!” The child nodded obediently.
Benjamin gazed at him deeply as the other children ran toward him.
“Did you get hurt, Tim?”
“No.” Tim shook his head.
Arissa blew on his hand before turning to leave.
Tim stared at her, not knowing where she was headed.
“Where are you going, Mommy?”
Jesse ran after her, but she was just too quick.
“Mommy didn’t wait for me!” he exclaimed after returning to the ward.
“I guess she went to get some ointment for your hand.”
Zachary understood Arissa well and immediately knew where she had gone off to.
Tim was visibly surprised. “But I’m not hurt.”
Zachary smiled. “The water didn’t hurt you, but you’d still feel better after using some ointment.”
Tim glanced at him before turning his attention back to Mary and giving her the glass of water. “Be careful, Grandma.”
“Use a straw.”
Gavin placed a straw into the glass for Mary.
“I’ll help myself,” the old woman remarked, feeling touched by the children’s kindness.
Meanwhile, Arissa spotted Oliver and Jasper while making her way to Shaun’s office.
“Where are you going, Mommy?” The children ran toward her.
“Tim scalded his hand, so I’m getting him some ointment.”
“Is it serious?” they asked, their faces filled with worry.
“No. He just got some hot water on his hand,” the woman answered before quickly walking away. “Get back to the ward.”
The two boys glanced at her before returning to the ward.
“Is your hand okay, Tim?”
They quickly took their brother’s hand and eyed it.
“I’m fine,” Tim replied, feeling moved. “How did you know?”
Jasper grinned. “We bumped into Mommy just now. She’s gone to get you some ointment.”
Tim’s eyes lit up as he turned to Zachary. He was right!
Zachary smiled at him.
“Wash your hand with some cold water, Tim. Mommy will be back real soon,” he urged.
Tim shook his head. “It’s just a slight burn. It doesn’t hurt anymore.”
“Come over here, Tim!”
Benjamin walked out of the restroom with a handkerchief and called out to the boy.
Seeing how stern the man looked, Tim walked toward him obediently.
“Mr. Graham?”
Chapter 556 Tim Wants To Go To School
Benjamin looked down at the boy before kneeling, pulling the latter’s tiny hand over to him, and wrapping it with the handkerchief.
“Be careful next time.” The man’s voice became much gentler.
“Okay.”
The child blinked, feeling the man’s concern for him.
Benjamin then walked out of the ward while continuing to hold Tim’s hand.
“Where are we going, Mr. Graham?” the boy asked in confusion.
“To see your mommy.”
Benjamin shot him a glance.
Tim remained puzzled. But she’ll be back soon.
Still, he agreed to follow the man.
Gavin and the other children watched as the two left, their eyes widening.
“Mr. Graham can’t leave Mommy alone, can he? He just doesn’t want to admit it!” Jasper exclaimed with a sigh, imitating the way adults spoke.
“Right? She’ll be back real soon, but he can’t even wait another second,” Oliver chimed in while adjusting his glasses.
“Does Mr. Graham like Mommy now?”
Jesse stared at her older brothers with her large eyes.
Mary chuckled upon hearing the children’s conversation.
“Isn’t Mr. Graham your daddy? Why do you still call him Mr. Graham? Is he not together with your mommy?”
She had initially thought Arissa and Benjamin were a married couple, but after spending more time with them, she soon noticed that the two didn’t seem as close as husband and wife should be.
“Mommy’s not with Mr. Graham,” Jasper remarked with a smile.
“They’re not together?” Mary was bewildered.
“Nope. Mommy only came back to Chanaea a while ago,” Gavin explained. “She and Daddy barely knew each other, and she was just working at Daddy’s company. They only started talking to each other more after she found me.”
Mary was still in the dark. Does that mean Issa became pregnant before marriage?
That poor girl. It must’ve been so hard for her, having to raise four kids on her own.
Her heart broke for Arissa.
“Your mommy must’ve worked so hard to raise you on her own.”
Zachary nodded. “It was hard for her, but things are better now. Don’t feel like you’re troubling Mommy, okay? She’ll be sad if you do.”
