Ch. 641..650
Do You Like My Mommy
Jasper’s cheeks puffed up indignantly. “Did you all leave me behind?”
“Didn’t we ask you if you wanted to come?” Arissa pinched his cheek affectionately.
“Don’t even think of abandoning me, Mommy,” Jasper cried as he ran after them. “I want to go home!”
“Come on,” Arissa said as she beckoned the children to go downstairs. “We’ll come back here on our next vacation. I’ll bring you around then!”
The five children nodded happily as they bounded down the stairs after her.
Meanwhile, Benjamin turned to Bradley. “What did she say to you earlier?”
Bradley glanced at Benjamin hesitantly, not as outspoken as he was in front of Arissa.
“She asked me if I found anything out about Tim’s living conditions.”
Benjamin narrowed his beady eyes at him. “What did you tell her?”
Bradley shook his head hurriedly. “Nothing. She wants me to spend the next few days digging.”
Benjamin appeared satisfied by that answer.
“Don’t let her find you!”
Bradley was dumbstruck.
“Coincidentally, Mdm. Mary is going to have a house built. I’m placing you here to keep an eye out.”
Benjamin gave the order as if Bradley was his employee, not Arissa’s.
“All right,” Bradley replied. “How long should I remain hidden from my boss, Mr. Graham?”
Benjamin frowned. “Until her condition improves. I will tell her myself and you won’t have to hide from her then.”
Bradley stared at him. Isn’t she in a good enough condition now?
Before he could respond, Benjamin saw Jasper tumbling down the stairs and disappearing outside before he could make sense of it.
He strode over to the other adults and found Kingsley, Shaun, Mary, and Ethen similarly baffled.
Benjamin glanced at them. “What happened to Jasper?”
They shook their heads in confusion. “Not a clue. We only saw him come downstairs and run out.”
Benjamin followed him out and saw the boy crawling onto the plane.
He frowned and quickly got on the plane with a frown.
Benjamin raised his eyebrows at the boy easing into a seat and buckling himself in. “What’s going on?”
Jasper looked up as an idea occurred to him. “Mommy doesn’t want to take me back!” he wailed.
Startled, Benjamin sank into the seat next to his son and stroked the child’s hair. “Why?”
Jasper pouted and met the man’s gaze. ”Mommy doesn’t want me anymore!”
Benjamin laughed. “Out of all the people in the world who may not want you, your mother is the least likely one to!”
That woman is devoted to her children!
Jasper hid his smugness by scoffing in disdain. “All you do is say good things about Mommy.”
Benjamin was helplessly amused at the boy’s angry frown.
“I’m telling the truth!” he persisted gently, stroking the boy’s hair as he did so. “Your mother is simply teasing you. She doesn’t dislike you, I promise. Don’t be angry, or your mommy will be sad.”
Jasper looked at Benjamin with widened eyes. “Are you afraid that Mommy will be sad, Mr. Graham?”
Benjamin glanced at boy. “Are you?”
Jasper pouted. “I asked you first,” he muttered in a low voice, “and you’re asking me?”
The corner of Benjamin’s mouth curled slightly upward.
Jasper stared at him. “Do you like my mommy?”
Benjamin was caught off-guard. A trace of embarrassment flashed across his handsome face.
“Do you think she likes me?”
Jasper scowled. “It’s so hard to talk to you, Mr. Graham!”
Benjamin caressed the boy’s head before turning to the bodyguards stationed outside. “Have them prepare to leave.”
“Yes, Mr. Graham!”
The bodyguard hurried into the house to relay the instructions.
Soon after, Arissa descended the stairs with the five children and was puzzled to see no trace of Benjamin and Jasper.
“Have you seen Jasper come down?”
“He came down earlier,” Kingsley replied as he sipped his tea leisurely. “Benjamin followed him.”
Chapter 642 Jasper Is Fast
Arissa nodded. “Get something to eat, Sweethearts. We’ll be heading back soon.”
“Yes, Mommy.”
The five children hurried over to join Kingsley’s table.
“What happened to Jasper earlier?” Shaun asked with concern.
Arissa laughed. “He must have been afraid I would leave him behind.”
“No wonder Jasper runs so fast!” Ethen laughed.
Arissa sat next to the children and helped herself to one of the pastries. She also brought some for Mary.
She only managed a few bites before the bodyguards informed them they were ready to depart.
“I’m not done yet!” Kingsley protested before glancing at the time. Sure enough, they have been seated for less than ten minutes.
“We’ll pack it up and eat on the journey,” Arissa instructed before leaving to procure some containers with Bradley and Ethen lending a hand.
“We’re going to help you up the plane, Mdm. Mary.”
Draining his tea in a gulp, Kingsley got up to push Mary’s wheelchair.
“All right.” The old lady looked at Arissa and the children. “I’m boarding the plane now, Issa.”
“All right. We’ll be ready soon,” Arissa responded as she apportioned the food before her. “There’s no need to pack these. We saved these for you, Bradley. Take care of yourself while you’re here!”
Bradley nodded at her words. “Don’t worry.”
