Ch. 851..860
Always Been Yours Chapter 851
A Sense of Danger
Am I so incomparable to Tessa? The more Wanda thought about it, the more bitter she felt. She had always been a well-respected young lady her entire life. She was flattered and praised wherever she went, but now, Nicholas paid no attention to her.
A while later, she and Nicholas finished discussing work-related matters. Not believing that she’d be rejected, she continued to invite him, saying, “Nicholas, let’s have dinner together this evening.”
“I have something else to do this evening,” Nicholas refused apathetically. Then, he called Edward in and ordered, “See Miss Muller out of the office.”
Edward nodded before making a gesture to Wanda to signal her to leave.
Wanda was very disappointed, but she had no other choice but to leave.
The instant she stepped out of the Sawyer Group, her face clouded over. At this very moment, a strong sense of danger arose in her. This is bad. I have to do something.
PlayvolumeAdNicholas was unaware of this. Currently, his mind was all focused on Tessa aside from his work. He even had a vague idea in mind: he wanted to visit her and Gregory at the end of the month. Having been separated from them for so many days, he missed his wife and son very much.
…
For the next few days, Tessa started to get busy as an apprentice.
Sofia was very strict with her, so much so that she’d latch onto her flaws and correct them bit by bit. “This part is wrong. You played the note for half a beat more than it’s supposed to. Also, your fingering is stiff when you switch to another musical note. Play it again… You’ve got a musical note wrong. Play it again… Play it again…” The music room was filled with Sofia’s stern voice every single day. However, she really taught Tessa diligently.
Of course, Tessa also practiced very diligently. Not only that, but whenever she made a mistake or was confused about something, she’d modestly ask Sofia for advice. When she made a mistake, she’d acknowledge it and improve herself in a polite manner. Even if she was reprimanded fiercely sometimes, she wouldn’t appear to be in a bad mood. Instead, she was energetic and optimistic.
However, Sofia couldn’t help being worried at the end of their lessons.
On this day, she stopped Tessa at the end of their lesson. “How do you feel these days?” She looked at Tessa caringly before she asked, “Do you feel that I’m very strict with you or that your training is a little too tough?”
Tessa didn’t understand why Sofia would ask such a question. Nevertheless, she replied meekly, “The training’s pretty good; I can adjust to it. As for your being strict with me, that’s for my own good. After all, a strict teacher would produce outstanding students, right?”
After hearing this, Sofia was very satisfied. Also, she liked how Tessa was able to bear hardships and practice hard. “It’s good that you understand my purpose. Take Greg home for a rest.” She waved her hand to signal Tessa to leave.
Tessa nodded and said goodbye to her.
Gregory also waved his hand sensibly. “See you tomorrow, Granny Sofia.”
“See you tomorrow.”
As Sofia knew that Tessa wouldn’t mind her being strict with her, she became even stricter with her afterward. Moreover, she set a high standard for Gregory as well.
Gregory was only four years old, but he was very willing to endure hardships. He was very disciplined. Even if he was already tired from playing the violin, he would grit his teeth and continue as long as he didn’t meet the standard Sofia had set for him.
At first, they had agreed to practice for four hours per day, but their lessons were sometimes extended to five or six hours.
On this day, Tessa prepared to leave with Gregory at the end of their training.
Just then, Sofia stopped them, saying, “Wait, Tessa, don’t go back just yet.”
Puzzled, Tessa asked, “Is there anything else, Miss Sofia?”
“I have a dinner gathering with friends this evening, so you and Greg will be going with me,” Sofia said, revealing her plans without hiding anything. “Both Greg and you are my apprentices. I should’ve introduced you two to my friends when I took you two in as my apprentices, but our schedules hadn’t matched, which was why I put it off until today.”
The dinner gathering was held that evening at a high-end restaurant. After entering the restaurant, Tessa and Gregory followed Sofia and met many big names in the industry.
The two of them obediently greeted Sofia’s friends while staying by her side.
Always Been Yours Chapter 852
Meeting Hathaway Again
Everyone was very friendly to Tessa and Gregory. In particular, Gregory was cute and adorable, so he was liked by many.
At this moment, Sofia brought Tessa to a silver-haired gentleman. “Tessa, this is Simon. I guess you’re familiar with him; you played one of his compositions a couple of days ago.”
Hearing Sofia’s introduction, Tessa was startled for a few seconds. Then, realizing Sofia’s purpose in doing so, she suppressed her excitement and greeted the gentleman meekly, saying, “Nice to meet you, Mr. Simon.”
As a matter of fact, Simon was a famous world-class composer who had written dozens of classic violin compositions. If she were able to receive advice from such a master, she’d definitely benefit a lot from it.
