Ch. 821..830
Always Been Yours Chapter 821
Falling Into Despair
With that being said, Nicholas nodded and wheeled around to take his leave. Hathaway’s shoulders flopped as she sat on bed in despair.
Although it was the expected outcome when she first let off her steam on Tessa, she had not expected karma to find its way to her that quick. Within two days, she lost her only daughter and had to forsake her best student. Anyone could tell how devastating it was to her.
Standing next to Hathaway was Blaire, who was at the end of her wits. In order to divert Hathaway’s attention, she suggested, “Miss Hathaway, why don’t we visit Kathleen first? You’ve been here for so long, but you haven’t seen her yet.”
Hathaway was in a daze momentarily before nodding slowly. “Right. I haven’t seen Kathleen yet. She must be hating me for not looking for her. Please help me with the discharge procedure.”
Blaire nodded and left to sign the papers after which they headed straight to the Rorion’s mansion, where Kathleen’s coffin was placed in the middle of the living room surrounded by white candles and floral wreaths. The moment Hathaway arrived at the scene, she staggered as it was too much to take in with her own eyes.
“Miss Hathaway, are you alright?” Blaire quickly held her and asked in concern.
PlayvolumeAdHowever, the woman was so much in grief that she uttered nothing. Shaking her head, she pushed Blaire away and teetered toward Katleen’s coffin. After taking a few steps, Rorion called her, “Stop right there! You’re allowed to come, but not anywhere near Kathleen.”
He glared at her in resentment while mocking, “I just don’t get it. Kathleen’s gone because of you and yet, how could you bring yourself to see her?”
His roar hit her sour part as her face turned ghastly. It was as if someone was piercing her heart with a sharp knife; it hurt so much that she could barely breathe.
“I didn’t get to meet her during her last moments. Can’t you at least let me see her?” Her voice was quivering and she was looking at him with pleading eyes.
A glint flickered in his eyes, for it was his first time witnessing such a sorrowful Hathaway. In the end, he did not even know why he agreed to her request. “Fine. Go ahead.”
Hearing that, she scurried to the coffin anxiously while Rorion was watching her with a cold gaze. “By the way, about Kathleen’s funeral, I’m planning on holding a huge one for her the day after tomorrow.”
Hathaway’s hands trembled and her knees went weak when she heard that. Fortunately, she managed to stand on her feet by placing her hand onto the coffin.
Lifting her head, she saw Kathleen lying in it. If it was not for the knowledge of her death, Hathaway would have mistaken that she was just sleeping due to her fine complexion; it was not that of a dead person. However, Hathaway soon wrapped her head around the situation. Considering how much Kathleen cared about her beauty and Rorion loved her, he would make sure to let her go in peace.
“I’m sorry. I’m really, really sorry. I’m so sorry…” That was the only thing Hathaway could say at that moment. Grabbing onto the edge of the coffin, she burst into tears.
Meanwhile, Rorion was vexed to see her behaving like that. He snorted lightly. “What’s the use of apologizing right now? You were helping the outsiders when your daughter needed you the most.”
As though she could not hear him, she reached out her trembling hand to touch her daughter for the one last time. Yet, she heard Rorion nervous roar the moment she lifted her arm. “Stop! What are you doing?!”
She flinched in surprise before answering in a quivering voice, “I just wanna touch her.”
“No. Just let her rest in peace. Don’t touch or disturb her. I bet she won’t consent to it either. Don’t forget what you’ve done to her. Ever.”
The stream of flowing tears on her face showed no signs of let-up after she heard that, for she knew how much Kathleen resented her during her last moments.
Always Been Yours Chapter 822
It’s for Her Sake
Due to the overwhelming sorrow doused on her, Hathaway failed to sense that something was amiss before her eyes as well as the nuance in Rorion’s voice.
Nicholas returned home upon leaving the hospital. As soon as he stepped into the living room, he saw Tessa coming from the kitchen.
“You’re awake.” He smiled and came up to her after which he pulled her to the couch and had a seat together. “How are you feeling right now? Did you have a good sleep?”
“Yeah. I feel much better now.” Noticing the man’s concern, she smiled to indicate that she was totally fine.
He observed her complexion closely and realized that she indeed seemed much better than she was in the morning. Only then, his mind was put at ease.
“I wanna visit Miss Hathaway in the hospital,” she proposed abruptly.
