Ch. 11..20
Always Been Yours Chapter 11
Throw Them Out
Lauren’s breath hitched when she felt a chilling presence drawing close, and she turned to see a tall and impeccably elegant man walking toward them, carrying with him an overwhelming sense of rage.
Sophia, too, followed her mother’s line of vision, only to be stunned by the view at first sight.
The man looked like a noble work of art, and she had never seen such a refined and top-quality specimen before this. In fact, he seemed so high above others, so imperious and intimidating, that she was seized with the urge to shrink back from him.
However, she quickly straightened up as she asked bluntly, “Who are you?”
To one side, Trevor scoffed disdainfully and drawled in an icy tone, “This is Nicholas Sawyer, otherwise known as President Sawyer—the man who holds the reins in Sawyer Group.” Then, eyeing Lauren condescendingly, he added, “And as for the mongrel you were talking about, he happens to be Young Master Gregory, the Little Prince of the Sawyer Family.”
At that moment, it was as if Lauren’s mind imploded. She felt like lightning had struck her where she stood, and all the color drained from her face.
Sophia wasn’t much better off. Both mother and daughter were so astonished that their jaws nearly dropped to the floor.
He’s Nicholas Sawyer? As in the man over whom countless socialites and heiresses are fawning over? What is he doing here? What is his relationship with Tessa?
Countless questions flooded their minds as their hearts slowly filled with jealousy and envy.
Lauren was the first to snap out of her reverie, and in a fit of shock and fear, she stammered, “O-Oh, President Sawyer, I do apologize for the misunderstanding. I accidentally pushed the young master in the heat of the moment just now, and I promise you I didn’t mean to hurt him in any way—”
Nicholas looked down at her like she was nothing more than a pest to him, his voice deep and frigid as he demanded, “In the heat of the moment? Do you think I will let you off the hook after you called him a mongrel and pushed him to the ground?”
“Well, I—” Lauren faltered, and cold sweat was breaking out over her forehead as she stuttered, “I-I really didn’t mean to push him, President Sawyer, or call him harsh names. I’m sure there’s no need for an esteemed man such as yourself to pick a bone with the humble likes of me.”
There was an insidious gleam in Nicholas’ eyes as he gazed down at her with scorn. He wouldn’t mind sparing her, but he had no intention of making it easy for her. “I’ll give you a chance to redeem yourself. If you slap yourself on the face and teach yourself a hard lesson for messing with my kid, then maybe I’ll think about letting you go unscathed.”
The assertion in his voice meant he was not offering room for negotiation.
Lauren grimaced at this ridiculous and humiliating proposition. Does he really think I’d agree to something like that?
Sophia, too, was ashen-faced as she said piteously, “We’re really sorry, President Sawyer. My mother and I were truly at our wits’ end, and we meant no harm to the little master. We’re really sorry about this whole misunderstanding. You seem like a man who appeals to reason, sir, and we’d appreciate it if you just let us off on a warning.” She put on a damsel-in-distress facade as she pleaded for mercy on her mother’s behalf, hoping that this would be enough to gain Nicholas’ sympathy.
She had always been the sort to have too much confidence for her own good, and now that a man of Nicholas’ standing and stunning visuals had presented himself before her, she had half a mind to throw herself at him.
However, her little act earned nothing but disgust from those watching this tense exchange as they collectively thought, Is she actually trying to seduce him at a time like this?
Nicholas regarded her with repulsion, and spite filled his gaze as he countered frostily, “What, are you offering to take the punishment on her behalf?”
Startled, Sophia gulped and hastily replied, “N-No.”
He raised a brow, and as the air around him froze, he concluded ruthlessly, “In that case, I’ll just have to find someone to do the work.” With that, he turned and zoned in on Tessa, then said authoritatively, “You’re the cause of this mess, so you’ll do the honors.”
Tessa gaped at him. This sure is some funny logic. If she didn’t know better, she would think that this was his way of coming to her defense, but it clearly wasn’t.
As things were, she was furious as well, and in particular, she had been filled with inexplicable rage when she saw Gregory fall earlier.
After a moment of thought, she gritted her teeth and bit out coldly, “Fine. I’ll do it!”
Lauren glared at her incredulously. “Don’t you dare!”
In such grim tones that one might think the devil himself was speaking, Nicholas barked, “Anyone who dares stop her will have to deal with me personally!”
With a casual wave of his hand, four bodyguards barreled through the entrance and swiftly dispatched the two men Lauren had hired. Then, moving at lightning speed, they apprehended Lauren and Sophia.
“Hey, what are you doing—no, President Sawyer, please just spare us. I know I made a huge mistake, and I’m sorry!” Lauren had gone pale with fright as she begged for forgiveness.
However, Nicholas ignored her and merely ordered imperiously, “Slap her!”
Lauren had enough sense to refrain from baring her teeth at him, but she did not fear Tessa at all, for she shrieked, “Don’t you dare slap me, Tessa! I’m older than you!”
Tessa let out a cold bark of laughter. “Oh, believe me, I dare!” As soon as the words left her mouth, her hand came down and smacked Lauren hard across the face.
A resounding crack filled the deathly silent room, and Lauren’s cheek throbbed where Tessa’s slap had landed.
“That was for Gregory,” Tessa bit out.
Outraged, Lauren refused to ask for mercy as she yelled, “You useless wh*re, Tessa! You’ve crossed the line! Why don’t you just drop dead right now?!”
A few more cracks rang out Tessa, scoffing, slapped the seething woman a couple more times in quick succession. “I’ve crossed the line? But aren’t you the one who started all this in the first place? What right do you have to call me names?”
The slapping continued, and the sound of her palm connecting hot and fast with Lauren’s already-swollen cheek filled her with indescribable satisfaction. She thought about how the vicious mother-and-daughter duo had put her and Timothy through all the hardship, and they had been so shameless that they took away the only house she and Timothy had ever known.
