“Mommy!”
All six children stared at Arissa worriedly. Right then, Arissa wore a grim look on her face, looking all doom and gloom.
Only when she met their concerned gazes did she snap back to her senses.
Quickly schooling her features, she put on a smile, although it looked a touch stiff.
“Let's go in!”
The sextuplets studied her for a moment before they took her hands.
The warmth from their soft palms traveled to her cold hands, suffusing her with a warmth that penetrated into the depths of her heart.
She flashed them a grateful smile.
What's so great about those people? There's no need for me to bother about those who don't give a fig about me. I only have to concern myself with those who care about me.
In the next heartbeat, a broad and solid chest plastered against her back. She glanced over her shoulder, smiling when her eyes met Benjamin's dark ones.
Draping an arm around her shoulder, Benjamin murmured, “Don't smile if you don't feel like it. It looks awful.”
That promptly rendered Arissa speechless.
The children looked at Benjamin in disapproval.
“Don't you know how to console others, Mr. Graham? Mommy needs some comfort now!”
Benjamin quirked an eyebrow and pinned his eyes on the children.
“No words can compare to my embrace.”
Pfft!
Their conversation had Arissa burst into giggles.
Benjamin's eyes twinkled, and the corners of his mouth lifted.
He led them all to the couch and handed the menu to the children after taking it from the server. “Take a look and decide what you'd all like to eat. Then, order it yourselves.”
The children crowded around Arissa and clamored enthusiastically, “Let's look together, Mommy!”
“Sure!” Arissa agreed smilingly before shifting her gaze to Benjamin.
Holding his unfathomable gaze, she teased, “Is it going to be your treat or mine?”
“You shall foot the bill later,” Benjamin replied placidly, sitting from across from them and staring at her and the children intently.
“Can we order anything at all, Mommy?”
Oliver's sudden voice drew Arissa's attention back.
She looked down at him and nodded. “Just order whatever you want to eat. It's my treat!”
“Hehe, you're so generous today, Mommy!” Jasper complimented.
Arissa was mortified. She sensed Benjamin's gaze but was too embarrassed to look at him. She merely kept her head lowered and helped the children while they placed their orders.
“Just order anything you'd like to eat, Sweethearts. Don't stand on ceremony with me.”
“Okay!”
All six children were thrilled to the core. Even Tim didn't hold back, ordering whatever was to his liking.
As Benjamin gazed at them and listened to their dulcet voices while sitting across from them, the curve of his lips persisted.
Just then, a bodyguard came in and whispered in his ear, “Mr. Graham, Regan hasn't left and is still downstairs.”
When Benjamin heard that, his eyes glinted sharply. “Keep a close eye on him.”
“Understood.” Thereafter, the bodyguard left.
Arissa lifted her head and looked over. “What's wrong?”
“Nothing. Hurry up and order. I'm hungry!”
Benjamin's thin lips parted, his words domineering as he was used to giving orders.
“Are you not ordering?”
“I'll eat whatever you guys eat.”
In other words, Benjamin entrusted them with the task of ordering food.
Rolling her eyes, Arissa quipped, “Aren't you afraid that the food we order isn't your cup of tea?”
Benjamin looked into her eyes, seemingly penetrating into the deepest recesses of her soul.
Arissa's heart skipped several beats. She held his eyes for a few seconds before she turned evasive and averted her gaze.
In the end, she still ordered him a few dishes he liked.
The restaurant's service was exceedingly fast. She took the children to the restroom, and when they came out after washing their hands, the server had already started serving the food.
“Come here!” Benjamin called out to them upon catching sight of them. He was already seated at the dining table.
Over the moon, the sextuplets sprinted over and climbed onto the chairs.
“Wow, how fragrant!”
“The food looks delicious!”
Sprawling on the dining table, they inhaled deeply a few times.
“Let's eat!”
Benjamin swept a gaze over them before he moved his gaze to Arissa. He pulled out a chair for her.
“Sit here.”
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