Ch. 81..90

Chapter 81 Benjamin Found Out

“I’ve tested the machine, but you could be right. Do you mind telling me whose hair those were?”

Shaun was extremely puzzled.

Meanwhile, Kingsley was gloating over the doctor’s situation. He was more than happy to find out that someone was in the same shoes as him.

“How dare you report it to me when you can’t even guarantee that the result is correct?” Benjamin shouted in rage and hung up right away, leaving Shaun frustrated.

Why do I get a feeling that he doesn’t want to accept the result? Whose DNA test is it anyway?

“Daddy, let’s do another test at a different hospital. This time, keep an eye on it until the result is out,” Gavin suggested to Benjamin.

Benjamin could not bring himself to break Gavin’s heart after looking at him in the eye, so he eventually agreed.

With that, Gavin’s eyes lit up.

Benjamin was rather speechless.

“Why did you expose your mommy?” he suddenly asked.

Gavin snorted in response, saying, “She’s not my mommy. She bullied Jas-” He paused for a while and continued, “W-Why can’t I expose her?”

Gavin touched his nose, silently hoping that Benjamin didn’t notice his slip of the tongue.

He did not mind Danna mistreating him, but he could not stand watching Jasper getting bullied.

Suddenly, Benjamin’s eyes flickered as he stared at Gavin’s wrist.

There was no mole on his wrist.

He looked at Gavin’s face, observing it carefully. His heart then skipped a beat.

This kid looks slightly different from this morning. He’s definitely Gavin. If so, who was the one who had breakfast with me this morning?

“Daddy, do you still like her? I don’t like her. I hate her!”

Anger stirred in Gavin’s eyes like a dancing flame.

His hatred for Danna took over him, and he did not realize what Benjamin had noticed about him.

This kid restrains himself even when he gets angry, unlike the kid in the morning. That one was so irritable.

Benjamin was sure that he had seen a mole on the boy’s wrist that morning. The mole could not possibly have disappeared within a few hours.

As he remembered how Gavin firmly denied Danna being his biological mom, a thought flashed through his mind.

Benjamin was sure that the kid he saw in the morning and the kid in front of him were two different people.

“Boss, how about doing another DNA test at a different hospital?”

Seeing the determined look on Gavin’s face, Kingsley also thought that Benjamin should do another test.

“Do another test with Danna and Gavin’s DNA samples. Keep it discreet. Let’s see what the result says this time.”

Whether or not Arissa was Gavin’s biological mom, it would be good news as long as Danna was unrelated to Gavin.

“Daddy, Mommy came to look for me. She must be my mom!” Gavin said to Benjamin.

“Did she tell you that?” Benjamin immediately noticed how Gavin started calling Arissa his mom.

Gavin glanced at him and whispered, “No, she didn’t say anything.”

Benjamin thought about the boy’s strange behavior and how Arissa had checked the surveillance cameras when she visited his house. Then, he turned to look at Gavin again and snorted inwardly.

“Start the car!” he ordered. Immediately, the driver did as told.

Confused, Gavin looked at Benjamin with his head tilted.

“Daddy, where are we going?”

“We’re going to have a meal with your Mommy!”

His words took Gavin by a pleasant surprise. Though he wanted to go, he said, “But I still have class!”

Benjamin glanced over the campus and saw a few kids peeking at them from a corner, and he narrowed his eyes.

Gavin quickly blocked his sight and asked, “Daddy, which Mommy are you bringing me to?”

Benjamin questioned in response, “How many Mommies do you have?”

Kingsley chortled.

“One, and that’s Arissa York!” Gavin replied firmly.

Benjamin patted his head. “The butler told me that you made new friends. Do you want to invite them?”

At the thought of Arissa’s daughter, Benjamin’s heart stirred again.

That child is as old as Gavin. If Arissa is really Gavin’s biological mom, does this mean they’re triplets?

 

Chapter 82 Ending Up With Danna

At present, Benjamin was overwhelmed. Yesterday, he could only look at the child from afar. Hence, he wasn’t able to see clearly.

Gavin said excitedly, “She’s asleep. Maybe next time!”

Benjamin took a quick glimpse at him.

“You look really happy, Gavin.”

Gavin glanced at his father and obediently sat down. “I am!”

Gazing at him, Benjamin turned sullen.

Gavin’s mood had dramatically changed. Evidently, he is different from before. He used to be so quiet, but now he has turned into a cheerful kid.

Witnessing the interaction between both of them, Kingsley was amused.

“Boss, do you have absolutely no memory about the incident? Are you sure it’s Danna?” asked Kingsley.

Benjamin’s lashes battered as he tried to recall the past. The fragrance from that night was etched deep inside his memory.

Since then, he had never sensed it from Danna. On the contrary, the fragrance appeared on Arissa instead.