It was because of Sophia and Lauren that Tessa and Timothy lived so miserably. Now that she finally had a chance to pay them back for their misdeeds, Tessa certainly did not hold back and rather delivered each slap with full force.
Meanwhile, Sophia was taking this all in with bloodshot eyes, and even though she was furious, she dared not speak up in front of Nicholas. She had never hated Tessa more than she did at that moment, but there was nothing she could do other than watch her mother suffer the abuse.
Everyone who stood by the sidelines to witness this scene felt a rush of satisfaction as they watched the pair of mother and daughter get what they deserved.
It wasn’t until Tessa’s hand was tingling and growing numb with pain that Nicholas put a stop to this endeavor. The room was filled with silence once more, and Lauren looked as if she had been slapped into a stupor.
Nicholas turned around and commanded the bodyguards, “Throw them out of here before their presence stinks up the place!”
Always Been Yours Chapter 12
Too Many Coincidences for Comfort
“Yes, sir!” The bodyguards immediately moved in synchronization as they dragged Sophia and Lauren like the women were two burlap sacks of potatoes. Upon reaching the entrance, they unceremoniously threw them out the doors.
The members of the orchestra who had gathered around to watch this were stunned speechless, and a stifling hush followed Nicholas’ ruthless and unforgiving gesture.
Tessa, too, took a while to recover from the initial shock of it all, and she didn’t snap out of her daze until Nicholas spoke again.
“Greg, are you hurt?” Nicholas drew closer to Gregory, a warm, fatherly concern filling his dark orbs. He looked entirely different from the intimidating and domineering president he had been moments ago.
“I’m fine, Daddy,” Gregory answered with a gentle nod of his little head.
When everyone heard this, they let out a collective sigh of relief.
Knowing that she was the cause of this fiasco, Tessa stepped forward with her shoulders squared and said apologetically, “I’m terribly sorry, President Sawyer. Those two were after me, but Gregory nearly got hurt in the midst of the chaos. This is all my fault!”
When Nicholas heard this, he gave her a brief, frosty look, then retracted his gaze as he replied stoically, “Yes, this all happened because of you, but since somebody else has been punished for it, I’ll let you off the hook.” He paused, then added in the same frigid tone, “It’s almost time for lunch anyway. I’ll bring Gregory home after we dine at the restaurant. Come along.”
With that, he deftly picked Gregory up into his arms and headed for the doors.
As Gregory leaned against the curve of Nicholas’ broad shoulder, his mind began to race. He was desperate to come up with a plan to stay by Tessa’s side for the rest of the day.
Tessa, on the other hand, dared not dawdle as she straightened her clothes and followed Nicholas out of the building.
…
The three of them were presently housed within a private restaurant by the name of Winston Trove. Being one of the most exclusive private restaurants in the industry, the head chef manning the kitchen was as good as any Michelin-star chef, and he had once been involved in the food preparation for a national banquet. Members of the upper-crust society and famous icons had tried to dine here, but the restaurant wouldn’t take them in unless they had a reservation made at least a month in advance!
Under normal circumstances, Tessa would never be able to step foot into a place like this. It was only because of Nicholas and his powerful connections that she was able to sit here today for what would be the most expensive lunch of her life.
That being said, the pressure that came along with such fine food was insurmountable and suffocating. Tessa sat stiffly in her seat, unsure if breathing was something she could afford to do in the presence of a world-renowned business mogul.
Conversely, Nicholas seemed rather at ease, if not overtly impassive. He ordered a few dishes, and when he handed the menu over to Tessa, he said flatly, “Order whatever you like.”
She took the menu graciously, intending to order something simple for herself, but when she saw the prices on the menu, her eyes nearly bugged out of her head.
These prices are ridiculous! She stared at the numbers incredulously. Broccoli stir-fry that comes with a three-digit price tag? What, was the broccoli planted in golden soil or something?
Shuddering at the thought of the bill that would come at the end of this meal, she made a small order and picked out the cheapest fruit juice there was, then shakily handed the menu back to the waiter. “Thank you.” She managed to thank the attendant, still in disbelief.
It didn’t take long for the dishes to be served, and all of them looked as delicious as they smelled. They were arranged neatly at the center of the dining table, so aesthetically pleasing that it was hard to believe they were actual food.
As Tessa’s gaze swept over the dishes, she noted with no small amount of surprise that they all featured luxurious ingredients, the names of which she probably could not pronounce!
More to the point, the dishes before her would at least fetch a four-digit price tag each!
She gulped, suddenly finding herself at a loss for words as she mused wistfully to herself, These rich folks sure live differently. This meal alone would cost me a month’s worth of income!
Just then, a sweet and childish voice pulled her out of her thoughts. “Lunch will be on Daddy today, Miss Pretty Lady, so dig in!” Gregory grinned at her adorably.
Tessa flashed him a gentle smile upon hearing his invitation. “Alright.”
She might have agreed to dig in, but she hardly ate anything at all.
At the sight of this, Gregory asked worriedly, “Why aren’t you eating, Miss Pretty Lady? Do you not like the food?”
Nicholas looked up at her inquisitively when he heard this and pressed, “What is it? Does the food not agree with your palate, Miss Reinhart?”
“Oh, no, it’s not that. Everything’s delicious,” Tessa said hastily, then promptly shoveled a few spoonfuls of food onto her own plate.
Both father and son said nothing more after this, and the three of them ate their meal in silence.
Nicholas wasn’t much of a talker, though he did help Gregory load up his plate every once in a while.
Tessa, on the other hand, was so mortified by the idea of things turning awkward that she chose to dedicate most of her energy to deshelling prawns and crabs for Gregory, but at that moment, Nicholas pointed out in his signature deep baritone, “Miss Reinhart, Greg can’t take crabs. He’s allergic to them.”
Blinking in surprise at this new information, she said, “Really? I’m allergic to crabs, too!”
“Really?” Gregory exclaimed, delighted that he had something in common with his favorite pretty lady. He added enthusiastically, “You know what, Miss Pretty Lady? I’m not just allergic to crabs, but prawns and other shellfish as well! I can’t touch them, but I can eat fish!”
