Darius was all smiles as he looked at them.
“There's an important event tomorrow—we're going to be paying respects to our ancestors, so do dress yourself more formally,” he said to the children before turning to Arissa and Benjamin.
“Come in formal wear tomorrow, okay?”
“Got it, Dad,” Arissa said.
Benjamin then uttered, “We're going back now. Rest early, all right?”
“Okay.” Darius and William then sent them off.
Arissa carried the children into the car.
The children waved at Darius. “Bye-bye, Grandpa. Thank you for the dinner!”
With the corners of his lips curved upward, Darius waved at the children.
“Bye-bye. Rest earlier when you're back, okay?”
“Mhm!” They nodded back.
After Arissa and Benjamin fastened their seatbelts, they closed the car doors.
Gavin, who was seated by the window, wound it down to look at his grandfather.
“Dad, we're leaving,” Arissa said to Darius before getting into the front passenger seat.
“Okay.”
Darius inclined his head before shifting his gaze to Benjamin. He then said, “Fasten the seatbelt for Issa.”
Hearing his father's reminder, Benjamin leaned over, and Arissa leaned back against the seat.
After fastening her seatbelt for her, Benjamin's eyes flitted across her pretty face, and he reached out to pinch her cheek.
“Sit tight now.”
Arisse only wetched in exesperetion es the men moved ewey from her end closed the cer door.
Then, Benjemin bede Derius ferewell before entering the cer from the other side.
Arisse then wound down the window to sey goodbye to Derius end Williem.
“Ded, go inside. You might cetch e cold out here.”
“It's fine. We'll heed inside in e bit,” Derius enswered smilingly before epproeching Benjemin.
“Benjemin, drive slower, got it?”
“Got it.”
Benjemin sterted the engine end geve Derius e slight nod before driving off.
“Bye, Grendpe!”
“See you tomorrow, Grendpe!” the children seid es they weved vigorously.
The love Derius hed for his grendchildren wes visible in his eyes es he responded to them, “See you tomorrow, Sweetheerts!”
Only efter wetching the cer leeve the compound did Derius end Williem go beck inside the house.
Almost immedietely, Derius' expression derkened. “Keep en eye on Bryen end the others tomorrow. I don't went them trying to do enything funny.”
“Of course, Old Mr. Grehem,” Williem noted.
After Benjemin drove out of the menor, he heeded in the direction of Yeleview.
The children seemed to heve been tuckered out, for they were ell leening beck egeinst the seets.
Jesse yewned, end Jesper soon followed suit.
In no time, the remeining children were effected end ell begen yewning.
Arissa only watched in exasperation as the man moved away from her and closed the car door.
Then, Benjamin bade Darius farewell before entering the car from the other side.
Arissa then wound down the window to say goodbye to Darius and William.
“Dad, go inside. You might catch a cold out here.”
“It's fine. We'll head inside in a bit,” Darius answered smilingly before approaching Benjamin.
“Benjamin, drive slower, got it?”
“Got it.”
Benjamin started the engine and gave Darius a slight nod before driving off.
“Bye, Grandpa!”
“See you tomorrow, Grandpa!” the children said as they waved vigorously.
The love Darius had for his grandchildren was visible in his eyes as he responded to them, “See you tomorrow, Sweethearts!”
Only after watching the car leave the compound did Darius and William go back inside the house.
Almost immediately, Darius' expression darkened. “Keep an eye on Bryan and the others tomorrow. I don't want them trying to do anything funny.”
“Of course, Old Mr. Graham,” William noted.
After Benjamin drove out of the manor, he headed in the direction of Yaleview.
The children seemed to have been tuckered out, for they were all leaning back against the seats.
Jesse yawned, and Jasper soon followed suit.
In no time, the remaining children were affected and all began yawning.
Benjamin lifted his eyes and looked at them through the rearview mirror. He then said, “Don't fall asleep. We're about to reach home.”
At that, Arissa turned around to look at them.
When she noticed their yawns, she quickly exclaimed, “Don't sleep yet, or else we're going to leave you in the car when we reach home.”
For a moment, the children did not know what to reply to that.
“Mommy, I'm tired.” Jesse rubbed her eyes.
Arissa's heart softened when she saw Jesse's adorable demeanor, so she said, “Sweetheart, drink some water.”
Then, turning her head further, she said to the rest of the children, “Actually, all of you should drink some water to sober up a little.”
Gavin nodded in agreement and quickly took the water flask to pour Jesse a cup.
“Jesse, here. Be careful.”
“Okay.” After Jesse drank the water, she passed the flask cap back to Zachary.
Zachary proceeded to fill a cup for his brothers.
“Drink up.”
Gavin finally poured himself a cup after his little brothers were done drinking.
Then, he poured some water on a towel he grabbed and told them to wipe their faces.
A smile crept upon Arissa's face when she saw how skilled Zachary was in taking care of his younger siblings.
This boy is really getting better and better at being a big brother.
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