Furthermore, the child… All of these aren’t coincidences. Was it actually Arissa? Did she do it on purpose or did someone frame her? Besides, how did the child end up with Danna?

At that moment, numerous guesses popped into Benjamin’s mind. He then took out his phone and dialed Ethen’s number.

Meanwhile, Ethen was having a meal with Arissa and the others. The group was chattering away when Ethen’s phone began ringing.

When he saw Benjamin’s incoming call, he excused himself and arrived at a quiet corner in the room to answer the call.

Ethen respectfully greeted, “Mr. Graham!”

“Head to the hospital and investigate the surveillance cameras. Check if Danna or anyone she knows appeared last night!” Benjamin ordered.

Gavin took a glance at Benjamin. Daddy does believe me, right? This isn’t the right time for Daddy to meet Zachary and the others. Or else, I would’ve directly led him to them. This way, Daddy will know everything I said is true. There’s no need for verification if that’s the case!

“Right now?”

Ethen peeked at the other side of the room. The dinner party was just about to begin.

“Now!”

Witnessing Benjamin’s assertive attitude, Kingsley shook his head as a smile appeared on his face. Seems like Ethen is going to miss the party this time.

Ethen was rendered speechless by Benjamin’s outrageous demand, but nonetheless, he was helpless as work was always his top priority.

Does this mean that Mr. Graham didn’t trust the result?

He then turned to cast a glance at Arissa. Wouldn’t it be great if Ms. York is Gavin’s biological mother?

“Ms. York, Mr. Graham has some work for me to do. I need to leave now.”

Noticing his anxiety, Arissa asked, “Why don’t you leave after eating?”

“It’s an urgent matter!”

After apologizing to everyone, Ethen abruptly left the room.

“Ms. York, let us start!”

“Fortunately, Mr. Graham didn’t appoint us for the job. Otherwise, the food would be wasted!”

“Don’t get too excited. We should eat and end this as soon as possible since we might be called into work at any time.”

“That’s right. Let’s dig in!”

Arissa found the employees’ complaints rather funny. With a smile on her face, she queried, “Are you often called back at the last minute?”

“Not often, but it happens.”

Soon, they began gossiping about their respective departments while enjoying their scrumptious meal.

“Danna is such an inhumane person. How could she treat a child like that? Not to mention, that child is Mr. Graham’s son.”

“Although he’s Mr. Graham’s son, Mr. Graham doesn’t care much about the child. Otherwise, he would’ve married Danna.”

The gossips at the table next to Arissa’s intensified.

Squinting, she turned and saw the employees all gathered up, looking at something.

“This video is verified to be true, but the ignorant fans denied it and continued to support Danna. I’m totally speechless.”

“The fans might not be real. They probably hired some ghostwriters as part of their publicity scheme.”

“That’s true. This is very common in the entertainment industry. Regardless, Danna is the first person accused of such things!”

Arissa took out her phone and logged into Twitter. The trending headline caught her eye almost immediately.

There were photos of Gavin’s injuries from the mistreatment, along with the video. At that moment, anger and hatred poured through her.

Danna Adams! That wicked b*tch!

“Ms. York! Ms. York?”

One of Arissa’s colleagues called her name after noticing her odd expression.

Coming back to her senses, Arissa put on an apologetic smile.

“Are you okay, Ms. York?”

“I’m fine. Excuse me. I need to go to the restroom. Do proceed and order anything you like!” replied Arissa.

After saying that, she stood up and left the room. Then, she dialed Gavin’s number on her way to the restroom.

 

Chapter 83 A Call From Mommy

Once Arissa’s caller ID appeared on Gavin’s phone, he was flustered in joy.

“Mommy’s calling!”

Upon hearing that, Benjamin’s eyes lit up. He turned around to see the little boy excitedly holding up the phone and noticed the caller ID that was flashing on the screen.

Gavin hurriedly picked up the phone and shouted in excitement, “Mommy!”

Arissa teared up as soon as she heard his voice. She turned around to wipe her eyes that were brimming with tears.

She tried her best to conceal her emotions to prevent Gavin from noticing anything unusual.

“Sweetheart! What are you up to now? Is Mommy bothering you while you’re in the middle of something?”

Arissa was worried that Gavin might see the news online and feel miserable.

“I’m at school, Mommy!”

Both Benjamin and Kingsley gazed surprisingly at Gavin, realizing the latter was lying.

Kingsley was amused. Who knew that even Gavin could lie.

“You didn’t bother me, Mommy. What are you doing right now?”

Arissa’s heart was melted by the little boy’s adorable tone.

“Mommy is having dinner with some colleagues. Have you eaten yet, Gav?”

“Yes I have!” answered Gavin enthusiastically.

Arissa let out a chuckle before asking, “Gav, did you surf the web today?”

Gavin questioned innocently, “Anything wrong, Mommy?”

Kingsley was deeply astonished, yet impressed at the same time.

