Ch. 1061..1070
Chapter 1061 Looked at Her in a Different Light
Timothy was glad that his sister was able to realize her dream! The song finally ended after a few minutes and was followed by thunderous applause, which filled the hall. With that, Tessa placed her violin down and bowed at the audience gracefully.
Stefania was rather surprised as she looked at the outstanding girl standing on stage amid enthusiastic applause from the audience. She recalled that Tessa wasn’t as outstanding back then when she played the violin during Gregory’s birthday.
While Stefania was distracted by her own thoughts, she suddenly heard Tobias praising Tessa. “Not bad.”
Hearing that, Gregory couldn’t hide his adoration toward Tessa and praised incessantly, “Grandpa, Grandma, my mommy is great, isn’t she?”
Both Tobias and Stefania laughed upon hearing that but gave a face to Gregory as they nodded and were all praises for Tessa. “You’re right. Your mommy is great.”
Upon hearing that, Gregory was filled with joy, and Nicholas, sitting next to him, smiled upon seeing that. Nicholas knew that his parents didn’t say those words just to coax Gregory, but it was also because they acknowledged Tessa’s capabilities. Timothy, who heard their remarks, heaved a sigh of relief and was happy for his sister.
At the same time, the hall was filled with praise. “Sofia, your protégé sure is something else.”
“I am afraid that she might have surpassed her seniors with her superb violin skills and emotional performance.”
“It wouldn’t take long for her to outshine them.”
Hearing that, Sofia responded proudly, announcing, “Since Tessa is gifted and she had been training very hard, it wouldn’t be surprising if she outshines her seniors.”
“Aren’t you worried that your other students would be offended by your words?” The audience teased her.
“Not at all. I’ve already told them about this earlier on.” Sofia chuckled softly.
Both Stefania and Tobia had mixed feelings when they overheard their conversation. Hathaway couldn’t agree more with their words and looked over at Tessa, who was shining on stage. She didn’t expect that Tessa could improve by leaps and bounds in just half a year. Although she was aware that Tessa was gifted, she knew that Tessa had worked very hard.
Scott could tell what Hathaway was thinking from the looks on her face and suggested, “Now that Tessa has returned to the stage, you should follow suit too. I’m still waiting for you to lead Hathaway Philharmonic back to its peak.”
Hearing that, Hathaway looked over and noticed that he was looking at her with encouraging eyes. She knew that he was trying to comfort her so that she could let go of the past.
After a brief silence, she finally thought it through and replied to him with a smile, “You’re right. I should get back on my feet so that I won’t fall behind.”
At the same time, Tobias, who was sitting in the front row, stared at Tessa with a straight face, and no one was able to know what he was thinking about. On the other hand, Kieran, who was sitting next to him, got so stoked that he clapped till his palms turned red.
“Dad, what do you think? Don’t you think that Tessa is great? Look! All of the maestros within the music industry are all praises for her. She wasn’t as bad as you think she was, right?” Kieran couldn’t stop praising her as if he was her number-one fan.
Tobias merely scoffed at him and kept quiet after hearing that. Noticing how proud Tobias was, Kieran pursed his lips and smirked. Although Tobias didn’t say a word, he knew that Tobias had looked at Tessa in a different light.
In fact, that was the case. Tobias’ perception of Tessa slowly changed after hearing the praises from the audience. After the first song ended, the second song was about to start.
Similar to the first song, Tessa started sharing how she came about composing the piece. “I came up with this piece during one of the night tours in Vienna. Out of all of my pieces, this one would be the most magnificent. I hope that all of you will like it.”
Chapter 1062 Thankful Toward Miss Sofia
With that, Tessa once again repositioned the violin and started playing. The next moment, the hall was filled with uplifting melodies which captivated the audience. Everyone was so absorbed by the music that they could picture the rise and fall of a city before eventually rising to its glory just from the music.
After playing three of her self-composed pieces, Tessa once again bowed at the audience gracefully. Everyone clapped for her and lauded her performances, as they were just astounding.
“Sofia, your protégé is brilliant!”
“Three songs, three different styles, played without any flaws.”
“She is really out of this world!” Some of the maestros looked at Sofia enviously, as they admired Tessa’s talent. The reporters who were there flashed their cameras as they tried to capture pictures of Tessa. They were so thrilled that they had already thought of the headlines for tomorrow’s news report.
‘Virtuoso Reaching New Heights’ ‘Emerging Talented Female Composer To Keep An Eye On—Tessa Reinhart’
All of them had come up with various headlines, but Tessa was unaware of them. She had left the stage amidst the applause after her performances had ended to change into another dress.
When her seniors saw her backstage, they immediately went up to her and asked about her physical condition. “You alright?”
“I’m feeling great. You don’t have to worry about me.” She smiled when she saw how her seniors were genuinely concerned about her.
“Get changed if you’re feeling fine.” Marjorie, being the steady one among them, asked the makeup artist and the stylist over so that they could help Tessa get changed and touch up her makeup.
Tessa would be performing on the same stage with her seniors for the next performance. For that, they had practiced the piece she had composed beforehand. Soon, Tessa had changed into a stunning dress and walked up to the stage together with her seniors. The audience clapped enthusiastically when they saw the good-looking bunch on stage.
Gregory, being Tessa’s number one fan, couldn’t stop clapping, and his face blushed red with excitement. “Mommy’s the prettiest.”