However, it was not a surprise for Nicholas, for his wife had been a kind person who paid homage to the seniors. Nevertheless, he did not wish for her to visit Hathaway at the moment. “Actually, I’ve been to the hospital to see her.”
“Is she okay?” Although she was quite taken aback by his efficiency, Hathaway’s condition was of utmost priority at the moment.
“She’s doing fine, but it has taken a toll on her mentality,” he recounted succinctly and Tessa heaved a sigh of relief.
“Did she say when she’s going to meet me?”
“About that…” He hesitated, not knowing how to respond to that question.
The glint in her eyes simmered immediately. “She doesn’t want to see me, does she?”
It pained him to hear her disheartening voice, so he decided to tell her about the conversation he had with Hathaway. “I’ve terminated the contract between you and Miss Hathaway. So, you’re no longer one of her band members or her student.”
“I’m no longer her student…” She stared at Nicholas in a daze.
He nodded in response. “It is the best for both of you. I can tell that she doesn’t want to hate you, but she just can’t get over it.”
It was impossible for Tessa to not be despondent to hear that. With her downcast eyes and the sorrow, every part of her body was exuding a melancholic air.
Although it hurt him to see Tessa in such a state, he continued, “I know that you’re upset, but it’s not your fault for what has happened. If you insist on staying by her side, the onlookers will speak ill about you for sure. You’re my precious girl that I love so much. I can’t stand seeing you suffer like that.”
I see.
Tessa’s eyes twinkled upon realization. Although she was touched, the mixed feelings rendered her speechless.
Her silence prompted Nicholas to cup her cheeks and stared into her eyes with an intense yet worried gaze. “Are you blaming me for making decisions without a discussion?”
“No,” denied Tessa as she shook her head. Why would she blame him when he was doing it for her sake?
“Then, why aren’t you talking?” He zeroed in on her in concern. All and still, he was aware that his independent wife was like him; they had never liked it when someone else interfered with their personal matters.
Realizing his concern, Tessa replied solemnly, “I don’t blame you. You’re doing it for me. I wasn’t speaking because I was thinking what am I going to do after leaving the band.”
Nicholas breathed a sigh of relief as he had not expected her to be worried about that. “Honestly, you don’t have to stress about that. Everyone knows how capable you are. Even if you leave Hathaway, there will always be a place for you.”
Despite his heartening words, she had stirred feelings about it.
The next morning, the couple received a call from Hathaway right after they finished their breakfast.
Always Been Yours Chapter 823
Parting Ways
“Miss Reinhart, do you have time? Let’s meet up.”
Tessa was stunned for a second to hear the aloofness in Hathaway’s voice. A glint of sorrow flashed across her eyes as she took a moment for herself before answering in a hoarse voice, “Yeah. Where should we meet?”
“I’ll send you the location.” Hathaway informed an address before terminating the call.
Half an hour later, Nicholas drove Tessa to an exquisite and elegantly decorated manor; it was Hathaway’s place. The hanging black curtains was an indication that someone from the family had passed away. It made Tessa’s tranquil heart rippled once again.
The couple headed to the living room to see Hathaway sitting on the couch in a black long dress with a white flower on her chest, surrounded by a pall of bereft.
“Miss Hathaway—” Before Tessa could offer her comfort, Hathaway interrupted her.
“You’re no longer my disciple, just so you know. So, just be comfortable.”
Tessa’s face dimmed and her stomach was churning due to sadness. Biting her lips, she decided to apologize. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know that things would come to this.”
“You don’t have to apologize to me. It’s not your fault, but I don’t think I can get along like how we used to from now on.” Hathaway shook her head as she refused to accept the apology.
Again, Tessa’s heart squeezed and the shrewd Nicholas took hold of her hand as though he was trying to cheer her up. Meanwhile, Hathaway ignored their interactions and asked them to take a seat.
She dived straight into the topic with equanimity. “I’ve called you guys here for one thing—although I’ve agreed to the contract termination, there’s a long way ahead of you with that gifted talent of yours. I have some acquaintances that I can introduce you to. Of course, I will inform them about your situation so that there will be no misunderstandings in between.”
Tessa was stupefied, for she had not expected her teacher to take her into consideration despite the tragedy. It definitely induced discomfort in her. Nicholas was equally shocked as he took a glance at Hathaway.
In the face of their surprised gazes, Hathaway looked at Tessa. “What do you think?”
“I—” Tessa hesitated momentarily before continuing with a quivering voice, “I respect your decision.”
Before they left the place, her footsteps came to a halt at the entrance due to the surging urge.
