You More Than Anything In The World
Chapter 579

Oliver and Jasper looked up at Arissa as they stood to one side, brushing their teeth.

"Mommy, what time did you get up today?" Jasper asked, spewing foam everywhere as he spoke.

She pinched his cheek lightly. "Don't talk while you're brushing your teeth!"

As Jasper nodded obediently, Oliver secretly laughed and lowered his head to spit out the foam in his mouth. "Mommy, have Gavin and the others been up for a long time too?"

"They only just woke up as well. They're washing up in the bathroom outside," Arissa replied, dampening some towels and wiping the boys' faces after they cleaned their teeth.

After that, she went out to check on the three older boys and saw they had just finished washing up.

"Sweethearts, come and have breakfast," she called out while waving at them. The trio went over to the dining table.

Benjamin was still eating, and he poured glasses of milk for the children. "Sit down quickly and have breakfast."

Arissa lifted each of the kids onto the chairs and took a few plates for them.

Benjamin watched her intently as she busied herself, then asked, "Are you done eating?"

Arissa turned to look at him. "No. Why?"

"If you haven't, then sit down. Watching you bustle around is making me lose my appetite."

Her lips twitched when she heard that while Gavin shot him a dirty look as he thought about how infuriating those words were.

"If you can't stand watching my mommy bustle around, then don't look!"

"Don't talk when you're eating!" Benjamin barked, reprimanding his son with a stony expression on his handsome face.

Gavin pursed his lips and ate in silence.

Arissa's heart ached when she saw that, and she caressed the boy's head gently. "Can't you speak to him in a gentler tone?" she chastised Benjamin.

Benjamin glowered at her. "The children are already five years old. It's time you let them learn to be more independent and stop doing everything for them."

Arissa did not retort after getting admonished by him. Just then, the three younger children came running over.

As they climbed into their seats by themselves, she shot Benjamin a proud look.

"Do you think my darling children aren't independent? I was only trying to interact with them more."

Benjamin's expression turned grim.

For some reason, Oliver, Jasper, and Jesse immediately sensed something amiss in the atmosphere. Their eyes flicked back and forth between Benjamin and Arissa.

Then, they whispered to their older brothers, "Are they arguing?"

Gavin, Zachary, and Tim looked at each other.

"It seems like it," Gavin answered.

Hearing that, Benjamin and Arissa were speechless for a moment.

"We're not arguing. We're just having a discussion," Arissa explained.

All six children fixed their gazes on Benjamin.

Casting a glance at Arissa, Benjamin said, "Yes, I was having a discussion with your mommy. As you're all older now, you need to be more self-aware and independent. Don't keep waiting for her to help you."

His words struck a chord within the children. Recalling how Arissa would always help them, they bowed their heads guiltily.

Seeing that, Arissa rolled her eyes at Benjamin.

"They're all very independent. Does helping the children into their seats, getting their plates, and washing their faces mean they're not independent?"

She could not help cursing inwardly. They're only five years old, for goodness' sake. I still have to watch over them a little with things like these. I correct them as I spend time with them. After all, it's a learning process. Sometimes, I do it because I love them and want to dote on them. Is that wrong? Must I let them become self-reliant like adults? Is that the only way? My sweethearts are very independent, okay? They do so much for me that I sometimes don't even feel a sense of pride from being a mother.

As Benjamin watched her closely and noticed her cheeks puffing with anger, his tone softened slightly as he said, "I was only reminding you to be mindful. It's not the first time this has happened."