Ch. 1..10

Always Been Yours Chapter 1

A Painful Separation

“She’s the woman who can bear my child?”

“Yes, Master Nicholas. She’s the only one in the entire Brentwood City who is genetically compatible with you.”

In the darkness, Tessa Reinhart was half-delirious as she lay on the king-sized bed, clutching and clawing at her thin clothes. She felt as if flames were licking her body, and she whined, “It’s so hot, I can’t stand it…”

The door closed with a heavy thud, and a towering figure sauntered over to the bed.

Tessa tried to open her eyes to see the person approaching, but all she could make out were the blurry edges of what would otherwise have been a rather chiseled face.

Even so, she could still feel the dominance that radiated from the person, and as he drew near, the air around her suddenly grew so dense that she could hardly breathe.

The next moment, she felt a weight pressing down on her. The heat of her body seemed to wane as soon as the hard contours of the man’s body molded against hers. Relieved and tempted by the inexplicable coolness that washed over her, Tessa arched her back fearlessly as though to close even more distance between herself and the man, wriggling impatiently as she mumbled, “More…”

At that moment, Nicholas Sawyer’s gaze darkened, and a sense of hot urgency ran down his spine. “Don’t move,” he whispered huskily, seductively, his voice like velvet.

The Sawyers had extremely rare genetics, but rarer still were women who could bear Nicholas’ offspring, and this mewling woman beneath him happened to be one of them.

He would never have intentionally gotten close to women, much less fool around like a rogue. The only reason he was doing this tonight was to fulfill the duty, Remus Sawyer, his grandfather, had given him.

Little did he know that he would be overcome with such an intense desire for this woman, whom he had never met before.

Presently, the woman in his arms completely ignored his orders as she writhed and ran her hands all over him, the soft curves of her silhouette pressed precariously against him.

Gulping convulsively, the man turned into a hungry beast, ferocious as lust cascaded over him and made him grab hold of Tessa by her waist, flipping her over. “Woman, you’re the one who asked for this!”

“Ah!” Suddenly, a searing pain went through Tessa, and she stiffened at the unfamiliar sensation. The pain itself was so extreme that for a minute, she was almost lucid. Who is he? she asked herself frantically, belatedly. What am I doing here?

She recalled going over to her stepmother’s to demand the inheritance her mother had left for her, only to be drugged by the latter. When she woke up much later on, she had found herself confined in this strange place.

An abrupt and rough thrust cut off her thoughts. “Ow…” she cried out piteously, protesting against the violation, but the man didn’t show any sign of stopping as he continued to have his way with her, his assertion evident and overpowering.

Drops of sweat trickled down the man’s body, and amidst his low grunts and her tortured panting, he went on to thrust tirelessly into her, switching positions as he pleased as he reduced her into something like a rag doll.

With one final shriek, Tessa felt an intense wave of pleasure crash over her like a tsunami. She threw her head back as she rode out the euphoria, then collapsed onto the bed, completely blacking out.

Her long hair slid over one slender shoulder, and Nicholas saw her birthmark, which was a shade darker than her pale skin and was shaped like a delicate butterfly about to take flight.

…

Ten months later, in the delivery room of Prime Hospital, Tessa’s sweat had soaked through the bedsheets as she clutched the protective rails on either side of her, her knuckles turning white. “Argh! It hurts!” she cried while enduring the pain that tore through her abdomen.

“Keep pushing harder. I can see the baby’s head…”

“Wah—” A loud baby’s cry resounded in the deathly silent delivery room, heralding the birth of a new life.

“Your duty has been fulfilled, and from now on, the child has nothing to do with you!”

The cold and impassive voice filled Tessa’s ears as she lay ashen-faced on the hospital cot, so weak and drained that she couldn’t even lift a finger. All she could do was watch wide-eyed as her child was carried away by someone else. “M-My baby…”

Hot tears streamed past her cheeks uncontrollably.

After the night she had spent with that man, whose identity she still did not know, Tessa found herself kept under housewatch. Not long after that, she discovered that she was pregnant.

The person guarding her to keep her from escaping told her that if she were to deliver the baby safely, then her brother, Timothy, would get the best treatment there was for his medical condition.

Upon hearing that, Tessa agreed immediately and without a second of doubt.

Timothy suffered from a condition that atrophied his calves, and with his heart growing weaker day by day, he was confined to bed most of the time just to stay alive.

After their mother passed away, their vicious stepmother, Lauren, cast Tessa out of the house and cut off the funds for Timothy’s medical treatment, leaving him on the brink of death.

When Tessa agreed to give birth to the baby even without knowing who the father was, she couldn’t be bothered about it. She had lost everything and everyone but Timothy, and she would have given her life willingly if it meant saving his.

But as the baby grew in her and she began to feel his first kicks and his strong heartbeat, she started to become reluctant about making good on her promise to hand the baby over as soon as she gave birth to him.

After all, he was a part of her—her very own flesh and blood!

And now, he was taken away from her forever.

Meanwhile, outside the hospital, a luxurious Maybach was idling in the dimness of the night.

An elderly man sat in the backseat of the car, his hair entirely gray and his face somber. There was a sharp gleam in his eyes, and the air seemed to grow still around him, for he commanded a sense of fearsome authority.

Not long after, a doctor marched over to the car with a newborn in his arms. “Congratulations, Old Master Sawyer. It’s a little prince!”

When the elderly man heard this, his eyes lit up with unadulterated joy, and he grinned as he took the crying baby into his arms. “How wonderful! This is a cause for celebration! I finally have a great-grandson!” Then, the joy seeped out of his voice as he barked grimly at his assistant next to him.

“Tell Nicholas that that woman sold this baby for ten million and fled into the night!”

Always Been Yours Chapter 2

Setup

Five years later, Tessa sat in the lounge of a luxurious private yacht treading through the waves of the expansive, glittering blue sea. She had an arm around her mahogany-colored violin as she quietly tuned it.

The other members of the orchestra took up their own space around her, chattering excitedly among themselves about the owner of this very yacht, who happened to be the regaled Little Prince of the Sawyer family.

Rumor had it that the Little Prince was already worth billions even though he was barely over four years old, and his great-grandfather—Old Master Sawyer—did not hold back when it came to celebrating the young boy’s birthday. In fact, this very yacht was his gift to the Little Prince, and he bought it without so much as batting an eyelash.

“Hey, why do you think the Sawyers appointed our orchestra to perform during the Little Prince’s birthday celebration? I mean, there are plenty of other orchestras more famous than ours!”

“Who knows? I only heard that it was the Little Prince who hand-selected us to perform today. It’s only thanks to him that we get to perform on a glamorous yacht like this one, and our fee practically quadrupled for this event!”

At the mention of this, the other members of the orchestra began to sound off their envy. “We should all be so lucky to have only one-tenth of the Little Prince’s riches. Think about how easy our lives would be then!”

“Destiny favors some over others, and the Little Prince seems to have taken almost all the favor! Our jealousy of the little boy is all we have to our name.”

Upon hearing this, Tessa felt the corners of her lips curl up in a bitter, humorless smile. Indeed, she thought darkly, there are those whom destiny favored and granted them victory from the moment they were born, just like the Little Prince of the Sawyer Family.

Then there were those like her, who had fallen behind before the umpire could even shoot the blank and start the race. Tessa’s father was a piece of scum who fooled around behind his wife’s back and ignored all the things she had done for him, abandoning her and forgetting their past struggles together as soon as his business peaked in its success.

When Tessa’s mother passed away, Tessa and Timothy had no one else to rely on but each other.

As a result, Tessa had been forced to sell her own flesh and blood just to get the money for Timothy’s medical treatment. I never even got to see my baby… she thought ruefully. Every time she was reminded of this, a searing pain tore through her heart, threatening to rip her to shreds.