“May I ask you something?” She wheeled around to meet Hathaway’s eyes.
The latter flinched slightly. “Go on.”
“Have you ever regretted… being my teacher?” Tessa’s heart was palpitating quickly at that moment, but it sank to the pit of her stomach when there was only a long silence from Hathaway.
Right when she was going to give up on it, Hathaway’s low voice resounded. “Probably not…”
Tessa felt much better upon hearing those words. Staring at Hathaway with a solemn face, her voice sounded determined as she claimed, “It doesn’t matter if you acknowledge me as your student because I will always see you as my teacher for eternity.”
Having said that, she pulled Nicholas over and left. Along their way home, she leaned onto his shoulder and sobbed silently, drenching his shirt with tears.
In the car, he could feel the sadness exuded from her filling the air. Instead of saying anything, he hugged her tightly in his arms and accompanied her in silence.
Tessa was still dwelling on the intense sorrow by the time they arrived home. Leaving with no choice, he carried her off the car to the bedroom, where she cried buckets later on.
In retrospect, she genuinely cherished Hathaway as her teacher and never once had she imagined themselves to part ways someday.
It took her a long time to start gathering herself from all the crying.
Always Been Yours Chapter 824
Press Release
Nicholas noticed the crying had stopped and tightened his arms around Tessa before cooing, “Alright, alright. You can only cry so much.”
She sniffed and kept quiet, but it did not bother him as he continued, “I know that you’re sad, but don’t ever cry like this anymore. It pains me to see you like this. If you keep crying, the baby in your belly might turn into a crybaby.”
He then teased to make her smile. “If it’s a baby girl, I don’t mind, but if it’s a boy, he will be less of a real man.”
She could not help but imagine a baby boy with teary eyes, which elicited a smile on her face. Needless to say, the change in her mood did not go unnoticed by Nicholas.
He let out a silent sigh of relief. “Don’t worry about it. At least the both of you separated ways on good terms. It’s for the best.”
“You’re right. That will be for the best.” Tessa nodded approvingly.
Although she had nothing to do with the incident, Kathleen was Hathaway’s only daughter regardless. Tessa initially thought Hathaway would resent her. However, to her surprise, they separated ways on good terms instead of becoming nemesis. It was not that bad of an ending.
After calming herself down, she felt her eyes stinging. Her eyes were swollen due to the long crying. As such, Nicholas asked the maid to bring over two hard-boiled eggs.
“Never cry like this in the future, okay?” he said gently while helping her to relieve the swelling with the eggs.
Noticing the concern on his expression, the knot in her heart slowly untangled. In actuality, it was good now that she had more time to accompany Nicholas and the baby from now on.
Later, the news reached Mona’s ears and she rang Tessa to make sure she was fine.
“Tessa, I’ve read the announcement from the band. Don’t… Don’t be too sad about it.”
“I’m alright. Don’t worry about me.” Knowing that her best friend was worried about her, Tessa felt the warmth creeping into her heart.
As her voice sounded as usual, Mona heaved a sigh. “No matter what, take care of yourself. You’re pregnant. Even if you’ve left the band, you will always be amazing and dazzling wherever you go with that talent of yours.”
“I’ll take good care of myself. Do your best in the band!”
“That is for sure. I’ll invite you to my concert in future! Although you’re not one of us, we must still stay in touch, promise?”
Tessa gave her word and they continued the conversation a little longer before hanging up the phone.
Soon after that, she began to receive calls from the Group Two members, who attempted to buoy her up after seeing the announcement. They basically told her that it was not her fault and asked her not to take it to heart as well as to ignore the Group One members’ nonsense.
Due to Kathleen’s incident, Nicholas planned to take Tessa back to the country. The news of her leaving the band had spread amongst the media outlets too.
‘Shocking news! The newcomer violinist known as the virtuoso—Tessa Greyson is discarded by Hathaway Philharmonic. Once an ally, now a foe.’
Many people were bewildered by the mind-boggling news. After all, Hathaway appeared to value Tessa a lot. Yet, the both of them cut ties after merely a few days. The curiosity led them into clicking onto the article, only to be incensed.
It was because the press released the news of Kathleen’s death and put the blame on Tessa; every single line was chiding her for forcing Kathleen to death while disregarding the relationship she had with Hathaway.
‘How can someone cruel like her exist in this world? Is this the adaptation of ‘The Farmer and the Viper?’
