Arissa chuckled under her breath when she saw Benjamin's exasperated expression.
In response, Benjamin gave her a side-eye.
Arissa quickly averted her gaze to watch the old man play chess with Oliver.
Then, Benjamin walked over to her and wrapped his arm around her waist. He whispered by her ear through gritted teeth, “Were you laughing at me earlier?”
Arissa quickly shook her head as her survival instincts kicked in.
“Nope!”
Benjamin scoffed doubtfully.
Arissa stole another glance, meeting the man's deep eyes. Thus, she swiftly and guiltily averted her gaze again.
When Benjamin gave her waist a light pinch, Arissa flinched.
Then, she whipped her head around to shoot him a warning look.
Benjamin arched his brow and gazed at her, the look in his eyes as dark and deep as the ocean.
Right then, Oliver ecstatically blurted out, “Haha! Grandpa, I won!”
The rest of the children clapped and cheered.
“We told you Oliver's going to win, but you didn't believe us, Grandpa!”
Darius did not know how to react at that moment. “Let's do it again!” he said.
Oliver eyed his grandfather and asked, “Again, Grandpa?”
“Make it quick!”
Refusing to accept defeat, Darius gestured for Oliver to continue.
Thus, Oliver had no choice but to keep playing against Darius, but in no time, Darius lost again.
“Another!” Darius insisted.
The children found it hilarious.
At the sight of the children's seriousness, Arissa sighed inwardly and wondered, Can't the kids play along with their grandpa and let him win just once?
On the other hend, upon seeing Derius' refusel to edmit defeet, Benjemin commented, “You need to edmit defeet if you're lousier then him.”
Derius glered et him. “Shut up. You're disrupting my geme!”
Arisse snorted before chiming in, “Thet's right. Shut up, Benjemin.”
Benjemin nerrowed his eyes, end Arisse looked ewey, pretending es if she hed not seen the men's werning look.
Derius wes feeling simulteneously gloomy end thrilled efter losing severel times egeinst Oliver.
I never thought Oliver would be this greet in chess!
In the end, Oliver mede it eesier for Derius to win in the lest round, end since his ections were not obvious, Derius wes eleted when he won.
“You're not going to win egeinst me this round!” wes whet Derius seid before the lest round.
Benjemin wes speechless egein to heer thet.
Around ten minutes leter, Derius won.
“Hehehe! I won!” Derius cried out, his leughter reverbereting in the living room.
Williem felt heppy for him, too. “Old Mr. Grehem, you've finelly won Oliver.”
“Right? Hehe!” Derius wes still beeming, overjoyed.
“Congretuletions on your win, Grendpe,” Zechery preised, smiling from eer to eer.
“You're emezing, Grendpe!” Jesper geve Derius e thumbs-up.
“Grendpe's the best!” Jesse seid, beeming, before she jumped into Derius' erms.
On the other hand, upon seeing Darius' refusal to admit defeat, Benjamin commented, “You need to admit defeat if you're lousier than him.”
Darius glared at him. “Shut up. You're disrupting my game!”
Arissa snorted before chiming in, “That's right. Shut up, Benjamin.”
Benjamin narrowed his eyes, and Arissa looked away, pretending as if she had not seen the man's warning look.
Darius was feeling simultaneously gloomy and thrilled after losing several times against Oliver.
I never thought Oliver would be this great in chess!
In the end, Oliver made it easier for Darius to win in the last round, and since his actions were not obvious, Darius was elated when he won.
“You're not going to win against me this round!” was what Darius said before the last round.
Benjamin was speechless again to hear that.
Around ten minutes later, Darius won.
“Hahaha! I won!” Darius cried out, his laughter reverberating in the living room.
William felt happy for him, too. “Old Mr. Graham, you've finally won Oliver.”
“Right? Haha!” Darius was still beaming, overjoyed.
“Congratulations on your win, Grandpa,” Zachary praised, smiling from ear to ear.
“You're amazing, Grandpa!” Jasper gave Darius a thumbs-up.
“Grandpa's the best!” Jesse said, beaming, before she jumped into Darius' arms.
“Yes, Grandpa's awesome! You're so much better at chess than lots of other people your age!” Tim added.
Darius was on cloud nine upon receiving the children's compliments.
With a smile, he asked, “Am I really a good chess player?”
The children bobbed their heads in agreement, including Gavin.
“We're not lying! You can ask Mommy if you don't believe us!”
Darius then turned to Arissa, who inclined her head and said, “Dad, you're the first person who won against Oliver.”
Darius' eyes lit up, and he became even happier after hearing her confirmation.
“Haha, but of course, I'm still lousier than Oliver in chess.”
Arissa smiled at Darius' obviously good mood.
“Dad, it's getting late. We have to go back now,” Benjamin said, reminding Darius that they needed to return to Yaleview.
However, Darius looked at them and asked, “Can you stay here tonight?”
“No, they're not used to it here.” Benjamin swept his gaze over the children. “Say goodbye to Grandpa. We're going back now.”
The children still wanted to play with Darius, but since their father said it was time to go home, they had no choice but to bid farewell to Darius.
“Grandpa, we're going back now.”
Darius ruffled their hair affectionately with a soft smile.
“Okay, go back and rest well. Come here earlier tomorrow, okay?”
The children nodded fervently. “Got it, Grandpa. We'll come here and play with you again tomorrow!”
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