This kid can become such a gentle cutie when talking to his mother. Typically, he would put on a serious face and behave aloof whenever he’s around us, just like Boss.

“Don’t worry. Mommy’s just asking. Remember not to play on your phone if possible, Gav. There are a lot of inappropriate things on the internet. Besides, your eyes could be harmed too!” advised Arissa.

Gavin blinked and obediently replied, “Okay, Mommy. I won’t play on my phone.”

“You’re such a good boy!” she praised.

In the meantime, Benjamin could vaguely hear Arissa’s soft-spoken and comforting voice from the speaker, which was utterly different from the way she spoke to him. A strange feeling rose within him.

“Gav, you go rest now. Mommy needs to return to the dinner party. We’ll talk very soon, okay?”

Arissa didn’t want to be absent from the dinner for too long. After all, she intended to buy her colleagues dinner to build a good relationship with them.

Gavin nodded. Shortly, he realized that Arissa couldn’t see it. Hence, he said, “Okay! Bye-bye, Mommy!”

Arissa’s grinned and finally put down the phone after he ended the call.

Then, she entered the restroom and fixed her makeup. After calming herself down, she returned to her seat at the dinner table.

When Arissa entered the room, everybody urged her to try the dishes that were newly served.

Soon, she began eating and chatting with them.

The people from the IT department were down-to-earth.

None of them were into alcohol, so they mainly ate and talked throughout the dinner. Arissa was able to blend in, and she had a great time.

Inside the car, Kingsley gave Gavin a thumbs up.

“Wow! You learned how to lie, Gavin!”

He would never believe that Gavin would lie if it weren’t witnessing himself. He’s a natural at lying. How dumbfounding!

Gavin looked at him and spoke indifferently. “I wanted to give Mommy a surprise.”

Kingsley suppressed his urge to burst into laughter.

As for Benjamin, he took a glance at Gavin and remained silent.

Meanwhile, Danna and her mother, Vivian Shaw, arrived at the Graham residence at Yaleview.

However, they didn’t get to meet Gavin because Edwin stopped them at the door, forbidding them from entering.

Vivian fumed, “Edwin, what do you mean by this? Danna is Gavin’s biological mother. How could you stop her from meeting her own son? This is absurd!”

Her irritation flared.

Soon, she began shouting toward the house, “Gavin! Gavin! Granny is here! Mommy is here too!”

Edwin peered coldly at them. “Do not disturb Gavin from resting. It was Mr. Graham who forbade you from meeting Gavin. Please leave now.”

Edwin deliberately hid the truth that Gavin went to school, so they wouldn’t attempt to find him there.

“Benjamin would never do that! This is ridiculous! Furthermore, he has no right to do so. Gavin is Danna’s son! This is the fact! How dare you stop us from entering the premises. You are just a butler. Who are you to stop us?” expostulated Vivian with a forceful tone.

 

Chapter 84 Everything Is An Act

“Mom!”

Danna tugged on Vivian’s sleeve, urging her to stop. Then, she turned to Edwin and apologized, “Edwin, my mother is too anxious. Do forgive her. We only wanted to take a look at Gavin, just for a little while.”

Danna looked down as she choked back her tears. “What I did was wrong. I came here to apologize. Please let me see him, Edwin!”

When she looked up again, her eyes were brimming with tears, looking extremely pitiful.

Edwin would have believed her if he didn’t witness her cruelty in the past.

He uttered coldly, “Ms. Adams, Gavin is reluctant to meet you as he was deeply hurt. You should stay away from him for the time being if you really do care about him.”

Vivian interjected, “Nonsense! Gavin would never treat his mother like that! Undoubtedly, all of you have been discrediting Danna in front of him. Otherwise, Gavin would have forgiven her ages ago! It must be your own intention to forbid them from seeing each other!”

She paused for a moment and added, “Fine! If we can’t go in, tell Gavin to come outside. Danna only wants to see her child. It’s unlawful to stop her from doing so. Call Gavin and get him to come outside right now!”

Edwin was annoyed by her arrogance and scoffed inwardly. This isn’t the Adams residence. Who does she think she is?

Danna continued begging, “Edwin, could you do us a favor by asking Gavin to come outside? I just want to see him and talk for a little while. Then, I will leave at once.”

However, Edwin was unmoved. “Go away. What you are doing is in vain. Mr. Graham would be indignant if he finds out that you came here to bother Gavin.”

After giving them the last warning, he turned around and headed inside.

There were several bodyguards guarding the entrance, preventing the mother and daughter duo from entering.

Vivian was breathless with anger. “Let us in! You have no right to stop Danna from meeting her own child! We will not leave unless we see Gavin!”

On the other hand, a glint of resentment flashed across Danna’s eyes as she stared at Edwin’s figure that was retreating into the Graham residence.

I will make them pay for everything they have done!