‘Tessa is a thankless wretch! Hathaway treated her so well, though. Even if she’s ungrateful to her, how could she indirectly force her daughter to death?’
Always Been Yours Chapter 825
Nicholas’ Endeavors
‘Even if Kathleen has done something wrong, she’s already sentenced to imprisonment for punishment! Why is Tessa still not letting her off and resorting to such lengths?’
While the netizens were rebuking Tessa for crossing the line, Kathleen’s fans were more aggressive with their words due to their deep hatred for Tessa.
‘Tessa Reinhart, you b*tch! How could you do that to Kathleen? Go to hell!’
‘Why did you do that when Hathaway is your teacher? Does someone like you even have the rights to be a violinist?’
‘Tessa Reinhart, get out of the music biz and leave Vienna! We don’t welcome you here!’
The Internet went berserk because of the inundated comments.
PlayvolumeAdEdward soon took notice of the situation on the net since he had been paying heed to Kathleen’s incident. Hastily, he reported it to Nicholas, “President Sawyer, things are going bad. There are articles about Miss Tessa leaving Hathaway Philharmonic and about Kathleen’s death. They even blame Miss Tessa for Kathleen’s incident! The Internet is flooded with negative news of Miss Tessa.”
Nicholas surfed the Internet to take a look upon hearing that. As one could easily expect, his face turned grim the moment he read the destructive comments, especially when some of them were cursing Tessa to death. The ire in him was flaring vigorously.
How dare they!
“Do whatever it takes to take down these articles. I don’t want Tessa to see any of these and I don’t wish to hear any of it spread to the country. Got it?” ordered Nicholas solemnly as he exuded a formidable aura around him.
Just how upset will she be if she reads those comments?
Edward dared not delay a single moment and left to fulfill his task in great haste. When afternoon came, he returned to inform Nicholas that it had been settled. In fact, that was the truth.
Currently, the trending taglines on social media were focusing on Kathleen’s funeral, which would be held soon. Netizens and her fans were mourning her death.
‘Rest in peace, Kathleen.’
However, Tessa had no clue about what had transpired; although she had gotten over the matter, it still affected her mood. As such, she did not have the energy to take notice of the rage on the net.
…
Next morning, Nicholas made a sudden announcement during breakfast. “I’ve asked Edward to book the plane tickets. We’ll go to the airport right after our breakfast.”
Tessa was stunned for a moment, but she kept quiet because she thought they were going to return to the country. Before they boarded the plane, she turned around to look at the city with heavy hearts. It was the place she lived for a few months; not only did it watch her grow from an unobtrusive nobody to a world famous violinist, it also bore every chapter of her progress in life.
It was not until she boarded the plane that she found out that Nicholas was not bringing her back to the country. They were heading to the city of love, Storybrooke, in Filisburg.
After taking some rest, he took Tessa to the local tourist attractions for a stroll—the Ixtal Tower, Palace of Anvil, Pixie Street, and the list went on.
To his dismay, Tessa did not seem to be interested throughout the whole journey, which perturbed him. He was worried that she would be distressed by the pent up feelings in her.
Later, when she had fallen asleep, he gave Edward a call to make some preparations.
…
The next day, Nicholas took Tessa to Barset Dom for a visit. As soon as they stepped into the church, he excused himself to answer a call. She did not mind it at all as she sat on the bench to wait for him.
At that moment, an old nun came up to her and piped up in a gentle voice, “You look sad. Is there something on your mind?”
Tessa raised her head to look at the nun, whom she felt had a charm prodding her to confide in. Finally, she poured out every emotion she had been suppressing this whole time. “Something happened to me recently. I know that it’s not my fault, but I just can’t shake off the strange feeling. I’m kinda stressed out by it.”
“Since it’s not your fault, why should you punish yourself because of someone else’s mistake?”
Always Been Yours Chapter 826
The Untangled Knot
The nun looked at Tessa with leniency while offering her heartening words. “I’m not sure what has happened to you, but the people who care for you will be worried if you keep this up. You’re making it difficult for yourself and others. It’s not worth it.”
Right. It’s not my fault. Why should I punish myself because of someone else’s mistake?
Tessa’s eyes lit up when she figured it out after the epiphany struck upon her. Just as she was going to express her gratitude for untangling the knot in her heart, the nun was nowhere to be found whereas Nicholas was watching her intensely nearby.
Given the circumstances, how could she not comprehend the situation by now? Nicholas had asked a favor of the nun for sure.