After hesitating for a moment, he cleared his throat. “Mr. Graham asked me to oversee the construction of Mary’s new house, Boss. It may be impossible for me to return to Dellmoor for a while.”
Arissa nodded in relief.
“All right. Keep up the hard work of supervising here.”
Bradley seemed to sink with defeat. “Can’t you at least pretend to be reluctant to part with me, Boss?”
Ethen laughed. “You would be in big trouble if Mr. Graham heard that, Bradley.”
Bradley attempted a weak smile. “Don’t you rat on me. When is the person you’d arranged for going to be here, anyway?”
“Tomorrow at the earliest. I’ll call you then!” Ethen patted him on the shoulder. “Thank you for keeping an eye out over here!”
Bradley walked them out.
The five children said goodbye to him one after another. “Bye, Mr. Hinton! We are going home!”
“See you, children!” Bradley smiled dotingly. “Give me a call when you think of me!”
“We will!” Zachary promised at once.
“Let us know if you ever need anything. We’ll mail it to you!”
Bradley was moved. “That’s very kind, children. Send me snacks when you get back, will you? There’s nothing delicious in the canteen here!”
Arissa glanced at him. “Have you been to the grocery store?”
Bradley cursed to himself. D*mn! I’d underestimated the boss’ observational skills again.
“I was there earlier today when I received your call, Boss.”
Arissa merely stared at him. Instead of responding, she decided to beckon the children onto the plane.
“We’re off, then. Give me a call if something happens!”
At that final instruction, she followed the children up the plane.
“Don’t worry, Boss,” Bradley replied with a smile.
After a hasty farewell to him, Ethen, too, boarded the plane.
Jasper was waving at Bradley from the window.
“Goodbye, Mr. Hinton!”
Though the glass was made of thick, soundproof glass, Bradley heard him through a crack in the door.
He turned and returned the wave.
“I miss you already,” he called, “visit me again sometime!”
Arissa gave him an amused look before leading the five children into the cabin.
Jasper immediately ran to Benjamin to sit beside him at his mother’s appearance.
Perplexed, Arissa glanced at each of them in turn.
Benjamin was on the phone with somebody from his office.
After leading the five children to their seats and buckling them in, Arissa checked Mary’s seatbelt before taking her seat.
Benjamin frowned at the distance she placed between them.
After double-checking that the passengers have all been seated, the bodyguards closed the cabin door.
Ethen patrolled to ensure everybody was properly buckled in before informing the pilot to take off.
Chapter 643 Relocation Of The Family
Bradley was visibly crestfallen as he watched them until the aircraft disappeared behind the clouds. I wanted to return as well.
However, he was determined to make the best of his temporary solitude for the happiness of his employer by thinking of it as a vacation.
“Goodbye, Boss! Goodbye, children!”
Gavin recognized the waving figure as Bradley when the aircraft turned. “Mr. Hinton is waving at us!” he cried.
Though all of them looked out the window, only Zachary managed to see the speck on the ground. The other four children could not see a thing.
Arissa, too, craned her neck and saw Bradley waving reluctantly.
She smiled. “He probably won’t be able to stand being here alone!”
“Let’s send Mr. Hinton some snacks when we get back, Mommy,” Jesse suggested with a toothy smile.
“We’ll do that.” Arissa stroked her daughter’s head while her eyes remained worriedly fixed on Tim and Mary.
Several minutes into the flight, she seemed to ease up in relief upon seeing that the pair of them were in less discomfort than she had initially anticipated.
“Are you dizzy, Grandaunt?”
“Not anymore,” the old lady replied with a smile. After experiencing it once before, she found it much more bearable this time.
A sudden loud roar of the plane’s engine as it accelerated made Mary jump.
Arissa chuckled. “Not to worry! It’s just the plane picking up speed.”
“Mmm, so that’s what it was.” The old lady grinned abashedly.
“It wasn’t just you, Grandma,” Jasper piped up as he giggled. “I jumped too!”
Arissa shot him a glance.
“I was scared as well,” Tim admitted to Jasper.
The children exchanged glances before bursting into peals of laughter.
The adults could not help smiling at the sight of the raucous children.
Arissa covered Mary with a blanket as she called out to her children. “Aren’t you cold, children?”
The six of them shook their heads.
“No we’re not, Mommy.”
Arissa fed Mary some water.
“You don’t have to fuss over me, my dear,” the old lady said. “Get some rest.”
“In a minute,” Arissa replied with a smile and drank a little water herself.
“Have a sip, children!” she said as she handed them the jug.
Benjamin’s eyes were fixed on her. “Aren’t you cold?”
Arissa glanced at him. “Not at all.”
Benjamin nodded.
After the children had their fill, they squeezed against the window and watched the scenery outside curiously with Arissa in their midst like a hen with her flock.
“Do you think that mountain looks like a man lying down, Mommy?”
“It does, doesn’t it?”
“Look over there, Mommy! That cloud is beautiful!”
“Wow! You could see all the colors in the rainbow!”
Arissa was even more excited than the children as she scrambled to take pictures with her phone while calling out to them.