Looking at the steady young lady before him, Simon nodded lightly; his first impression of her seemed to be pretty nice. “I’ve heard about you from your mentor before. She said you’re quite talented at composing.”
“Miss Sofia flattered me by saying that. Actually, I’ve not learned systematically how to write music, so I’m not good enough in many ways.” Tessa was modest. Moreover, she was eager to learn, so she couldn’t help but mention some problems that she had come across while writing music.
“I often feel that the melodies I wrote aren’t in harmony with the feelings I was trying to achieve, especially when I was writing harmonies. There were many times when I felt there were some differences.”
Simon answered patiently, “Violin compositions are part of classical compositions, so there are many things involved in this. In your situation, you lack an understanding of the musical theory regarding the musical forms of harmonies.
If you want the musical notes to sound grand and melodious but not messy and monotonous when they’re grouped together, you should read more books about musical theories and understand those theories before learning systematically how to write harmonies. Doing so will improve your compositions a lot.” Tessa had only asked a question, but he could tell that the lady before him had worked hard on the basic skills of writing music.
Tessa nodded before asking Simon for advice regarding some knowledge about musical theories.
Simon answered her questions one by one.
With that, the two had a pleasant conversation.
Not only did Tessa ask Simon questions, but she’d also share some of her understanding of musical theories.
As Simon was impressed by Tessa’s unique views, he rained praises on her at the end of their conversation. “Sofia, you’ve gotten yourself a treasure of an apprentice.”
Sofia was inwardly happy, but she looked modest on the outside, saying, “She’s only learned a little, so there are still a lot of things that she has to improve. Teach her more when you’re free.”
Upon hearing this, Tessa chimed in sensibly, “Mr. Simon, please teach me more about how to write music in the future.”
Looking at the old woman and the young lady before him, Simon couldn’t help but chuckle. “Did you call me here tonight to have me teach your apprentice how to write music?”
Sofia looked at him smilingly without denying it. “That’s right. Are you gonna teach her, then?”
Even though she sounded like she was joking, Simon could tell that she was serious. Narrowing his eyes slightly, he looked at Tessa again with scrutiny.
Tessa noticed it as well, but she let him scrutinize her without feeling uneasy.
After a moment, Simon withdrew his gaze and said slowly, “It’s not that I can’t teach her, but I’ll be very strict with her. You have to be able to withstand that.” His last sentence was intended for Tessa.
Delighted, Tessa nodded vigorously and promised, “I can persevere no matter how hard and tiring it is. Also, I’ll practice earnestly.”
Tessa was indeed outstanding, plus there was a honey-tongued Gregory around her, so the atmosphere was very harmonious with everyone talking and laughing.
Just then, a large group of people came to the table beside theirs.
Tessa was sharp-eyed enough to notice that those people were from Hathaway Philharmonic. Surprisingly, they were led by Hathaway.
At this moment, Hathaway seemed to be in good spirits, save for the fact that she was unusually thin. Standing behind her were Mona, Cindy, and other members of the orchestra.
When Tessa saw this, her expression changed slightly; her eyes were dark and unfathomable.
At this moment, Mona also noticed her, and her face showed a look of surprise.
Always Been Yours Chapter 853
Put the Past Behind You
Other members of the orchestra also noticed Tessa, and they began to whisper among themselves.
“Isn’t that Tessa?”
“Why is she here? And those sitting beside her, they look so familiar.”
“How could this woman have the cheek to show up in Vienna?!”
“Oh, my God! The one sitting next to Tessa is Miss Sofia! There’s also Mr. Simon, the famous composer…” someone exclaimed in surprise as they recognized Sofia and the others.
Because of these voices, Hathaway noticed Tessa and was startled for a moment. When her eyes fell upon the people around Tessa, she looked even more surprised. Why is Tessa with these seniors? Although she was puzzled, she went over and greeted the seniors out of courtesy, saying, “It’s been a while, Miss Sofia and Mr. Simon…”
“It’s been a while indeed, Hathaway,” the big names replied one after another.
Tessa also stood up politely and said respectfully, “Good evening, Miss Hathaway.”
Hathaway was stunned for a moment, as though she never thought Tessa would still call her ‘Miss Hathaway.’ After coming to her senses, she looked at Tessa with a complicated look in her eyes. Still, she nodded, asking, “What brings you here as well?”
“I…” Tessa hesitated. In the end, however, she explained honestly, “I just got myself a new mentor, so I came with her today for dinner.”
It was impossible to say that Hathaway wasn’t upset when she heard this. However, there were some things that couldn’t go back to the way they had been before.
On the other hand, the other members of the orchestra were indignant when they heard Tessa’s words.