Now that she thought about it, her baby ought to have turned four this year, which was around the same age as the Little Prince. I don’t even know if it’s a dashing baby boy or an adorable baby girl. I don’t know where the baby has gone or if he’s doing well…

Suddenly, her eyes grew misty, and she couldn’t help the prickling sensation in her nose that signaled oncoming waterworks.

Just then, a shrill cry pulled Tessa out of her thoughts. “Tessa! What are you doing here?”

The mistiness in Tessa’s eyes cleared as she turned in the direction of the voice, only to see someone whom she wished she never had to see for the rest of her life—Sophia Reinhart!

Sophia was dressed in an elegant evening dress, and her face was delicately made-up. There was a haughty tilt to her chin as she looked down her nose at Tessa, just like she had six years ago.

Tessa grimaced in disgust at the sight of Sophia, for she didn’t expect to see her here.

“Hah! So it really is you!” Having made sure that the woman in the lounge was Tessa, Sophia crossed over to her, the sound of her stilettos clicking against the floor echoing throughout the room. When she came to a stop in front of Tessa, she sneered arrogantly, “I didn’t think you’d still be alive. Why, I was under the impression that you and that useless brother of yours died a long time ago!”

Timothy… Tessa gritted her teeth. If Sophia and her mother, Lauren, hadn’t so brutally cut off Timothy’s medical funds, Tessa would never have needed to give birth to that man’s child, let alone go through the devastation of parting with her own flesh and blood.

This vicious mother-and-daughter duo is responsible for all my tragedies!

Hatred flashed in Tessa’s eyes as she retorted snarkily, “If you and your b*tch of a mother are still alive and kicking, then of course, Timothy and I are perfectly fine as well. We’re just waiting for lightning to strike the both of you heartless witches dead!”

“You—” Sophia was at a loss for words, stunned by Tessa’s retort. As far as she remembered, Tessa had always been too timid and unsure of herself to fight back. “It’s only been a few years since we last saw each other, but it looks like time sure has made you a vicious shrew.”

“No, I’m not as vicious as you and your mother,” Tessa replied coolly.

Right now, her priority was to make sure the performance went on without a hitch, and this was not the time to be bringing up the past. With that in mind, she rose to her feet so she could seek out a quiet place to practice, not wanting to spend another minute longer with the eyesore that was Sophia.

Sophia, on the other hand, grew even more incensed at the sight of Tessa’s graceful indifference. She couldn’t help but recall how hard she had worked alongside her mother to throw Tessa and Timothy out of the Reinhart Residence.

She thought she had won. But for some reason, she still felt as if she was beneath Tessa even as she stood here before her, all glamorous and dolled-up.

Be it the looks or the grace, Tessa was the true winner between the both of them!

At the thought of this, jealousy flashed in Sophia’s eyes. She’s supposed to rot away on the streets as soon as we cast them out of the family! How dare she show up here at this lavish event like the world is her oyster?

Sophia’s gaze fell upon the extremely valuable violin that Tessa was currently carrying, and malice colored her features. Looking around to make sure no one was paying attention to her, she slid her foot out over the floorboards.

“Ah!” Tripping, Tessa hurtled forward, caving into gravity as she crashed to the floor unceremoniously. Following her fall, a tuneless sort of grunt came from the violin as it toppled to the space in front of her.

High-pitched tweaking sounds emitted from the broken violin as two chords strained and snapped in quick succession.

Coincidentally, Trevor Oswald—the orchestra manager—came through the door at that moment, and when he saw the scene before him, all the color drained from his face. Horrified, he exclaimed, “Tessa! I can’t believe you broke the violin! Madam Sawyer was the one who lent it to us out of goodwill, and there’s only one of it in the whole world! We wouldn’t be able to pay for it even if we sold the entire orchestra!”

Tessa blanched. “I-It wasn’t my fault!” She scrambled to her feet and turned to glare balefully at Sophia, snapping, “It was hers! She was the one who tripped me on purpose!”

“Me? Don’t make up lies to cover your own backside!” Sophia put her hands up, denying the allegations with utmost innocence. “You tripped over your own feet, so don’t go around accusing me for your own mistake!” Then, she crossed her arms as she eyed Tessa with wicked amusement. “If I were you, I’d go apologize to Madam Sawyer right away and beg for her forgiveness, then quit the orchestra altogether. I’m sure you don’t want your mishap to drag the orchestra’s reputation through the mud.”

“She’s right! Come with me right now, and we’ll go ask Madam Sawyer for forgiveness.” Trevor reached for Tessa’s wrist and began to pull her out the door. “Also, you don’t have to go up on stage after this. Our orchestra has no need for a musician as clumsy as you, so leave after the performance today!”

Leave the orchestra? This made Tessa’s blood run cold, and she was ashen-faced as she thought wildly, No! If I lose this job, I won’t have the money to feed myself and Timothy. I can’t leave the orchestra!

“Mr. Oswald, I really didn’t—”

But just as she was about to plead her case with all her might, a childish but calm and collective voice sounded from the doorway. “Why should she be the one to apologize? The one who should go in her place is that lady over there!”

Always Been Yours Chapter 3

Miniature Knight

Upon hearing this, everyone present turned to look in the direction where the voice came from.

An adorable little boy had, at some point during the ruckus, shown up unnoticed at the doorway. He looked to be around four or five years of age, and he was dressed in a white blouse and black trousers with suspenders, coupled with a pair of matching leather shoes. He was the very picture of the perfect little gentleman, or more accurately, a young boy of nobility.

“What an adorable child!”

“Where did this little cutie come from? He’s adorable!”

Most of the people at the scene had never seen this child before, but it was clear that they found him endearing as they appraised him.

Tessa, too, was gazing at the child in surprise. He had a chubby little face but boasted fine features. One could only imagine how devastatingly handsome he would be once he grew up.

Presently, even though the child was only of tender age, he still looked somber with his features set in a grim expression. He even looked authoritative, like he had a wizened soul hidden inside his miniature frame.

“You,” he began in clipped tones, his gaze icy as he jabbed a finger at Sophia. “You should be the one to apologize.”

Sophia was shocked at first, but she quickly turned furious as she snapped, “Whose brat is this? You don’t even know what you’re saying! I had nothing to do with her breaking the violin, so why should I apologize?”

“Watch your mouth!” The words had only just been said when the two bodyguards standing behind the little boy barked angrily at Sophia, “Who do you think you are, woman? How dare you talk to our young master in such an insolent manner!”

Young master? Sophia drew back in surprise, and for a moment, she couldn’t wrap her head around the title.

Trevor, on the other hand, pressed a palm to his forehead when he suddenly recalled that the little boy was none other than the young master of the Sawyer Family, the heir to the Sawyer Group!

At the recollection of that, Trevor hurried up to the little boy with a grin on his face and greeted courteously, “Why, Young Master Gregory, what brings you here?”

To the side, Sophia froze when she heard this. What? This brat is Young Master Gregory, the birthday boy for today’s occasion?

The little boy looked impassive, and though he sounded young, there was still an intimidating edge to his voice as he said, “I was just passing through here when I saw everything happen clearly before my very eyes. It was that woman who tripped this pretty lady over here.”

Meanwhile, Tessa was moved by how the little boy came to her defense, even though he didn’t know her. Warmth surged through her as she stared at the little boy with gentle gratitude and compassion.

Sophia, however, swallowed convulsively when she heard the boy’s explanation. She tried to hide her fear with a nervous laugh as she pointed out soothingly, “Young Master Gregory, you do understand that one must have proof before making such claims, and you can’t go around making false accusations like this.”

The little boy scoffed, and his face was still grim as he countered, “And what makes you think I don’t have proof?” With that, he clapped his hands once, and a videographer with a recorder in hand stepped through the doorway as summoned.