“Look over there! There’s another rainbow cloud!”
Even Kingsley, Shaun, Ethen, and Mary craned their necks curiously.
“It’s beautiful!”
“The clouds must be sending their regards for locating our brother, Mommy!”
Hah! That’s very kind of them.”
“Have you seen a cloud more beautiful than this, Tim?”
“I’ve seen a double rainbow!”
“You have? I’ve never seen two together!”
From time to time, the warm conversation between Arissa and Tim reached Benjamin’s ears and made him smile with genuine pleasure.
His deep eyes, tinged with a rare instance of tenderness, fell on her beautiful face brightened with child-like excitement.
Kingsley caught Benjamin staring at Arissa. He bumped his elbow against Shaun’s arm to signal the latter to take a look.
Ethen noticed it as well. The sight of Benjamin’s soft spot made him smile.
“Mr. Graham appears infatuated,” teased Kingsley despite the envy in his eyes. “I get goosebumps just looking at him!”
“Don’t you want Mr. Graham to be happy, Mr. Watts?”
“Oh, I’m sure Mr. Graham will be thrilled after getting lucky!”
Kingsley grinned slyly and placed a heavy emphasis on the final two words.
Grasping his meaning within seconds, the corners of Shaun’s mouth twitched.
“Not too loud, or Benjamin will drop you out of the plane without a parachute. I won’t be able to help you then.”
Benjamin turned his gaze at them at that moment and caught Kingsley’s eye. The latter’s lips immediately gave way from a mocking smile to a flattering one.
“Would you like something to eat, Benjamin?”
Chapter 644 A Flying Demonstration
Benjamin’s eyes darkened a little.
“Leave some for Gavin and the others.”
Kingsley smiled. “I will. Are you afraid that I would finish everything and leave Arissa hungry?”
Shaun and Ethen snickered.
After glaring at Kingsley, Benjamin turned his gaze toward Arissa and the children. Upon seeing that they were indulged in their own amusement, he took out his laptop and began attending to work.
Shaun gave Mary a drip which soon put her to sleep.
Finally tired of seeing nothing but clouds, the six children returned to their seats.
Except for Tim, the other five were already drowsy.
“Close your eyes for a bit, Sweetheart. Home is still a couple of hours away.”
“Yes, Mommy.”
Tim nodded obediently and settled into his seat. Too excited for sleep, his gaze danced about restlessly before finding the door to the cockpit.
Arissa tucked in the edges of Mary’s quilt and covered the children with a blanket. Noticing Tim’s curious stare, she squatted in front of him.
“Would you like a tour of the cockpit, Sweetheart?”
Tim’s eyes lit up.
“Oh, may I?”
“Of course you may.”
Arissa nodded as she undid his buckle and picked him up in her arms.
Catching her quiet movements out of the corner of his eye, Benjamin shut his computer before getting to his feet to take Tim from Arissa’s arms. He then headed for the cockpit ahead without a backward glance.
“I’ll take him!”
Arissa shook herself out of her startled reverie and strode up after them, who were already engrossed in a deep discussion on aircraft mechanics as they made their way toward the cockpit.
The corners of her lips curved upward at Benjamin’s patience in explaining the structure of the plane to her son, and at the rapt attention on the latter’s face.
The man’s low voice held her spellbound. So intent was her concentration that Arissa had even learned something new.
The pilots turned to greet Benjamin when they arrived at the cockpit, who gestured at them to carry on as he continued his discourse with his son.
Tim pointed at something. “What does that do, Mr. Graham?”
Benjamin turned to the direction the child indicated. “That’s the brake valve.”
Tim stared at him. “Can you fly a plane too, Mr. Graham?”
The boy was fascinated with the way Benjamin seemed to know everything.
Benjamin nodded. “I do indeed.”
Tim’s bright eyes sparkled in admiration.
Benjamin tousled the boy’s hair and had the pilot give up his seat before handing Tim to Arissa.
She took his son and asked with a smile, “Are you going to fly the plane?”
Benjamin glanced at her. “For several miles, yes.”
Without waiting for her approval, he put on his headphones, got into the pilot’s seat, and took the yoke in his hands.
Tim’s curiosity was so intense by that point that nothing could make him tear his eyes away from Benjamin.
Arissa watched the man in the pilot’s seat and thought privately about how handsome he looked when he was frowning with attention. A haze of infatuation made her eyes appear more watery than usual.
The bodyguards tactfully stood aside and did not interrupt the moment.
“You will learn to fly a plane when you’re a little older, Sweetheart,” Arissa said softly to the boy.
Tim stared at Benjamin longingly. “Is it difficult?”
“I’m sure it’s not,” Arissa assured her son. “To be a good pilot, however, you would need lots of practice and a professional certificate.”
Tim nodded earnestly. “I will study hard!”
Arissa kissed his cheek proudly. “I know you will be an excellent pilot in the future.”
Tim stared at Benjamin’s hands as if trying to commit every movement to memory.
After a stretch, Benjamin stood up and had the bodyguard take over.
“I’ll give you lessons when I have some time freed up,” he declared as he tousled the boy’s head.
