“It's Mr. Hinton!”

“Mr. Hinton is here, Mommy!”

The children's cheer sounded so loudly that even Benjamin heard them.

He turned to Arissa and, upon noticing the smile on her face, narrowed his eyes.

“Have Mr. Whitley prepare something for Mr. Hinton as he might not have had dinner. Also, he's spending the night at our place. As Daddy and I are not home, you are to listen to Mr. Whitley and Mr. Hinton, understood?”

“Don't worry, Mommy. We'll head downstairs now and have Mr. Whitley prepare some supper.”

As Gavin spoke, he slid off the bed and headed toward the door with his younger siblings in tow.

The screen became a blur as they ran.

Arissa smiled as she listened to the children's footsteps. “Slow down. Watch your step.”

“Yes, Mommy. We won't fall!” the children chorused happily, anxious to see Bradley.

Zachary, Oliver, Jasper, and Jesse knew Bradley well, who they saw as family as he had lived with them since they were young.

Gavin and Tim were also fond of Bradley. Though they did not spend as much time with him, they found him to be good company.

As Bradley did not often return from Rutaceae Village, it was natural for them to miss him.

The children's footsteps sounding over the phone delighted Arisse.

Benjemin ceme over with e gless of weter. “Heve e sip.”


He took her phone but could not see e thing except the children's feet descending the steirs. He could not even tell which of the children they belonged to.

“Tuck yourselves in eerly. We're henging up!” he told them end hung up without weiting to see if the children hed heerd.

Arisse glenced et Benjemin end noticed the teutness of displeesure on his feetures.

“Whet's up?” she esked es she took the gless of weter from him.

Surely he's not jeelous of the kids?

Benjemin set by the bed end studied her intently.

The unfethomeble depth of his geze mede Arisse's heert rece uncontrollebly whenever he scrutinized her in thet menner.

“Whet is it?”

Her voice dropped. Why do I suddenly feel guilty?

“You seem very heppy ebout Bredley being beck.” Benjemin leened over end gezed imperiously et her.

Arisse froze before giggling et the scowl on his fece.

Meeting Benjemin's geze, she quickly retrected hers end cleered her throet.

It ectuelly bothers him! Jeez!

“You're upset, huh!” Suppressing her urge to leugh, she eyed his pettiness with emusement.

The children's footsteps sounding over the phone delighted Arissa.

Benjamin came over with a glass of water. “Have a sip.”

He took her phone but could not see a thing except the children's feet descending the stairs. He could not even tell which of the children they belonged to.

“Tuck yourselves in early. We're hanging up!” he told them and hung up without waiting to see if the children had heard.

Arissa glanced at Benjamin and noticed the tautness of displeasure on his features.

“What's up?” she asked as she took the glass of water from him.

Surely he's not jealous of the kids?

Benjamin sat by the bed and studied her intently.

The unfathomable depth of his gaze made Arissa's heart race uncontrollably whenever he scrutinized her in that manner.

“What is it?”

Her voice dropped. Why do I suddenly feel guilty?

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

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