Nicholas and Timothy strongly agreed with Gregory’s remarks. When they saw how confident Tessa was as she stood among the crowd, they couldn’t help but feel proud of her. On the other hand, Stefania and Timothy were surprised that Tessa was able to invite the maestros of the music industry to be guest performers. However, when they remembered that many of the leaders within the industry were present to watch her performance, it wasn’t that surprising to them anymore.
Meanwhile, Tessa had started introducing her seniors. “I believe that everyone would be familiar with the people standing around me. I’m really thankful to my seniors who are willing to be the guest performers for today.”
Her seniors felt good when they saw how respectful she was toward them. After Tessa was done with her introduction, the room was filled with applause. Soon, beautiful violin music was being played. Since it was an orchestral performance, the whole performance gave the audience a different feel because it was more majestic compared to the solo performance by Tessa earlier on.
Tessa was tense throughout the performance as she tried to keep up with her seniors. Even though it would be tough for her, she enjoyed every moment of it. Music, after all, ran in her blood. After that performance ended, it was followed by a duet between her and Sofia.
Before the performance started, Tessa grabbed Sofia’s arm as both of them went on stage. “Although I am Miss Sofia’s most recent protégé, her attention toward me was no less than what my other seniors had received. She is the one who made this concert happen. I’m really thankful to her. Because of her dedication, I was able to grow so much in such a short time.”
As Tessa was introducing Sofia, she couldn’t help but feel emotional and started tearing up. Sofia, who knew how she felt, went up to her and hugged her gently. Meanwhile, mixed feelings were invoked within Hathaway as she watched their interaction from her seat.
Chapter 1063 Successful Performance
Hathaway was genuinely happy for Tessa and her achievements but saddened that she pushed such a gem away. Despite that, she did not regret her actions.
At the same time, the performance had started, and as expected, it was a feast for the ears. Everyone was thoroughly immersed in the music. Even though Sofia was only playing the accompaniment part for Tessa, her skills were as remarkable as they expected.
Kieran also noticed who the lead and support musicians were based on their positions on the stage and once again buttered up to Old Master Sawyer for Tessa.
“Do you see that, Grandpa? Sofia is one of the best musicians, but she’s acting as the accompaniment for Tessa and even praised her. You see. Tessa isn’t any lesser than the other young ladies.”
Old Master Sawyer was immersed in the music but was thoroughly interrupted by Kieran’s terrible timing, which utterly ruined his enjoyment.
“Shut up!” he warned Kieran angrily. “If you say another word, I’ll just break your leg now!”
“I—” Before Kieran could even finish his sentence, his hands flew up to his mouth and covered them as fear flashed in his eyes. That was because he saw the clear threat in Old Master Sawyer’s eyes as he glanced at his leg.
As Old Master Sawyer succeeded in shutting the buzzing noise in his compartment, he continued to enjoy the performance without Kieran’s interference.
A dozen songs were played that night, not including Tessa’s composition.
She also changed into many dresses throughout the performance to suit the music. Some of those outfits were gorgeous, some were elegant, and even one of them was something out of the Victorian Era.
She expressed each dress style effortlessly, and none of them hindered her ability to perform onstage.
Alas, the excellent performance had to come to an end.
After the last song, she stood in the middle of the stage as the media took the chance to interview her.
“Miss Reinhart, tonight’s performance was exceptional. Do you have anything to say?”
“I’ve got much to say.” She paused with the microphone in her hand as she searched for the right words to convey the surge of emotions she felt on stage.
A moment later, she began her sophisticated speech, “I want to thank my three teachers for pushing me so I could reach where I am today. Even though they were being strict, it was almost harsh. I know they want the best for me. I would also like to thank my seniors. They made time from their busy schedules to join this performance because it was my first show. Also, I’d like to thank my brother. Lastly, I want to thank my lover for supporting me no matter what as I threw myself into chasing my dreams.”
With that, Tessa looked at Nicholas gently with love and adoration in her eyes.
Their eyes met as the love within melted hearts, and the people surrounding them were green with envy.
Stefania watched the exchange but didn’t know what to feel about it.
Old Master Sawyer also shared the same sentiment.
Then, Tessa’s cheery voice rang again, “I feel that I’m very blessed now to have my family, lover, friends, and teachers who all cherish me for who I am. I will also do my best not to disappoint them and reach greater heights.”
After the interview, the performance had come to a complete end.
She bowed amid the applause and returned backstage.
As she sat down, she was so tired that she slumped into the chair. Yet, despite the bone-deep weariness, she couldn’t help but feel elated.
Her other seniors noticed her posture and peppered her with concerned questions, “Are you alright, Tessa?”
They also gave her milk and cookies as they gave her a once-over.
She thanked them gratefully as she ate some of it and almost instantly felt much better.
At that moment, they could hear a commotion coming from the backstage entrance.
Tessa and her seniors all turned their heads to check and realized Nicholas and Gregory were coming in to hand her a bouquet of flowers.
Timothy was also there, with Sofia tailing behind them.
“Mommy, congratulations! The performance was a huge success. There are so many people standing outside praising you.”
Gregory dashed toward Tessa, and the heaps of praises escaped his mouth.
Nicholas walked over with the bouquet in hand and looked at her with such loving eyes that she felt as though she was about to be utterly sucked in by the sheer affection he had for her. “Congratulations on the performance. Now, you’re one step closer to your dream.”