The videographer was holding up the recorder as he announced stoically to those present, “I’m the person exclusively in charge of recording Young Master Gregory’s birthday banquet today, and I have here in my camera the exact moment you tripped that lady and caused Madam Sawyer’s violin to break from the fall.”

Sophia’s heart plunged to her stomach when she heard this, and she was rendered speechless, unable to retort against the videographer. Her expression was tight with fury as she thought menacingly, Damn it! I was this close to pushing that wretched Tessa into the depths of hell once more!

“That violin was a precious instrument of my grandmother’s, and it’s worth six million! So pay up!” the little boy demanded seriously, staring at Sophia with pointed indifference.

At that moment, it was as if Sophia’s mind imploded. All the color drained from her face as she considered the sum she needed to pay. Six million! Right now, the Reinharts’ family business had been on a steady decline for the past few years, and six million was an astronomical price as far as Sophia was concerned!

Panicking, Sophia bowed her head and apologized in a trembling voice, “I’m sorry, Young Master Gregory. I truly am. I didn’t mean to trip her just now. As you can see, there isn’t much space here, and I didn’t think I could trip her just by stretching my leg for a bit. The violin is of such extravagant worth, and I wouldn’t be so foolish as to break it on purpose! Tessa—” Faltering, she added in a commanding tone, “Tessa, tell the young master that I didn’t trip you deliberately!”

Tessa looked more thunderous than she had before this. I can’t believe how shameless this girl is! It’s bad enough that she set me up, and now she wants me to plead her case?

But Tessa never got the chance to say anything because the little boy went on to snap at Sophia mercilessly, “You broke the violin, so you have to pay for it! And because you were in the wrong, you have to apologize to the pretty lady, too! Now, fork out the money and say you’re sorry!”

The little boy was probably only three feet in height, but he sounded like an old soul, not to mention imperious.

Sophia’s face blanched, then she flushed furiously. Not only had she not taught Tessa a lesson, but she was also now forced to apologize to her as well! She didn’t think she could live down the shame of it all, but more importantly, she had no means of forking out six million on the spot, not even if she were to pawn herself.

Everyone’s eyes were on her right now, and in a moment of panic and fear, Sophia actually fainted.

For a while, the crowd was thrown into chaos.

The little boy, however, merely looked contemptuous as he stared at Sophia’s unmoving figure. Is that all it takes for you to crack under pressure? You seemed pretty brazen when you were framing another innocent person earlier.

Then, he turned to look at the bodyguards behind him as he ordered, “Take her away and keep an eye on her. Have her cough up the money, and if she doesn’t, drop her off at the police station!”

“Yes, sir,” the bodyguards replied in unison. In one long stride, one of the bodyguards reached Sophia and dragged her out the door.

Almost instantly, a deafening silence fell over the room. Everyone was amazed by how the young master had radiated such unquestionable and intimidating authority, even though he was only a child. He is, indeed, from the Sawyer Family. There’s no mistake about it!

However, the little boy couldn’t be bothered about what the others thought of him as he turned to eye Tessa curiously, and at that moment, he seemed to have shed his icy demeanor.

There was a childish gleam in his crystal-bright eyes as he stared at Tessa like he was assessing her.

Tessa, too, held his gaze steadily.

The little boy had shell-pink lips and pearly-white baby teeth, and while his features had yet to set, he was already quite the delicate and handsome little man. He looked stoic when he did not smile, but it was precisely how stern he looked that made him all the more endearing, so much so that one would be filled with the urge to pinch his chubby cheeks.

The thought had only just crossed Tessa’s mind when the little boy marched over to her on his little legs. He came to a stop in front of her, tipped his head back to meet her eyes, and opened his arms as wide as they would go as he said, “I want upsies.”

Always Been Yours Chapter 4

Are You Single, Pretty Lady?

Hmm? Tessa was a little stunned to give an immediate response.

“Pretty lady, I want upsies,” the little boy repeated, this time with a bit more emphasis as he stared up at Tessa with wide eyes, which were lit with a childlike gleam.

At the sight of how endearing he was, Tessa felt her heart melting, and she quickly picked him up. It was like holding a soft bundle, and as she carried him, she could pick up the faint powdery scent on him that made her want to nuzzle into his chubby cheek.

She was inexplicably fond of the child as she smiled and said gently, “Hey, little guy, thanks for speaking up for me earlier.” Without him, she would never have been able to clear her name.

Seemingly unfazed, the little boy shook his head and said with an air of impishness, “You’re welcome. I did what I had to. Besides, I hate two-faced women like her.”

Upon hearing this, Tessa was so entertained that she laughed. “Do you truly understand what it means to be two-faced when you’re only so young?”

He nodded solemnly, his chubby face very grim as he replied, “Of course, I do. My uncle told me that a two-faced person is someone whose actions don’t match their words.”

Tessa’s eyes curved into crescents. “Well, I’m impressed. You’re a very intelligent little boy, aren’t you?”

Having gotten her praise, he flushed in embarrassment, though the way his eyes glittered betrayed his happiness even as he tried to act indifferent. In the end, he pursed his lips to keep himself from grinning, which only made him more adorable.

Seeing him like this, Tessa couldn’t help but wonder if her own baby would turn out this adorable had she not been so cruelly separated from them at childbirth.

She suddenly tightened her hold on the little boy, her motherly love practically overflowing. She was just about to speak when a voice interjected, “Young Master Gregory, the banquet is about to start. We must be leaving now, or the old master and the old madam will grow worried.”

The little boy nodded when he heard this, then turned to say to Tessa, “Seeing as I’ve helped you out earlier, could you carry me over to my daddy? I’m tired, and I don’t want to walk anymore.”

“Huh?” Taken aback by this, Tessa was somewhat hesitant as she pointed out, “But I still have to get ready for the performance, and besides, we’ve only just met. It wouldn’t be appropriate for me to carry you all the way to where your parents are.”

The little boy tightened his grip on her as he whined stubbornly, “No, if I say it’s appropriate, then it is! Also, how are you going to perform without a violin, pretty lady?” His eyes grew to the size of saucers as a bright idea popped into his head, and he stared at Tessa in earnest as he quipped, “My grandma still has a violin to spare in her precious collection. If you carry me over, I’ll get her to lend it to you.”

There was nothing more compelling than when a child stared at you with sparkly doe eyes, and Tessa found herself relenting after a brief second of doubt. “Very well, then. I’ll carry you over.”

This evidently pleased the little boy to no end, for his soft little body slumped against her as he grinned with satisfaction. This pretty lady has a really warm embrace, and she smells really nice, too, like how a mother would.

Along the way, he asked aloud, “Are you single, pretty lady?”

“I am,” Tessa answered readily, glancing down at the child with affection. She was starting to like him more and more. “Why do you ask?”

“Then you should definitely marry my daddy and become my mommy!”

She couldn’t hide her shock. Isn’t this little guy’s father Nicholas Sawyer, as in the president of Sawyer Group?

After Nicholas’ retirement from the special forces, he only took two years to bring Sawyer Group to new heights. He was a man of legendary proportions in the business world, with a tenacity that matched his formidable reputation, not to mention how he ruled the company with an iron fist. He wasn’t someone any ordinary person could trifle with, let alone Tessa.

But now that the little boy has mentioned it… Unable to suppress her curiosity, she asked, “What about your mommy?”

“I-I don’t have a mommy,” the little thing mumbled disappointedly with misty eyes. “I want you to be my mommy, pretty lady.” As soon as he said this, he nuzzled into her, and she felt an overwhelming sense of reliance emanating from his tiny frame.

Tessa couldn’t help her astonishment. As it turned out, the Little Prince of the Sawyer Family—the object of envy for many—did not have a mother.