Tessa couldn’t hide her bewilderment when she heard this. “What a coincidence! Me, too!”
Next to them, Nicholas listened to their exchange with a somber expression on his face. He was starting to think that this woman was trying to get on Gregory’s good side, but upon closer observation, he noticed that she indeed avoided the prawns and crabs, though she ate a healthy portion of fish.
He also noticed that she was a rather fastidious eater. She had delicately picked out the green onions, cilantro, and carrots from her food, and all these happened to be the same things that Gregory hated.
What was even more ridiculous was how her taste in food matched Gregory’s to an exact tee, and she was just as picky as he was.
The revelation made Nicholas gloomy. He liked to think of all these as coincidences, or more accurately, coincidences that had been deliberately created by this woman.
Midway through lunch, Tessa excused herself to use the restroom.
The moment she left their table, Nicholas pulled out his phone and hurriedly texted Edward, his assistant. ‘How’s the investigation on Tessa Reinhart coming along?’
Meanwhile, Edward had spent a whole morning looking into everything there was to know about Tessa and her background. However, he was overcome with shock when he laid eyes on the information he had painstakingly retrieved.
This… She…
Always Been Yours Chapter 13
This Woman Actually Lectured Me?
Seeing Nicholas’ message, Edward thought for a while, then decided to only send part of the information. He would discuss the rest with Kieran, and they would investigate further for confirmation before doing anything else.
…
Meanwhile, Nicholas received information on Tessa. From what he saw, Tessa’s birth and experiences were typical, and he couldn’t find anything out of the blue.
After graduating from college, Tessa frequently followed the orchestra on their tours. There was once when she chanced upon Gregory, but the two didn’t seem to have any interactions.
After that, Gregory was the one who specifically asked for her to perform at the birthday party, clinging to her and refusing to let go.
Nicholas’ brows furrowed in contemplation because he couldn’t understand what was going on. While he was deep in thought, his son crept quietly onto the scene. “Daddy, can I discuss something with you?”
He stared at Nicholas with his bright eyes, an expectant look on his face.
Nicholas paused his train of thought and ruffled Gregory’s hair, nodding at the child. “Go on.”
Gregory was hesitant as he asked tentatively, “Daddy, can I… sleep over at the pretty lady’s house?”
Nicholas didn’t even think before he declined. “No!”
This child is getting bolder by the day. He hasn’t even known the lady for long, but now he’s asking to sleep over at her place?
“I knew you wouldn’t agree to it!”
Greg humphed and lowered his head dejectedly. He even had a pitiful look on his face.
Nicholas didn’t want to see his son sad, so he gathered enough patience to ask, “Greg, can you tell Daddy why you like the pretty lady so much?”
After all, Gregory had gotten to know Tessa only recently, so he was being a little too chummy.
In the next second, however, Greg said something shocking.
He said in full earnestness, “I don’t know either. I just feel that she smells like Mommy. I want her to be my mommy!”
What did you just say?!
The identity of Gregory’s mother was unknown to both of them, and even Gregory had never seen his mother since birth.
Nicholas merely heard from Remus that this person would never exist in their life. At that time, Nicholas was in a hurry to return to the special forces, so he couldn’t care less.
However, he overlooked the fact that Gregory would crave motherly love!
All these years, many daughters of rich families had racked their brains in order to become Gregory’s stepmother, and the child was extremely disdainful of them.
But now, he said of his own accord that he wanted Tessa to be his mommy, and only now did Nicholas recognize the gravity of the situation.
If this goes on, this child will call Tessa mother by tomorrow! He shall not be anywhere near her again!
Nicholas recovered his usual expression and got ready to give him a lecture.
However, before he could start, Gregory looked up at him pleadingly and begged, “Daddy, Greg wants a mommy. Pretty please? The kids at kindergarten said that I’m an unwanted child without a mommy. They sounded just like the old woman who scolded the pretty lady just now. Daddy, I don’t want to be an unwanted child. I want a mommy too…”
At that, the child’s eyes uncontrollably turned red. His pitiful look was enough to stab Nicholas right in the heart.
Nicholas could still remember when he returned after retiring from the special forces. His relationship with Gregory had been distant since then.
Afterward, he had spent a large amount of time and effort and finally managed to get closer to his son.
Now, if he declined Gregory’s request because of something insignificant, the child might start sulking.
Greg was young, but he was also terrifyingly stubborn. If he got mad, even the whole family would not be able to appease him.
Nicholas fell silent as he began to think.
Just then, Tessa had returned from the bathroom. Upon entering, she saw Greg with his reddened eyes, threatening to cry.
She felt a tight squeeze on her heart as she hurried forward and asked in a gentle voice, “Sweetheart, what’s wrong?”
Gregory was obviously upset as he hugged Tessa, burying his face in Tessa’s arms as he sobbed.
Tessa was heartbroken by his sobbing, and she couldn’t help but look up at Nicholas, saying in dissatisfaction, “President Sawyer, I know there are things I shouldn’t say, but I still feel the need to address this. It’s completely normal for children to be immature. You have to teach him and communicate with him. Greg is a smart child, so he definitely has his own reasons and thoughts. He’ll understand if you talk to him properly, so don’t scold him just like that. It’s very detrimental to your relationship with him!”
Nicholas was stunned.
This woman actually lectured me?
Always Been Yours Chapter 14
Visiting the Sawyers
Nicholas parted his thin lips and said calmly, “He is behaving like this because he wanted to go home with you. I don’t think it was wrong to stop him. However, since you insist on tolerating him, why don’t you come to the Sawyers instead? Treat it as my invitation to you to perform for Greg at home, and I’ll pay you at your usual rate. How does that sound?”
Hm?
When Tessa heard the suggestion, she was instantly stunned.
Gregory’s sobs also halted as he looked up in surprise. He was quick to realize that his daddy had, in a way, agreed, and he was beaming as he looked at Tessa. “Is that all right?”