Chapter 1064 I Missed You So Much
Tessa accepted the flowers with a sweet smile. Timothy also congratulated her and then proceeded to ask with concern, “How are you feeling? Tired?”
“Just a little.” She nodded as her almond-shaped eyes glistened with joy and changed the topic, “Even though it’s tiring, it was worth it.”
Just as she was done speaking, she was suddenly lifted into the air. Since she didn’t expect such a thing to happen, it took her a few seconds before she realized Nicholas had lifted her in a princess carry.
Tessa exclaimed as she hurriedly wrapped her arms around his neck and berated him fondly, “Put me down! Everyone’s looking.”
“You’re tired. I’m bringing you home to rest.” He ignored her half-hearted demands. That made all her female seniors standing around envious.
“Aww. Tessa’s so blessed.” “Seeing them, I feel like my standards for a future boyfriend have just gotten higher.”
A few more were cheering them on. “Tessa, President Sawyer’s worried for you. You should just go with him.” She could feel herself flushing so hard that she probably resembled a tomato due to their good-natured ribbing.
Of course, she also wanted to head back and rest, but there were things she needed to deal with. “Stop. Put me down. There are things I need to handle before we leave.” She patted Nicholas’ arm lightly.
However, he was unrelenting as he refused to put her down. Finally, Sofia walked over from the back and said in a loving voice, “You’re tired. You should rest. Don’t worry about the other stuff. You have your seniors and me here.”
“Isn’t that rather inappropriate of me?”
She was a little embarrassed. This was her concert, but she was asking her teacher and seniors to wrap up after her.
Sofia knew what she was thinking and assured her sincerely, “It’s nothing. Go home.”
She directed the last sentence at Nicholas as he nodded and carried Tessa away.
Nonetheless, he told Edward to come over before he left and instructed him to help Sofia and the rest with the cleanup.
On the way home, Tessa stayed cuddled in Nicholas’ embrace as Gregory’s excited chatter reverberated in the car.
“I sat below the stage with Daddy. There were so many people praising you, Mommy.”
He passionately recounted his experience during the performance.
Tessa and Nicholas looked at him with adoring eyes as they talked and laughed the rest of the way home.
In the living room, Stefania and Tobias had returned before the family of three was waiting for them while they sat on the couch.
Even so, to their surprise, Kieran and Old Master Sawyer were also in attendance.
As they entered the living room, Nicholas and Tessa were taken aback to see Old Master Sawyer on the couch.
Even Gregory was also stunned. Be that as it may, he quickly recovered as he skipped and trotted right into Old Master Sawyer’s embrace when he saw his grandfather’s austere face.
“Great Grandpa, did you come here to see me?”
Old Master Sawyer could no longer pull the long face and immediately softened once he heard Gregory’s happy chirp.
He lifted Gregory onto his thigh and asked gently, “Did you miss me?”
“Yes. I missed you so much!”
All sorts of sweet coaxing poured out of Gregory’s little mouth.
But, unfortunately, Old Master Sawyer wasn’t fazed in the slightest and harrumphed, “You little liar! If you really missed me, why didn’t you even call me once? You even went to another country, and I can’t even see you when I miss you.”
Gregory cheekily stuck his tongue out and started apologizing when he saw that Old Master Sawyer was feigning anger.
“I’m sorry. I won’t be scared of disturbing you and will call you daily from now on.”
His adorable look, coupled with his pleading puppy eyes, made Old Master Sawyer relent in his stance and almost instantly let him off the hook.
During that time, Nicholas and Tessa sat by the side, watching the two banter with a smile.
After a while, Nicholas asked, “When did you come over? You didn’t inform us.”
Just as Old Master Sawyer was about to speak, Kieran, sitting at the side, beat him to it.
“Grandpa and I arrived this afternoon. Once we got off the plane, he didn’t let me contact you. He even threatened to break my leg if I did.”
Chapter 1065 A Change in Attitude
Kieran was always the more expressive brother, so when he aired his grievances, his face showed how wronged he felt. Still, his aggrieved expression merely lasted for less than a second before it switched to unabashed enthusiasm, for he was eager to share with Tessa that the two of them were in attendance at her concert.
On the other hand, Tessa was stunned when she heard this. “Grandpa, why didn’t you tell me in advance that you were coming? If I had known you were coming, I could have arranged a better seat for you.”
This time, because of Sofia’s excellent marketing of Tessa’s special concert, it was nigh impossible to gain access to a single ticket.
After Remus heard the words that escaped Tessa’s lips, he glared at Kieran for his loose tongue and slightly reprimanded, “You talk too much. What are you? A fawn? Whatever happened to staying silent when you’re unwanted? Do you need me to hammer that into your brain?” He even emphasized his threat with a tap on his cane.
Kieran cowered when he met Remus’ gaze, knowing that Remus could dish out what he served.
Therefore, he immediately apologized, “I’m sorry, Grandpa. I was wrong. I’ll stop talking.” Not only that, he even made a mouth-zipping gesture right after he said that.
Meanwhile, the others couldn’t help it as they laughed at Kieran when they saw him like this.
Gregory gazed at the adults incomprehensibly and questioned, “Uncle Kieran is obviously a human. How can he be a fawn?”
The room went silent for a moment before the adults resumed laughing louder than before. Even Remus couldn’t hold back his amusement and chuckled.