She wasn’t sure how complicated it was to keep a marriage in the world of the rich, but she knew that she only needed to hug the little boy tighter, as if to comfort him with all her might. She wondered idly if the baby she never got to hold was sitting in some corner of the world missing his mother as well.

…

Meanwhile, over at the VIP lounge of the banquet hall, Nicholas sat on the couch, looking like a finely carved statue. The black suit he wore was painstakingly tailored to his lean and muscular frame, accentuating his broad shoulders and perfect silhouette.

His features were like a work of art by the heavens, and in his icy dark orbs lay a bona fide intimidating indifference that seemed ingrained in his bones, much like his elegance.

Presently, the air around him was startlingly cold.

Standing in front of him in great despair was the second son of the Sawyer Family, Kieran Sawyer.

Kieran had never felt more like he was standing before an iceberg than at that precise moment. Under Nicholas’ piercing, dangerous gaze, he unconsciously gulped. “I swear, Nicholas, I’ve already sent someone to look for him. Greg will be just fine! This whole yacht is ours, so no one would dare to even lay a finger on the boy!”

“You better hope so, because if anything does happen to Greg, then you can bet that there’s nothing you can do to save your own skin!” With that, Nicholas shot his brother a sharp look. “What are you standing here for? Get out and start looking for him!”

“Yes, of course, right away!” Kieran replied with a shudder, then dashed out the door. He berated himself for having tried so hard to pick up ladies around the yacht that he completely lost sight of Gregory.

However, it didn’t take long for Kieran to return, and as he addressed Nicholas, there was still fear in his eyes. “Nicholas, Greg’s back!”

Always Been Yours Chapter 5

I Could Keep You

“Pretty lady, it’s just right up ahead!” Gregory exclaimed as he pointed at the lounge up ahead.

Daddy must be in there right now, and once he sees the pretty lady, he’ll fall in love with her for sure! Then she’ll finally become my mommy!

In stark contrast to the little boy’s excitement, Tessa was uneasy. They were presently at the VIP lounge, which was tucked within the core of the yacht.

Standing at the entryway was a row of bodyguards, all of them resembling broad and towering statues as they put up an intimidating front.

At the sight of them, Tessa slowed in her steps and said a little hesitantly, “Hey, little guy, why don’t I just put you down here and you walk the rest of the way back? I’m sure I don’t have to go in with you.”

The boy immediately wrapped his arms tight around her neck as he cried, “No, I want you to go in with me!”

“But…” She didn’t know what she was supposed to do. The Sawyers could very well be in that lounge right now, and it would be inappropriate for her, an outsider, to intrude.

“Do you not like me at all, pretty lady?” Suddenly, the little boy pouted, his large eyes glistening as he stared at her woefully.

She quickly snapped out of her thoughts and replied, “No, of course, I like you! How can I not when you’re so adorable?”

“Then why won’t you go in with me? It just means you’re lying to me when you say you like me,” the little boy muttered, his voice close to breaking into a cry as he kept his arms around her.

Just then, Nicholas marched out of the lounge, but he was so startled by the sight of his own baby son whining for affection in some woman’s arms that he halted in his steps.

Kieran, in particular, looked as if his jaw might hit the floor soon. “Goodness, is Greg actually asking for attention?” Aside from Nicholas and Kieran’s mother, Greg did not show affection for any other woman. He would reel back in disgust whenever anyone so much as brushed skin with him, so hugging him was close to impossible.

This is the first time I’ve seen him get so up close and personal with another woman! Kieran thought bewilderedly. What in the world is going on here?

Upon hearing approaching footfalls, Tessa looked up and instantly locked gazes with two incredibly handsome men.

Of the both of them, she recognized Kieran first.

He was something like the right-hand man in Sawyer Group. He frequently appeared in finance magazines, and he was in the top ten most eligible bachelors in Brentwood society. With good looks and plenty of charm to spare, he soon made a name for himself as a suave, devilish, and incorrigible heartbreaker, though that didn’t stop the hordes of women from fawning over him.

As for the man next to Kieran, he boasted a strong resemblance to the little boy in Tessa’s arms. This man looked as if he had made a home at the top of the social food chain, like he was an untouchable king. While he looked cold and distant, there was an unmistakable air of nobility about him.

This must be Nicholas Sawyer, Tessa thought. He was an elusive figure who had never once appeared in any magazine or on the news, but he was an existence that could not be replicated nor surpassed.

Presently, this formidable pair of brothers were appraising Tessa warily. She held her breath when she felt their watchful gaze fix on her, and she quickly bowed her head in greeting. “President Sawyer, Master Kieran,” she began, willing herself not to fumble like an idiot. “I-I’m Tessa Reinhart, a violinist in the orchestra hired for today’s celebration. The young master accidentally wandered over to the orchestra’s lounge earlier, and I’ve brought him back, as you can see.”

When Nicholas and Kieran heard this, they realized that there was nothing for them to be vigilant about. In a cool, crisp voice, Nicholas said, “Thank you for bringing him back here, Miss Reinhart. You may leave after you put him down on the ground.”

His voice was deep and a little husky, and when he spoke, it was as if the rest of the world melted into the background.

Dazed, Tessa nodded slowly and made to put the little boy down.

However, he abruptly tightened his arms around her neck as he cried, “No, I don’t want to be put down on the ground! I want the pretty lady to carry me!”

He liked how warm it felt to be in Tessa’s arms, and he didn’t want to leave her embrace. Also, he wanted her to get to know Nicholas a little better.

But Daddy needs serious help in the chivalry department! How can he speak so coldly to the pretty lady? This man is as hopeless as they come!

Meanwhile, Nicholas and Kieran were obviously taken aback by the boy’s avid protest. Neither of them had expected the child to have developed such a strong liking for a woman at the first meeting.

Tessa was starting to look flustered as well as she cajoled, “Baby, listen to me carefully, okay? I still have a performance later, and I have to put you down now, or I won’t be able to do my job.”

“Well, if you can’t do your job, then just quit,” the little boy grumbled, still pouting.

She shook her head firmly, but her eyes were gentle as she tried to persuade him. “That’s not going to work out, because if I don’t go back to work now, I’ll be fired on the spot. If that happens, then I’ll lose my income, and I won’t have money to pay for food. You wouldn’t want me to starve, would you, little one?”

“It’s fine if you get fired; I could keep you and feed you if you’d like!” His voice rose by an octave as he looked at her proudly, as if he had just given a gentleman’s word for the first time in his life.

Tessa was highly amused by this, so much so that she wasn’t sure how she should respond.

At that moment, Nicholas interjected tersely, “Gregory Sawyer, stop messing around at once!” He looked impassive, but there was an authoritative timber in his voice. He reached out and took Gregory away from Tessa’s arms, saying, “Come here and stop making trouble for this lady.”

Crestfallen, the little guy dipped his head and blinked his large doe-eyes, looking dejected as he asked Tessa softly, “Have I really made trouble for you, pretty lady?”

Always Been Yours Chapter 6

I Don’t Want Her Near Gregory

“Well, I…” Tessa cast the briefest of looks at Nicholas, unsure how to answer Gregory’s question.

The next second, the little boy’s eyes turned red, and he pressed his lips into a thin line as he tried to keep from crying, but alas, his tears fell anyway.

His tears alone were enough to make Tessa’s heart shatter into a thousand pieces.

To one side, Kieran felt his heart twist at Gregory’s silent crying, and he quickly interjected, “Just let her carry him for a while, Nicholas. What’s the rush? Besides, this lady is going on stage in a bit, so she could just bring Greg into the hall and get right to the performance afterward. I mean, look at our baby—he’s crying! If Mom sees how puffy his eyes are, she’s going to freak out.”