“What an ingrate she is! To think that she’s found herself another mentor so quickly.”
“I’d say Miss Hathaway shouldn’t have accepted this ingrate at the time. If it weren’t for her, Kathleen wouldn’t have died, and our orchestra wouldn’t have gotten into its current situation.”
“That’s enough, you guys! What happened to Kathleen has nothing to do with Tessa at all.” Mona couldn’t help but speak for her close friend.
Hathaway was unaware of the argument over here. After collecting herself, she asked in a tone of concern, “May I know who your mentor is?”
Just then, Sofia replied impassively, “Tessa is now my apprentice. I brought her here today to introduce her to my friends.”
The instant she said so, Hathaway was very surprised. Tessa actually became Sofia’s student!
When the other members of Hathaway Philharmonic heard this, they were dumbstruck, especially Cindy, who stared at Tessa with her eyes full of jealousy and hostility. To think that this ingrate became the apprentice of this big shot! What qualifies her to do so?
Of course, Tessa noticed her venomous gaze, but she ignored it.
This was because Hathaway spoke to her at this very moment. “Miss Sofia is one of the leading authorities in the field of music. There are many advantages for you to learn from her, so I hope that you’ll have a bright future ahead of you,” she said, sincerely giving Tessa her best wishes. Actually, she felt guilty after severing all ties with Tessa. She knew that Tessa was innocent, but she really couldn’t get over it.
Tessa also noticed Hathaway’s emotions. She replied impassively, “Thank you. Please take care of yourself, too.”
Hathaway left soon after the exchange of pleasantries.
Tessa got more or less emotional as she sat back in her seat.
Upon noticing that, Sofia patted her on the shoulder and comforted her, saying, “What you should be doing right now is to put the past behind you and look forward to the future. As for Kathleen, I’ve met her before. She was arrogant, headstrong, and selfish.” She paused for a moment. Then, she continued earnestly, “I’ve learned about the inside story. Her death has nothing to do with you, so you don’t have to feel guilty.”
Tessa was surprised; she didn’t expect Sofia to have learned about this long ago.
At this moment, the others also chimed in and advised her, staying, “We’ve heard about what happened to Kathleen. This has nothing to do with you. Just pull yourself together and learn from your mentor for now so that you can give a slap in the face with your achievements to those who look down on you.”
Kathleen’s death had provoked much discussion in Vienna back then.
Always Been Yours Chapter 854
Slander Party
Since only the people in the know were privy to what had happened, the people here thought Tessa was not at fault. Although Gregory did not understand much of what had happened, he was certain of one thing: His mommy changed mentor because Hathaway didn’t want her anymore. “Mommy, don’t be sad. We’ll become much better from now on and make those people that don’t want Mommy to regret it.”
The way Gregory comforted Tessa like an adult would was just too cute in Tessa’s eyes. He had succeeded in cheering her up and livening up the atmosphere, as the others around were amused with him.
In comparison with the cheerful atmosphere Tessa and the others were in, Hathaway’s one was gloomy. Even so, she pulled herself together and welcomed the group members to the meal.
During the dinner, Cindy watched from afar in jealousy as Tessa was getting along with those tycoons. “People that have wealth going for them really are different. How capable of her to become such a big shot after leaving us for only a few days,” she sneered with her eyes observing Hathaway’s expression.
With a slight frown, Hathaway kept her silence. In truth, she didn’t want to talk about Tessa, as doing so would sadden her once more. However, Cindy misunderstood and thought that Hathaway shared her dislike for Tessa, so she started a slander parade about Tessa.
“Tessa truly is a shameless person for her to be alright even after causing the Hathaway Philharmonic to be so miserable.”
“Right? For her to find a strong backer so quickly and shamelessly, her very existence insults the pedigree of music.”
“Say, do you guys think that Tessa had deceived Sofia?”
“Isn’t it obvious? Otherwise, why would Sofia accept such a questionable person into her group?”
As the members were extremely jealous of Tessa, their remarks about her grew vicious with each one, as though they would feel better about themselves by doing so.
Although Cindy enjoyed listening to the member’s disparaging remarks about Tessa, she still felt bitter about it. No matter what they were saying about Tessa, it remained an indisputable fact that she had gotten a prestigious person as her mentor. Cindy was puzzled over how she, who was not in any way inferior to Tessa, could only manage to become concertmaster after working hard. She was jealous of the fact that not only Tessa was first accepted as Hathaway’s mentee, but she was also now a mentee of one of the most prestigious people in the music industry and was surrounded by a group of famous musicians.
Listening to the members degrading Tessa with every passing remark, Mona became furious and was especially displeased with Cindy who had started it. “Haven’t you all said enough? If you’re jealous of someone, then you should directly say it to them and not be so shamelessly talking behind their backs.”