Tim was beside himself with excitement. “I can’t wait!”
Noticing that his son was still keen on exploring the cockpit, Benjamin took the boy in his arms.
“Go back for some rest,” he said to Arissa, “I’ll show him around.”
Arissa pouted. “I want a tour too!”
Benjamin raised his eyebrows. “Do you really?”
Flustered by the intensity of his gaze, Arissa froze for a moment before staring pointedly ahead.
“We should leave the flying to the professionals.”
Benjamin’s eyes flashed. This woman sure knows a lot.
“We should have a competition one of these days.”
Arissa looked at him in astonishment. “Over what?”
Chapter 645 Back To Dellmoor
Benjamin’s eyes flashed. “Over who’s a better pilot.”
Arissa laughed. “I don’t even know how to fly a plane!”
“You are suspiciously humble about it. Are you afraid I might find out how good you actually are?”
Benjamin stepped closer as he spoke. His warm breath brushed over her ears and made them numb.
Arissa’s cheeks flushed against her will. She edged away as little as she dared and smiled awkwardly upon meeting Tim’s curious gaze.
“Enjoy yourselves, boys. I’m heading back.” She turned to return to the cabin.
Tim blinked. Could Mommy by shy?
Benjamin’s deep eyes followed Arissa. They only lowered to the boy in his arms after she disappeared from sight.
“Shall we return as well, Tim?” Benjamin asked in a slightly raised voice upon noticing that his son was also staring at Arissa.
Tim nodded. “Yeah, let’s head back!”
Benjamin lifted him as they went in Arissa’s wake. Spread luxuriously across his father’s broad shoulders, Tim gazed longingly at the cockpit.
Upon returning to her seat, Arissa shut her eyes for some much-needed rest.
Sensing Benjamin’s return, she opened them again and found the man seated next to her with their son in his arms.
“Give him to me!” She reached out with both arms.
Benjamin glanced at her. “Weren’t you just about to take a nap?”
Tim glanced at Benjamin. “I can sit by myself, Mr. Graham,” he whispered.
Benjamin looked down at his son. “As you wish, then,” he said before getting up and placing the boy in the seat he had previously occupied before buckling him in.
When he turned around, he saw Arissa craning her neck to gaze at their son.
Benjamin reached out and playfully rapped her forehead with his knuckles. “What are you looking at? Go to sleep!”
Arissa rubbed her forehead and glowered angrily at him.
“Cover Tim up with a quilt.”
Benjamin went away to procure a quilt to drape over the boy. “Get some sleep, Tim,” he murmured. “It’ll be over another hour to get home.”
Tim nodded obediently and burrowed himself further in his seat before looking around.
Benjamin caressed his head lovingly and covered Arissa with another quilt before resuming his seat.
She was touched by his gesture.
Arissa stole several glances at the man throughout the plane ride. When Benjamin began to work, she became even more emboldened to stare at him.
Look at those cheekbones. Even axes aren’t as sharp as they are. However, his regal presence is even more exciting than his appearance.
The longer she studied his cheeks, the hotter hers became.
Benjamin felt her gaze and turned his head in her direction. His gaze deepened at the sight of her flushed cheeks.
Returning to her senses abruptly, Arissa was horrified to find the man’s fiery gaze catching her in her act.
Her heart throbbing with panic, she hurriedly looked away while ignoring her burning ears.
Benjamin’s thin lips curled into a smile at her embarrassment.
Arissa’s pulse quickened further still at the man’s unrelenting gaze.
Instinctively reaching for her phone for something else to do, she was dismayed to find it turned off for the flight.
Detecting a movement in her peripheral vision, Arissa looked up and saw Benjamin waving a tablet at her.
“You can watch a movie!” he mouthed.
Arissa reached outward and took it from him. After a quick glance at the children, she found them all, Gavin and Zachary included, sound asleep.
Even Tim’s eyes were beginning to droop.
Allowing the child to succumb to his drowsiness, Arissa put on earplugs and watched a movie alone, with Benjamin lost in work next to her.
At some point through the movie, Arissa fell asleep.
Benjamin noticed that she was cramped in her seat in such a way that would guarantee a neck cramp when she woke up.
Without hesitation, he leaned her body against his and rearranged the quilt over her before resuming work.
Arissa’s steady breath tickled him from time to time as it brushed against his chest through the gap in his shirt buttons.
Benjamin’s dark eyes narrowed as he felt his own breathing instantly disrupted.
Glancing at the soundly sleeping woman and her peaceful expression, he could not help noticing how attractive her cheeks looked with their natural pink tinge when she became excited. He was so mesmerized by her beauty that he could not take his eyes off her.
Benjamin did not look away until a sudden sound of Gavin getting up to use the washroom roused him from his reverie.
He watched as his son unbuckle his seat belt and walked toward the bathroom.
“Do you need me to come with you, Gavin?” Benjamin asked in a low voice.
Chapter 646 Welcome Party
Gavin looked at him. When he saw her holding his mommy, his eyes lit up, and he said, “No need!”
The boy then left coolly.
Benjamin resumed his work after seeing that everything was all right.