“Going in seems impossible! What should we do, Danna? Why don’t you give Gavin a call?”

Vivian was pissed and desperate. If Danna can’t make up with Gavin, she’ll be ruined. Not to mention, the impact on our family business will be grave!

“Mom, Gavin isn’t answering!”

Danna gritted her teeth, fighting the chaos of her rage. She dragged Vivian back into the car as she didn’t want anyone to witness the embarrassment.

“Seems like Benjamin is truly angered this time. How could you pinch Gavin so carelessly-”

Danna’s rage intensified when her mother began lecturing her.

“It’s all because of that brat! He used to stay silent even if I pinched him. He has been against me since the day I came back. I didn’t expect him to cry that day. The next time I see him, I will-”

Vivian cut in, “Be careful! Don’t mess up again! We can’t rely on Benjamin anymore. The only way is for you to maintain a good relationship with Gavin. No children will resent their mothers for a lifetime. As long as you please him and become closer, Benjamin’s attitude toward us will naturally change too!”

Danna listened attentively to Vivian’s advice. Still, she was smoking with anger inside.

“I tried to treat him well, but he always behaved coldly toward me. I have never even seen him smile before!”

Vivian sighed and uttered, “I told you to spend more time with him, but you refused to do so-”

Enraged, Danna spouted, “I never liked him since day one!”

“Calm down, now. Regardless of whether you like him or not, you must hide your emotions and act as if you care for him. It is important for him to think that you love him even if it’s all fake! Someday, Gavin will surely forgive you and accept you as his mother. If the conflict persists, you will lose both Gavin and Benjamin! By then, our family will be doomed.”

Just then, Danna received a phone call from her manager, Jean Palmer.

“Danna, Kingsley hired a bunch of ghostwriters to discredit you. We can’t contain the situation any longer. Do you have any plans to deal with Benjamin?”

“Why are you bothering me with every single issue? I paid all of you to do the work for me, so do I have to teach you about public relations? There is only one way to fight back. Get behind Kingsley’s scandals and spread it out! Direct the focus of the netizens toward him!”

Finishing up, Danna hung up and tossed her phone onto the ground. Evidently, nothing was going in her favor.

 

Chapter 85 Gavin Calls Her Mommy

Vivian picked up the phone and scolded, “Why did Kingsley intervene in our matter? He must be the one driving a wedge between you and Benjamin. Otherwise, Benjamin wouldn’t become merciless toward us.”

Shortly after, Jean called again. This time, Vivian was the one who picked up.

“Danna, we received a lawyer’s letter from Wings Media Corporation, requesting payment of damages. I will forward the document to you later.”

Vivian was stunned. “How much do we have to pay?”

“Approximately fifty percent of the total income, which is three billion!”

Finishing up, Jean ended the call.

At that moment, panic surged through Vivian. She could barely hold the phone anymore. “Danna, Jean informed that Wings Media Corporation demanded three billion for breach of contract!”

Soon, the companies that cooperated with Danna consecutively sent lawyer’s letters to her, requesting compensation.

Although the Adams family was wealthy, they couldn’t afford to pay all of them.

“Ahhh!”

Danna covered her head with her arms and fell into a frenzy.

Meanwhile, Benjamin and Gavin arrived at Drawbridge Dining.

Both of them held hands as they entered the restaurant. The good-looking pair became the center of attention.

“Wow! He is so hot!”

“The little guy looks so cool and handsome. I want to squeeze him in my arms! Oh my!”

“My God! How could someone be so stunning? Who are they?”

“Ah! I can’t take another look! They are mesmerizing!”

Kingsley tailed behind Benjamin indifferently as he was already used to such a scene.

Regardless of where they were, Benjamin would always be in the limelight. As for Kingsley, he was simply a foil.

Even from a man’s perspective, Benjamin was undoubtedly a charming and powerful man. He was born to be exceptional.

At present, Benjamin glanced across the restaurant. Gavin also examined the room, trying to find Arissa.

“How could someone give birth to such a striking child? I really want to give him a kiss!”

“After all, the father is incredibly stunning!”

“Is that Mr. Watts? It seems that he is with them. The man must be someone important!”

On the other hand, Arissa noticed the sudden commotion in the restaurant. As she looked toward the entrance, her eyes met with Benjamin’s.

At that moment, her heart skipped a beat.

Is Benjamin here for lunch too?

She respectfully nodded to greet him. After all, he was her boss.

There were lots of greenery inside the restaurant. Therefore, Arissa couldn’t see Gavin, whose figure was blocked.

She looked away as soon as she spotted Kingsley, who stood behind Benjamin.

The employees from the IT department also noticed their arrival. Apparently, they were slightly afraid of Benjamin, and all of them quickly lowered their heads after nodding respectfully at him.

Soon, they began muttering, “Why did Mr. Graham come here for lunch?”