What on earth… Nicholas doesn’t want me to go near Greg, right? Why would he allow me to be in contact with Greg all of a sudden?
Still, no matter what, Tessa wouldn’t say no to more income.
Tessa’s lips curved into a smile as she cupped Gregory’s plump cheeks, replying in a loving tone, “All right, I’ll do it for you.”
“Yay! You’re the best! I can’t believe you’re coming over to my place!”
The child was overjoyed, and his little face was flushed red as his eyes twinkled like stars. Then, he ran over to kiss his father’s cheek and grinned happily. “I love you, Daddy! You’re the best!”
Nicholas didn’t know if he should laugh or cry.
This little guy changes his mood so fast.
After lunch, Tessa followed the father-son duo back to the villa. However, it was more of a manor than a villa.
It had a large area, and it was indescribably extravagant. It looked out of this world, surrounded by incredible landscapes designed and molded carefully by famous designers and craftsmen.
After passing through the front door, one would be greeted with low-profile yet luxurious decorations. The off-white theme of the space also introduced a warm touch to the surroundings…
“Come sit here!”
Gregory tugged at Tessa’s hand in enthusiasm, inviting her to sit on the couch. Attendants entered one after the other, serving various pastries, tea, and even a fruit platter…
On the other hand, Nicholas didn’t say anything as he secretly observed the woman’s behavior.
Except for Tessa’s constant amazement ever since entering the house, she hadn’t behaved abnormally. She didn’t actively try to win the child’s heart but kept thanking him instead.
After finishing tea, Tessa even took the initiative and asked, “Sweetheart, when would you like me to start my performance?”
Gregory was quite clever indeed. It didn’t take him long to think of an idea as he responded with a smile, “At night! I play the piano for half an hour every day after dinner, so can we play a duet later?”
Tessa hesitated for a moment as she glanced at Nicholas. The latter didn’t seem to be upset by the idea, so she nodded. “Of course.”
“Oh, then we can be together for longer.” Gregory looked extremely happy as he reached out his little arms to hug Tessa.
Tessa patted Gregory on the back, obviously taking a liking to this child. Hence, she stayed until the evening, and she also had her dinner there.
She was a little embarrassed, since she was in someone else’s home. She had accepted their money, but she spent most of her time eating and playing instead of performing, so it didn’t feel right to her.
However, Gregory was happy about it, and Nicholas didn’t seem to mind, so Tessa humored them dutifully.
After dinner, it was finally time for the performance.
Gregory tugged Tessa’s hand excitedly as they went to the living room, stopping in front of the majestic classical piano. Then, a servant fetched a violin for her. Gregory sat down in front of the piano, and the two began their duet.
Tessa had a knack for music, and she matched her playing with Gregory’s with great ease. During the duet, she suddenly realized that Gregory was also shockingly talented at playing the piano. He was so young, but his playing skills were impressive.
After the piece, Gregory and Tessa were both greatly satisfied.
“Do you know how to play the piano?” Gregory suddenly turned around as he asked Tessa.
Tessa smiled faintly. “Yes, I do.”
Gregory beamed in glee, asking, “Then, can we play the piano together?”
“Yes, of course.”
Tessa readily agreed, taking her seat beside the child. Her slender fingers were placed on the black and white keys as she readied herself to play.
Just then, Nicholas was going down the stairs as he caught sight of the scene. Under the warm yellow light, the adult and the child looked just like a mother and her son…
He felt something waver within him, an unspeakable feeling rising in his heart. The sounds of the piano were soon heard. The smooth and gentle tones of the instrument were like a clear stream of water that flowed in the air, melodious and touching.
After they were done playing, Gregory hadn’t had enough, so he pulled Tessa along to play a few more songs.
They were all children’s songs Greg loved.
Nicholas also listened for a long while as he stood at the stairs. He was interrupted, however, by the arrival of Edward and Kieran.
“President!” Edward had greeted him respectfully.
Kieran also called his name. “Nicholas.”
The two had on a serious expression, as if something had happened.
“Why? What’s up?” Seeing the expressions of those two, Nicholas decided to ask.
Kieran was about to talk when he caught sight of Tessa sitting on the piano stool. He couldn’t help but exclaim in surprise, “Tessa Reinhart? Why are you here?”
Always Been Yours Chapter 15
You Can Stay
Tessa and Gregory stopped playing when the men came in. When she heard her name, she stood up and greeted, “Hello, Master Kieran. I’m here to perform for Gregory.”
“Perform?” Kieran was confused.
Gregory explained, “I asked her to come and play the piano with me. Her playing is wonderful!”
Hearing that, Kieran had a complicated look in his eyes as he shot a glance at Tessa.
Now, what does that supposed to mean? Tessa felt a little weird with him looking at her like that.
However, Kieran quickly averted his gaze as he spoke to his brother. “Nicholas, let’s talk somewhere else.”
Nicholas nodded nonchalantly, then said to Tessa, “Miss Reinhart, please keep Greg company for a while longer.”
With that, the three walked straight into the study. After entering the room, Nicholas finally queried, “What’s the matter?”
Edward and Kieran exchanged glances but stayed silent as they gave Nicholas a folder. There was a set of documents inside.
Nicholas took the documents and gave them a look. When he realized it was Tessa’s information, he thought that there was something up with her.
However, upon closer inspection, everything seemed to be alright.
Except for her mysterious disappearance for one whole year, Nicholas couldn’t see anything special about her data.
Kieran could see the confusion in his brother, so he hastily hinted, “Nicholas, look carefully at Tessa’s data from six years ago.”
Nicholas could only do as he was told, studying the information closely. He found that Tessa’s blood type was recorded, and also information that she was a top student at Southfield College. She was also qualified for a recommendation to study abroad in Vienna…
Everything perfectly matched the details of that woman six years ago.
His face went dark, and his tone was obviously colder than before. “What are you trying to say? That she is Greg’s biological mother?”