In that fleeting second, every moment spent in the last two days conjured in her head. She was deeply touched to know that Nicholas had been trying his best to untie the knot in her so that she could cheer up.
He’s being considerate by paying attention to every single detail just for me. I shouldn’t make him worried.
With hindsight, Tessa scurried her way to him and hugged his waist. In a choked voice, she suggested, “Let’s go home. I miss Gregory.”
“Okay. Let’s head home.” He wrapped his arm around her waist and they left the cathedral to head toward the airport.
Since the flight took more than ten hours, they arrived home on the second day. As soon as Gregory saw Tessa, he scampered his way to her and gave her a hug. He was being a sweet boy today.
It was because Nicholas had phoned him beforehand to inform him to behave because Tessa was in a bad mood and hence the sight of the caring boy hugging his mother sweetly. “Welcome home, Mommy.”
His dazzling smile warmed her heart and lightened her mood ever so easily.
That night, Timothy found out about the incident that had transpired in Vienna after which he spared some time to pay Tessa a visit. Timothy and Gregory acted in sync and were being playful to make her happy.
The pall that had been plaguing her mind was now replaced by happiness and hence the frequent smiling face, which put Nicholas’ mind at ease.
The second day Tessa returned to the country was the same day as Kathleen’s funeral in Vienna. The grand funeral was filled to the brim. Numerous media outlets were releasing articles pertaining to it on the same day too.
‘The End of the Renowned Violinist, Kathleen.’
‘A Flashback of Kathleen’s Success.’
While the articles were taking one back to the memory lane of Kathleen’s past, netizens and her fans flooded the comment section beneath them.
‘Rest in peace, Kathleen. You will stay in our heart for eternity.’
Due to Kathleen’s huge fame, there was news of her in the country too. Tessa was stunned momentarily to see them by chance. When she pulled back her senses, she stared at Kathleen’s picture displayed on the television while murmuring, “May you rest in peace.”
…
Before it was time to get off work, Edward knocked on the door before entering the office. “President Sawyer, Miss Muller is here.”
“Why is she here?” The frustration in Nicholas’ eyes was evident, but he let her in nevertheless.
The oblivious woman strode toward his side in heels. It seemed like she was in a good mood. Ever since she discovered that he was back in the country, she had been using business matters as an excuse to drop by Sawyer Group.
As soon as she laid her feet into the office, she was attracted by the handsome man, who was exerting an aloof demeanor. She could not even mask the admiration in her gaze.
“Nicholas,” she greeted with a smile.
“What’s the matter?” He nodded and maintained his indifferent yet professional disposition.
Although she was hurt by that, she had gotten used to it as time passed. The smile on her was unwavered as she proffered a document to him. “Two days ago, you told me to refine this contract and I’ve got it done. Please take a look at it.”
He nodded and sifted through the document. Once they were done talking about business matters, she was just about to invite him for dinner when his phone suddenly rang on the table.
Always Been Yours Chapter 827
Wanda’s Schemes
Wanda took a glimpse of the caller ID to realize that it was an incoming call from Tessa. Nicholas did not notice her action as he picked up the phone with a gentle expression.“What’s the matter?”
“What would you like for dinner? I’m going to cook tonight.” Tessa’s brisk voice resounded from the other side of the line.
The corner of his lips curled upward and he replied in a gentle voice, “I’ll love anything that you make.”
Wanda stared at him in a daze as though he was a stranger. It was because she had never seen him being so gentle. The intense jealousy crept into her heart almost instantly.
Meanwhile, he had ended the call and his brows furrowed when he saw her standing at the same spot. “Anything else?”
In other words, she could leave if there was nothing else. She naturally understood what he meant by that and her stomach churned. The indifference worn on his countenance made her wonder, Am I no match for Tessa?
After leaving Sawyer Group, she entered the car as a question seeped into her mind. Why did Tessa suddenly return to the country?
“Did something happen?” she muttered to herself.
Wanda asked someone to look into it as soon as she returned home. Later at midnight, she was shocked by the received information from her subordinates.
“So, the band got rid of her because it’s related to someone’s death. No wonder she’s back in the country.”
Her eyes glittered as she figured that she should make use of the incident for herself. Next day, a malicious Wanda brought along some supplements to Sawyer Residence to pay Remus a visit.
She caught sight of him sitting on the couch once she entered the house. In a lovely voice, she greeted, “Old Master Sawyer, I’m here to see you.”
“Didn’t I tell you that there’s no need to bring so much stuff whenever you’re here?” In spite of that, he grew fond of her to see her being so caring.