“The pressure is no joke!”

“Didn’t he call Mr. Frank back to the office for something important?”

On the contrary, Arissa was amused by their reactions.

However, her smile faded as soon as she sensed Benjamin walking toward her.

Despite the strong aura radiating from him, she proceeded to eat and pretended nothing had happened.

Suddenly, a cute and angelic voice rang, followed by the sound of approaching footsteps.

“Mommy!”

The meatball dropped from her fork and onto the plate.

Arissa quickly turned around. To her surprise, she saw Gavin running toward her.

“Sweethea-”

She subconsciously shouted out his pet name. Shortly after, Arissa realized it was inappropriate, so she restrained herself.

“Gavin!”

Gavin jumped into her arms and happily looked up at her. “What a coincidence, Mommy! Are you having lunch here too?”

Arissa’s heart melted when she saw him again.

Noticing his words, she gently pinched his nose. “Did you forget what I said previously?”

Meanwhile, colleagues were dumbfounded by the scene. Gavin had paid Graham Group a couple of visits in the past. Hence, the employees were all familiar with him.

Isn’t that Mr. Graham’s son? Did he just address Ms. York as ‘Mommy’? Oh my God!

Their eyes were bulging, overwhelmed by shock.

Gavin winked and grinned widely. “Ms. York!”

Upon hearing that, Arissa’s colleagues breathed a sigh of relief in unison. Ah! The kid was just joking around.

 

 

Chapter 86 Free Meal

Arissa ruffled his hair lovingly and asked gently, “Didn’t you say that you were at school?”

It was not a coincidence as they had just spoken to each other over the phone less than ten minutes ago.

A devious look flashed in Gavin’s eyes. “Hehe… I wanted to surprise you!” he said softly.

Upon hearing that, Arissa laughed and gave him a hug. She was indeed surprised.

“I don’t think you’ve had your meal yet. Do you want to go grab a bite with me?”

She was completely ignoring the two men behind her.

Benjamin fell into a thoughtful silence as he watched her behave like Gavin’s mother.

When Gavin had called her mommy earlier, she did not correct him. That night… Was it really her?

Kingsley coughed loudly to draw their attention back to him.

Everyone immediately stood up and greeted the two men respectfully. “Mr. Graham, Mr. Watts, hello!”

Kingsley chuckled. “May I join?”

There was no way they could reject him, so they promptly asked the waiter to get an additional chair for the table. “Of course! Come take a seat, Mr. Watts.”

At the same time, everyone was staring at Benjamin, unsure if he wanted to join in as well.

His gaze was on Arissa. She felt a little intimidated and stood. With a faint smile on her face, she greeted, “Hello, Mr. Graham and Mr. Watts. Are you here for a meal as well?”

“Get Gavin over here,” said Benjamin coldly as he settled into the seat next to hers.

His sudden demand made Arissa freeze.

Kingsley was all smiles as he sat down as well, and everyone moved to make space for him.

Now that they were here, the atmosphere had become awkward.

Arissa eyed the two of them. Are they here for a free meal?

She called for a waiter to bring another set of cutlery and sat down with Gavin.

“Ms. York, how was work today?”

Gavin blinked his eyes at Arissa. He felt overjoyed as he could finally be with his mother without needing to hide anything.

Her eyes darted around the room for a while before finally responding, “It was all right.” She could not bring herself to tell the truth after sneaking a glance at the man seated next to her.

“I know you must be very good. Anyone who works in Daddy’s company is excellent!”

The IT department looked at Gavin fondly, feeling giddy from being complimented.

On the other hand, Kingsley was taken aback by Gavin’s behavior. The little boy used to keep to himself and would refuse to speak even when asked.

But now, he had become a completely different person after meeting Arissa, and the more he looked at them, the more he realized that they were rather similar in appearance.

“Hey, beautiful!” Kingsley grinned cheekily as he called out to her.

Benjamin’s face darkened as he glared at Kingsley. The latter ignored the glaring man, keeping his eyes on Arissa.

“Mr. Watts, you can call me by my name,” she said awkwardly.

She felt a little embarrassed when he called her “beautiful.”

“Arissa?” Kingsley tried again, intentionally using a honeyed tone of voice.

Arissa gulped uncomfortably. It was fine if they were friends, however, they barely knew each other.

Refusing to give up, Kingsley tried another nickname. “Issa?”

Arissa was rendered speechless.

Instantly, the atmosphere in the room became cold and silent.

No one dared to make a sound.

Arissa slowly turned her gaze to Benjamin, taking notice that the man was glaring at Kingsley as fury burned in his eyes.

“Scram if you’re going to keep fooling around!”

Kingsley snuck a glance at him. When he saw Benjamin’s expression, he was overjoyed.

Hahaha… Looks like Arissa is someone really special to Boss. He even managed to get Gavin to be with her without anyone knowing the truth.