Mary was touched. “Okay. Thank you, children. I’m so thankful for your mommy too. She’s so much better than my good-for-nothing son!”
“We’ll take good care of you from now on. Don’t you worry!”
Jesse beamed at her, looking utterly adorable as she revealed a toothless smile.
“Okay.” Mary was beyond elated.
“We shouldn’t disrupt her sleep,” Gavin reminded his siblings before turning to Mary. “Get some rest for now.”
With a nod, Zachary, Oliver, Jasper, and Jesse sat next to the old woman.
Mary was delighted to see that.
Meanwhile, Benjamin had left the ward with Tim not to look for Arissa, but because he had something to discuss with the boy.
He carried Tim to a chair on the hallway and sat down.
The child glanced up but quickly looked downward after meeting Benjamin’s gaze, feeling nervous.
What does he want to talk about?
Benjamin stroked the boy’s head.
“Tim.”
“Yes?”
Tim looked up again, only to hastily avert his gaze once more.
Seeing how nervous the boy looked, Benjamin put on a gentler demeanor.
“Have you been to school, Tim?”
Tim shook his head and kept his head low. Many other kids from the village don’t go to school.
Even those who do would only start going when they’re seven. I’m not old enough.
There are people who do send their kids to kindergarten, though. But we can’t afford it.
It costs a few thousand per semester. That’s way too much.
I still have to make sure Grandma gets treated. Will there even be enough money for me to go to school when she gets better?
But I want to go to school like other kids do.
Chapter 557 Benjamin Signs An IOU With His Son
Feeling sorry, Benjamin carried his son and seated him on his lap.
“I’ll let you go to school, then. Do you want to?” he asked gently.
Tim nodded before hurriedly shaking his head.
Benjamin was befuddled.
“Do you want to go, or do you not want to?”
The boy bit his lip. “I don’t want to. I want to look after Grandma.”
Benjamin was glad to see how thoughtful and appreciative this child was.
“There’ll be other people looking after your grandma, but you’re at the age where you should be learning. This isn’t something you should hold back on. I’ll sign you up for school so you can go with Gavin and Zachary, then you can keep your grandma company after your classes are over.”
Tim was visibly fazed, but he still worried about Mary.
“Who will look after Grandma?”
Benjamin noticed the boy’s concerned gaze. “There’ll be nurses and your mommy to care for her. If you’re still worried, I can get the butler to look after her at the hospital too. She’ll also have Mr. Bailey and the other doctors tending to her, and they’d be any time better than you taking care of her!”
Tim pondered for a moment and frowned. “Won’t it cost a lot of money?”
I can’t afford to hire so many people to look after Grandma.
Benjamin smiled. “It’s definitely going to cost a bit to look after a patient, but an amount like this means nothing to me. You don’t have to worry!”
Tim gazed at the man seriously. “I can’t squander your money like that… How about this, Mr. Graham? Lend me some money, and I’ll return it when I start making my own. You can also charge me interest. Is that okay?”
Benjamin froze in surprise. This kid even knows about interest charges?
“Sure.”
To ease the boy’s unsettlement, he could only agree.
Then, Tim flushed slightly. “I don’t know how to write, Mr. Graham. Could you write up an IOU? I’ll sign the document with my thumbprint. I promise I won’t bail!”
Benjamin turned to a bodyguard, signaling him to do as requested.
Arissa returned after getting some ointment only to spot the father-and-son duo seated outside. She didn’t know what they were up to, but she had arrived just in time to see Tim placing his thumbprint on a piece of paper.
The woman strode over.
“What are you two up to?”
Tim immediately tensed up as his face turned crimson.
Benjamin glanced at her before putting the IOU away. “Nothing.”
However, Arissa swiftly grabbed the piece of paper from him.
She exploded upon reading its contents.
“Are you that shameless, Benjamin? How could you sign an IOU with your own son? You should be the one paying for all this, to begin with! Why are you being so calculative?”
She was so close to calling him a cheapskate.
Benjamin merely frowned and said nothing.