She glared at each of the members who had made snide remarks and sneered as her eyes went to Cindy, “Not only is Tessa talented, but she’s also of a good character. That is why she is favored by all these people. Don’t you know that talent is everything now? She’s unlike some who only knows how to look at others bitterly without ever trying to improve themselves even though they’re not as capable.”
Unable to realize that she was the said person, Cindy flared in anger and berated Mona. “Just who are you talking about?”
Unafraid, Mona countered, her voice stern, “Whoever’s shoes fit. I’m talking about the ones who would make the most noise, snide remarks, and act the most bitter about Tessa.”
Embarrassed as she was seen through by Mona, Cindy immediately exploded with anger, “Who do you think you are for speaking to me that way?!”
Then, she paused for a brief moment, as though she had thought of something to say, and sneered, “Oh, I’ve almost forgotten how much of a lapdog you were when Tessa was still with us. Tsk, you should stop putting on an act now that your master isn’t even here anymore. Not only can Tessa not see your little performance, but even I feel disgusted with you.”
“What do you mean by an act?! I’m not putting on a performance!” Mona retorted with a twisted expression.
Always Been Yours Chapter 855
Reborn Anew
Mona had genuinely thought of Tessa as her friend, yet the others around her thought she was just putting on an act as they echoed Cindy’s statement at her.
Just as the crowd was about to get rowdy, Hathaway finally spoke up to reprimand them. “Everyone, shut up!” The group instantly fell into silence upon her words. Then, with an unfavorable gaze on Cindy, she said, “Mona is right about one thing: since you still have many shortcomings, rather than using the time to talk behind someone’s back, you should be reflecting and improving yourself instead!”
At this point, Cindy’s expression grew awful, but she reined back her emotions, as she didn’t dare to talk back at Hathaway. “I understand.” Though she had said so, her glare at Mona remained vicious as ever.
Pretending not to have noticed the glare at her, Mona continued her meal.
The others also went on with their meal without making any more remarks.
Later that evening, after Tessa was done accompanying Sofia for dinner, she asked to take an early leave with Gregory in tow. “Miss Sofia, it’s getting late. Do you mind if I leave with Greg now?” While she said that, the sleepy and tired Gregory yawned several times as he leaned against Tessa in her arms. Feeling sorry for the child, Sofia gestured her acceptance in allowing the mother and son to go home.
Just when Tessa had finished putting Gregory in bed after they got back home, she received a video call from Nicholas.
“How was today?”
“It was okay.” With a smile, Tessa shared today’s events, but briefly paused when she got to the part where she had dinner with Sofia.
Noticing that something was amiss, Nicholas asked in concern, “What’s wrong? Did something upset you?”
“I wouldn’t say so. It’s just that I ran into Hathaway when I was having dinner with Miss Sofia. I… I guess I’m upset. Although she seems to be in good health, she has lost a lot of weight.” Tessa told Nicholas her thoughts.
Nicholas reassured, “Don’t think too much about it. Let bygones be bygones. You have no need to blame yourself here.”
“I know. I’m already letting it go now. You don’t have to worry. I’m just feeling a little sentimental at the moment.”
Only when Nicholas noticed that his wife didn’t seem to be sad from the video did he give a nod. As he didn’t want to continue the topic, he brought up a new topic with a smile. “I’m planning to come over and see both you and Greg at the end of the month.”
Hearing Nicholas’ news, Tessa instantly cheered up and got excited, as the end of the month just so happened to be Nicholas’ birthday as well.
Meanwhile, in a villa in the suburbs.
Kathleen, who had now changed her name to Susan, was staring gloomily at her reflection in the mirror with a wry smile. The reflection in the mirror wasn’t the appearance of the old Kathleen, but someone different entirely, as she was wearing a new ‘mask’ made according to her demands.
Right now, she had a beautiful face, long golden curly hair, and a pair of amber eyes that looked pure yet seductive, as though they were made by fusing both an angel and devil. Furthermore, she had isolated herself in the villa this entire time to adapt to her new identity and change both her habits and hobbies that belonged to Kathleen in order to keep others from suspecting her identity.
“Tessa Reinhart, I’ll be coming after you for my revenge soon,” she said, her tone filled with malice, as she traced her fingers on her reflection in the mirror.
Just then, a knock on the door interrupted Susan’s thoughts. “Miss, Mister Rorion asked for you to come down for dinner.”
“I hear you.”
A few minutes later, Susan sat down at the table and started eating the dishes she once hated expressionlessly.
Looking at his newly transformed daughter, Rorion nodded in relief, as she no longer resembled Kathleen in the slightest now. After taking a sip of wine, he asked, “Now that you’ve thoroughly adapted to your new identity, what will your plans from now on be?”