“Ms. York, why are you guys having lunch so late?”

Gavin’s question drew Arissa’s attention back.

She looked down at him fondly and patted his head.

“We got off work at twelve and came here right away. It’s not that late! Come on, let’s dig in.”

 

Chapter 87 A Boyfriend

Spooning some food to Gavin’s plate, she said to the rest, “Help yourselves, everyone.”

They smiled and nodded politely before shifting their gazes toward Benjamin.

His eyes swept over them. “Let’s eat.”

Arissa eyed him. Wow, with the way he’s spoken, one would think he was the one paying for lunch.

Kingsley was already enjoying his food. “Dig in, everyone! I’m starving.”

With that, the atmosphere became lively again.

As he ate, Benjamin glanced to the side to see Arissa feeding Gavin very gently, and the little boy was practically bursting with joy.

“Gavin, sit on the chair.”

Benjamin picked him up and placed him in one.

Arissa felt a little sad now that Gavin was no longer sitting in her embrace. However, she kept her composure in front of Benjamin, spooning more food onto Gavin’s plate and handing it to the little boy.

“Eat up.”

“Thank you, Ms. York!” Thank you, Mommy.

Gavin picked up his fork and started eating.

He chewed on his food slowly, like a gentleman.

Arissa stared at him, in a trance. It was like she was looking at Jasper.

Why am I always getting this feeling? When I saw Gavin yesterday, I thought he was Jasper. I feel the same way now…

She lifted her head and accidentally made eye contact with a pair of dark eyes. Arissa immediately averted her gaze.

Seeing that Benjamin was still staring at her, she cleared her throat awkwardly. “Mr. Graham, aren’t you going to eat?”

He finally tore his eyes away from her and started eating, his movements graceful.

Arissa glanced at him. He’s always acting kind of weird.

Maybe it was his imposing aura, but she was unable to dine comfortably.

“This dish is tasty, Ms. York,” Gavin said as he put a meatball on her plate.

Arissa beamed at him. She ruffled his hair and said gently, “Thank you!”

Just then, Kingsley started a conversation. “Arissa, where were you before you started working here? I’ve never seen you before.”

“I was overseas and just came back.”

He nodded. “So, you’ve been working in IT?”

“Yeah!” Her eyes lit up at the mention of her passion.

Benjamin’s eyes flickered.

When Arissa had turned to wipe Gavin’s mouth, her sweet scent wafted into his nose, and his eyes darkened.

“Do you have a boyfriend?” Kingsley asked directly.

Arissa was stunned as everyone turned to look at her.

She laughed heartily. “No!”

“Oh, that’s wonderful! I-”

“Shut your mouth and eat your food!” Benjamin shot him a nasty look.

“How am I supposed to eat if I shut my mouth?”

Kingsley rubbed his nose. What the heck is he doing? I wanted to ask Arissa if she would date him. She’s Gavin’s mother! There’s no way I would even think of hitting on her.

Arissa’s eyes darted between the two of them and added, “I have a child!”

Upon hearing that, Benjamin’s gaze dimmed. He felt as if this was something out of his control.

The surprise was evident on Kingsley’s face. “You have a kid? How old is he?” he queried.

Arissa gave him a small smile. “He’s about five.”

Her colleagues had found out about this yesterday, hence they were not surprised by her words.

Kingsley looked at her, and then at Gavin. “Gavin is the same age! Now that the two of you are sitting next to each other, I find that you really look alike. Now I know why I found you familiar when I first saw you!”

Kingsley’s words had piqued everyone’s interest. Soon, all of them turned to look at Arissa and Gavin.

“Yeah, they do look alike…”

They regretted it the moment the words left their mouths and cautiously sneaked a peek at Benjamin.

He continued eating, as if he had not heard a word.

 

Chapter 88 Pinned Against A Wall

Everyone started to get worried.

How could we let ourselves get carried away because of Kingsley? The mother of Mr. Graham’s children is Danna.

However, the three of them really looked like a happy family.

The IT department had been extremely busy the entire morning and went straight to lunch after that.

They were too busy to pay attention to any gossip floating around on Twitter.

Would Mr. Graham k*ll us if we say that Gavin looks similar to Ms. York?

Someone quickly changed his tune. “They don’t look alike to me. Gavin looks exactly like Mr. Graham!”

“Yeah! It’s like looking at twins!”

“Both of them are very handsome!”

Kingsley was speechless.

Arissa was amused at the way they tried to save themselves. “It’s not that weird if we look a little similar.”

Benjamin turned his gaze toward her. “How are you similar to my son?”

Arissa chewed on her lip. “Our eyes, noses and lips are similar!”

He studied her facial features intently.

Arissa felt like she was being flirted with, and her heart started beating wildly. Quickly, she averted her eyes and dug into her food.

Benjamin’s eyes then landed on Gavin. Their side profiles are pretty similar.

