Chapter 640 Not Willing To Let You Work
Arissa’s eyes flitted toward him, and she chuckled. “We’re done. Take a seat over there. I’m sure you’re tired after the run earlier.”
Touched, Ethen whispered, “Mr. Graham can’t bear to see you slave away, so please let me do this instead. Otherwise, he’s going to deduct all my bonuses!”
“What a tyrant!” Arissa softly chided.
After putting the cups onto the tray, she then asked Ethen to bring the tray to the others.
“Bradley, were you at the village to find out more news when we arrived earlier?”
Bradley blinked in shock at her sudden question.
“Boss, I’ve just reached when you came. I haven’t even asked anything from anyone yet. I reached this place last night, and as the villagers all went to bed earlier, I met no one. So, I ended up coming back here to clean up the place instead.”
The truth was that Bradley had already found out quite a bit about the matter. However, he was afraid of breaking Arissa’s heart, and that was why he told her nothing yet.
Bradley recalled that the boy was among the children when he left earlier, and the thought of that was already making his heart ache.
If Arissa were to find out that Tim had been living such a difficult life, her heart might just break.
Arissa mulled over Bradley’s words and nodded.
“Then, I’ll have to trouble you to stay here a few days longer to find out more.”
Arissa could sense that the boy was hiding something from her.
“Oh, by the way, ask the kids what they’re doing up in the mountains with the baskets.”
“Sure,” Bradley replied, hoping to appease Arissa for now.
However, Arissa narrowed her eyes and gave him a once-over. “You have found out about something but you are keeping it from me, right?”
“How can I possibly do that?” Bradley hastily answered.
Arissa blinked.
Right then, Benjamin called out to her.
“Arissa!”
When Arissa turned toward the source of the sound, she saw Benjamin standing by the doorway.
He said, “I’m going up to check on the kids. It has been a while since they’ve gone upstairs.”
“Okay,” Arissa told him as she hurried to his side to look for the children.
As it turned out, the children were in the children’s room.
Some were on the bed, and some were on the couch. Some were also on the floor, and they were all chatting with Tim. It was a lovely sight.
Arissa stood quietly by the doorway, not wanting to interrupt their sweet moment.
Tim was the first to notice her.
“Ms. York…”
Instantly, the others turned to look at her as well. “Mommy!”
Arissa gave them a smile and entered the room.
“Do you find this place cozy?”
Zachary and the rest giggled.
“Mommy, this place really is cozy!” Oliver commented as he lay sprawled on the chair, his eyes bright with joy.
“This is a pretty place!”
Gavin, too, liked the house.
A glint flashed past Arissa’s eyes. “Why don’t you stay here with Mr. Hinton for a few days before going back?”
“Is Mr. Hinton not going to head back with us?” Jesse curiously asked.
“He’ll be staying here for a few days,” Arissa told her daughter as she patted her head.
“What’s Mr. Hinton doing here?” the girl asked, her curiosity growing even more intense.
At that, the other children looked at her with inquisitive eyes.
“Yeah, Mommy. Why is Mr. Hinton staying here?”
Arissa blinked. “The roof is a little chipped off, so he’ll be getting someone to fix it. Sweethearts, are you going to stay here or go back with me?”
“I’m going back with Ms. York!” Tim anxiously cried out. He wanted to stay with Mary.
Arissa beamed and dotingly pinched his cheek.
“Okay, we’ll go back while the others stay.”
“Mommy, do you not want us anymore now that you have Tim?”
Jasper deliberately huffed as he snapped his head to the side.
Arissa snorted and turned to him. “You’re the ones who wanted to stay. How can you blame me for this?”
“I didn’t say I wanted to stay!” Jasper frowned.
Gavin chuckled. He then walked over to tug Arissa’s hand. “Mommy, I want to go back with you too.”
Zachary did not want to stay. If not for the fact that they had just found Tim, then perhaps he might have actually stayed.
“I’m going back with Mommy too. Are the rest of you coming back?”
Zachary asked Oliver, Jasper, and Jesse.
“I’m going with Mommy!”
Jesse hugged Arissa tightly.
Oliver then looked at Jasper and said, “I’m going back with Mommy. Are you?”