“Plans?” Susan stopped eating and narrowed her eyes. As her eyes grew gloomy and dark, even her father could not fathom a guess at what she was thinking. After a brief moment of silence, she then asked, “What is Tessa up to these days?”
As Rorion immediately knew what his daughter was planning, he went on and told Susan about everything that had happened to Tessa recently.
Always Been Yours Chapter 856
Susan’s Revenge
“Tessa came back from Xerthania recently and became Sofia’s mentee. I’ve heard that even the famous composer, Simon, is planning to teach her as well.”
Immediately after Rorion’s report, an ear-piercing sound came from the cutlery in Susan’s hand. “Is Sofia blind? How could she accept that woman?!” Susan roared with gritted teeth, looking sullen. That b*tch is really lucky. Even when she had lost her status as the protégé of Hathaway, she went ahead and became a mentee of an industry titan.
She didn’t have to see for herself to know that Tessa must be well regarded right now. On the other hand, she had to wear a ‘mask’ and hide her name from now on. She thought with her anger flared, Why?! Why is that b*tch living better than me?!
Rorion knew that Susan must be feeling how unfair her situation was. Nevertheless, he hadn’t expected that Tessa would have such fortune. In any case, even if she had Sofia as her mentor, he would make her pay for what she had done to both him and his daughter. With these thoughts in mind, he then said, “Susan, don’t mind it too much. Daddy will definitely make your life much better than hers.”
However, Susan couldn’t be bothered with anything her father said. Shooting an intense glare at her father, she decided what her next course of action was. “Didn’t you ask what my plans would be? I’ve decided that I’ll be joining the Sofia Symphony.” Much bigger in scale compared to Hathaway’s, Sofia Symphony was a famous world-class orchestra that was divided into five groups.
“Before the incident, I’d heard that Sofia Symphony had decided to form a sixth group with Sofia’s youngest student, Kellen, as their lead, as she was a famous musician herself now.
If I can get into the orchestra earlier than Tessa, become the concertmaster, and form a good relationship with the orchestra members, it will definitely benefit me whether it’s my future or my revenge on Tessa.” As she gave her analysis of her decision, she exuded an imposing aura that demonstrated her unwavering determination.
Slightly taken aback at Susan’s decision, Rorion came back to his senses before he said in astonishment, “You’re not going back to Hathaway Philharmonic?”
“Why should I?” Susan asked, a cold look in her eyes.
With a slight frown, Rorion replied, “But that’s your mother’s…”
“I don’t have a mother!” Susan immediately interrupted Rorion before the latter could finish his sentence. Then, she sneered, “From the moment I changed my identity, Hathaway has lost her identity as a mother.”
Looking at how resolute his daughter was, Rorion knew that she now hated Hathaway with every fiber of her being. Naturally, he understood how Susan felt, as he thought that Hathaway was in the wrong in handling the situation as well.
However, he knew that Hathaway had understood where she had done wrong and had even gone as far as expelling Tessa from her orchestra, so he couldn’t help but defend Hathaway here. “Don’t say that. Your mother still loves you.”
“Hah, she does love me. She loves to help others pick on me, then claims that it is all for my own good,” Susan said sarcastically, her eyes resentful, her expression grim. “Daddy, you should never say something like that to me ever again. All I hear from you is mockery.”
Seeing this, Rorion let the conversation pass, as he knew that Susan would not listen to him no matter what he said. He might even cause his daughter to be upset with him. “Alright, let’s stop talking about these unpleasant things. What are your plans for getting into Sofia Symphony?”
Susan’s expression then softened slightly before she said, “I’m planning to audition with Sofia Symphony. Naturally, it would be best if I could personally meet Sofia. I believe I’ll be able to get her attention with my ability. From there, I’ll strive to become her mentee as well.” In a nutshell, she wanted to ruin everything Tessa had.
Understanding his daughter’s intentions, Rorion nodded. “Since you have a plan for it, just do it without any worries. Whatever you’re planning, I’ll be right behind you every step of the way.”
The next day, Susan went for the audition at Sofia Symphony with her audition materials in tow. Located next to the Danube River in Vienna, the building that housed Sofia Symphony was a vintage one with a Viennese artistic flair to it.
Always Been Yours Chapter 857
Sofia’s Fan
The building had a total of five floors and covered a large area. The surrounding greenery was beautiful and well-maintained as well, and there was a musical fountain in front of the door, making for a magnificent sight.
After Susan went inside, the receptionist asked politely, “Good afternoon, what can I do for you?”
“I have an interview for the position of Group Six’s concertmaster. My name is Susan. It should be in your records.”