“I think we look alike too!” Gavin beamed up at Arissa.

She smiled sweetly back at him.

Of course we look alike. I’m your mother, after all.

For some reason, Benjamin felt irked seeing the smile on her face.

“Stop talking and eat your food,” he reprimanded Gavin in a low voice.

The little boy immediately complied, but an unhappy frown appeared across Arissa’s face.

Benjamin was always so strict with Gavin. However, she was in no position to voice her disapproval. He was still unaware of her true identity, so she could not criticize his parenting methods.

The atmosphere had become awkward again, and everyone was eating in silence.

Feeling rather full, Arissa set her cutlery down. “Please excuse me. I’m going to the restroom.”

As she was leaving, Gavin turned to her and shouted, “Come back quickly, Ms. York!”

“Okay!”

Arissa nodded in response and left.

In the next second, Benjamin rose from his seat.

“Carry on, everyone.”

He then walked toward the restroom.

Gavin’s eyes lit up.

The corners of Kingsley’s lips lifted as he watched Benjamin follow after Arissa. Damn, he can’t wait.

Everyone in the IT department was probably thinking the same thing. However, they did not dare to gossip about Benjamin.

Trying to incite some gossip, Kingsley grinned mischievously at them. “Do you guys think that there’s something up with them?”

They shook their heads immediately. “No!”

He chuckled. “Relax. I won’t tell on you guys. Please feel free to speak your mind!”

They were utterly speechless.

Gavin was still in the room. Hence, everyone felt that it was inappropriate to gossip in front of a child.

After using the restroom, Arissa bumped into someone.

“I’m sorry!”

She lifted her head and a familiar face came into her view, causing her body to stiffen.

“Mr. Graham!”

Benjamin peered down at her as he spoke in a low voice. “You seem to have taken a liking to my son.”

His hand rested on her waist as he stared unblinkingly at her.

Her scent had intensified. It was almost intoxicating.

Arissa blushed as they were in a rather intimate position. She pushed him off and quickly created some distance between them.

“He’s so cute. How can I not like him?”

Benjamin narrowed his eyes and stepped toward her.

Arissa swallowed, backing away. Soon, her back came into contact with the cold wall.

Benjamin placed a hand on the wall next to her cheek and looked down at her condescendingly.

He could see the fine hairs on her face from this angle. If he looked down further, he could even see…

 

Chapter 89 A Pretty Good Liar

Her feminine scent was intoxicating, and something was burning deep in his eyes. His intense pheromones invaded her space, almost making her unable to breathe.

This is too intimate. I can’t believe he pinned me against the wall.

When Arissa made eye contact with him, she could almost see the passionate fire burning within them. Flustered, she pushed him away.

“Mr. Graham, you are behaving inappropriately.”

A vague feeling arose in Benjamin’s heart when he saw her trembling lashes.

He leaned over and brought his nose to her neck, wanting to get a whiff of her sweet scent again.

Narrowing his eyes, Benjamin took a deep breath. “What about my behavior?”

His voice was low and captivating.

Arissa could feel his warm breath on her neck. It was slightly ticklish, sending tingles down her spine.

Her heart raced uncontrollably as her ears flushed. Damn it. He’s so sexy. There’s no way I can resist him.

Arissa forced herself to calm down.

“Mr. Graham, please do not do this. Your fiancée will misunderstand if she sees us like this,” she reprimanded him coldly.

She frowned deeply after mentioning Danna, unable to suppress her anger.

Upon hearing that, Benjamin stiffened. He turned to the side and gave her a hard stare.

He raised his eyebrows when he saw her expression. Although the man had straightened up a little, Arissa was still unable to escape his grasp.

“Do you hate her that much?” he asked nonchalantly.

Arissa scoffed as she fixed her eyes on him.

“Just because you do doesn’t mean that everyone will!”

Benjamin frowned. He felt vaguely annoyed at her cold behavior.

“Just because she chased you away?”

“It’s not just that!”

Arissa laughed coldly, carefully examining Benjamin’s emotions.

Men are incomprehensible, indeed. He didn’t even seem to react.

She continued her attempts to agitate him. “How can someone as devious as her be a celebrity? She’s evil and immoral. That woman’s just acting innocent!”

“How is she devious?” His sharp gaze almost pierced through her.

Arissa looked at him, a little surprised. He seemed as if he was merely curious about what she had to say.

Could it be that he doesn’t actually like Danna?

“Mr. Graham, don’t you think it’s not very appropriate of you to be asking me about your wife’s personality? Are you going to let me off if I speak badly about her?”

A cold smile appeared across Benjamin’s face as he uttered, “You already have.”

Arissa was stunned.

“Okay, then. What do you want?”

She stared up at him and into his eyes. This time, she did not avoid his gaze.

Benjamin held her gaze firmly. “How many children do you have?”