Seeing his brother’s dark expression, Kieran hastily explained, “Nicholas, we’re not saying that we’re a hundred percent sure, but the possibility is there.”
In order to guard the secret of the Sawyers’ genes so that no one would take advantage of it, the elders of the Sawyer Family had put in great effort to seal off their gene bank.
Hence, it was impossible to get a sample of Tessa’s genes. They had to tackle the problem from another angle.
“I asked Edward to investigate the school today, to figure out what Tessa did in her year of disappearance. We found that there were various versions of the story being circulated in the school. Some say that Tessa was pregnant out of wedlock, and she went to give birth to her child. Some others say that Tessa’s younger brother was critically ill, so she took some time off to take care of him… But, Nicholas, don’t you think that it’s weird? Tessa’s blood type was the exact same as the woman from that time. Also, Greg is never close to any outsiders, but he has taken to Tessa, and he’s exceptionally reliant on her.”
If possible, Kieran also wished that Tessa weren’t Gregory’s biological mother. After all, that woman was vain in the eyes of the Sawyers.
However, after the investigation, the truth had revealed itself. The explanation from the school stated that Tessa had taken one year off because her brother was critically ill.
However, Edward had asked Tessa’s neighbors, and they all testified that her brother was home the whole year and he wasn’t going through any treatment. He also didn’t know where his sister went. He had managed to survive on his pay from working as a tutor, plus the neighbors’ donations.
Everything pointed to one possibility…
Tessa’s one year of disappearance coincided with the woman’s pregnancy right until childbirth!
Nicholas’ expression sank. It wasn’t fully confirmed that the woman was Tessa, but if Tessa really was Gregory’s mother, then what right did she have to stay by the child’s side?
She had abandoned Gregory for money, so what right did she have to be his mother?
Seeing his brother’s terrible expression, Kieran tried to appease him. “Nicholas, please calm down. We’re just guessing at this point, and we can’t be completely sure.”
The atmosphere around Nicholas turned cold, but he remained silent.
Boom!
Just then, a muffled thunder rolled across the night sky. When lightning struck the ground, the instant peal of thunder was deafening.
Kieran looked out the window and said, “Um, Nicholas, it’s going to rain soon. I’ll go back with Edward now, so please consider it carefully and decide how we should go about it. You can ask her directly or choose to keep observing.” With that, he left in a hurry.
After the two were gone, Nicholas sat for a long time, his dark eyes trained on Tessa’s data. His glare seemed to bore holes through the thin paper.
After a long while, he finally recovered himself and went down the stairs.
In the hall, Tessa could feel that Nicholas was emanating an aura much heavier than before. His gaze had also turned sharper. She had a feeling that these changes were directed at her.
Fear crept into Tessa’s heart, and she didn’t dare to stay much longer. She hastily stood up and said, “Um… President Sawyer, I think it’s going to rain soon, so I’ll take my leave now. Thank you so much for your invitation…”
“Are you leaving?”
Hearing Tessa’s words, Gregory instantly put on a longing face.
The look in Nicholas’ eyes was dark and hidden. He stared at Tessa for a few seconds, then narrowed his eyes as he said, “Since Greg insists, you can stay.”
Always Been Yours Chapter 16
“Huh?” Tessa thought she was hearing things.
Nicholas’s tone was calm. “It’s going to rain soon anyway, and it’s not easy to hail a cab around here. You can stay the night, and Greg will be elated as well. I can get the driver to send you back tomorrow morning.”
Tessa was stunned.
I was not hearing things. Nicholas really allowed me to stay the night. But… Why the sudden behavior change?
“… don’t think I should.” She didn’t like the idea of staying in a man’s house all alone.
Just then, Gregory rushed over and wrapped his arms around Tessa’s thigh, pleading in a spoiled manner, “No, you should! I think it’s a great idea! Please stay! Stay with me, please?”
Tessa’s heart melted when she heard his voice, but she still hesitated for a long time. While she wavered, the rain had begun to pour outside, and it seemed to be getting heavier by the minute.
In the end, Tessa could only nod her agreement helplessly.
Later that night, she gave her brother a call. “Something came up with the orchestra tonight, so I won’t be going home today. Don’t wait for me, and remember to rest early.”
Timothy’s warm voice sounded. “All right, got it. Don’t overwork yourself, okay?”
As the siblings talked, Nicholas stared at Tessa behind her, seemingly trying to overlap her figure with that of the woman from that night six years ago.
That night was a night of madness, and he hadn’t even taken a good look at the woman’s face. Now, as he looked at her figure, he still didn’t have a clue.
Tessa ended the call. She didn’t notice anything unusual with Nicholas as she said tentatively, “President Sawyer, pardon my intrusion tonight.”.
Nicholas came to his senses and nodded nonchalantly. Then, he turned around and said to Gregory, “Take her to see the guest room upstairs. It’s also time for you to wash up and go to bed.”
Gregory nodded obediently, and then he seemed shy as he asked with a blush, “Miss Pretty Lady, can you bathe me?”
Tessa smiled lightheartedly. “Of course.”
The two proceeded to ascend the stairs together. After watching them go, Nicholas turned his gaze out the window.
As the rain was pouring outside, he silently lit a cigarette. The curling smoke was reflected in his eyes, hiding his thoughts from view.
Meanwhile, in the bathroom upstairs, Tessa had filled the tub with water, and she was helping Gregory bathe. He seemed to be a little shy as his adorable cheeks burned red. However, there was also glee in his eyes.
Miss Pretty Lady feels a lot like Mommy! I love this so much!
As Tessa bathed Gregory, there was a wavering look in her eyes. She thought about the child a few years back…
If he had stayed with her, he would probably be the same age. These years, she had held a deep regret in her heart, along with endless guilt.
Always Been Yours Chapter 17
She had never even met him, and she couldn’t be there with him as he grew up, but she knew that she wasn’t fated to be with her son.
I might never have a chance to see my child in this lifetime!
Every time she thought this, there would be a piercing pain in her heart.