Once Gavin was done using the restroom, he returned to his seat and continued to sleep.
Back at the Graham residence in Dellmoor.
Arissa woke up only when she heard the commotion and found herself lying in Benjamin’s arms. She was taken aback.
How did I end up sleeping on him?
“Mommy, we have arrived. It’s time to get off now!”
Both Oliver and Jasper leaned over gleefully.
So did Gavin and Zachary.
Jesse was helping Tim with his stuff, but she was also looking at her with bright eyes.
Shaun, Kingsley, Ethen, and even Mary also reminded her that they had arrived.
Arissa sat up straight, rubbed her face, and stood up calmly before saying, “All right then. Let’s go!”
The children found the situation hilarious and stared at her.
Arissa took out her sunglasses and put them on to avoid any more embarrassment.
Kingsley whistled and said, “Mrs. Graham, this look of yours is so cool!”
He wanted to say that she looked gorgeous, but he was afraid that Benjamin might be unhappy. That was why he used another adjective, but it was just as suitable.
Arissa smiled and said, “Thank you!”
Once she had gathered the children, she went to get Mary.
“Grandaunt, we are here!”
“All right!” Mary began to look around.
“Mrs. Graham, let us do it. I’ll carry Mdm. Mary down.”
Kingsley strode over and carried Mary on his back.
Both Shaun and Ethen also went over to help him.
All Arissa could do was to stand aside.
“Let them handle it!”
With that, Benjamin pulled her away.
Arissa shot a glance at him. With her sunglasses as a shield, she appeared much calmer.
The six children only got off after Mary had gotten off.
“We’re finally home. Tim, let’s go!”
“Okay!” Both Gavin and Zachary held Tim’s hands.
Oliver and Jasper, on the other hand, held onto Jesse’s hands.
Benjamin walked down with Arissa once the rest of them had disembarked.
Edwin, the housekeeper, and hundreds of bodyguards were waiting for them. Together, they formed a welcoming party.
When all of them saw the family arriving, they called out, “Mr. Graham, Ms. York, welcome home! Gavin and the rest of you, welcome home! Tim and Mdm. Mary, welcome!”
Benjamin bowed his head slightly.
Mary was surprised by such a grand gesture.
Even Tim was stunned.
Arissa rubbed his head and introduced Edwin to him, “This is Mr. Whitley.”
“How do you do, Mr. Whitley?” Tim greeted.
“Nice to meet you, Tim!”
Edwin studied Tim carefully and realized that the boy was really skinny.
“Edwin, this is my grandaunt, Mary!” Arissa introduced Edwin to Mary.
“Hello, Mdm. Mary!” Edwin greeted her with a smile.
Mary smiled awkwardly when she saw that Edwin was close to her age. “Hello!”
“Tim, come with us!”
Gavin held Tim’s hands and beckoned his other siblings to go into the house.
When the grown-ups saw the six children running into the house happily, they were full of smiles.
“We’re finally back. The flight was giving me a backache!”
Kingsley stretched himself before pushing Mary toward the main house with Shaun.
“Mdm. Mary, let’s go over there!”
“Sure!”
Mary took a look at her surroundings. The moment she laid eyes on the huge and classic-looking house, she was dumbstruck. It’s so big here.
“Let’s go in too!”
With that, Benjamin grabbed Arissa’s hand and walked into the house.
After getting the housekeeper to take the luggage upstairs, Edwin brought a few men with him and came after Benjamin.
“Mr. Graham, lunch is ready. Should I get everyone seated?”
Benjamin turned his head and asked, “Are the rooms ready?”
Chapter 647 An Important Elderly
Edwin nodded. “Yes, they are. For the time being, Tim will stay with the rest of the boys. As for Mdm. Mary, I have arranged for her room to be on the ground floor for her convenience.”
It would be inconvenient for Mary to stay upstairs because of her legs.
Although there was an elevator in the house, only Benjamin was allowed to use it.
That was why Edwin did not dare to arrange for Mary to stay in a room upstairs.
“Have the guest room upstairs renovated to Grandaunt’s requirements. Once it’s ready, move her upstairs!” instructed Benjamin.
Edwin was startled to hear that. “Yes!”
Edwin found it strange. “Mr. Graham, this Grandaunt…”
In order to gain Benjamin’s respect, she must be somebody important.
“She is Tim’s benefactor. She has raised him and now, she is also Arissa and my grandaunt,” explained Benjamin.
“I got it now!”
Edwin glanced at Arissa with a smile before getting to his work.
Arissa blushed. Is Edwin mistaken about something when he looked at me strangely just now?
When she recalled the way Benjamin had addressed Mary, her face felt hot.
“Actually, you don’t have to address her as Grandaunt!”
Benjamin shot her a look and asked, “If I don’t call her that, then what should I call her?”
Arissa did not know how to reply.
“If I don’t address her affectionately, she won’t be able to stay here at ease.”
Benjamin snorted with displeasure. What is this woman trying to do?
Hearing that he was upset, Arissa looked at his tense face and whispered, “Thank you.”