The only one that wasn’t laughing was Kieran, who was busy looking at Gregory with a disgruntled gaze. Unfortunately for him, Gregory didn’t understand the source of his distress.
Finally, everyone managed to calm their amusement.
Also, thanks to this interruption, the atmosphere in the living room became relatively harmonious.
Once again, the topic of their conversation resumed to Tessa’s special concert that evening.
Tessa looked at Remus expectantly as she inquired eagerly for feedback from an audience and a respected elder, “What do you think of my performance this evening? Did I do well?”
As soon as that question left her lips, Nicholas, Kieran, and others turned their heads and looked in their direction.
Likewise, Remus naturally noticed their stares. Nevertheless, he ignored them with practiced ease. He merely glanced lightly at Tessa as he thought of how to reply to her. Then, pursing his lips slightly, he finally spoke, “How melodious can it be when your performance is so mediocre?”
Although he still spoke in a relatively arrogant tone, it was clear to all that he didn’t really mean those words. Nevertheless, his manner of speech was less dismissive than before.
Moreover, in all fairness, Remus felt that Tessa’s musical performance during her special concert this evening was no less than those of the maestros he had heard. He just didn’t want to admit it, that was all.
Even so, Tessa sensed the slight acknowledgment hidden between Remus’ words.
She knew of Remus’ prideful nature, so she didn’t take offense as she laughed and played along, “You’re right, Grandpa. I do need to work hard.”
As he regarded the well-behaved girl in front of him, he huffed in dissatisfaction, “Work hard? Yeah, right. You need to take care of your body too. After all, you’re pregnant now, and not to mention that your belly is getting so big. What will you do if your child gets negatively affected after you have worked yourself to the bone?”
Although the tone in his voice wasn’t that pleasant, the words he spoke were full of concern.
The others couldn’t help but smile when they heard Remus’ arrogant remarks, especially Tessa. The smile on her face got even more genuine before she nodded obediently. “Yes, you are right. I certainly will be careful.”
At this moment, Nicholas also held Tessa’s hand with a gentle smile. Then, he promised Remus by saying, “Rest assured, Grandpa. I will take good care of her.”
“Me too! I will take good care of Mommy and protect Mommy too!” Gregory hurriedly stated, unwilling to be forgotten.
Everyone couldn’t help but feel amused when they saw Gregory’s serious demeanor.
Timothy, who was next to Tessa, also breathed a sigh of relief as he thought, It seems like Old Master Sawyer has changed his attitude toward Tess.
When Stefania saw that the tense atmosphere had passed into something more harmonious, she immediately took the initiative to voice her suggestion, “Oh, will you guys look at the time? I’m sure we are all hungry now. So, why don’t we eat first? As for this matter, we’ll talk about it later.”
After she finished speaking, her gaze landed on Remus. Others also turned their heads and looked in Remus’ direction.
Naturally, Remus noticed their gaze. So, he raised his eyebrows slightly and said, “Why are all of you looking at me like that? Since we are all famished, let’s eat.”
Just at this moment, Sebastian came to inform them, “Master Nicholas. Madam Tessa. Supper is ready.”
Upon hearing that, Nicholas nodded. He helped Tessa up from the couch and then beckoned the others to enjoy their meal in the dining hall.
“Grandpa, let me help you.” Kieran quickly stepped forward to help Remus with a somewhat sycophantic attitude.
Remus merely gave him a cold side-eye but didn’t refuse his help.
During their meal, the atmosphere in the room was pretty cozy.
Suddenly, Timothy raised his glass and gave Tessa a toast. “Tess, congratulations on your success in this evening’s special concert.”
Tessa hurriedly raised her glass of juice as he responded with a happy smile, “Thanks.”
Chapter 1066 Getting Acknowledged by the Sawyers
When Kieran saw the siblings’ toast, he glanced at his parents and Remus, who sat across from him. In that split second, an idea formed in his mind, and he wasted no time in raising his wine glass and echoed, “That’s right! We haven’t congratulated Tessa on her success in this evening’s special concert. So raise a glass to toast to her success!”
When Kieran’s proclamation ended, Nicholas expressed his support by raising his wine glass. Gregory, too, held up his glass of milk and said adorably, “Congratulations, Mommy!”
Sure enough, having known Kieran for their lifetime, how would Stefania, Tobias, and Remus not be able to discern his little tricks? However, they had no intention to expose him. Instead, they followed suit and raised their respective glasses in support.
The smile on Tessa’s face became increasingly brighter after receiving their congratulatory toast.
Deep down, she could feel that Nicholas’ family seemed to have finally accepted her.
Nicholas caught sight of Tessa’s happy grin, but he didn’t bring any attention to it. Instead, he merely took a piece of the deshelled shrimp and placed it onto her plate. “Here. Eat more.”
Tessa nodded with a smile.
At first, Stefania, who sat on the opposite side, still felt a little jealous. Yet, before she could wallow in her jealousy, someone suddenly placed a piece of the deboned fish onto her plate. That action was followed by Tobias’ gentle voice ringing in her ears. “Here. Have some. I’ve deboned it for you.”
When Kieran saw this scene, he instantly had a hurt expression on his face. Then, he said in a quirky manner, “Are you guys sure what we’re doing now is enjoying our supper? It looks to me that I’m clearly witnessing a scene straight out of a romance drama. Oh, this is too much! Timothy, how about you put some dishes onto my plate too? I want someone to care about me too.”