“What’s wrong? Why… are you crying?”.
Gregory had looked up then, and he panicked as he saw Tessa.
Tessa came to and realized that there were tears pooling in her eyes. She had blinked just now, and the tears had slid down her face.
Gregory was terribly anxious. “Is it because you don’t like it here? Did I upset you?”
With that, Gregory’s eyes began to redden, as if he were about to cry as well.
Tessa didn’t expect him to have such a huge reaction. Hence, she was guilty, and she also felt pity for the boy. Instantly, she wiped her tears as she said, “That’s not true. I cried because I remembered something in the past. Sweetheart, it has nothing to do with you.”
With that, she wiped the tears away and carried Gregory in her arms.
The little boy in her arms was soft and adorable, and one couldn’t help but want to pamper him. How would anyone bear to blame him, even a little?
Gregory wasn’t quite ready to believe it yet, but when he saw Tessa returning to her usual self, he relaxed. Then, he wrapped his arms around her neck and said, “Don’t cry. I’ll protect you if you get bullied, so don’t cry anymore! I’ll feel bad.”
Tessa felt warmth in her heart as Gregory comforted her. “All right, I’ll count on you.”
As the two talked, Tessa dried Gregory with a towel. The boy had a pleasant smell, and his cute cow themed pajamas, coupled with his exquisite features, only served to enhance his cuteness.
As Tessa gazed at him, she could feel her heart melt. She hugged him and simply refused to let go. “Sweetheart, you’re too cute! I’ve never seen a child so cute like you!”
“You’re very pretty too. You’re the prettiest lady I’ve ever seen!”
Gregory was overjoyed to receive praise, and he praised Tessa in return.
“You’re so good with words.” Tessa laughed at the sight.
Just then, Nicholas had just finished a cigarette, and he was striding up the stairs. He had just arrived at the door to the room when he saw the two chatting away happily.
Gregory leaned into Tessa’s embrace as he asked softly, “Can I sleep with you tonight?”
“Uh…” Tessa hesitated, unable to agree right away. She was quite willing herself, but she should get the green light from Nicholas first.
Nicholas walked in slowly. When Gregory saw his father, he immediately asked for permission. “Daddy, can I sleep with Miss Pretty Lady tonight?”
Nicholas didn’t want to let the boy down, so he parted his thin lips and said, “Since you’re here already, Miss Reinhart, I guess you’ll have to accompany Greg for a while longer. He rarely gets this close to other people, you see.”
Tessa didn’t expect him to agree, and she was even more curious now. Why did he have a complete change of attitude?
That night, Tessa accompanied Gregory to sleep, and she also told him a bedtime story. Nicholas, on the other hand, calmly sat on a couch beside them.
The woman’s gentle words rang in his ears, her sentences accentuated with a particular tone that was slightly attractive.
As Nicholas listened, he gradually felt as if her voice coincided with some voices in his memory, but also didn’t feel real at the same time.
Six years ago, the woman’s small and weak figure was like a fragile flower. Her breaths were so labored that they almost broke, and she also made some faint sounds with her hoarse voice.
It had been too long, so Nicholas could barely remember it. At that moment, however, he felt a sense of familiarity
He examined Tessa with a searching gaze. The look in his eyes grew darker as he attempted to see through the woman.
Tessa managed to get Gregory to sleep, then she hastily got off the bed and whispered to Nicholas, “President Sawyer, he’s asleep.”
“Good work.” As the words left his thin lips, Nicholas stood up and got ready to leave Gregory’s room. Tessa naturally followed suit.
After they went out, Nicholas stood coldly by the door as he said nonchalantly, “You may stay in the guest room next to Greg’s room.”
Tessa nodded lightly. “Understood. Pardon the intrusion. I’ll be off now.” With that, she went through the door and finally let out a huge sigh of relief.
For unknown reasons, whenever she was face to face with Nicholas, she would always feel a sort of heavy pressure. Also, she always felt that Nicholas’s eyes looked terribly dark and deep, harboring a frightful abyss within.
Now that she was alone in a room, she was considerably more relaxed. She quickly took off her clothes and went for a bath in the bathroom.
Meanwhile, Nicholas had returned to his own room as well. He suddenly remembered it was Tessa’s first time sleeping over, and she probably hadn’t brought a change of clothes with her.
After some hesitation, he went to his wardrobe and picked out a clean shirt. I guess I’ll need to lend her my shirt Soon, he arrived at the door to the guest room. He knocked softly at first, but there was no response after a while, so he simply opened the door and went in.
When he got in, he heard the sounds of a hairdryer coming from the bathroom. Tessa seemed to be done with her bath, and she was drying her hair now.
Nicholas held the shirt in his hand as he walked toward the bathroom. Surprisingly, the door wasn’t locked.
Tessa had her back to the bathroom door with a towel wrapped casually around her body. Her long black hair was dancing in the hot air.
Subconsciously, Nicholas averted his gaze, but he caught sight of a spot on Tessa’s body near her scapula. There was a red butterfly on her skin, with its wings spread out and ready to take flight!
Always Been Yours Chapter 18
Nicholas’s dark pupils constricted as countless scenes flashed across his mind. That night six years ago, when the woman was squirming under him, he could make out a mark on her shoulder in the dark. It was a mark shaped like a butterfly with its wings spread out!
As Nicholas watched the butterfly mark coming in and out of sight under Tessa’s hair, he strode forward. Sensing movement behind het, Tessa turned around to look. She was suddenly held down by Nicholas and forced against the washbasin.
Tessa was terrified as she began to struggle. “Nicholas! What are you doing?!”
“Don’t move!” The man’s large body was pressed tightly against hers. Mercilessly, he grabbed her struggling arms and pinned them behind her.
As Nicholas stared at the bare skin under the woman’s hair, his breaths quickened. Reaching out his hands, he brushed her long hair aside…
The butterfly mark was well-defined on the skin near her scapula, extremely similar to the one he saw six years ago. Still, it was dark that night, so he couldn’t make out the color of the butterfly mark on the woman’s body.