He asked her to take a seat before asking concernedly, “How’s your company doing lately?”
“Everything’s fine. It’s all thanks to Nicholas and Kieran’s help.” Wanda updated him about the company’s latest situation.
“Glad to hear that. You’re doing well.” Remus nodded and complimented her.
“You’re flattering me, Old Master Sawyer. I still have a lot to learn compared to Nicholas and Kieran.” She was slick with her words by giving the credits to Nicholas implicitly. After all, everyone loved it when others praised their kids and grandchildren.
The light conversation continued until she steered the topic to Tessa on purpose. “Old Master Sawyer, I’ve heard that there’s a woman staying in Nicholas’ place. I’m kinda worried that he’s tricked by her.”
Hearing that, Remus understood who Wanda was talking about. However, her final statement bothered him as his face darkened. “How so?”
“I saw her by chance and she seems familiar to me for some reason. So, I looked into it once I got home, but I’m really surprised to find that she has caused someone’s death. I heard bad comments about her character as well.”
The glint in his eyes dimmed when he heard that. From the very beginning, he had been saying that Tessa was not the match for Nicholas. Yet, Nicholas insisted on marrying that woman as if he was cast by a spell! How dare she stay by Nicholas’ side when she has done such a thing! Is she trying to ruin his life?!
Sensing the seething fury in him, Wanda smiled faintly with smugness because she had achieved her goals.
Afterward, Remus sent her off before calling Ian to give his order. “Ask Tessa to stop by when you’re free.”
Looking at the livid Old Master, Ian could make a vague guess on what he was planning to do. “Are you sure? It’s a one-sided story from Miss Muller. Master Nicholas will be angry if he finds out about it.”
Always Been Yours Chapter 828
Divorce
In actuality, Ian had overheard the conversation, but he believed that Tessa was not someone like Wanda had depicted.
Remus did not know of Ian’s thought as he coldly snorted. “And? I’ve never come to like that girl. I trust Wanda. She will never blabber such a thing mindlessly.”
To that, Ian was rendered speechless by his refute. Remus then continued, “Now that she’s involved in a controversy, I won’t let it become a blot to Nicholas as well as the Sawyer Family. There are some things that we must tend to. Otherwise, it might become a time bomb that will explode at any time.”
Judging from the old man’s determined gaze, Ian knew that it would be redundant to dissuade further. So, he nodded helplessly after which he phoned Tessa in the afternoon when Nicholas was still working in the office.
“Miss Reinhart, I’m Ian who works under Sawyer Residence. Old Master Sawyer wishes to see you.”
…
PlayvolumeAdIn Dynasty Gardens, Tessa was baffled to hear that Remus wished to see her.
“Right now?”
“Yes. Please come as soon as possible.”
“Okay.” After hanging up the phone, the jittery feeling struck upon her because she could not understand why Remus wanted to see her out of the blue. With the colossal guesses in her head, she went straight to Sawyer Residence.
Walking toward the living room, she saw him sitting on the couch with solemnity. As the senior of the household, the inherent majestic aura around him was formidable.
Nonetheless, she approached him and greeted politely, “Hi, Grandpa.”
He opened his eyes to take a look at the girl before him. Since she was going to visit him, she had dressed up properly.
With the simple make-up enhancing her sophisticated nature, her demureness had the strange magic touch that could placate one’s anger. Needless to say, Remus did notice that.
Furthermore, the fact that there was a change in her when he first saw her was more surprising to him. Still, he needed to say whatever he had to.
As an afterthought, he asked her to sit before diving straight into the topic. “I’ve asked you to come because I wish that you will divorce Nicholas.”
Tessa’s heart sank as she thought, I knew it.
“Why?” She bit her lips and stared at him straight into the eyes.
Remus leveled with her. “Although Nicholas has covered up for what you’ve done in Vienna, there’s no secret that remains untold in this world. I know what you’ve done there.”
Misunderstanding that he had found out about the terminated contract with the band, she frowned in displeasure. “Even if I’m not one of the band, I believe that it is not a reason that can separate us apart.”
“Besides, you’re bearing a person’s life on your back and there’s a problem with your attitude. Such labels will follow you wherever you go in future and we don’t allow that kind of thing to exist in our family!” exclaimed Remus sternly.