Nicholas frowned, and his sharp gaze lingered on Tessa for a long moment. What is it with this woman? What did she do to make Greg so obsessed with her? But he didn’t want to see Gregory cry, either, so he maintained his composure as he said in clipped tones, “If it isn’t too much of a bother, Miss Reinhart, then we’d be much obliged if you could keep our Gregory company for a while longer. He’s just a child, and he can be a little clingy, so we hope you won’t mind.”

Instantly, Tessa shook her head. “Oh, please, there’s no need to be so formal. It’s no trouble taking care of him at all.” Frankly speaking, she was far too fond of Gregory to think of minding him as a chore, though she was admittedly surprised that Nicholas would allow an outsider like herself to take care of his son.

Gregory, on the other hand, did not dwell too much on this. He had cheered up considerably after his father had given the green light, and in his trademark childlike voice, he said, “Thank you, Daddy!”

Then, he hastily turned to look up at Tessa with adoration. “Pretty lady, you still need a violin, don’t you? I’ll take you to see Grandma’s huge violin collection, and you can pick whichever you like!”

Tessa nodded indulgently. “Alright, lead the way.”

With his spirits clearly restored, Gregory happily reached out his little hand and pointed out directions to Tessa.

Just like that, the both of them retreated from the vicinity of the VIP lounge and headed toward Madam Sawyer’s makeshift music room on the yacht.

Now that Kieran and Nicholas were the only ones left behind, they exchanged a quick look of disbelief. The former was the first to muse in bewilderment, “Wow, don’t you think Greg is being a little too generous here? Mom wouldn’t even let anyone breathe on her violin collection, and she only put them out on display because it’s Greg’s birthday today. Are we just going to let him bring outsiders into the room and borrow whichever instrument they wanted?”

Nicholas’ gaze darkened, but he said nothing as he watched Tessa and Gregory interact with each other up ahead.

Turning, he addressed the bodyguard next to him in a low voice, “Tell me everything about what happened earlier, and don’t miss out on any of the details!”

The bodyguard knew better than to keep him waiting, so he quickly recounted all that had taken place outside the orchestra’s lounge that led up to this present moment between Tessa and Gregory.

Having heard all that, Nicholas merely frowned. As far as he could tell, Gregory was the one who had offered his affections to the woman voluntarily, without her having done anything. But the little guy has never been this close to any outsider before, so why this woman? What’s so special about her?

Nicholas was still pondering on this when Kieran suddenly recalled something next to him. Rubbing his chin pensively, Kieran said quietly, “I remember Greg saying that he wanted a certain violinist to perform for his birthday, and he even told me her full name. Do you think that woman is the violinist he was talking about? If that’s the case, then… Greg must have met her before.”

When he heard this, Nicholas’ expression grew stormy.

“Nicholas, I think there’s something off about this woman! Maybe she’s trying to get close to Greg with some ulterior motive in mind. We have to be on guard.”

“As soon as the performance is over, I don’t want this woman anywhere near Gregory!” Nicholas barked coldly.

“Of course. Leave it to me,” Kieran promised solemnly, looking grim.

…

In the music room, Tessa was shocked when she was greeted by the sight of the dozens of precious, priceless violins displayed before her.

Of all the violins here, the cheapest one could fetch close to a million, and if there were an accident, she shuddered to think about how she was going to pay for the damages.

Just then, Greg reached upward and pointed at the violin on the highest shelf, then told one of the bodyguards behind them, “You there, take that violin down for us at once.”

Without wasting a second, the bodyguard did as he was told.

Gregory looked at Tessa meaningfully. “Pretty lady, this violin suits you.”

When she took a proper look at the instrument, she felt her heartbeat skitter to a stop. The violin presented to her was handcrafted by one of the most renowned violin makers in the world, and it was worth at least ten million. Asking me to play symphonies on this will only add pressure to my performance!

Presently, Nicholas and Kieran were standing in the doorway as they watched this scene with mild interest.

Perhaps swayed by Gregory’s insistence and somewhat bemused by Tessa’s subsequent hesitation, Nicholas spoke up coolly, “Miss Reinhart, seeing as it’s Gregory’s birthday today, you should take the violin for your performance if he likes it so much.”

Judging by the hard assertion in his tone, Tessa realized he was not offering room for negotiation or rejection. Nonetheless, she was still skeptical when she heard this, but she caved in and took the violin as graciously as possible. “In that case, I… Thank you, President Sawyer.”

Nicholas nodded curtly. “This violin is the only one of its kind, so I hope you can bring out its best, Miss Reinhart. We wouldn’t want Gregory to be disappointed now, would we?” With that, he lifted his arm and checked the time on his limited collector’s edition wristwatch, then pointed out, “The banquet is already starting. You may leave to get ready for the performance now, Miss Reinhart. I’ll bring Gregory out of here. See you later at the ceremony.”

Then, he deftly took Gregory out of Tessa’s arms.

Reluctant to leave, Gregory stared at Tessa wistfully and muttered, “S-See you at the banquet later, pretty lady!”

Nicholas did not spare him the chance to protest or dawdle as he spun on his heels and marched out of the music room without looking back at Tessa.

When his retreating figure finally disappeared from sight, Tessa let out a small sigh of relief.

She would be lying if she said she did not feel Nicholas’ wariness and aversion toward her, but she couldn’t blame him. Gregory was an important child, after all, one who stood to inherit the Sawyer family name and fortune. It made sense that he was under such intense scrutiny and protection at all times.

Always Been Yours Chapter 7

Love at First Sight

The ceremony was getting off to a slow and steady start in the banquet hall, and midway through, the emcee went up on stage to read out the name of the violinist for the solo performance. Gregory, who had been sufficiently bored since the beginning of the banquet, immediately lit up as he exclaimed, “Daddy, it’s the pretty lady!”

Nicholas’ gaze flickered over to the stage.

Presently, Tessa had already changed into an elegant beige dress, which had a modest cut that accentuated the curve of her waist and flattered her silhouette flawlessly. She was holding the violin Gregory had picked out for her earlier as she strolled gracefully to center stage.

When the track lights shone on the porcelain skin of her doll-like face, she looked dazzling.

For a minute, surprise flashed in Nicholas’ dark orbs, and he thought he might actually be enchanted by her.

On stage, Tessa couldn’t help being a little nervous as she stood tall and straight under the scrutiny of the deathly silent audience. This was the first time in her entire life she was performing before so many important and distinguished members of society, particularly ones as formidable as the Sawyers.

As she looked up, she unintentionally noticed Nicholas among the crowd.

His long and lean build seemed to stand out among the other guests, and the imperious air with which he carried himself made him look untouchable and high above everyone else.

Inadvertently, she locked eyes with him, and she shuddered when she saw how his eyes resembled a deep and endless sea, like dark whirlpools that threatened to pull in and drown you with one look.

Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly broke eye contact, meeting Gregory’s eager gaze instead.

The little guy was perched on a highchair as he stared at Tessa with glittering eyes, the anticipation clear in his face.

For some reason, all the anxiousness drained out of Tessa as soon as she saw the child, and she even managed an easy smile.

Before she kicked off her performance, she leaned toward the microphone and said gently, “It’s a great honor to be able to perform here today. The symphony I will be playing next is dedicated to the most adorable and brilliant little birthday boy. Here’s to many more happy accomplishments, little one!”

The hall burst into encouraging and enthusiastic applause.

Tessa smiled graciously, then bowed. Having done so, she resumed her position at center stage, and as the noise in the hall gave way to silence once more, all the lights turned and fell on her.

Unfazed by the spotlight, she wedged the violin firmly beneath the curve of her jawline and poised to play the first chord.

Soon, the gentle melodious sound of the violin filled the hall, soothing the crowd as they immersed in the quiet beauty of the performance, much like how one might take in the choir of skylarks.

The petite woman on stage was like a fairy who had descended under the moonlight. Her features were soft and delicate, her beauty so ethereal. Her confidence was as dazzling as she was as the spotlight shone on her.