But he remembered a scar near the skin bearing the butterfly mark, and it felt slightly rougher to the touch… With that in mind, Nicholas reached out toward Tessa’s tattoo.
“Ah!” Tessa panicked as she registered the unfamiliar sensation.
“N-Nicholas! Let go!”
Ignoring Tessa’s struggles, Nicholas carefully touched the spot near her tattoo. However, he felt only smooth skin, entirely different from the sensation that night…
Nicholas trained his gaze on the butterfly mark. He refused to give up as his finger inspected Tessa’s skin further.
The spot was near the scapula on her back, and Tessa immediately felt a wave of numbness, as if an electrical current had gone through her.
She was terribly confused, and she shouted in her mind, Nicholas looks like a gentleman, so how can he do such horrible things so suddenly?!
“Nicholas, what are you trying to do? D-Don’t do this to me!”
Tessa’s voice was trembling. She feared that the man would get aggressive, so she could only talk in a quiet voice. There was a discernible panic between her breaths.
Nicholas could hear it, and her voice sounded ever so familiar to that voice from six years ago. It was a fearful murmur akin to sleep talking.
The look in his eyes went dark, and then he forced Tessa to turn around so that they faced each other. He yanked her closer to him, so close they could feel each other’s breath.
Wait? Why do I not hate this woman?
He didn’t spend nights with women, for he wasn’t interested in them and maybe even disliked them. The only woman he wasn’t disgusted with was that very woman six years ago.
Now, the aura emanating from Tessa was similar to that woman, an aura that negates any feelings of disgust.
Meanwhile, Tessa almost stopped breathing. She could feel Nicholas’s palm on her spine, slowly inching downward…
“N-Nicholas?” Tessa tensed up, deciding that once he went over the line, she would discard all courtesy
Nicholas was silent as he focused on his actions. He could still remember the woman six years ago had a scar on her lower back.
If Tessa’s waist had the same scar, he could be sure this woman was Gregory’s biological mother!
Nicholas felt around for the scar, but just when his fingers were about to reach it, the towel on Tessa’s body fell off!
The air seemed to have frozen solid!
Tessa was terrified as she struggled. “Nicholas, let go of me-”
Nicholas was equally surprised. He realized how rude he was behaving, so he subconsciously moved to let go. However, he remembered Tessa wasn’t wearing any clothes.
Her struggles had produced some friction between the two. The next moment, he could feel a fierce fire leaping to life from the depths of his body!
This was the first time this had happened in years! Save for that instance with Gregory’s biological mother…
Nicholas returned to his senses and gripped Tessa’s wrist even tighter. “Tessa, if you don’t want me to make the next move, you’d better stay still!”
His voice was slightly hoarse and attractive, a thick sense of warning in his tone. Clearly feeling the change in a certain area of the man, Tessa widened her eyes and held her breath.
She didn’t dare struggle anymore. However, her eyes were already reddening.
This seemed to be too much for her, as fear and injustice invaded her senses. She was so scared that she wanted to cry.
Seeing that, Nicholas didn’t suppress the fire inside him. Instead, the self-control he was so proud of was beginning to unravel. The little woman in his arms had tears pooling in her watery eyes.
Her pitiful expression was like the morning dew that came with the dawn, like a fragile bud waiting to bloom. It nagged at his urge to invade and pluck the flower off its stalk…
The sudden urge seemed to burst forth from his body.
Dang it! Am I possessed or something? He just wanted to confirm the tattoo, but now he was the one getting excited A strong desire kept stimulating his sense of reason, and a part of him began to shift uncontrollably in a direction…
Always Been Yours Chapter 19
“Nicholas, don’t you dare! I’ll kill us both!” Seeing the man’s look that threatened to swallow her up. Tessa shouted in part embarrassment.
As the woman’s sobbing roar entered his ears, Nicholas was stunned. He saw the woman’s tiny face twisted in rage, and the look in his eyes slowly returned to normal.
Forcing his urges away, Nicholas let go of Tessa. Then, he hastily grabbed another towel and draped it over Tessa’s body, saying calmly, “I have acted too rashly tonight. Don’t take it to heart. You can wear this shirt for the time being.”
With that, he turned around and left without looking back. Tessa remained alone in the bathroom, her panic still lingering.
She gripped the towel around her, trembling as her legs threatened to give way. After a long while, she finally released a sigh and looked at the shirt on the floor. Why would he assault me? He came just to deliver this shirt, didn’t he?
She didn’t think Nicholas would actually be interested in her.
Nevertheless, he behaved as if he were a lecher!
The more Tessa thought about it, the angrier she got. In the end, she decided that she really couldn’t get along with Nicholas.
If it weren’t for Greg’s cuteness, I would’ve left long ago!
After cursing the man for a while, she told herself that she absolutely must keep a distance from him, in case he did anything spontaneous again!
After returning to his room, Nicholas began to regret his rash actions just now. When he saw the mark on Tessa’s shoulder, he hadn’t thought twice before touching her.
My actions were so inappropriate.
However, he also felt curious about the experience. He couldn’t believe that he would be interested in Tessa in that sense.
All these years, many women flocked to him, trying their best to appeal to him so that he would be interested in them. However, he only felt disgusted by them!
But that woman just now almost made me lose control…
Nicholas felt that he must have been possessed. After forcing himself to calm down, he started to brainstorm ideas about how he should confirm Tessa’s identity.
He had to halt his attempts tonight, so he would have to leave it for another time. He had all the time in the world, anyway!
As Nicholas settled on his decision, his phone rang. He stopped his train of thought and picked up the call. “Hello, Mom?”
Stefania Buchanan’s voice sounded over the phone. “Nicholas, were you asleep? Did I disturb your rest by calling you at this hour?”
“It’s all right, Mom. I haven’t slept. What’s the matter?” Nicholas’ voice regained its usual steady calmness.