Arissa was caught off guard by his question. “One. Why do you ask?”

She did not know what his intentions were, so she could not reveal the truth to him.

His eyes narrowed, and his hand came up to stroke her hair.

“Arissa York.”

Her heart skipped a beat. The way he had said her name made her inexplicably nervous.

It was as if he knew everything.

“You’re a pretty good liar.”

Benjamin stared at her intently.

Does she really think that she can fool everyone? I’m the only one who knows she has more than one child.

Anger bubbled up inside him.

He still had no evidence to prove that she was Gavin’s mother. However, there were several clues implying that she was related to them in some way.

Arissa’s heart was pounding hard. However, she maintained a smile on her face.

“Can you be more specific, Mr. Graham? I don’t understand. What have I lied about?”

Benjamin snorted coldly and twirled a lock of her hair around his fingers.

He straightened up, put his hands in his pockets, and stared down at her.

“You had better not be lying.”

Arissa’s heart skipped a beat when she heard his threat.

 

Chapter 90 A Treat From Benjamin

Benjamin turned around and returned to his seat. On the other hand, Arissa felt her heart race inside her chest. She patted her chest to calm herself down from his sudden warning.

Could it be that he found out about it? That’s impossible! Even Gavin did not know I was his biological mother. Benjamin would react differently if he knew I was Gavin’s mother.

Arissa’s mind was cluttered. However, she quickly roused herself from her thoughts and fixed her clothes. She also gave her cheek a gentle smack.

She had to find an opportunity to find out what Benjamin’s attitude was toward Danna.

Benjamin continued eating casually as Arissa walked away.

The man exuded an elegant aura as he ate. He looked completely different now compared to when he was warning her just a moment ago.

She tugged on the corners of her lips.

“Ms. York, come over! There are desserts here!” Gavin called to her.

Arissa gave her son a gentle smile and took a seat beside him.

“Ms. York, this is for you!” Gavin handed her some desserts.

“Thank you, handsome Gavin!” Arissa stroked his head dotingly.

Gavin grinned as he looked at her. He had long, beautiful eyelashes.

Arissa could not move her gaze away from him.

Benjamin’s brows furrowed at the sight of it.

Kingsley shifted his gaze between Benjamin and Arissa. He definitely sensed some intimacy between them.

“Y-You…”

Kingsley’s mouth was stuffed with lamb steak by Benjamin before he could say anything.

He removed it from his mouth and teased, “Boss, you’re so good to me!”

Benjamin only stared at him coldly. Kingsley felt a chill run down his spine instantly and smiled awkwardly.

“Dig in, Arissa. This lamb steak is delicious, you should try it!” Kingsley tried to divert the topic.

“Thank you, Mr. Watts. I’m full!” Arissa smiled politely. However, she decided to try some out of courtesy.

“You don’t have to eat anymore since you’re already full. I am still hungry anyway.” Benjamin moved the dish away from her.

He ignored everyone’s gaze and ate his food calmly. “Since Ms. York just joined us today, this treat is mine. Feel free to order anything you wish to try!”

Everyone looked at each other silently with excitement in their eyes.

It was well known that the food in Drawbridge Dining was superb. Nevertheless, good food came with an expensive price tag.

The employees did not dare to order too much food just now to prevent their employer from overspending.

However, they started ordering more good food after hearing what Benjamin said.

Arissa was amused as she looked at her colleagues’ thrilled faces.

“Why didn’t you guys order more food just now? Are you all afraid that I wouldn’t be able to pay for it?” Arissa teased.

“We were just worried for you!”

“We didn’t want you to spend so much on us.”

“That’s right! We didn’t want you to overspend since you just joined us and haven’t received any salary.”

Arissa beamed. “So, you guys aren’t worried for Mr. Graham?”

“That’s different! Mr. Graham offered to treat us himself. We are very sure his wallet can take the toll.” Everyone started to flatter Benjamin.

“It seems like it has been a while since all of you last ate good food. Boss, did the company benefits reduce, or did you decrease their salary?” Kingsley joked.

Benjamin let out an unnoticeable snort. He did not reply to Kingsley.

“Ms. York, would you like some apple juice? It is pretty nourishing,” a colleague asked Arissa.

“Yes, please!” Arissa beamed.

Benjamin glanced at them. His expression darkened as he saw Arissa chatting happily with the technicians from the IT department.

The guys did not realize something was off.

They did not notice Benjamin’s change in expression and continued conversing with Arissa. They were recommending good food to her enthusiastically.

“I thought you said you were full?” Benjamin shot Arissa a sharp glance.

Arissa was startled. “Since it’s Mr. Graham’s treat today, I can eat more, right?”

Benjamin did not say anything.

Kingsley was amused by both of them. He decided to initiate a toast to liven the atmosphere.

“Arissa, cheers! Welcome to Graham Group! We wish you success!”