Everything about her seemed so wonderful that no one could bear to look away from her for even a second!

What was more impressive was the sound of the violin, which appeared to have put the audience into a trance as the melody moved and transported them to some wonderland.

The audience were having a whale of a time, and they were each admiring the girl’s skillful performance.

A while later, Gregory clapped his little hands as he applauded Tessa’s breathtaking performance, and he turned to ask Nicholas excitedly, “Isn’t the pretty lady brilliant, Daddy?”

Nicholas’ gaze darkened slightly, but instead of answering Gregory, he asked, “Have you seen her before?”

The child nodded. “Yes, I saw her once when I tagged along with Great-Grandpa to one of those orchestra performances.”

Somehow skeptical, Nicholas pressed, “Was that all? You didn’t speak to her or anything like that after you saw her?”

Gregory shook his head and replied firmly, “No, but I like her a whole lot!”

While the father and son were discussing this, Remus was seated among the guests at another table, and his eyes were narrowed as he appraised Tessa, who was still on stage. He looked pensive and somewhat frustrated as he thought, Have I seen this girl before somewhere? Why does she look so familiar?

Before he could dwell more on this, the hall burst into thunderous applause and cut off his train of thought. As it turned out, the solo violin performance on stage had already come to a perfect end.

Tessa came back to her senses after her musical reverie ended, and she bowed deeply before the distinguished guests below the stage.

Gregory even let out a few whooping cheers as he clapped his little hands tirelessly.

Just as Tessa was stepping out of the banquet hall, she handed the violin gingerly to the bodyguards behind her. “Could you please help me take this violin back to the music room? It’s worth too much for me to hold on to it much longer.”

“Of course,” the bodyguard said readily, taking the violin from her and leaving in a hurry.

Now that Tessa had performed smoothly and returned the extravagant violin, she felt the weight slide off her shoulders, and she was elated. More importantly, she even got to celebrate the adorable little boy’s birthday.

He must be happy now, she thought with a warm smile. I hope my performance lived up to his expectations.

Then again, she wondered if this meant she would never see him again. After all, they came from very different worlds, and the chances of them ever crossing paths in the future were slim to none.

For some reason, the thought of this left her feeling a little forlorn and reluctant.

Meanwhile, inside the hall, Gregory asked Nicholas when he saw Tessa go down the stage, “Daddy, I want to see the pretty lady. Can the bodyguards bring me to her, please?”

“No, we have to go home right now. Your grandmother’s waiting up for you,” Nicholas said with forced patience as he picked Gregory up from the chair and held him to his torso.

He wasn’t about to let his son get close to some strange woman with an unknown background. Heaven knows what ulterior motives she may have for being so chummy with Gregory!

“No, I want to see the pretty lady! Let me down, Daddy!” Gregory whined, wriggling and struggling to break free from his father’s arms, but that did little to hinder Nicholas from bringing him out of the banquet hall. “Stupid Daddy! You poopy head! I want to see the pretty lady! You told me that you would let me have whatever I want on my birthday!”

Nicholas ignored him as he stormed out of the hall wordlessly, the air around him growing dangerously cold.

“Liar! You’re nothing but a big, fat liar! It’s bad enough that you won’t bring me to see Mommy, but now you want to stop me from seeing the pretty lady, too!” With that, Gregory began to sob piteously.

The word ‘mommy’ instantly made Nicholas think about that woman from five years ago. At that moment, hatred and rage seemed to course through him uncontrollably as he thought, You don’t need a mommy who abandoned you for money, Gregory! You deserve better than that!

However, when he saw how miserably the child in his arms was crying, he felt his heart soften as he promised, “Look, I’ll bring you to see her some other day, okay?”

It was as if he had uttered the magic words, for Gregory immediately stopped crying, and as he sniffled, he looked up at Nicholas with wide, sparkly eyes. “Do you really mean it, Daddy?”

Always Been Yours Chapter 8

Gregory’s Lone Visit

“Yes,” Nicholas said, just to humor the kid. He was convinced that it would only take a few days for Gregory to forget all about that woman, and he was even more convinced that there was no way a woman unknown to the Sawyers could make such a long-lasting impression on a tender-aged child.

Alas, Nicholas had spent every waking moment of the following three days keeping Gregory company, only to hear the boy whine about seeing Tessa.

While Nicholas had come up with various excuses to delay such plans of seeing Tessa, Gregory lost patience and threatened to ignore him for good. Then, the boy king decidedly locked himself in his room, refusing to come out or let anyone in.

Staring at the tightly shut bedroom door, Nicholas began to grow exasperated. He didn’t have time for this, certainly not on a day when he had to drop by the company to attend an inter-continental meeting.

As such, he summoned the butler and ordered sternly, “Keep an eye on Greg, and don’t let him get up to nonsense. Call me if anything unexpected happens.”

“Yes, sir!” Andrew, the butler, said solemnly with a respectful nod.

Then, Nicholas straightened up and headed out the door. Soon, his towering figure disappeared behind the door of an exquisite Bentley idling outside, and the car pulled away from the curb, cruising away from the house.

Presently, Gregory was huddled up in his room, simmering in childish anger as he pressed against the balcony and watched his father’s car drive out of sight.

When the car disappeared entirely from view, Gregory turned and stalked back into his bedroom, then slung his Superman backpack over his tiny shoulders. After that, he sneaked out through the hole in the backyard wall and promptly deleted all the camera footage that would have recorded his escape.

In actuality, he had already looked up online the address where Tessa’s orchestra was supposedly based. If Daddy doesn’t bring me to see her, then I’ll go and see her myself!

Now that his mission was accomplished, Gregory dusted off his starfish-like hands and made a triumphant noise. “You must have underestimated me if you think you can keep me under lock and key!”

The little one had only just made his great escape when he hailed a ride through a phone application. He cleverly set the Heavenly Chorus Orchestra as his destination, which was around a startling hundred-something miles away.

Nearly two hours later, Gregory finally stepped out of the car and looked up at the entrance of the Heavenly Chorus Orchestra building.

Tightening his grip on the strap of his backpack, he took a deep breath and walked through the doors, then looked up at the receptionist as he asked softly, “Hello, miss, I’m here to find my mommy. Her name’s Tessa Reinhart, and she works here! Could you help me call her, please?”

The receptionist took an immediate liking to the little boy, but when she heard he was Tessa’s son, she couldn’t hide her astonishment.

Tessa had been working here for all these years, but never once had she mentioned that she was a mother to such an adorable little boy. “Are you here on your own, little one? Give me a moment while I call your mommy right now.”

“Okay, thank you, kind lady!” Gregory said cheerily, then stood by the front desk and waited.

Meanwhile, when Tessa got the call from the receptionist saying somebody was here to see her, she had thought that it could be a member of the audience from one of her shows, but what the receptionist told her was, “Miss Reinhart, your son is here to see you, and he’s on his own. Please come over as soon as possible; it’s not safe for a child like him to be wandering around alone. Heaven knows what kind of predator would try to kidnap him!”

“Er…” Stunned, Tessa blinked and finally said, “Okay, got it, I’ll be right there.”

Her child had been taken away from her five years ago, and she wondered idly if some kid had come over to the building and mistaken her for his mother. Then again, she thought it was some kind of twist of fate, so she hurried over to the building. Better me than some human trafficker, she told herself.

It didn’t take long for her to reach the orchestra building, but the moment she stepped through the doors, she locked eyes with Gregory.

She stared at him with wide eyes, and she stood frozen in shock. What’s the little guy doing here?

Gregory, on the other hand, beamed when he saw Tessa, and there was no hiding his excitement. He slid off his seat with his backpack slung over his shoulders. He barreled toward her with as much speed as his little legs would allow. He threw his arms around her leg and said sweetly, “Pretty lady, you’re finally here!”