As Susan introduced herself, the smile on her face looked harmless. Coupled with her exquisite appearance, the receptionist became very fond of her. “Please wait a minute. I need to check.”
Susan nodded.
It didn’t take long for the receptionist to find Susan’s appointment, and she said with a smile, “The interview is in the office on the fourth floor. You can come with me.”
PlayvolumeAdAs Susan followed the receptionist down the hallway, she spoke off-handedly as if chatting with her. “I wonder if Miss Sofia is here today. I’m a fan of hers, so it would be great if I could see her.”
As a matter of fact, the receptionist had heard these words countless times. After all, Sofia had fans from all over the world, and musicians would often come here, hoping to see her in person.
However, she had a good impression of Susan, so she replied proactively, “Miss Sofia has now retired backstage. Unless it’s a large-scale event, she usually rarely appears in the orchestra.”
Hearing this, Susan felt disappointed, realizing that she had to give up on attracting Sofia’s attention for the time being.
Meanwhile, the woman Susan thought about day and night, Sofia, now had her mind set on teaching Tessa and Gregory. The two did their best in their studies as well, and they were always able to surprise Sofia. Hence, though the teaching time had already been extended, it was extended again. After Nicholas knew about this situation, he was happy for the mother and son, but also felt distressed that the two of them had to work hard in their studies.
Knowing that he was worried about her, Tessa comforted him, “Don’t worry, I know my limits. Besides, even if our studies are difficult, Miss Sofia still takes care of us.”
“Don’t worry, Daddy. I’ll take care of Mommy,” Gregory piped up helpfully from the side.
For some time after that, Tessa and Gregory’s talents made Sofia yearn to teach them everything she knew immediately. Although she couldn’t wait to see them inherit her legacy, she was also aware that Rome was not built in a day. Because of that, she became even more demanding, to the point where it was heinous.
Even though Tessa had experienced such high-intensity training and could get used to it, it was difficult for Gregory, and he even cried several times. Even so, he still hung on and bore with it, shocking Sofia with his perseverance.
During their break, she shared her praises about him with Tessa. “Greg is strong, just like you. As long as he persists, his achievements in the future will definitely be extraordinary.”
Hearing that, Tessa was even happier than when she herself was being complimented. After all, every parent wished to hear compliments about their child.
Just like that, the days went by, and Tessa and Gregory made full use of their time. In addition to teaching the mother and son daily, Sofia invited her friends out for a chat and to the mall. During this period, Tessa never mentioned that she wanted to go to the orchestra for a look and only focused on learning. In the blink of an eye, two more days passed.
On this day, during one of their breaks, Sofia suddenly beckoned at Tessa. “Let’s have a chat.”
“What do you want to talk about, Miss Sofia?” Although Tessa felt dubious, she still walked obediently to Sofia’s side.
Sofia asked tentatively, “During the time you’ve been learning from me recently, have you ever thought about performing on stage? Or even joining the orchestra?”
Tessa blinked, roughly guessing what Sofia wanted to say. She smiled and replied, “It would be a lie to say that I don’t miss performing onstage, but I’m not in a hurry. I just want to hone my abilities now, because I believe that as long as I have good skills, I’ll shine no matter where I go.”
Always Been Yours Chapter 858
Meeting Their Seniors
“You have a good way of thinking.” Sofia looked at Tessa with satisfaction. “Though I don’t have any plans to put you in the orchestra for the time being, since it’s been so long, I think that I should take you to see your senior apprentices.” Tessa was surprised at first before she quickly became excited. After all, her teacher’s students were now the leaders of the orchestra team and were all well-known musicians in the industry, and if some of them held a concert, it would definitely be sold out. The more she thought about it, the more excited she became. She couldn’t wait any longer to meet them.
“Miss Sofia, do I have to prepare anything? What do my seniors like?”
She wanted to get along with her seniors and leave a good impression.
Knowing what she was thinking, Sofia smiled and said, “You don’t have to prepare anything. Besides, if anyone needs to prepare a welcome gift, it would be their job to prepare it as your seniors.”
Tessa smiled and nodded.
That afternoon, Sofia took Tessa and Gregory to the orchestra. After getting out of the car, the mother and son were attracted by the magnificent and exquisite scenery in front of them.
“Granny Sofia, it’s so pretty here,” Gregory praised in an adorable voice.
Sofia replied dotingly, “If you like it, I can take you here more often in the future.”
“Granny Sofia, you’re the best!” Gregory cheered sweetly, causing Sofia to let out a huge laugh.
While talking and laughing, the three of them had already entered the orchestra building. Upon seeing Sofia’s arrival, the staff greeted her respectfully. However, when they saw Tessa and Gregory standing next to Sofia, they all showed a look of surprise, but they still nodded as a greeting.