As he spoke, he even handed over his plate to Timothy.
Unfortunately for Kieran, Timothy utterly ignored him. There was no way he was going to do something like that.
The others, on the other hand, were greatly amused by their interaction.
Tessa glanced at Remus for a moment, then scooped a dish that suited an elder’s taste buds and served it to him. “Grandpa, please have some more. You must have been tired from moving around for the whole day today.”
It was quite late by the time they finished enjoying their supper.
When Nicholas saw the unconcealed exhaustion on Tessa’s face, he worriedly suggested, “Let me help you into the room so you can have your rest.”
After looking at Stefania, Tobias, and Remus, who were yet to feel sleepy, Tessa shook her head and declined, “It’s alright. I’m not that tired.”
After all, she felt it was rather inappropriate for her to retire before the elders turned in.
Of course, Nicholas knew very well what was in Tessa’s mind. So, at once, he persuaded her, “Stop forcing yourself. Mom and Dad won’t mind if you rest earlier than them.”
Stefania and Tobias, too, somewhat figured out the reason behind Tessa’s reluctance and urged, “Please rest, Miss Reinhart. We have Nicholas and Kieran here looking after us. We’ll be just fine.”
Even Remus chimed in, “Even if you’re not tired, what about the baby? I’m pretty sure the baby is feeling tired. So, hurry up and rest.”
Hence, Tessa could only return to the room and rest.
As Tessa’s loving husband, Nicholas naturally followed after her. However, he only left when Tessa fell into a deep sleep.
After he quietly left the room, he wanted to have a chat with his grandfather. So, after he learned that Remus had turned in for the night, he headed toward Remus’ bedroom.
In the room, Remus snorted as soon as he saw Nicholas entering. Then, he asked in displeasure, “What are you doing here? Why aren’t you guarding that girl?”
“I’m here to check on you,” replied Nicholas.
As he spoke, he made his way toward Remus and sat across from him.
“Checking on me? What’s there for you to check?” Remus asked stubbornly, still refusing to have a proper conversation with his pigheaded grandson.
Nicholas didn’t mind his attitude. Rather, he had a genuine smile on his face as he said, “Since you can make it tonight, this simply means that you have started to accept Tessa as my partner now.”
Remus side-eyed him as he retorted with a forked tongue, “I’m exactly here to see what sort of capability she has that makes you want no other girls but her.”
Sure enough, Nicholas sensed the duplicity in Remus’ words. Instead of exposing him, Nicholas chuckled, “Well then, now that you have witnessed it, she isn’t as bad as you think, is she?”
“It’s just so-so.”
Once again, Remus refused to give in and say what he really thought of her. Mainly because he simply couldn’t stand Nicholas’ cheek when he admitted that Tessa was a good person.
As Nicholas regarded his stubborn yet prideful grandfather, who resumed his arrogant stance, he burst into laughter and shook his head as he said, “Grandpa. Stop trying so hard, will you? Your actions have sold you out.”
Remus was rendered speechless, for he couldn’t find a reason to refute Nicholas’ statement as his eyes flashed in frustration.
There was no doubt that Nicholas saw this as well.
Regardless, he didn’t bother waiting for Remus to salvage the remaining tatters of his pride as he took the initiative and explained, “Actually, Tessa is no less than those ‘noble’ heiresses. In fact, she works very hard. She has gone above and beyond in order to feel qualified enough to stand by my side. All she wants is to be acknowledged by you, Mom, and Dad.”
Chapter 1067 The Future of the Reinhart Enterprise
Upon hearing this, Remus recalled Tessa’s special concert in his mind. It’s an undeniable fact that the girl has worked hard.
On the other hand, Nicholas immediately clued in on the changes in Remus’ behavior. Hence, he parted his lips again and added, “Tessa is about to give birth now, and who knows, she might give birth to a baby girl. This, too, simply means you will soon have a second great-grandchild. Moreover, children grow up fast. So, Grandpa, you wouldn’t want your future little great-granddaughter to grow up knowing that you dislike her Mommy, will you? How sad will she be?”
As soon as Nicholas said that, Remus’ mind automatically pictured an image of a young and cute great-granddaughter complaining aggrievedly about why he didn’t like Tessa.
In an instant, Remus’ heart softened, and he said, “That’s enough. You don’t need to say anything else.”
After that, he looked up and glanced calmly at Nicholas, his eldest grandson, who was sitting before him and added, “I’m old now anyway, so I can’t really do much about your affairs. Regardless, I hope you have made the right choice.”
“Rest assured, Grandpa. But, of course, I’ve made the right choice.”
A sense of pride crept into Nicholas’ demeanor when he saw Remus finally stop being stubborn.
When Remus laid eyes on Nicholas’ triumphant state, he couldn’t help but sneer, “Don’t be so sure yet. Even though that girl is somewhat outstanding now, in my opinion, she’s still far from being qualified as your partner. Her younger brother, on the other hand, has real talent.”
From Remus’ point of view, although Tessa tried her best to improve herself into an outstanding person, the amount of effort Tessa poured was nothing compared to Timothy’s effort.
Deep down, he felt that the challenge Timothy faced was far more brutal than Tessa’s. That young man is trying to change his family’s circumstances, and based on my lifelong experience, it definitely is a challenging task.