“No, Ms. York! I’m the one who asked to sign the IOU, not Mr. Graham. Please don’t blame him!”
Tim hastily tried to clear up the misunderstanding.
“You wanted to sign it?” Arissa asked in shock.
She then glanced at both the father and son.
“Yes.” Tim nodded gravely.
The woman shot Benjamin a glare in response to the smug look he was giving her. Why didn’t he say so earlier?
Then, she carried the boy and began to rub the ointment on his hand.
“I can afford to pay for your grandma’s treatment, Sweetheart,” she explained. “You don’t have to borrow money from him.”
Tim stared at her. “It’s okay, Ms. York. I’ll make lots of money when I grow up.”
Seeing how determined the child looked, Arissa felt relieved yet heartbroken at the same time.
What a kind boy he is. He’s always thinking about others.
Benjamin leaned into her ear and whispered, “If he wants to borrow money, let him. It’s not like I’ll ask him to repay me.”
Arissa gave him a side glance.
He hinted at her to respect the boy’s decision.
With that, the woman sighed internally before turning to the child in her arms.
“Do you feel better now, Sweetheart?”
Tim nodded. “Thank you, Ms. York.”
Arissa ran her fingers through his hair before carrying him back into the ward.
“Does Grandma have other illnesses aside from diabetes, Ms. York?”
The woman gave her worried-looking son a peck on his forehead.
“Nothing serious – just some common issues that many older people have.”
She didn’t want to tell him too much, lest he grew even more fretful.
Chapter 558 Too Spoilt
Tim looked at the woman. “Really?”
“Yup. Mr. Bailey and his team will take a close look at your grandma’s condition and find out the best way to treat her. When that happens, she’ll slowly get better, and she won’t be as sick as she is now,” Arissa assured patiently, hoping to make the boy feel better.
“Thank you, Ms. York!”
Arissa couldn’t resist his smile. “You’re welcome. It’s all thanks to your daddy. He’s the one who brought together such a wonderful team of doctors!”
Tim turned in Benjamin’s direction. Despite answering a call, the latter kept his eyes on the mother and son.
“Thank you, Mr. Graham!”
Benjamin nodded in response.
Arissa glanced at the man who had picked up the phone before turning away and carrying Tim back into the ward.
After eating dinner with Mary, she then had Benjamin take the six children back to the hotel to rest.
“Let’s head back and get some rest. Shaun and Kingsley will be here keeping watch.”
While speaking, Benjamin gave Shaun and Kingsley a glance.
Kingsley opened his mouth and wanted to disagree, but he ultimately kept his mouth shut.
Meanwhile, Shaun was Mary’s attending physician and had to stay either way, so he was amused to see how stumped Kingsley looked.
“You can keep me company!” he exclaimed, patting his friend on the shoulder.
The latter merely shot him a glare.
“There’s no need for that. You should all go home and rest. There’ll be nurses to check on me, no?”
Mary didn’t want to trouble them.
“It’s fine, Mary. I’m always up late,” Kingsley urged nonchalantly. “Besides, I can also get some shuteye after you’ve fallen asleep. I’ve looked after my grandfather, so I’m kind of experienced!”
Then, he turned to Benjamin and Arissa. “You can all head back.”
With that, Benjamin bid Mary goodbye before returning to the hotel with Arissa and the children.
That was Tim’s first time being away from the old woman, and he stared out the window at the hospital while seated in the car.
Arissa patted his head as she saw that. “Don’t worry. The doctors will do a far better job taking care of your grandma compared to us! She wouldn’t be able to sleep if we were still there, anyway.”
Hearing that, Tim bit his lip, still unable to stop thinking about Mary.
“Have you never been apart from your grandma, Tim?”
Seeing how the boy looked close to tears, Zachary struck up a conversation in an attempt to distract him.
Tim nodded. “We’ve been apart before during the day, but never at night…”
He had to work for money during the day while still in the village, so being apart from Mary was only necessary.
“Why don’t you think of now as daytime, then?” Oliver suggested.
“Why did you have to be apart during the day?” Jasper asked.