Benjamin frowned and stared at her. “Why are you thanking me?”
Arissa met his angry eyes and dared not say anything more.
She smiled sheepishly. “Nothing. I just feel like thanking you. That’s all. Mr. Graham, don’t think too much. Grandaunt is also your benefactor. It’s only right that you are good to her. I totally agree with what you do!”
Benjamin snorted lightly and said, “What a sweet talker!”
Arissa pouted her lips. What does he mean by that? I’m just worried that he might get angry.
The two of them went to Mary’s room and saw Edwin showing her around.
“Grandaunt, the room upstairs has yet to be renovated because we have come back in a rush. Once the restroom has been customized to suit your needs, you will be able to move upstairs,” explained Arissa gently as she held onto Mary’s hands.
Mary had never seen such a luxurious house before. Looking at the decor of her room, she was a little uneasy and did not know how to react.
“I’m fine with this room. There’s no need to move. It’s easier for me to move around if I’m on the ground floor.”
Arissa told her, “It’s equally convenient upstairs. We have an elevator at home! You can move to the new room once the renovation is completed. For the time being, just stay in this room first.”
Benjamin’s eyes flickered with joy when he heard Arissa use the word “home.”
Mary was moved beyond words. “Thank you. Sorry to cause all of you so much trouble!”
“Why are you being so polite with me again?”
Arissa pouted and pretended to be angry with Mary.
Benjamin also chimed in and put Mary at ease. “Grandaunt, just stay here and don’t worry about anything. Tomorrow, you will have to stay in the hospital. Once you are discharged, the room upstairs should be ready.”
The six children ran over.
Gavin said, “Great-grandaunt, just stay here and don’t worry about anything!”
Zachary added, “Yes, we are staying here too!”
“Great-grandaunt, just treat this place as your own home!” said Oliver.
Jasper said, “Great-grandaunt, just stay here comfortably. If you need anything, just let my mommy know!”
Last but not least, Jesse said, “Great-grandaunt, this place is very huge. Even I haven’t been to every part of it. We will go together next time!”
“Sure, sure!”
Mary nodded with tears in her eyes.
These children are so kind.
Even after letting me stay in such a grand house, they are still concerned that I won’t feel at ease living here.
Mary was overwhelmed with emotions. She had never seen a house that luxurious before, let alone stay in one.
Chapter 648 Why Was Jesse Here
As Tim stood next to Mary’s wheelchair and surveyed the place curiously, he was also similarly awed.
This place is truly huge! Gavin and the others showed me around downstairs just now, but we haven’t even finished covering the entire downstairs area. Even this room itself is larger than the room at our house. It has an attached bathroom and a balcony. It’s all so beautiful. In fact, it’s way prettier than the prettiest house in our village…
“Let’s eat first and unpack later,” Benjamin announced. Then, he instructed Edwin to serve lunch.
As Arissa pushed Mary’s wheelchair, she called out to the children, “Come on. Let’s have lunch first. It’s already noon! Quickly go and wash your hands before you eat, Sweethearts!”
“Come on, Tim! Let’s wash our hands before we eat!”
Since it was Tim’s first time at the house, Gavin pulled him along as he ran to wash his hands.
“Okay!” Tim hurried after him.
“Wait for us!”
Calling his younger siblings to follow him, Zachary and the other three quickly rushed to catch up.
As the adults trailed behind them to wash their hands before eating, they could not help smiling when they saw how happy the children looked.
Arissa personally led Mary to the bathroom and said, “Grandaunt, why don’t you use the bathroom?”
“Sure.”
Mary held Arissa’s hand to steady herself as she got to her feet, then said, “Give me my crutches. I’ll go in by myself.”
Arissa took the crutches from behind the wheelchair.
“Be careful,” she cautioned, watching Mary closely.
The older woman nodded in response.
Once Mary had used the bathroom and came back out, Arissa helped her to the sink to wash her hands.
“I can do it myself. You should go and use the bathroom too.”
“Okay,” Arissa replied with a smile. But just as she was about to enter the bathroom, Jesse ran in ahead of her.
“Mommy!”
Arissa gazed at her daughter with a smile on her lips. “Oh? Do you want to use the bathroom?”
“Yes! Yes!”
Jesse’s brows were knitted as she needed to use the bathroom badly.
“Did you forget to go earlier because you were too busy playing?” Arissa asked with a chuckle.
Mary was also laughing.
Seeing that Mary had washed her hands, Arissa helped the former to the wheelchair and pushed her out, only to see Benjamin staring in their direction with a frown. She could not tell what he was thinking.
Just then, the housekeeper bustled over. “Let me, Ms. York.”
“Okay. Take Grandaunt to the dining room first,” Arissa instructed.
Mary felt somewhat embarrassed about going to the dining room by herself and said, “I think I’ll just wait and go over with everyone else.”
“That’s okay. You should head over first. We’ll be there soon.”
The five boys returned at that moment, and Arissa told them to bring Mary to the dining room.
Tim wanted to wait for Arissa, but she flashed him a gratified smile and caressed his head as she said, “You go on ahead, Sweetheart. I’ll go over in a little while.”
