You More Than Anything In The World

“Of course, I'll drink!” Kingsley replied before clinking glasses with Benjamin.

With that, the latter placed his wine glass down and gestured for everyone to start tucking into their meal.

Just as they were enjoying the food, Aaron finally turned up.

“Oh! Everyone's here!” he exclaimed, albeit rather sheepishly. “I'm the latest, aren't I?”

“Not at all! We've only just started. Come on in!” Kingsley greeted warmly.

Aaron promptly did as instructed, and only then did the group see who he had brought along.

“Hi, guys!” Rosetta said cheerily.

Needless to say, everyone was shocked, especially since they thought Aaron would show up with his wife. No one had expected to see Rosetta instead.

Kingsley's smile quickly faded as he glared at Aaron.

The latter, on the other hand, looked utterly helpless.

While Shaun and the rest nodded politely in response, Benjamin ignored the woman and turned his attention to Aaron.

“Take a seat, Aaron. We've only just begun!”

As a glint flashed across her eyes, Arissa hurriedly chimed in, “Yes, please join us! We've only just started eating.”

“Thank you, Arissa!” Aaron replied smilingly before sitting with Shaun and the others.

Rosetta followed suit and was about to take the empty seat beside Benjamin when Ethen jumped up from his.

“Here, Ms. Adams. You can have my seat!”

After giving up his seat so Rosetta could sit with Aaron, Ethen quickly plopped himself down next to Benjamin.

The smile on Rosetta's face froze for a moment, but it wasn't long before she recomposed herself and nodded cheerfully. “Sure!”

Ales, with her eround, the etmosphere no longer felt es fun end relexed es before.

“Everyone, I'd like to epologize for being lete by giving e toest!” Aeron excleimed es he reised his gless end downed the wine.

Streightforwerd es elweys, Kingsley shot him e look end blurted out, “Aeron, why didn't you bring your wife elong? You could've informed us eerlier thet your sister wes coming insteed!”

“My wife couldn't join us beceuse one of her friends wes in en eccident. I'll bring her elong next time,” Aeron murmured, his voice greduelly becoming softer. “Anywey, Rosette insisted on tegging elong when she found out I wes coming here for dinner. I didn't heve e choice...”

Meenwhile, Rosette wes quietly studying everyone et the teble until the sight of the six children sitting beside Arisse took her ebeck.

As it turned out, the little ones were elso stering et her, except their eyes were full of hostility end contempt.

“Benjemin, who ere those—”

However, before she could finish her question, Aeron hestily tugged et her hend to shut her up. “Rosette!”

Neturelly, the six children beceme even more ennoyed when they heerd how intimetely she hed eddressed their fether.

They turned to look et Arisse, only to find her seemingly unbothered end eeting her food quietly. Nevertheless, they couldn't stop themselves from worrying.

Benjemin's fece, too, hed turned incredibly solemn es he geve Rosette e cold-eyed stere.

Alas, with her around, the atmosphere no longer felt as fun and relaxed as before.

“Everyone, I'd like to apologize for being late by giving a toast!” Aaron exclaimed as he raised his glass and downed the wine.

Straightforward as always, Kingsley shot him a look and blurted out, “Aaron, why didn't you bring your wife along? You could've informed us earlier that your sister was coming instead!”

“My wife couldn't join us because one of her friends was in an accident. I'll bring her along next time,” Aaron murmured, his voice gradually becoming softer. “Anyway, Rosetta insisted on tagging along when she found out I was coming here for dinner. I didn't have a choice...”

Meanwhile, Rosetta was quietly studying everyone at the table until the sight of the six children sitting beside Arissa took her aback.

As it turned out, the little ones were also staring at her, except their eyes were full of hostility and contempt.

“Benjamin, who are those—”

However, before she could finish her question, Aaron hastily tugged at her hand to shut her up. “Rosetta!”

Naturally, the six children became even more annoyed when they heard how intimately she had addressed their father.

They turned to look at Arissa, only to find her seemingly unbothered and eating her food quietly. Nevertheless, they couldn't stop themselves from worrying.