It was already in the afternoon when Dione, Kaiden, and little Olivia found them. Dione giggled and quickly hugged him. He hushed her and pointed at Eris and the sleeping babies. She's a well-behaved girl as she moved her lips to whisper at him.
"Who is she?"
"She's your future grandma."
Dione's eyes widened and excitedly giggled.
"Okay? Let's not be noisy." He whispered at them and to Kaiden and Olivia.
"Kaka~~" Olivia raised her arms at him. He carefully put Kendal beside him as he picked Princess Olivia. She hugged his neck and kissed his cheeks.
"I love you too, Via," Gray said. Somehow, Eris woke up as she carefully touched the baby beside her. "Hi." Gray sat down with Via on his lap as he caressed her hair. "Sorry that there are a lot of kids here. Currently, we have Dione, Kaiden, and Olivia."
"Oh, there are so many kids?" She asked as she was careful with Benny.
"Hello!" Kaiden smiled at her as he reached her hand. "You play?" He asked.
"Hi," Eris smiled as she gently squeezed Kaiden's hand. "Mimi, cook." He said.
Eris looked so happy being surrounded by the kids not to mention that the kids are very kind and well-behaved.
"Come. Come." Kaiden pulled her.
"Okay,"
Gray gently put down the one-year-old Olivia and moved closer to Eris as their faces were very close. They could feel each other's breath. Eris's heart just skips a beat. Gray gently picks up the sleeping Benny. He watched as Eris bent down and followed Kaiden.
"Kaiden, wait," Gray called him but the boy had already taken his date away. "Oh, please." He sighed. The nannies quickly came and bowed at him. "Dione, hold your sister."
Dione was a big sister at the age of three and she's taking care of her siblings. Kaiden, the two-year-old sibling of Dione was continuously taking his date away. In the hallway, they met up with Victor and Johanna, the siblings by blood. The two gaped and looked at Eris.
"Kaiden, where are you taking her?" Johanna asked as Eris seemed to stop by Johanna's voice. "Sorry about my nephew." Johanna patted Kaiden as she reached Eris's hand. "I'm Johanna. I'm the one who set up the date for the two of you."
Eris was silent for a while but she smiled and nodded her head.
"Our Uncle Gray was loved by the kids so we always brought them to him. I didn't know that Gray would take you here."
"Uncle Gray?" She asked.
"Yes, so technically, he's the grandpa of the kids."
"O~oh. I got it." Eris nodded her head. Gray sighed as he took Eris's hand. "Hannah, your kids kept taking my date. So, please?" He gestured. Victor chuckled as he moved closer to Eris and reached her other hand.
"I'm Victor. Hannah's brother. I think you already met Kal and Kendal."
"Yes, they are so sweet," Eris said.
"I'm sorry that you got crowded so fast. Let's go somewhere." Gray said apologetically.
"No. No. Foodie. Mimi." Kaiden shook his head as he pulled Eris's hand from Victor.
"Alright, alright." Gray sighed and excused themselves. Kaiden smiled widely and held Eris's right hand while Gray was holding her left hand.
"Where to?" She asked.
"Just feel at home. These kids would drag you somewhere."
She smiled and nodded her head.
"Your family is big." She commented.
"And loud."
"Uhuh. Loud but loud of happiness. I've never been in a loud yet happy house before."
Gray gently squeezed her hand and kissed it.
"You will be part of it soon." He mumbled. She was puzzled but they continued to walk wherever Kaiden would take them.
After riding in the elevator and a long walk, they finally reached the kitchen where they smelled cookies and other pastries.
"Hello," MJ, known as the Queen of Evergarden Paradis, grinned at him.
"Hi, MJ."
"Who do we have here?" MJ asked as Kaiden ran to her.
"Mimi."
MJ bent down and kissed Kaiden's lips.
"Foodie, Tata." He pointed to Eris.
"Sure thing, my love."
"Eris, this is MJ, she's the mother of Kaiden, Dione, and Olivia. The kids are back there. I know it's very confusing but, as I've said~~"
"Hello, MJ." Eris raised her hand for a handshake. MJ already knows that she's blind so she approached Eris to reach her hand. MJ gently squeezed her hand.