Tessa felt her heart melt into a puddle. Crouching down, so she was at his eye level, she asked gently, “Sweetheart, what are you doing here?”

Gregory pouted and mumbled, “Daddy doesn’t have time to bring me to see you, so here I am on my own!”

On your own? For a minute there, Tessa wondered if she had heard him wrong. She felt the hair on her neck stand to attention as she found herself at a sudden loss for words. I don’t know what sort of blind courage a little boy could have to make a trip all by himself here! Also, the Sawyers will be at their wits’ end when they discover he’s gone missing!

She shuddered when Nicholas’ frosty expression flashed in her mind. Hastily, she made to placate Gregory, “Sweetheart, it isn’t right for you to be here on your own without telling your family beforehand. Come along now. I’ll bring you home.”

“No, I don’t want you to go home!” When Gregory heard that she was asking him to leave, he hugged her tightly and looked up at her dejectedly. Still pouting, he asked, “Why do you want to send me home, pretty lady? Is it because you hate me?”

“Of course not! That’s impossible. I can’t even begin to tell you how much I like you,” Tessa cajoled soothingly.

Still, he seemed unconvinced, his little face somber as he pointed out accusingly, “Then why didn’t you tell me goodbye before you left the banquet the other day? I asked Daddy to bring me to you, but we couldn’t find you anywhere, and I didn’t even get to say goodbye.”

Upon hearing this, she stiffened in surprise. This little guy actually tried to look for me while on the yacht? She hadn’t had a reason to stay back after her performance, given how the rest of her orchestra was already alighting the yacht.

She didn’t think that the little one would think she had left without saying goodbye to him.

A fond smile curled on her lips as she gazed at him gently, then consoled him, saying, “Sweetheart, you’ve misunderstood. Anyone who sees how adorable you are will love you at first sight, but I just think that it’s inappropriate for a child your age to be wandering out of home without a chaperone.” She paused for a while before adding, “See, if your daddy finds out you’ve gone missing and called the police, then I would be a kidnapper, wouldn’t I?”

A kidnapper who has taken the Little Prince of the Sawyer Family away from home. Now that’s a crime I’d never dream of committing, even if I had Dutch courage.

However, Gregory unexpectedly patted his chest as he promised confidently, “Don’t worry, pretty lady, I’ll protect you! Daddy won’t be able to bully you at all!”

Amusement flashed in Tessa’s eyes as she sputtered at his childish oath. Reaching out a hand, she caressed his little face gently, more than happy to have the little guy’s promise of protection.

That being said, she was still worried and unsettled. After a moment of thought, she pressed, “Sweetheart, do you think you could give me your daddy’s number?”

Always Been Yours Chapter 9

Gregory Has Gone Missing

Over at Sawyer Group, Nicholas was still in the meeting when he got a call from Andrew. As soon as he heard that Gregory had gone missing, he stood up abruptly and walked out of the conference room with a steely expression, announcing through gritted teeth, “Dismissed!”

There was no hiding his anger and hostility. The sheer incompetency! What’s the use of keeping the staff if they can’t even keep an eye on a toddler?!

He looked more mutinous than he had seconds ago as he boarded his car. Just as he was about to rush back to the manor, his phone rang with an intrusive trill.

It was an unknown number, Nicholas noted, but he was in such a daze that he mispressed and answered the call instead of rejecting it.

As soon as the call was put through, an awkward female voice filled the other line, stammering, “H-Hello, President Sawyer. It’s me, Tessa, the violinist who performed at Young Master Gregory’s birthday banquet the other day. Do you still remember?”

She heard no response, but what she did hear was her heart thumping wildly in her chest. She wasn’t so presumptuous as to think Nicholas would still remember her after their brief meeting on the yacht, but then again, that wasn’t her priority at the moment.

Clearing her throat, she explained promptly, “President Sawyer, Gregory has come to the orchestra building to look for me all on his own. I was concerned that you might be looking for him, so I figured I’d give you a call. If it’s not too much trouble, could you please come and bring the little one home?”

Nicholas’ gaze darkened ominously at this as he said icily, “I see. I’ll be over right now. Thank you.” Then, he hung up the phone decisively and gave his assistant a call, snapping irritably, “Find every bit of information you can on a woman called Tessa Reinhart right now—her childhood, her accomplishments in school, every single detail there is to know about her!”

Keeping his phone, he stepped on the accelerator and sped over to the Heavenly Chorus Orchestra company building.

…

At the speed he was driving, Nicholas managed to get to the building in record time, having taken a mere hour to complete the otherwise two-hour drive there.

When he stormed through the main entrance of the orchestra building, anyone could see how stormy his face was.

At the sight of him, Tessa straightened up and greeted him stiffly and awkwardly, “P-President Sawyer!”

Trevor, on the other hand, looked rattled as he kept quiet, not daring to so much as let out a breath.

In stark contrast to their uneasy demeanors, Gregory was happily seated down, his little legs dangling over the edge of the chair as he looked entirely relaxed.

The vein near Nicholas’ temple was throbbing dangerously, and his voice sounded somewhat disembodied, as if it came from the depths of hell, as he demanded darkly, “Gregory. Sawyer. I don’t know where you keep all that audacity, but how dare you run away from home!”

Tessa and Trevor jumped at the thunderous volume of his voice.

Gregory, however, seemed completely at ease as he turned his head away haughtily, sneering, “It’s not my fault that you didn’t keep your promises, Daddy. You told me you’d bring me to see the pretty lady, but you went back on your word, so I have no choice but to come here alone.” He spoke softly, but that did little to hamper the hurt and accusation in his words.

Nicholas was taken aback by the forward protest, and for a second, he wasn’t sure if he had the right to argue. He couldn’t deny that he had been stalling Gregory, hoping that he might eventually forget about the promise, though Nicholas couldn’t very well admit this.

As such, he took a deep breath and walked up to Gregory, intending to talk some sense into the boy. “You have to cut me some slack here, kid. I’ve been really tied up at work, but I did try to free up my schedule to bring you to see Miss Reinhart. You shouldn’t have run away from home. All of us were worried sick!”

“Hmmph!” Gregory scoffed, then added primly, “As if I would believe you. You were cooped up at home for the past three days, so don’t tell me you were busy working! Don’t think I don’t know that you see me as a dumb kid who will fall for your lies! I’m already four, and I wasn’t born yesterday. You can’t keep spinning lies to humor me!”

Amused by this, Tessa sputtered aloud before she could stop herself.

Meanwhile, Nicholas blinked in surprise, but he, too, was amused. The rage that had welled up in him seemed to disappear after the little guy’s grumbling. Having calmed down, Nicholas went on to cajole the child, saying, “Okay, so now that you’ve seen the pretty lady like you wanted to, don’t you think it’s time for you to go home with me?”

Naturally, Gregory refused to entertain the idea of leaving, given the Herculean effort he had put in to track down his favorite pretty lady. He slithered down from his seat and stumbled over to Tessa on his little legs, then scoffed at his father contemptuously once more as he snapped, “You can go home on your own if you want to, but I want to stay here with the pretty lady. I will not be going back!”

As soon as he was done with his announcement, he wrapped his little arms around Tessa’s leg like a stubborn baby sloth.

Presently, Nicholas’ gaze flickered over to Tessa, his eyes so cold and dark that they evoked a barren winter land, but there was an inquisitive gleam in them nonetheless.

Tessa blanched, and she grew a little flustered. Knowing that Gregory was throwing a childish fit, she quickly joined in Nicholas’ efforts to change the little fella’s mind. “Sweetheart, I know you really like me, and I’m flattered. But this isn’t the right way to go about it. Besides, I still have work to do—right, Mr. Oswald?” She shot Trevor a meaningful look.