Color drained from her face as though she was struck by lightning, for she had never expected him to think that she was the cause for Kathleen’s death. The grievance grew in her as she gritted her teeth. “Grandpa, have you looked into every detail of it? Just what makes you so sure that I’ve caused someone’s death? Do I look like someone who would do that?”
“I firmly believe that there’s a reason for everything because it takes two to tango,” he countered indifferently. “Plus, if you have nothing to do with it, why are you discarded by the band?”
She bit her lips in sorrow as she could not find the words to retaliate his question. She admitted that there was an indirect interrelation in between, yet it was really not her fault.
Kathleen could not face the repercussions for the wrong deeds she had done; her tenacity was the one to blame for and not someone else. Although it was bad to put it that way when the person involved had passed away, it was the truth! Moreover, the terminated contract was a result of a hope to end things nicely with Hathaway.
However, none of this was privy to Remus…
Always Been Yours Chapter 829
I Won’t Agree to a Divorce!
Remus looked at the woman who remained silent and there was a forceful note in his voice. “If you really love Nicholas, then you should consider things from his perspective. Things are ruthless in the corporate world and if any of these are revealed to Nicholas’ rivals, you do realize how huge the blow would be on him and the entire Sawyer Group, right?”
Although his words were cutthroat, Tessa clenched her teeth and did not plan on backing down. After all, she was not at fault, so she was determined not to give in!
“I said that this has nothing to do with me.” She looked at Remus firmly and spoke in a low voice, “Grandpa, I realize that you don’t trust my words, but you should know to come up with proof before you make any accusations. With all due respect, you should be careful with your words.”
As soon as Remus heard her words, he felt that his authority was challenged. “Are you trying to teach me a lesson?”
He narrowed his eyes slightly and a stern aura was exuded from all around his figure. “Are you telling me that Kathleen’s death was just a joke? Weren’t your contract terminated by the orchestra?”
Tessa clenched her fist and her fingernails became deeply embedded into her flesh. She could not come up with the words to stand up for herself. “All these that you just mentioned… are true.”
“Since they are true, doesn’t it make you implicated in this whole matter?” He kept his eyes on her and he behaved in an overbearing manner.
At that moment, Tessa clenched her fist tightly, not feeling any sensation at all.
“Whatever it is, I won’t agree to a divorce with Nicholas.”
She met Remus’ eyes with a firm expression and her tone of voice clearly indicated that she had no intention of budging. She declared stubbornly, “Nicholas cares about me very much, so I will never disappoint him. You do not have a good impression of me and that’s because it’s ingrained within you from the start. This current matter is just an excuse for you to make me leave and that’s also why you don’t care at all about the truth.”
Her words exposed his actual thoughts and he was flustered by her words.
Indeed, he did not care about how the matter unfolded and his main intention was to make use of this incident to force this woman to leave his grandson.
Of course though, he would never admit to having such intentions in front of Tessa.
“I maintain my stance. Everything happens for a reason and it takes two to tango.”
She glanced at Remus who was stubborn in his ways and she felt quite resigned.
She heaved a deep sigh and made the decision to briefly explain how the matter cropped up and how it unfolded.
“I have nothing to do with Kathleen’s death at all. She was somehow always jealous of me, so we never got along in the orchestra. Because of that, she targeted me continuously and set me up. Furthermore, she nearly caused my miscarriage and even attempted to harm my life. If Nicholas hadn’t turned up in time, my child and I would have ended up dead.”
At that instance, Remus was shocked beyond words. He never expected that there would be an inside story to the issue. Instantly, his expression turned solemn. Although he did not have a good impression of Tessa, the child that she carried was part of the Sawyer Family, so he would not allow anyone to harm any of the Sawyers members.
Tessa noticed the change in his attitude and she could not help heaving a sigh of relief to herself.
Evidently, she realized that the change in his attitude was most likely due to the revelation that Kathleen had intended to harm her child.
Even so, Tessa was unperturbed by that as she continued, “Kathleen was taken into police custody and everything was done according to the correct procedures. After all, one has to face the consequences of one’s misdeeds, so punishment is inevitable. She ended up taking her own life in prison after that, which was something I never expected at all. I do feel some remorse over that, but I never targeted to end her life. As for my termination of the contract with the orchestra… Kathleen was the only daughter of my mentor, so after this incident, it would be tough for both me and my mentor if I remained in the orchestra; that’s why I chose to leave.”
After she had said that, Remus had no other words to respond to that.
The things that he found logical previously were no longer applicable to this situation. However, he remained stubbornly steadfast in his own ways and had no intention of giving up.
