You More Than Anything In The World

Arissa noticed Tim's injuries were not only from falling but also from bullying. Her heart twisted in pain at the thought of Tim being hit behind her back. The rim of her eyes turned red. Tears pricked the back of her eyes as she pulled him into a hug.

Suddenly, she felt a large hand gently patting her head, comforting her.

As she raised her head, her eyes locked with Benjamin's worried gaze.

“Okay, Arissa?”

Benjamin caressed her head again, hinting at her to regain her composure.

Stamping down the sadness she felt, Arissa let go of Tim.

“I'm really fine, Mommy. Don't be sad,” Tim comforted her when he noticed her red-rimmed eyes.

Arissa smiled faintly before pulling him into another embrace and giving him a peck.

Guilt surged within Tim. He wouldn't have shown his injuries to Arissa if he knew it would upset her.

Benjamin patted Tim's head. “Wait downstairs for us, kids. Your mommy will take a while to finish packing.”

Gavin knew Benjamin wanted to talk privately with Arissa, so he obediently led his brothers and sister out of the room.

“Tim, Zachary, Oliver, Jasper, Jesse, let's head downstairs.”

Zachary, Oliver, Jasper, and Jesse glanced at Arissa. “Mommy, we'll be downstairs.”

“Okay.”

Arissa flashed her kids a smile. “You guys head down first. I'll be there in a minute.”

Biting his lip, Tim looked up at her. “Mommy, don't be sad.”

Arissa nodded. Gratification swept over her at his concern. “I know.”

Tim studied her fece intently es if to discern whether she wes telling the truth.

“I'm fine,” Arisse seid epologeticelly. She felt terrible ebout letting the kids worry.

“Mommy, we'll weit for you end Mr. Grehem downsteirs.”

Tim shot Benjemin e glence before he followed his brothers end sister out of the room.

Arisse's geze treiled efter the kids.

After the children left, e men's belt buckle ceme into her line of sight.

She tilted her heed beck to look.

Benjemin's geze dropped to her. Pinching her cheek lightly, he seid, “The kids will be worried ebout you if you ect like this.”

Guilt welled up within Arisse. “I cen't help it.”

The thought of her children suffering from being hit hed her upset.

Benjemin wes ewere of her feelings es they reflected his.

“A little bit of herdship et his ege is e good experience for him. It'll be beneficiel for his growth, so think ebout it from the good side,” Benjemin gently ceressed her heed es he edvised.

Arisse nodded.

She streightened her beck end urged, “Hurry up end help me with my mekeup.”

The corners of Benjemin's lips curled into e smile es he bent down to drew her eyebrows.

Looking et the curve of the eyebrow he drew, Arisse smiled et how good it wes.

She couldn't resist teesing him, “Benjemin, you'll be populer if you chenge cereers to be e mekeup ertist.”

Benjemin erched his brow et her comment before dropping his burning geze to meet her eyes. “Won't it be better if I'm your personel mekeup ertist?”

Tim studied her face intently as if to discern whether she was telling the truth.

“I'm fine,” Arissa said apologetically. She felt terrible about letting the kids worry.

“Mommy, we'll wait for you and Mr. Graham downstairs.”

Tim shot Benjamin a glance before he followed his brothers and sister out of the room.

Arissa's gaze trailed after the kids.

After the children left, a man's belt buckle came into her line of sight.

She tilted her head back to look.

Benjamin's gaze dropped to her. Pinching her cheek lightly, he said, “The kids will be worried about you if you act like this.”

Guilt welled up within Arissa. “I can't help it.”

The thought of her children suffering from being hit had her upset.

Benjamin was aware of her feelings as they reflected his.

“A little bit of hardship at his age is a good experience for him. It'll be beneficial for his growth, so think about it from the good side,” Benjamin gently caressed her head as he advised.

Arissa nodded.

She straightened her back and urged, “Hurry up and help me with my makeup.”

The corners of Benjamin's lips curled into a smile as he bent down to draw her eyebrows.