Tim pursed his lips, choosing not to tell them the reason.
“Don’t worry, Tim. I’ve been apart from Mommy before too, but I wasn’t scared because all my brothers kept me company. So even if you’re not with your grandma now, you still have us. We’re here with you, and so is Mommy!” Jesse assured while hugging Tim’s arm.
Zachary couldn’t help but chuckle. “Jesse, have you forgotten how you cried this morning just because you couldn’t find Mommy?”
The little girl turned scarlet immediately.
“You cried because Mommy wasn’t around?” Gavin felt sorry for his sister.
Jesse lowered her head and glanced at Gavin sheepishly.
“I-I just wasn’t used to not having Mommy around…”
Unable to contain her laughter, Arissa stroked the girl’s head lovingly.
Benjamin gazed at the mother and her six children before focusing on Jesse’s flushed face.
This kid is way too spoilt.
Still, he couldn’t help but feel guilty upon hearing that the girl had cried because of Arissa’s absence this morning. It was his fault.
The man also used to treat her poorly before learning that Gavin was not his only child. He even accused the other children of not belonging to him.
“You’ll always be with your mommy from now on,” Benjamin declared to the children.
Chapter 559 Eating Supper With Sunglasses On
Jesse was thrilled to hear that. “Mommy! Mr. Graham says we don’t have to be apart anymore!”
Arissa beamed and tousled the girl’s hair before glancing at Benjamin.
“You’d better not forget what you just said, Graham.”
Benjamin gazed at her in amusement. Why does she keep doubting whatever I say?
Have I ever gone back on my word?
“Tim, are you hungry?”
He turned to the boy.
“Nope.” Tim shook his head.
“I’m hungry, Gavin!” Zachary yelled. “Will you buy us food?”
Oliver grinned and turned to the oldest boy slyly. “Your treat, Gavin!”
He grew up with Mr. Graham, so he’s definitely loaded!
Gavin merely smiled at his brothers. “Daddy will pay for our food.”
Benjamin huffed. “Your brothers are asking you to buy them food, but you’re shoving the responsibility to me? How are these two the same?”
“They’re not! My money belongs to me, but your money isn’t ours,” the boy argued.
Benjamin’s lips twitched in response. How is my money not theirs?
“You wouldn’t mind buying us supper, would you, Graham?”
Seeing how the children wanted to have supper, Arissa gave Benjamin a wink.
“What do you feel like having?” the man asked, his gaze softening instantly.
The children were stunned by his sudden change in demeanor.
He’s so biased!
“What do you want, Sweethearts?”
Arissa turned to them.
“Can we go to a marketplace? We’ll only know what we want after taking a look at what street food there is!” Jesse said coquettishly.
Arissa glanced at her before turning to the other five children.
Gavin, Zachary, Oliver, and Jasper nodded in agreement.
“Okay. To the marketplace it is!” she answered cheerily. “Let’s go grab some supper, Tim!”
Seeing that everyone was going, Tim nodded.
Arissa looked forward to taking him to enjoy some street food.
Benjamin instructed the chauffeur to take them to a marketplace.
As soon as they arrived, he frowned at the surroundings.
“Let’s go somewhere else,” he remarked with disdain.
“Why? All marketplaces are the same,” Arissa insisted. “They’re actually very clean, even if there are lots of people!”
She wasn’t overly particular about cleanliness.
“Let’s get supper, Sweethearts!” she exclaimed, carrying each child out of the vehicle.
Gavin and Zachary each took Tim’s hand, while Oliver held Gavin’s and Jesse’s. Jasper also linked hands with Jessie.
The six children stood in a row hand-in-hand.
Arissa was tickled to see that, and she tugged onto Gavin’s hand. “Stay close with each other, Sweethearts!”
“Got it!” the kids replied in unison.
The woman was beyond proud to see her six adorable children looking exactly like one another.
Benjamin had no choice but to follow them since they had already exited the car, and he walked closely behind Jasper.
Not accustomed to being around so many people, the man extended an arm toward a bodyguard, who then hurriedly removed his sunglasses, gave them a wipe, and handed them to the former.