“Even if this has nothing to do with you, I do not wish you to affect Nicholas’ life any further. Haven’t you realized that you’re always bringing trouble to his life while you remain by his side? Not only are you not able to help him, but he constantly has to sort out your issues.”
Remus’ words were scathing.
At that moment, Tessa’s breathing hitched.
However, she managed to calm down soon enough. She stood up and mustered up her courage to meet his domineering eyes and her tone of voice remained firm.
Always Been Yours Chapter 830
Tessa’s Vow
“Grandpa, I understand that you currently disapprove of me, but that doesn’t mean that will remain permanent. I admit that I’m not of equal social status with Nicholas at the moment, but I’ll work to the best of my abilities to achieve ultimate success so that everyone will be aware of my presence. I’ll definitely become a match good enough for him!”
After Tessa said that, she bowed respectfully and turned around to leave without bothering to find out Remus’ response.
Meanwhile, he sat alone on the couch in the opulent living room and the words that she had just spoken reverberated in his ears.
“I’ll definitely achieve ultimate success and become a match good enough for Nicholas! I realize that you currently disapprove of me, but that doesn’t mean that your impression of me will remain permanent. I will work to the best of my abilities to prove myself!”
As soon as Remus recalled the tenacity, resilience, and confidence that Tessa showcased earlier, he was significantly astounded by that. Unexpectedly, he felt that this girl was very likely to succeed someday. Even if the path ahead of her was full of difficulties, she would overcome everything ultimately and fulfill her words.
As soon as he thought of that, he instantly became silent.
Meanwhile, Tessa had originally maintained a ramrod straight back, but her shoulders slumped upon walking out of the living room.
She had used up all of the courage and strength within her to say those words from earlier. After all, when faced with Remus, she could not help feeling the immense pressure well up within her. Nonetheless, she meant every single word that she uttered.
Regardless of the old man’s displeasure toward her, she was determined to not give up easily, especially in her relationship with Nicholas. As long as he held onto her, she would never leave him.
At that moment, she instantly felt invigorated at the thought of that and she was now full of energy.
“Just keep going! I will definitely make it!” She headed toward the main door as she cheered on herself.
However, she had barely taken a few steps forward when she noticed an unexpected person standing by the main door.
Nicholas was clad in a black trench coat and he stood by the side of his car outside the door. He had a smile on his face as he kept his eyes on Tessa and there was a very tender expression on his face.
“Nicholas, why are you here?” She was significantly stunned to see him as she ran over to him with a surprised look on her face.
He was worried about her falling to the ground, so he quickly stepped forward and stopped her. “I heard that Grandpa wanted to see you and I came over as soon as I got word; I was worried that he would give you a hard time.”
As soon as Tessa heard that, there was a warm feeling that welled up within her. She lifted her head and beamed widely as she asked, “Then, why didn’t you enter the house when you arrived? It’s too cold to stand outside.”
“I noticed that you performed remarkably and you didn’t need my help at all, so I didn’t enter the house. I decided to let you have free reign.”
Nicholas lowered his head and met Tessa’s eyes. At that moment, she was nearly swamped by the tender look in his eyes.
She was momentarily stunned and she realized that he must have arrived earlier on and heard the conversation between her and Remus. However, she was not sure how much of the conversation he had overheard.
“When did you arrive? How much of the conversation between me and Grandpa did you hear?”
“I didn’t eavesdrop on you guys. I was openly listening to you guys speak, but the two of you were just too engrossed in conversation, so you guys didn’t realize my presence,” explained Nicholas.
Tessa continued to pursue the matter. “So, how much did you hear?”
“I heard someone mention that she will never disappoint me and she will strive hard to become a good match for me. She will also prove to Grandpa that she can definitely achieve all of that.” As he spoke, there were flashbacks of the scene he saw in the living room in his mind.
In actuality, Tessa had been terrified of his grandpa, but she had mustered up her courage to stand up against his grandpa for his sake. She did not cower and give up at all, so he was very touched by that.
At that moment, she felt rather shy as she did not expect him to overhear everything that she had said.
Despite her shyness, she could not help but dive into his embrace as she promised him solemnly, “I meant every single word that I said. Regardless of what happens, I will never give up on you. Unless you choose to give up on me, I will definitely remain by your side forever and ever.”
“You’re silly. I will never abandon you!”
Nicholas hugged her back tightly and spoke affectionately, “I’m very blessed to have met you, fell in love with you, and married you in this lifetime.”