In this regard, even though Nicholas disagreed with Remus dismissing Tessa’s efforts, he couldn’t deny Timothy’s outstanding capabilities. Grandpa is right. Thanks to Timothy developing his business in full force, the current Reinhart Family successfully gained notable standing in Xerthania. Plus, coupled with my support, no outsiders would dare to make things difficult for Timothy. Not only that, no one had made fun of Timothy’s disability. As a matter of fact, the current Southend’s business circle admires Timothy for achieving such remarkable success at such a young age.
As he thought of this, Nicholas praised his wife with a gentle expression, “Tessa is amazing. So it’s only logical to assume that her younger brother, Timothy, won’t be any less talented than her. Besides, Timothy has been dependent on Tessa since he was a child. Therefore, he values Tessa very much.”
Sure enough, Remus perfectly understood the meaning behind Nicholas’ words.
It was just that he couldn’t bring himself to look at his eldest grandson singing the praises of an outsider in such a way. Hence, he snorted, “So what if he values her? Her existence will only be a drag to him anyway.”
As Nicholas looked at Remus, who became stubborn again, a sense of helplessness flashed in his eyes. “Grandpa, I won’t say that if I were you because you might get embarrassed by this remark of yours in the future. But do you know why Timothy is so determined to change his family’s circumstances?”
“Why? He’s doing it for Tessa’s sake?” Remus had a rough guess.
Out of his expectation, his guess really did receive Nicholas’ affirmation. “You are right. He’s doing this for Tessa’s sake.”
At once, Remus frowned with disbelief in his eyes.
Nicholas understood the meaning behind Remus’ expression and explained with a smile, “Back then, Tessa went through a lot of hardships in order to treat Timothy’s injured legs. She even gave up the opportunity to study abroad and worked multiple jobs to afford Timothy’s medical bills. In fact, she even agreed to your absurd request. So tell me: why won’t Timothy strive for Tessa’s sake after she sacrificed so much for him?”
Remus had no choice but to remain silent, for he couldn’t find any words to refute Nicholas’ statement.
Nicholas continued, “Furthermore, you may not know Timothy very well. He is one prideful young man. The way you made things difficult for Tessa back then triggered Timothy to work even harder. So, I can tell you that Reinhart Enterprise’s future will only improve. It won’t take long for the company to be on the same status as the Sawyer Group. As for the hindrance that you’re so worried about, trust me: it won’t happen.”
It was at that moment that Remus had nothing else to say.
That night, Nicholas stayed in the room and had a good, long chat with Remus. He only left the room when he saw Remus was feeling tired.
After he went downstairs, he spotted Kieran and Timothy sitting and drinking in the garden outside through the French window in the living room.
The ambiance surrounding the two under the night sky was pretty harmonious.
At this moment, Kieran noticed Nicholas’ arrival. So, he immediately waved his hand and shouted through the French window, “Nicholas! Come! Join us for drinks!”
Chapter 1068 Sister Complex
Nicholas thought over Kieran’s invitation for a moment before he made his way over. When Timothy saw him joining them for a drink, he addressed him politely, “Nicholas.”
Nicholas merely nodded in greeting and sat beside the two of them naturally. Then, he poured himself a glass of wine. When Kieran saw that he was in a relatively good mood even after having a chat with their grandfather, he sneaked up to him and asked, “Nicholas, did you just come out of Grandpa’s room?”
Nicholas raised his brow and looked at him judgingly. The expression on his face was clear to see, and it was as if he was asking Kieran why he was sticking his nose in Nicholas’ business.
“Hehe… Oh, nothing… I’m just curious, that’s all.” As Kieran spoke, he slyly asked, “Since you’ve stayed in Grandpa’s room for so long, did you manage to make Grandpa accept Tessa?”
After hearing this, Timothy, too, looked over with a curious look on his face. Even though Nicholas was being put on the spot due to such a question, he still replied confidently, “Of course. No one will dislike Tessa.”
He spoke those words with much pride. Timothy also nodded in agreement. He even echoed with a similarly proud look, “Nicholas is right. Tess has a great personality and is a good person through and through. As long as people aren’t prejudiced against her from the start, they will definitely grow to like her.”
Kieran couldn’t help but cheer as he saw such a sight.
Then, he looked at Timothy and commented, “What’s wrong with you, Timothy? I’m fine with Nicholas being a husband who places his wife above all else. After all, it’s been so long, and I have seen his true colors. He’s fine as long as he has Tessa. But you—how is it possible that you have turned into a sistercon? Are you not planning to find a girlfriend in the future?”
“Of course, I have plans on finding a girlfriend. But what does that have to do with me having a sister complex?” Timothy looked at Kieran in confusion.
Kieran smiled and said tauntingly, “Anyone who has fallen in love before could figure out that you have never been in a relationship after they saw your reaction. So heed my advice: no woman in this world will ever allow her boyfriend to care about other women—even if that woman is his kin.”
“If that’s the case, I’ll tell her in advance that she can just forget about being in a relationship with me if she finds it unacceptable.”
Timothy expressed his thoughts from the perspective of a man who has never been in love. Then, he rubbed his chin and added slowly, “But even if I am to find myself a girlfriend, I want to find someone as good as Tess. I’m sure there should be no such conflicts when that happens.”
“Are you for real?”
Kieran was flabbergasted when he heard Timothy’s proclamation. It was as if he didn’t expect Timothy to scheme such a thing.