Trevor had no idea what was going on at the moment, but he went along with her bluff as he muttered hesitantly, “O-Oh, yes, that’s right, Young Master Gregory—our Tessa still has plenty of work lined up for her today, and she won’t be able to keep you company.”

Disappointed to hear this, Gregory lowered his head sadly as he mumbled, “Oh, okay…” However, he had not completely given up. He bit down on his bottom lip, then stared at Tessa with bright eyes as he asked softly, “Then maybe we can have lunch together, pretty lady. What do you say?”

“Well…” Tessa was working up to another rejection, but when she saw how piteous the little guy looked, she couldn’t bring herself to say no to him. Then, she caught sight of Nicholas’ dangerously stormy face and thought, There’s no way he’d agree to this. As such, she sighed and said firmly, “I don’t think that’s going to work out, Sweetheart.”

Upon hearing this, Gregory sniveled, and his eyes turned red as tears glistened in them. His shell-pink lips quivered, and it looked like he was about to cry at any given moment.

Tessa’s heart twisted at this, and she quickly shot Nicholas a pleading look, hoping that he could intervene and calm Gregory.

Nicholas seemed equally distressed as he pinched the space between his brows, caving into his child’s tantrum. “Then do you promise to go home with me right after lunch?”

Always Been Yours Chapter 10

Who Are You Calling a Mongrel?

Gregory appeared to be considering the proposition, then nodded with a hum. “Daddy, I thought about it, and you’re right. I can’t just stick to the pretty lady and get in the way of her work if she has a busy day ahead.”

Next to him, Tessa broke into a bemused smile. He’s so well-spoken for his age that it’s hard to remember he’s just a toddler.

Having heard his father acceding to the lunch request, Gregory grinned, the sadness fading from his eyes as he cheered, “Yay! That means I get to have lunch with you, pretty lady!”

Tessa’s lips curled into a gentle smile as she crouched down and wiped away the boy’s tears. In the process of her doing so, Gregory pelted her with an endless stream of questions, one of which was, “Pretty lady, is this where you usually work? Can I have a tour of the place?”

Not waiting for Tessa to respond, Trevor interjected immediately, “Of course, you can, Young Master Gregory!”

Tessa agreed readily. “Well, of course, you can have a tour if you’d like. I’ll be your personal guide.” With that, she picked up the little one and propped him on her hip as she showed him all the different departments of the orchestra company building.

That being said, her impromptu tour guide duty came with immense pressure, given that Nicholas was behind them the whole time.

She knew he didn’t like Gregory getting too comfortable with her, so she merely held the boy without encouraging affection.

However, Gregory seemed to think differently, for he took to her like a fish to water. He had one arm wrapped around her neck like it was the most natural thing in the world to do as he glanced around curiously and asked about anything he was remotely interested in, and Tessa answered him patiently.

It was nearly noon when they were finally done with a full tour, and Tessa thought it was time for lunch. Just as she was about to voice this out, the receptionist walked up to her and said quietly, “Miss Reinhart, there’s somebody here to see you.”

Tessa raised her brows in mild surprise. Who could look for me during lunch hour?

Nonetheless, she set Gregory down and addressed Nicholas politely, “Just a moment, please, President Sawyer. I’ll go and take a look at who it is.” Then, she walked toward the front desk to do just that.

Tessa had not expected to be greeted by the sight of her stepsister, Sophia, and her stepmother, Lauren, the moment she rounded the receptionist’s desk.

When she saw them, her expression immediately turned grim, and unconsciously, she clenched her fists even tighter. She could already guess what the both of them were doing here even before they explained themselves. They must be here because they’re seething over the six million compensation!

True enough, her guess was correct, and they were indeed here to confront her about the six million compensation.

Aggressively, Lauren reached out and grabbed Tessa by the arm, her nails digging into the latter’s flesh as she shrieked like a maniac, “You little b*tch! I didn’t peg you for the heartless sort. I can’t believe you actually framed Sophia and pinned six million worth of damages on her, even though she was innocent!”

Lauren had spent a small fortune getting Sophia onto that yacht, hoping that she could introduce her daughter into high society and bag a rich man of prestigious background. However, instead of achieving that end, Sophia ended up having to fork out six million in damages! The sum alone was of astronomical proportions, and it was a smidge away from crushing the Reinharts altogether.

Tessa smirked when she heard this baseless accusation and retorted icily, “I suggest you clarify this, Lauren. It was your daughter who messed up and broke Madam Sawyer’s precious violin before the banquet started, so it only makes sense that you have to pay for it.”

With her rage provoked, Lauren snapped, “How dare you speak back to me? You were the clumsy little fool who couldn’t even walk without tripping over your own feet, and after you broke the violin, you decided to pin the blame on your sister! Where the hell is your good conscience, Tessa?!” Seething, she paused to catch her breath, then warned shrewdly, “You little wh*re, if you don’t cough up the six million by the end of the day, then don’t blame me for making you do it the hard way!”

“Hah! Let’s just see if your bark is worse than your bite!”

Upon seeing the disdainful look in Tessa’s eyes, Lauren grimaced menacingly and shouted, “Get in here and take her away!”

Having heard this, the two burly bodyguards dressed in black hurtled into the lobby of the building to do as they were told.

Lauren had hired the two men earlier today to take Tessa by force. In addition to demanding the six million from Tessa, Lauren came with an ulterior motive in mind.

As things were, the Reinharts were having a hard time tiding over the steady regression of the family business, and in an attempt to salvage the company, they had come to a collective agreement to form an alliance through marriage.

Among their clientele was a man whose family was powerful enough to help the Reinharts get their business back on track, but his son, to whom Sophia was initially arranged to marry, had suffered a terribly high fever during his childhood, and his brain was damaged as a result.

When Sophia learned of this, she refused to make good on the arranged union, and Lauren thought that now would be the perfect opportunity to force Tessa to take her place instead.

Presently, the two bodyguards restrained Tessa in their vice-like grip, and she realized with horror that she could not possibly take them down. Struggling to break free of the men’s hold, she eyed her stepmother mutinously as she demanded, “What do you think you’re doing, Lauren? Let me go right now!”

The receptionist panicked as well when she saw how quickly things had escalated, and she frantically cried, “Security! Security!”

The security guards were several floors down, so they wouldn’t get to them that soon. Unexpectedly, Gregory beat them to it, and when he came out to see Tessa being apprehended by two aggressive men, he rushed over angrily. “Let go of the pretty lady right now! You can’t just take her away!”

Sophia heard him shouting and turned to look at him. When she saw that it was Gregory, all the color drained from her face.

Before she could snap out of her daze, Lauren stepped forward and reached to shove the child. “Where the hell did this mongrel come from? Get out of my sight!”

Gregory had been shoved with no small amount of force, and his little body staggered backward before he toppled to the ground.

Mortified, Tessa shouted, “Are you out of your mind, Lauren? Why would you do that to a kid?!”

She broke free of her captors and hurried to help Gregory up to his feet, looking pained as she asked worriedly, “Sweetheart, are you okay? Does it hurt?”

He shook his head, looking cherubic as he answered quietly, “No.”

He might be saying that, but Tessa saw that there was a red patch on his arm that was proof of how hard he had fallen.

Lauren, on the other hand, seemed oblivious to the trouble she had stirred up as she grew even more incensed, yelling, “I will not hesitate to hurt anyone who gets in my way today. What are you going to do about it?”

Tessa eyed her balefully. “You’ll pay for what you did today!”

Lauren merely smirked contemptuously when she saw how Tessa so vehemently defended the child. “All I did was push him. There’s no need for you to be so defensive. What, is he your mongrel or something?” she sneered.

Just then, a tall and lean figure approached the ruckus ominously, and a voice as cold and frigid as ice descended upon Lauren like the warning breeze of a snowstorm. “Who are you calling mongrel?”