Then, she turned and entered the bathroom to find Jesse standing on her tiptoes to wash her hands.
“Mommy, I’m done!”
“Hurry on out, then. Your brothers have already gone to the dining room,” she said before hurrying to use the bathroom.
Jesse dashed out and bumped into Benjamin. He quickly reached out to steady her.
“Watch out!”
“Thank you, Mr. Graham!”
After thanking him, she ran over to where her brothers were.
When Edwin saw them enter the dining room, he quickly greeted Mary and directed her to sit near the head of the table. Then, he picked up each of the kids and lifted them into their chairs.
Meanwhile, Benjamin withdrew his gaze and walked toward the bathroom Arissa was in.
She was stunned when she came out and found herself face-to-face with him.
His eyes were fixed on her, and he looked like he had something to say.
Glancing at him quizzically, she asked, “What do you want to say?”
Benjamin cleared his throat. “Why was Jesse in the women’s bathroom?”
Arissa froze for a moment. She was tempted to laugh, but she quickly restrained herself.
Lowering her head as she washed her hands, she replied, “Jesse likes to stay close to me. Besides, Jesse is still so young, and it’s not like we’re in a public area. There’s no need to designate men’s and women’s bathrooms.”
Looking unconvinced, Benjamin asked, “Wouldn’t it be better to let him follow his older brothers and get used to being with them?”
However, she merely glanced at him and said, “Do you still want to talk about this now when we’re about to sit down for lunch? Hurry up and wash your hands.”
With that, she turned and left.
Chapter 649 A Warm Welcome
Benjamin furrowed his brows as he followed Arissa out of the bathroom. But instead of going to the dining room, he turned and went into the bathroom next door.
She chuckled when she saw that. Hearing the sound of chatter and laughter coming from the dining room, she hurried over there.
Kingsley, Shaun, and Ethen were inside the room already.
When the six children saw her, they called out excitedly. “Mommy!”
“Ms. York!”
Arissa murmured an acknowledgment in an affectionate tone.
Edwin drew out a chair near the head of the table and motioned for her to sit down. “Please sit here, Ms. York.”
The kids were also sitting on the same side of the table as her.
After taking her seat, she glanced at the table laden with delicious dishes. It was evident that Edwin had put in a lot of effort as the food looked just like what one would expect to find at a five-star hotel.
Edwin proceeded to instruct the help to serve the soup.
Tim secretly gulped as he gazed at the scrumptious spread on the table while Jasper took a deep whiff of the delicious food and declared, “It smells good!”
Meanwhile, Oliver and Jesse’s stomachs started rumbling.
Jesse leaned against the table, staring starry-eyed at the delectable dishes. “I can tell they’re going to taste yummy just by looking at them.”
Although Zachary laughed at her remark, he could not help gulping too as his mouth watered at the sight of the food. “Why isn’t Mr. Graham here yet?”
“He’s such a slowpoke,” Gavin grumbled, his remark tickling Kingsley, Shaun, and Ethen.
Arissa’s eyes twinkled with amusement as she gazed at her children. “Daddy will be here soon. Just be patient.”
After serving the soup, Edwin lifted the plate covers keeping the food warm.
“Be careful, everyone. The food is hot.”
Just then, Benjamin walked in and swept his gaze over the room. “Let’s eat.”
He sat at the head of the table, then turned to Mary and said warmly, “Help yourself to anything you fancy, Grandaunt. Think of this as your house.”
Delighted, Mary replied, “All right.”
“Remember to blow on your soup and drink it slowly. Be careful not to burn your tongue,” Arissa reminded softly.
“I will. You should all hurry up and eat too!” said Mary, waiting for the others to start digging in before she started eating.
Looking around at the kids and seeing Tim eating along with the others, Arissa’s lips curved into a smile.
Benjamin also cast a glance at the little ones. Seeing them wolfing their food down ravenously, he cautioned, “Eat slowly, kids.”
They raised their heads and glanced at him, then nodded.
Withdrawing his gaze from the children and looking toward Arissa, he said, “You should eat too.”
“Okay,” she murmured, shooting a quick glance at him before drinking her soup.
After finishing half a bowl of soup, Kingsley let out a contented sigh. “I’m starving!”
Shaun laughed. “I can’t believe you still have the audacity to say that you’re starving after how much you ate on the plane.”
“Right? He sneakily ate everything!” Jasper piped up.
“Hush!”
Kingsley gestured for Jasper to lower his voice as he stole a glance in Benjamin’s direction, and the other kids could not help giggling upon catching sight of that.
When Benjamin glanced at Kingsley, the latter merely smiled back sheepishly.
Edwin had been standing behind the children, and when he saw they had almost finished their soup, he asked in a low voice, “Would you like some more soup?”
Jasper wanted more soup, so he quickly replied, “I’d like another bowl of soup, Mr. Whitley.”
“Mr. Whitley, I want some pasta,” Jesse answered in her soft and adorable voice.
Edwin felt his heart melt and agreed to bring some at once.
Then, he turned to Tim and asked, “Would you like to have soup or pasta?”