Benjamin put the sunglasses on before taking Jasper’s hand.
Turning around to see him, Jasper let out a titter.
Benjamin gazed down at him.
“What’s so funny?”
Jasper merely chuckled again.
Then, Jesse, Oliver, and Zachary began to laugh too.
Even Tim’s lips couldn’t help but twitch.
Glancing at Benjamin, both Gavin and Arissa pursed their lips, trying to suppress a laugh.
Benjamin raised an eyebrow upon noticing their expressions.
“What’s with those looks?”
Arissa coughed. “Why are you wearing sunglasses at night, Graham? Are you sure you can see?”
With a narrow of his eyes, Benjamin removed the sunglasses and handed them to her.
Chapter 560 Being Poor
“Why don’t you put them on and find out?”
Noting the serious look on his face, Arissa skeptically took the sunglasses and put them on.
To her surprise, she could see clearly.
These weren’t regular sunglasses; they were dark, but they could easily be used at night.
She returned them to Benjamin.
I’m so ignorant.
“Sorry. Being poor has stifled my imagination,” she sighed.
Benjamin didn’t know how to respond.
Meanwhile, Zachary, Oliver, and Jasper let out another giggle.
“Do you like these sunglasses, Mommy? I’ll buy you a pair.”
Gavin looked up at her and smiled.
Arissa caressed the boy’s head. “But I don’t like wearing them at night.”
“You can wear them during the day. You looked so pretty wearing them just now, Mommy,” he gushed.
Arissa chuckled.
There was nothing more delightful than being praised by one’s own son.
“I’ll be waiting for you to buy me a pair, then!”
She couldn’t say no to such a gift.
Benjamin turned to her with knitted brows. “I have another pair in the car.”
This kid sure knows how to sweettalk his mom, huh?
Arissa cast him a glance. “I prefer one given to me by my son.”
Benjamin pursed his lips.
Gavin stifled a laugh at the sight of his father being rendered speechless.
Tim eyed the sunglasses Benjamin was wearing. Mommy does look good in them.
He then snuck a glance at Arissa. Mommy really is pretty!
Noticing the boy’s gaze, Arissa turned to him and flashed him a radiant smile.
Tim blinked shyly before hastily looking away.
The woman’s smile widened as she saw the boy’s adorable side.
Then, she took the kids into the marketplace.
Many looks of envy fell on the six identical children.
Then, those same eyes turned to the children’s parents, both of whom had beautiful facial features.
Most people there gazed at the children, but there were also many who couldn’t stop staring at Arissa and Benjamin.
However, they couldn’t observe Benjamin’s looks clearly enough since he had sunglasses on, so a larger number of people would glance at Arissa instead – especially the men.
Benjamin’s eyes narrowed. Those sunglasses he wore helped to conceal his sharp gaze, but his presence remained overwhelming.
The men who noticed him staring at them dared not keep their eyes on Arissa for too long.
Benjamin sized the woman up.
Her long hair cascaded down her back as she wore a white T-shirt with ruffled sleeves and a pair of culottes. Her silky, flawless skin added to her youthfulness.
Then, the man gulped as his eyes wandered down to her small waist, rounded hips, and slender legs.
He scowled upon noticing all the men turn around to look at Arissa as they walked past her.
“Get my coat,” he ordered the bodyguard from before.
“Yes, Mr. Graham!” The guard quickly returned to the car.
The children didn’t know what Benjamin was up to.
“Are you cold, Mr. Graham?” Jesse inquired.
“I’m not.”
Passersby began to mutter among themselves, “So, he’s not their dad? They’re not his kids?”
Benjamin’s face fell even more. Are you all blind? Can’t you see they’re the spitting image of me?
Hearing those words, Arissa turned to Benjamin in amusement, only to suppress her glee upon noticing his darkened expression.
“What do you feel like eating, Sweethearts? I’ll buy whatever you want.” She turned to the children.
“Mommy, I want ice-cream!”
“Can I get sausages?”
“Oxtail soup for me, Mommy!”
“Barbecue skewers, please!”