Stefania said, “I’ll make it quick, then. Can you fetch someone at the airport for me tomorrow afternoon? It’s my friend, and I wanted to go myself, but something came up so I can’t go after all. Can you go on behalf of me?”
Nicholas didn’t decline as he asked, “Which friend of yours?”
Stefania said gently, “It’s Yana Johnson from the Gingham Family and her daughter, Roselle Gingham. You should know her, right? I remember you played with her when you were little.”
Nicholas paused for a while. He did remember the Gingham Family; they had a long history with the Sawyers, but he hadn’t seen them ever since the entire family moved overseas.
As for Roselle, he did remember someone like that, but it had been too long, and he had already forgotten what she looked like.
Nicholas nodded gently, saying, “Got it. I’ll go fetch them when the time comes.”
After that, they chatted for a bit before hanging up.
The following morning, Tessa woke up with dark rings under her eyes. She hadn’t slept the whole night, and she only had some shuteye near dawn. Thus, she had some weird dreams as a result.
She even dreamed about that incident six years ago, where she was entangled with a man in the dark, crazed with lust for the whole night…
“It’s all his fault!” Tessa growled in embarrassment.
Just then, Gregory came over and shouted at the door in his childish voice, “Are you awake, Miss Pretty Lady? It’s time to get up for breakfast.”
“Ah, sure. I’ll be right there.” Tessa hurriedly got out of the bed and washed up before leaving the room.
As she emerged from the room, she saw Gregory waiting for her in the corridor. The boy was wearing overalls and a white shirt, looking cute yet stylish. Tessa gave him a warm smile, then walked up to him and took his hand as they descended the stairs.
Meanwhile, Nicholas was already eating at the table. As the two met each other’s gazes, Tessa couldn’t help but recall what happened last night.
Uneasiness crept onto her face as she averted her gaze. The look in Nicholas’ eyes wavered a little before returning to normal. He looked calm and nonchalant, as if nothing had ever happened.
Really? I can’t believe this man is acting as if nothing happened?
Always Been Yours Chapter 20
“Good morning, Daddy!” Gregory headed downstairs and politely greeted his father.
Nicholas nodded in response and greeted the boy back “Good morning. Come and have your breakfast.”
Tessa was about to make a move, but Gregory wouldn’t let go of her hand. Unable to walk away, she helplessly stayed behind and kept him company for breakfast.
In the meantime, Andrew’s eyes lit up with warmth when he witnessed the interaction among the trio, which he found surprisingly harmonious because they looked just like a family.
Nonetheless, his feelings were not mutual as Tessa didn’t feel the same way because she hurriedly tried to leave right after breakfast.
Nonetheless, Gregory seized the lady’s hand with a heavy heart and asked, “Miss Pretty Lady, can I pay you a visit when I miss you?”
Tessa curled her lips upward when she heard the boy’s question. “Of course, provided that I have an off day and you’re allowed to visit me. However, I have a brother whom I need to look after at home, so I can’t be away overnight like I did last night, even if I’m with you.”
“Alright, understood.” Gregory nodded his head, clearly telling the lady he understood with his gesture.
“I knew you’re the most obedient and lovely kid ever.” Tessa smiled, gently pinching the boy’s rounded cheek lovingly.
While Tessa’s compliment put a smile on Gregory’s face, Nicholas suddenly realized something at the sight of their interaction. No, I mustn’t let her just leave like that. After a few seconds of contemplation, he calmly said, “Wait, Miss Reinhart.”
Tessa paused upon hearing the man’s voice as she subconsciously kept her distance from him and asked, “W-What’s the matter, President Sawyer?”
Nicholas raised his eyebrows in slight astonishment.
Hmm. She was calling me by my first name last night, but now she is addressing me as President Sawyer.
Soon, he pursed his lips and said, “I have something I’d like to tell you, Miss Reinhart. I’m sorry if my action startled you last night, and I hope you didn’t take that to heart. After all, I just… The mark on your shoulder simply looks familiar to me, so I wasn’t trying to do you any harm or hurt you.”
Tessa didn’t expect Nicholas to apologize to her, feeling stunned, but after a short while, she calmly answered, “Don’t worry, I didn’t take it to heart at all.” Despite her reassurance, she continued to deliberately keep her distance from the man.
Although Nicholas could sense her wariness, he wasn’t bothered by that as he changed the subject and asked, “By the way, would you be interested in teaching Gregory the violin, Miss Reinhart?”
Tessa was stunned into a trance.
Wait, what? Am I being offered to be Greg’s teacher?
“Would you, Miss Pretty Lady?” Gregory excitedly looked at Tessa.
“Well…” Tessa knitted her eyebrows hesitantly as she was about to turn the man down. However, before she could do so, she was interrupted by Nicholas’ timely reply.
“Of course, I’ll make sure your classes with Greg won’t clash with your orchestra’s schedule. All you have to do is just teach Greg when you’re not busy preparing for your performance. In return, I’ll pay you an hourly rate of two thousand. What do you think?”
An hourly rate of two thousand?! Tessa was dumbfounded and surprised upon hearing how much she was offered. In spite of her initial intention to stay away from Nicholas after what happened the night before, she was somehow tempted to take him up on it.
After all, she would be able to live a better life with her brother if she could have an extra source of income. Besides, her brother wouldn’t have to work so hard as a home tutor either for meager earnings that barely helped them make ends meet.
Nevertheless, Tessa didn’t accept her offer right away despite her temptation. “President Sawyer, you had previously tried to keep me away from Greg, hadn’t you? I can tell that you didn’t really like me.”
So, the question is-why did you change your mind now?
Nicholas was surprised by her blunt question, but after he paused shortly, he directly answered, “Honestly, I did a little digging about you. Although I know this might have been a violation of your privacy, I didn’t have much choice in order to ensure Greg’s safety. Anyway, as far as my investigation results suggest, your resume seems clean, Miss Reinhart. The reason I want to make you stay is that I think you’re reliable, but of course, the most important thing is…”