“Continue what you’re doing. No need to mind me.” Sofia waved off the crowd and took Tessa and Gregory to the office on the fifth floor. She came today just for them to get to know their senior apprentices, so she didn’t go to great lengths to call everyone over.
Not long after, three attractive individuals entered the office. All of them were Sofia’s students. In truth, Sofia had six students, but the other three were currently not in Vienna as they were on a tour with the orchestra.
“Tessa, Greg, these are your senior apprentices, Jenny and Daniela,” Sofia introduced while pointing at the two elegant ladies.
Tessa greeted them sweetly, “Nice to meet you.”
Though she looked calm on the surface, she was extremely emotional as these three were the musicians she used to admire greatly in the past.
Next to her, Gregory followed her example and greeted them as well, “Nice to meet you.”
Jenny and Daniela surveyed the two in front of them without betraying anything on their faces before they nodded inwardly, as if they had a good impression of them.
“Nice to meet you too,” they replied with a smile.
Just then, Sofia pointed to the handsome and bright young man next to her and introduced with a smile, “This is Kellen. Before you and Greg came, he was the youngest.”
“Miss Sofia, I’m not the youngest anymore,” Kellen said as he blinked at Tessa. With his handsome and tall appearance, his expression was extremely lethal.
Tessa was a little taken aback by the sight. When she saw Kellen in the past, he was always firm and grounded on the stage. She hadn’t expected him to be so lively in private.
Even though she was surprised, she still had a good impression of him. “Nice to meet you, Kellen.”
Similarly, Gregory greeted him in his youthful voice.
After exchanging pleasantries, the group slowly got closer to one another, and Gregory’s honey tongue made the atmosphere in the office lively in an instant. As the senior apprentices became more and more fond of Tessa, they offered their words of advice one after another.
“Miss Sofia no longer accepts apprentices easily. If she acknowledges you and Greg, it must be because you are extremely skilled. Remember, never become arrogant. As long as you study hard under Miss Sofia, your achievements will not be lower than ours in the future.”
“If you need any help, you can ask us any time.”
“Let’s exchange our phone numbers.”
Always Been Yours Chapter 859
Concertmaster
Upon seeing that her students were getting along well, Sofia smiled with relief. After a while, she began to ask about the orchestra’s situation. Jenny and Daniela reported on the status of their groups separately, and there were basically no problems.
Sofia nodded in satisfaction before her eyes fell on Kellen. “How’s Group Six’s progress coming along?”
“I was just about to tell you that I’ve just recruited a new concertmaster. I think she’s pretty good, so I want you to have a look.”
Sofia agreed.
Soon, Kellen called over the concertmaster candidate that he favored, who turned out to be Susan. As soon as she entered and saw Tessa standing next to Sofia, her gaze darkened, while she boiled with anger on the inside.
However, she still looked calm on the surface as she wore a harmless smile. After all, she had been through so much, and on top of her rebirth at the villa, she was no longer the Kathleen she used to be. She had learned to hide her true emotions in front of outsiders.
“Miss Sofia, this is Susan. She’s extremely skilled in the violin,” Kellen introduced, not noticing Susan’s strange behavior.
Thinking about her plan to attract Sofia’s attention, Susan pretended to greet them graciously, “Nice to meet you all.”
She hoped to leave a good impression on Sofia so that she could continue her plans in the future. Meanwhile, Sofia looked at Susan in astonishment. She hadn’t expected the concertmaster candidate to be so outstanding.
Tessa and Gregory looked at the beautiful girl in front of them curiously as well. The girl looked like she was in her early twenties, and she was wearing a long-sleeved dress. Her facial features were as delicate as an angel’s but gave off the seductive allure of an elf, creating a contradictory yet exceptionally attractive clash.
Susan also noticed everyone’s eyes on her, especially Tessa’s, which made her burn with anger as she was filled with the urge to rush up and strangle her. However, she held herself back.
She heard Sofia asking her, “Where did you graduate from? Did you have any teachers? Do you have any experience in being in an orchestra?”
“I graduated from the Gloria Music Academy just recently.”
Susan calmed down and summarized her information for them. Of course, everything had been made up by her father for her, and even her current age was a few years younger.
“I trained in an orchestra when I was in school. As for a teacher, I still don’t have one.”
Hearing that, Sofia nodded slightly before asking again, “Since you’ve trained in an orchestra while you were in school, why didn’t you stay behind after graduating?”
Having expected that Sofia would ask this, Susan said with a look of admiration, “I heard that you were forming a sixth orchestra, so I want to come and test my luck. I grew up listening to your music, and you’ve always been my idol.”