On the other hand, Timothy looked over in confusion and asked, “Why?”
For a moment, Kieran found himself tongue-tied at Timothy’s genuine confusion.
However, before he could think of an answer, Timothy’s answer stabbed him through his metaphorical heart. “But it’s still early for me to dive into a relationship. As for you, Master Kieran, you’re about the same age as Nicholas. Don’t you feel lonely knowing that you’re still single now that even Nicholas is a father of two?”
“Lonely? Who says I’m feeling lonely? Don’t you know it’s great to stay single? I’m free, and the best part is, I have no one bossing me around,” Kieran reflexively retorted.
Timothy scoffed derisively, “Tch! I wonder who was the one that came to me for consolation every time he saw Nicholas and Tessa displaying their affections.”
Like a cat that had its tail being stepped on, Kieran blew a fuse and yelled, “Timothy Reinhart! So, I see you’re courageous enough to start making fun of me now, huh?!”
Too bad for Kieran, Timothy was not at all frightened by his anger. If anything, he found it highly amusing to tease him. So, he retorted, “I can make fun of you even when I’m not courageous enough. After all, I’m not afraid of you since I have Tess, and you don’t.”
There was no way Kieran would concede defeat so readily. Thus, he dragged Nicholas into their argument. “In that case, I have Nicholas! And he’s my brother!”
Upon hearing that, Timothy glanced at the man sitting next to him. He didn’t even feel a single shred of fear as he continued, “But Nicholas listens to Tess.”
Alas, it seems that Lady Luck was not shining on Kieran today as Nicholas added fuel to the fire by nodding calmly in agreement and said, “Yes. I listen to whatever my wife says.”
Kieran was stunned for a moment. Then, he started feigning hurt as he clutched his chest dramatically.
“Alright. You two united with each other to bully me, huh? This can’t be done. I want revenge. Two of you will be absolutely wasted once I’m through with you!”
Just like that, the three of them continued bickering with each other in good humor. Nevertheless, the situation leaned more toward Kieran needling Timothy and vice versa. Whereas Nicholas only interjected occasionally.
Even so, it was apparent that the three of them got along very well. So, by the end of the day, the three also imbibed in quite a bit before they decided to turn in for the night.
Tessa was already asleep on the bed when Nicholas returned to the room.
Chapter 1069 Fervent Praise
Tessa was so exhausted recently that she didn’t even notice Nicholas’ return. Meanwhile, Nicholas walked over to the bed and observed his petite wife, who had lost some weight, with a sense of heartache.
Under the lamplight, he lovingly kissed her on the forehead before he turned around to head toward the bathroom. Then, after a quick shower, he carefully climbed into the bed and fell asleep while holding her in his arms.
The following day, the Internet was flooded with news about Tessa’s special event last night. Each and every single article sang praises about her, and there were no exceptions.
Her talent was also highly recognized by the industry.
In particular, several media reporters interviewed some of the most prominent music industry players when they left the scene last night. Those media reporters uploaded the videos of the interviews together with the news articles today.
“How do you feel about tonight’s special event? Do you have any comments on Miss Sofia’s youngest protégé?”
“The protégés under Miss Sofia’s tutelage have never disappointed. Tonight’s performance was absolutely perfect.”
“Although Miss Tessa started later than Miss Sofia’s protégés, her ability is no less inferior to the others. In fact, her special event is more exquisite than all the other special events of the protégés before her.”
“I look forward to the day when Sofia’s little protégé has been fully trained. She will surely be a sight to behold.”
In the videos, all the maestros who the media reporters interviewed were full of praise for Tessa. They seemed to hold a favorable impression of her.
Once the media uploaded these videos online, the fans whom Tessa managed to accumulate until now puffed up with pride and boasted about her on the Internet.
‘Looks like I didn’t misjudge her. This little missy is amazing, after all.’
‘I think becoming a fan of an idol like her has motivated me to focus on my studies. By the way, I’m also a student at the Vienna Conservatory.’
‘I’m looking forward to her new song. It’ll be great if she can create an album. I will buy ten of them and keep eight at home as part of my collection.’
The discussion on the Internet was raging, but Tessa was utterly oblivious to the situation.
After she awoke from her slumber, she washed up quickly and followed Nicholas downstairs to enjoy breakfast with the rest of the family.
“Mommy, you’re awake. Did you rest well last night?” Gregory hurriedly asked in concern when he saw her.
The elders of the Sawyer Family said nothing, but they also regarded her with barely concealed worry.
Receiving the affection of so many people made her heart feel warm inside. “I had a good rest. Please don’t worry, Sweetheart.”
After she said that, she immediately urged the others to have their meal.
The atmosphere in the room was excellent.
Even Remus would discuss company affairs with Timothy between bites.
When Kieran discovered that the entire Internet was overflowing with praises for Tessa, he complimented her enthusiastically, “You’re amazing, Tessa! I can’t believe you won over all those big shots of the music industry.”
“Of course. Mommy is the most amazing future bigshot.” Gregory lifted his chin with a proud look on his face. His appearance amused the others so much that they burst into laughter.
At this time, the phone placed beside Tessa rang out of the blue. It was a call from Sofia.
“Miss Sofia, what’s wrong?”
“It’s like this; there are several media reporters who want to have an interview with you. All of them come from media companies that are well-known throughout the industry. They will be beneficial to you, so I went ahead and agreed on your behalf. But, considering your physical condition, I decided to arrange for the interview location to be in the orchestra. It will also save you the trouble of going to another place.” Sofia succinctly explained the entire situation over the phone.
