After walking out of Mary's ward, Arissa dialed Bradley's number but could not get through to him.
She then tried again, but there was still no response.
What's going on?
A bad feeling rose within the woman as she furrowed her brows. He's not deliberately ignoring my calls, is he?
Soon, Tim trotted over with Gavin right behind him.
“Mommy! Tim has some food for you,” the latter exclaimed.
Arissa was astonished. “Is this for me, Sweetheart?” she asked with a loving smile.
A blush crept up Tim's cheeks.
“Yeah. These are for you.”
Arissa was thrilled. After receiving the snacks and fruits with both hands, she kissed the little boy on the cheek. “Thank you, Sweetheart!”
“You're welcome,” the child replied in a soft voice. “Mr. Bailey bought them.”
The woman nodded with a smile.
“Go on and have fun, Sweethearts.”
Tim glanced at her before running to the door, pushing it open, and taking a peek inside.
Gavin leaned over too. “Great-grandaunt hasn't woken up yet,” he whispered.
Arissa chuckled at the sight of the two boys. “She's receiving an IV treatment, so she won't wake up so soon.”
“I'll get you more when you've finished your food, Mommy.”
Gavin stared straight at her without batting his eyelids.
The woman gave his cheek a light pinch. “There's also some food inside your great-grandaunt's ward. I just had breakfast not long ago, so I'm not hungry yet. By the way, this is spicy, so don't eat too much of it, okay?”
Gavin nodded happily. “There are non-spicy snacks too, Mommy. Zachary said you like spicy food, so Tim brought you two of them.”
“Mr. Whitley said you can't eat too much spicy food, so I only brought you two of these,” Tim chimed in after closing the door to the ward.
Wrapping her arms around the two boys, she sat with them on the bench out in the hallway.
“Are these yummy?” she asked, glancing at the snacks.
I've never seen these before.
“They are!” Tim nodded.
Gavin eyed him briefly before nodding with a smile as well.
“They're yummy, but Daddy doesn't let me eat too much of them,” he added with a smile.
Arissa gazed at the children again.
“Do you want these?”
They shook their heads.
“You can have them, Mommy. I already ate lots of them at Mr. Bailey's office,” Gavin answered, beaming.
Tim responded similarly.
“I had quite a lot too.”
The woman stroked both their heads and turned to the younger boy among the two.
“Did you have fun at Mr. Bailey's office, Tim?”
“Yeah! We had toys to play with!” And food.
Tim's eyes lit up.
Arissa was surprised. “Toys? Why are there toys?”
“Mr. Bailey bought them for me when I used to visit all the time. I forgot to take them home,” Gavin explained.
Arissa nodded in understanding before opening up one of the snacks.
It was delicious.
“This is yummy!”
The boy's eyes twinkled as they watched her enjoy what they had brought her.
The food smelled so good that the bodyguards glanced over.
“There's more where that came from, Mommy. I'll let you try the non-spicy one too!” Gavin exclaimed.
Arissa smiled at them. “I think I'd prefer the spicy one. This is delicious!”
Tim's eyes sparkled with joy.
“Tim prefers the spicy one too,” Gavin commented.
“Did you drink any water after eating the spicy one, Tim?” she asked while giving the younger boy a pat on the head.
Tim shook his head.
With that, Arissa put the bag of snacks on the bench, rose to her feet, and walked into the ward to pour him a glass of water.
“I'll get you some water then.”
She poured two glasses—one for Tim and the other for Gavin—before walking back out.
The two children sat on the bench, their legs swinging back and forth in the air.
The bodyguards' stern faces softened. They loved watching the kids.
“Here you go, Sweethearts. Always remember to hydrate after eating snacks!” Arissa exhorted while handing Gavin and Tim a glass of water each.
The boys took the glasses from her and drank up as she continued eating her snacks.
Gavin tilted his head to face her and asked, “Don't you want water too, Mommy?”
“I'll pour myself a glass later. Be sure to finish yours,” she urged.
The boys nodded in response.
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