Sofia was not surprised by her words at all. After all, she had seen a lot of fans who had come to visit her over the years. Then again, she was now choosing the concertmaster of Group Six, not hosting a fan meeting.
“I see. How about you play a piece you’re good at for us?”
“All right.” Susan nodded in agreement and picked up her violin before she started performing.
In order to attract Sofia’s attention, she specially chose an extremely difficult and challenging violin piece—’Introduction and Variations on Nel Cor Piu Non Mi Sento.’
This piece was adapted by Paganini for a solo violin from Nel Cor Piu Non Mi Sento, an aria of Paisiello’s opera, La Molinara. The piece was also a work that combined the various techniques from the 24 Caprices for Solo Violin into one, making it one of the most difficult works Paganini had left for future generations to play.
At the end of the piece, Susan lowered her violin and looked at Sofia expectantly. “Miss Sofia, I’m done performing.”
Sofia nodded slightly, thinking that Susan had done pretty well. However, she did not plan to make an evaluation for the time being.
Instead, she turned and asked, “Jenny, Daniela, what do you think?”
Always Been Yours Chapter 860
Still Not Enough
Hearing this, Jenny and Daniela voiced their thoughts separately.
“It’s clear that Susan is skilled if she is able to successfully play Introduction and Variations on Nel Cor Piu Non Mi Sento. Secondly, she has a very good control of rhythm. At her current age, it’s quite impressive for her to have such capabilities.”
“Jenny said what I was thinking as well. She is highly accomplished in music. If she is taught properly, I’m sure that she’ll have a bright future.”
Upon hearing the praise from the two, Susan was extremely proud, but she didn’t show it on her face and replied modestly, “Thank you for your praise. However, I think I still need to work harder.”
As she spoke, she secretly looked at Tessa, wanting to see what her expression would look like.
Unexpectedly, she saw that Tessa was frowning. Did this woman have any opinion on her performance?
As a matter of fact, that was not the case. Tessa only frowned because Susan’s style of playing reminded her of Kathleen, and she realized that the two played very similarly.
Just then, Sofia noticed Tessa’s strange expression and asked with a smile, “You’re frowning, Tessa. Did you notice any problems?”
Tessa jolted in surprise as she realized that everyone was looking at her. Hurriedly, she shook her hand and replied, “I didn’t find any problems.”
Her words confused Sofia, and she looked at Tessa curiously. “If there weren’t any problems, why were you frowning?”
Susan stared intently at Tessa as well with a dark gaze, wanting to hear what she would say.
Naturally, Tessa couldn’t tell the truth, so she found an excuse instead. “I frowned because I saw that Miss Susan was already such an accomplished musician even though she had just graduated and had no formal performance experience or professional guidance. I felt that I should work harder or I would be left behind by the younger generation in the future.”
Sofia nodded in approval, her impression of Tessa improving even more.
“Not bad. That’s what you should be thinking. All of you should learn from your junior as well. You should keep your guard up at all times.” She took the opportunity to lecture her other three students. “Although you’ve established a reputation in the industry, there is never a shortage of outstanding talents. Jenny, I haven’t seen you make progress for a long time. I know you’re busy, but you have to take some time for yourself.”
Jenny humbly accepted the criticism, while the others agreed with Sofia’s words. If they didn’t constantly improve themselves, they would eventually be left behind.
Seeing that the air was getting somber, Tessa hurriedly drew the conversation back to its original topic. “It’s quite impressive that Miss Susan is already this skilled even though she’s just graduated.”
Although Susan felt that Tessa was putting on airs, she smiled sweetly on the surface. “Thank you for your praise, Miss Tessa.”
Tessa returned her smile without answering.
Just then, Sofia turned her gaze back to Susan and nodded. “Since you’re quite skilled, you should train her well, Kellen.”
Although she didn’t mention anything about being a concertmaster, Kellen still understood that Susan’s current abilities weren’t enough to satisfy Sofia.
“I understand. I’ll do my best to train her,” he replied before leaving with Susan.
Susan was also aware that she had failed to satisfy Sofia, and she was furious. Of course, she was not angry with herself; she was furious at Sofia. She thought that Sofia was not only blind, but also deaf. So many people had praised her for being skilled and talented, but this old woman still wanted her to train even more!
Sofia didn’t know this, and soon left with Tessa. On the way back, Tessa was still struggling with the feeling she had gotten from Susan. Was she just overthinking it? However, something felt off about Susan. But all things considered, it was her first time meeting Susan that day, and it wasn’t too good to speculate about her like this.
After returning home, Tessa personally cooked some dishes that Gregory liked to eat as it was still early. Once they finished their meal and washed up, they gave Nicholas a video call.