You More Than Anything In The World

Now that she was staying the night at Darius' place, Arissa obediently settled into bed, but after a while, she called out to the man in the room, “Benjamin!”

“Hmm?” Benjamin glanced up in her direction.

“I'm bored. Can I go out for some fresh air?” She hardly ever dropped by the Old Manor, and she wanted to look around the place and clear her mind.

Benjamin stared at her evenly for a moment. Just as she thought he would not accede to her request, he grabbed his coat and made his way over to the bed.

He draped the coat over her frame, then picked her up in his arms and walked out of the room.

Arissa was rendered speechless as she lay cradled in his arms. Then, she pointed out in a hushed tone, “Hey, we're at the Old Manor now! Put me down!” The last thing she wanted was for others to see her in such an embarrassing state.

“So what?” He lowered his gaze, bemused.

She blushed all the way to the tips of her ears and glared at him. “You're unbelievably shameless!”

“Are you shy because your darling husband is carrying you in his arms?” he drawled roguishly with a quirk of his brow.

She scoffed, then looked away from him and refused to say anything more.

He chuckled and carried her down the stairs.

Presently, Darius was hanging out with the children downstairs when he saw Benjamin approach them with Arissa in his arms.

“Benjamin, why did you bring Issa down? Take care that she doesn't catch a cold!” the old man exclaimed.

Arissa was pregnant, which meant she might be unable to take certain medications if she fell ill.

This was why Darius was glaring angrily at Benjamin. Does this boy have no common sense?

“For the record, your daughter-in-law was the one who couldn't stand being in bed anymore and demanded to get some fresh air!” Benjamin corrected, throwing Arissa under the bus.

Arissa winced. She gave Darius a slightly awkward smile as she explained, “I was just getting nauseous, that's all. I'm fine, Dad.”

“Better to be safe than sorry. You're still in your early stages of pregnancy, which makes you vulnerable,” Darius said emphatically, eyeing the couple solemnly.

Arissa nodded. “I know, Dad.”

Benjamin snorted at her show of obedience, prompting her to cast him a warning side-eye.

Darius, too, shot Benjamin a grave look. “And what are you snorting at?”

“Nothing!” Benjamin sighed. He was better off not arguing with the old man.

At that, he carried Arissa and headed toward the garden, and the children fell into step behind him.

“Where are you guys going, Mommy?”

The children dared not take their eyes off their mother, worried that Benjamin was planning to take her home and leave them here.

Oblivious to their concerns, Arissa craned her neck to look at the children and said, “I'm just going to get some fresh air. It got too boring in the room.”

“Oh.” The kids heaved a collective sigh of relief, then resumed their wide grins.

Arissa grinned as well and patted Benjamin's arm. “Let me down.”

He glanced at her, then walked over to the bench on the side and put her down.

At once, the children rubbed the surface of the bench to warm it up for her.

“Come sit, Mommy!” Gavin gently pulled Arissa over to the newly-warmed bench.