Tessa knew that Sofia only accepted these interviews out of consideration for her best interests. So after she inquired about the appointed time, she laughed lightly and said, “I’ll head over once I finish breakfast.”
When the call ended, Stefania immediately expressed her disapproval after hearing that Tessa was leaving, even though she did not know what the person on the other side of the phone had said. “Isn’t your special event over? Why do you still have to go to the orchestra? Can’t you rest for a few days?”
Although the tone behind that statement was rather brash, Tessa knew that her mother-in-law was simply worried about her. Thus, she explained with a smile, “Please don’t worry. I won’t be tired. Besides, I’m only accepting a few interviews today. After that, I won’t be doing anything else.”
After she explained the situation, she swiftly finished her breakfast and got up to head to the orchestra.
Chapter 1070 Interview
After arriving at the orchestra, Tessa had only just gotten out of the car when Kellen, who Sofia sent to greet her at the door, came up to welcome her inside.
“Miss Sofia arranged for the interview to be held in the practice room you usually use. Almost everybody has arrived, and Miss Sofia is now greeting the media reporters.” Kellen briefly explained the situation to her.
She was very touched by his words. “I’ve troubled Miss Sofia again.”
In preparation for her special event, Miss Sofia’s days had been incredibly hectic recently, preparing for her special event.
Seeing his junior’s sincere gratitude, the smile on his face softened even more. “This is the first-ever special event in your life, after all. So it’s only natural for Miss Sofia to prioritize this event.”
During their conversation, the two of them arrived at the practice room.
Kellen stopped in his tracks. It was apparent that he had no intention of entering the room. Instead, he gestured toward Tessa and said, “Go on. Once you step inside, it’s your stage. Miss Sofia is also waiting for you inside.”
Tessa nodded, pushed open the door, and then walked into the room without further ado. After she entered the room, she realized that there were many media reporters in the room. So she took a cursory glance around, greeted everybody, and walked toward Sofia.
Following some official courtesies, the interview officially began.
In the beginning, the questions raised by the media reporters were relatively mild. They mainly were to gain an understanding of her daily life.
However, over time, some media reporters began to show impatience. These questions were not interesting, and there was nothing they could use to attract viewers in order to hit their target. Therefore, they soon lost patience and became much sharper with their questions.
“Miss Tessa, many people are comparing you to Eunice. Do you have any opinion on that matter?”
As soon as this question was presented, many media reporters brightened instantly and stared at her with burning gazes.
Before Tessa made her debut, Eunice had been considered one of Sofia’s most outstanding protégés in terms of ability. Otherwise, Eunice would not have been able to rank second.
Some of them even probed further callously, not caring that their questions might cause a possible fallout. Although if a fallout were to be caught live, they might have rejoiced for being the ones at the scene to witness such a scandal. “Miss Tessa, between you and Eunice, who do you think has the better skills?”
Upon hearing such insensitive questions, Sofia’s expression immediately darkened.
Before Sofia could open her mouth to speak, Tessa responded to the media reporter’s sharp inquiry courteously. “Eunice’s achievements are unquestionable. Besides, she is also a protégé who trained under Miss Sofia. It is only natural that she has the talent and skill to attain such a position. Not to mention, I am the last to become one of Miss Sofia’s protégés. I still have much to learn.”
“Even if her skills are outstanding, there is always a distinction regarding who is the better musician. So, Miss Tessa, do you think you are better than her?” The reporter who raised the provocative question earlier tossed out another sharp question. Moreover, she set up a trap for Tessa with this question.
If Tessa answered that she was better, then the reporter could question whether Tessa was referring to Eunice’s ability or even using these words to slap Tessa in the face over the statement she made earlier.
On the other hand, if Tessa answered that she was inferior in terms of skills, then the reporter could accuse her of lacking self-confidence. In any case, the reporter could manipulate the situation to her advantage.
Tessa was intelligent, so she immediately noticed the trap hidden within those words. Even though she was a little unhappy, she did not express her displeasure. Instead, she maintained her slight smile and said, “As I mentioned earlier, I was the last to become Miss Sofia’s protégé. Even if I am talented, I have much to learn and improve. Of course, there will come a day when I can stand side-by-side with my fellow seniors.”
Her statement was absolutely perfect. She didn’t stumble into any pitfalls that could be used as a weapon against her.
Thus, the reporter was very dissatisfied with her answer.
Before the reporter could say anything, Sofia interrupted from where she sat by the side. “The interview today is about the special event. The people gathered here today are the elites in this industry, so please don’t forget about the business at hand.”
Although her words were very gentle, everybody in the room was smart enough to understand the hidden implication behind her mild reminder. They knew that she was giving them a warning. Hence, they immediately withdrew their aggression and returned to asking routine questions.
The morning passed by quickly, just like that, and the interview came to an end.
After Sofia sent the media reporters away, she turned to look at Tessa in concern. “Are you alright? Do you feel tired?”
Tessa met her teacher’s worried gaze and felt warmth flooding her heart. Thus, she shook her head and replied with a smile, “I’m fine. I’ll be fine once I get some rest in the afternoon. On the contrary, I have troubled you greatly over the past few days, Miss Sofia. You’ve been running around for my sake.”