"Eris, why won't you sit down and we will have everything prepared for you."
Gray escorted MJ to the round table by the window. She blinked her eyes as she faced straight. Soon, Kaiden approached her and held her hand.
"Mimi, Eli-cious~~foodie," Kaiden said.
"I would like to try, Kaiden." Eris raised her hand carefully not to hurt Kaiden as she carefully reached Kaiden's head to pat him.
Gray admired how kind Eris was to the kids. The kids already loved her despite her disability. Since their family didn't look down on people, it was easy for them to accept someone in the family. But he's accurate that they would run a background check on Eris. However, no matter what the result, he will still marry her.
Shortly, the cookies and tea were served to them as Gray told her that the tea was hot. He watched her for straight minutes as she ate the cookies and sipped on the teacup. Every movement was being monitored by him. He must be insane for staring at her but he wanted to make sure that she was safe and secured. Eris might not like it, but he just can't help himself.
"Kaiden, dear," MJ called. "Let's call your siblings and cousins, okay? We need to give your grandpa and Eris some privacy."
"Yes, Mimi."
Once the two left, Gray grinned as Eris smiled beautifully.
"We don't have privacy here but it is better than the public cinema, right?"
"Yes," She put down her teacup carefully so she wouldn't break anything.
"Let's have dinner here. I will set up a private spot for us."
He pulled out his phone and called the Butler to set up a spot and dinner at his place. The two enjoyed their cookies and tea. Then, Gray held her hand as he took her to the garden. She enjoyed it after smelling different types of flowers, and grass and she could hear the birds chirping. He said that there are a lot of birds that somehow lived in the trees on the Estate.
"Henry, my cousin-in-law, built an ocean park for the kids." He said. "Although we have a big pond for kois almost like a lake and for the turtles, etc. Quinn loves aquatic animals as does Calli."
"Uhuh," She listened attentively.
"I am sure that Quinn and Calli will take you to their rooms since they have their big aquariums. I mean, they are spoiled with things." He smiled at her. "So, what are your likings? Are there any specific pets or things that you are allergic to?"
She shook her head.
"I like animals. I had a dog once that used to assist me all the time but he wasn't with me anymore."
"I~I'm sorry."
She shook her head.
"You don't have to be sorry."
"Now, here's my house." He held both of her hands and led her. "Take a step on the staircase."
She did as he said.
"Is this your house?"
"It's everyone's house. It's more like a mansion~~hotel. Each kid had their room and their possessions but they mostly slept in a family room and had a slumber party. Karmina, my cousin, loved the idea of that. And the guest house was for my privacy."
He took her inside and made her sit on the sofa.
"This is not that big compared to the main house. But the Estate had everything. There's a grocery store, hospital, malls, pet shop~~"
"Wait," She licked her lips which he found sexy. "Do you mean that the Estate that you mentioned is practically like a small city?"
"Yup," he chuckled. "You are the first date that I brought in here." He reached for her hand and kissed it.
"So~~you work?"
"Yes, if I was needed." He shrugged. "I'm a psychiatrist and a general practitioner. Also, they called me Duke back in the Paradis."
She gasped as she tilted her head. It was so adorable that she looked like a curious puppy.
"I am a free man, it means I have more time with you."
"Do you intend to date me again?"
"I intend to marry you. Let's be straight to that fact." He sat beside her. "The kids love you which is important and let's date more until we know each other."
She was frozen, probably surprised by his words. He chuckled nervously. He knew that she was surprised so he should take it all easy.
Eris was stunned. Just like they said, she needs to play them with her cards. She needed to use her body if it was needed. His family seemed to be welcoming and they accepted her. She felt the knots on her stomach start forming and tightening. She's nervous and she doesn't want this. She doesn't want to ruin someone else's life.
"Eris?" Gray reached her face. "So, are you okay with it? I know that we just met, but I am looking for a lifetime partner and we don't need to measure a relationship we could start it now? I will take care of you."
"I~~I will be a burden to you and your family."
"Darling, I don't see you as a burden."