Tim’s cheeks flushed. “I… Mr. Whitley, I want to eat pasta.”
“Okay, sure!”
Edwin could tell that Tim was feeling shy, so he smiled and patted the boy’s head fondly before going to get the pasta.
After serving Jesse and Tim their pasta, he ladled soup into a bowl and placed it in front of Jasper. “Be careful. It’s hot.”
“Thank you, Mr. Whitley!” Jasper sang out with a bright smile.
Tim and Jesse also thanked him sweetly.
“You’re all such good children,” Edwin praised as he placed more food on their plates.
Gavin, Zachary, and Oliver finished drinking their soup just then and wanted to have pasta, so Edwin hastened to bring them some.
Seeing Arissa getting up to take some pasta for herself, he quickly took away her plate.
“Ms. York, please go ahead and enjoy the other dishes. I’ll bring you the pasta.”
Chapter 650 I Would Not Say No
Arissa sat back down. “Thank you, Edwin.”
“You’re welcome,” he responded warmly.
Turning to Mary with a smile, Arissa placed some food onto the woman’s plate. “Have some of this, Grandaunt.”
“Ah, okay. I’ll have some soup first,” Mary replied hurriedly.
“Have some of both,” Arissa said as she piled more food onto the children’s plates.
“Eat slowly. Don’t scarf down the food!”
Too engrossed in eating, the other kids merely murmured a response and nodded.
However, Tim looked up and answered, “Okay, Ms. York.”
Gazing at him lovingly, Arissa murmured a response before continuing to eat.
“These dishes are absolutely delicious! Edwin, did you prepare all of this?” Arissa asked when she saw the butler walking over.
“Yes. I had the help of two cooks as well.”
Worried that he would not be able to cope with preparing so much food, Edwin enlisted the help of two cooks.
“It must’ve been a lot of work,” Arissa remarked as she took the pasta from him with both hands.
“As long as they’re to your liking, it’s all worth it,” Edwin responded with a grin.
Then, he went to get Mary some pasta and refill her plate while directing the help to serve pasta to Kingsley and the others.
Benjamin had peeled a bowlful of prawns, and after passing some to Arissa, he told Edwin to distribute the remainder among the children.
“Thank you, Daddy!”
“Thank you, Mr. Graham!”
A smile appeared on Edwin’s face when he heard their different ways of addressing Benjamin.
“Thank you,” Arissa muttered as she shot Benjamin a glance, sharing some of the peeled prawns with Mary.
However, Mary covered her plate, saying, “Oh, that’s enough for me. I can’t eat that much. You should have more, Issa.”
“We can share them. There’s still plenty left,” Arissa answered smilingly.
Seeing that, Kingsley could not help saying in jest, “Arissa, I wouldn’t say no if you were to give some to me.”
Arissa glanced at him in amusement.
“If I were to give some to you, I’d have to share them with Dr. Bailey and Mr. Frank too. There isn’t enough to go around, so you’d better peel them yourselves. There’s still a lot left.”
Benjamin had shot Kingsley a warning look, but his expression relaxed a little after hearing Arissa’s response.
“I was only joking. I’ll peel some for everyone.”
Noticing that the children liked to eat prawns, Kingsley put down his fork and started peeling diligently. But after peeling one, he popped it straight into his mouth.
Shaun and Ethen burst out laughing when they saw his antics.
“You offer to peel prawns for us, yet there’s barely enough for you!”
“That’s so true!” Ethen chimed in.
The children also started giggling, and the sound of laughter filled the dining room.
Even with Edwin and the help attending to them, Arissa did not forget to ensure the kids had enough to eat.
Meanwhile, Benjamin was attentive to Mary and served the latter some food.
“Try this, Grandaunt!”
“Okay,” Mary replied graciously.
Benjamin also served Arissa some food from the dishes that were further away.
The sight caused Kingsley, Shaun, and Ethen to look at the couple with a twinkle in their eyes.
Ignoring their ambiguous gazes, Arissa thanked Graham calmly.
Benjamin gazed at her and only started eating when he saw her enjoying the food.
Since they were all hungry, everyone ate quietly.
“Tim, this is yummy. Try it!” Gavin said while placing some food onto Tim’s place.
Tim had never had such exquisite dishes before. Even if there were some dishes that he had eaten at hotels before, he found Edwin’s cooking much tastier.
Every dish he tried filled him with awe.
Just like him, Mary felt she had never tasted such delicious food.
“It’s so yummy!” Tim said, licking his lips.
Zachary also took some food for Tim. “This is tasty too!”
“Thank you,” Tim replied, feeling moved.
“Don’t mention it. This is our home, so go ahead and take whatever you like to eat. Since you’ve never had Mr. Whitley’s cooking, you can try a little of everything!” Zachary said warmly.
Tim nodded. “Okay!”
Oliver and Jasper also passed Tim some of the other dishes he had not yet tried.
Following her brothers’ example, Jesse stretched out her hand to take some food for Tim, but it was too far for her to reach.
The dish happened to be in front of Ethen. Hence, he placed some on her plate with a smile.