Ch. 221..230

Always Been Yours Chapter 221

Tessa could not bear watching as Gregory sobbed his heart out. Nevertheless, she turned away and refused to look at him. All she coldly said to Nicholas was, “Please leave, President Sawyer.”

Nicholas took in her expression, feeling more and more confused. What on Earth is she trying to do? It’s clear that she is reluctant to part with Greg. Even so, he did not expose her lie. He simply turned to Gregory and said, “Gregory Sawyer, come here. Let’s go home.”

“But, Daddy… Miss Tessa…” Gregory was crying so hard that he was out of breath and couldn’t string a coherent sentence together. He simply hugged Tessa’s leg tightly to express what he wanted to say.

“Stop crying. Miss Tessa is busy. I’ll bring you here once she is done with her work.” Nicholas was feeling exasperated. Gregory’s current attitude could only be overcome through coaxing. He had to coax the child and bring him home before he could do anything else.

Gregory glanced up at Tessa before he glanced at his father. In the end, he nodded. “Okay.”

Afterward, he put on his small backpack and left her house with Nicholas.

When the father-and-son pair returned to the Dynasty Gardens, Gregory was still sobbing non-stop. However, he understood in his heart that Tessa’s current attitude clearly indicated that she did not wish to see him. If he stubbornly refused to leave, he might never get a chance to see her again in the future.

Nicholas was afraid that Gregory might kick up a fuss at home, so he did not return to the company. He simply called Edward to inform the other party that he was working from home.

Not long afterward, Edward handed the documents that needed to be processed to Nicholas.

“President Sawyer, I’ve finished investigating the matter you asked me to investigate,” he reported. “Miss Reinhart was fired by the Heavenly Chorus Orchestra. It is said to be Old Master Sawyer’s directive. Moreover, Old Master Sawyer ordered that she be banned from the entire industry.”

Nicholas furrowed his eyebrows tightly together. Why is Grandpa targeting the Reinhart

siblings? Just what is his objective? He immediately drove to the Sawyer Residence.

The moment Nicholas stepped through the door of the Sawyer Residence, he saw Remus calmly drinking tea and looking very comfortable.

Remus was not very surprised to see Nicholas. He simply looked up calmly and said, “Since you’re here, why don’t you sit down and drink some tea with me?”

Nicholas’ expression was grim. “What are you trying to do?”

“Have a taste of this Dragon Well tea. The girl from the Stone Family gave me this a few days ago. The taste is magnificent. The old man of the Stone Family has collected a lot of good tea over the years.” Remus picked up his teacup and lightly sniffed the aroma of the tea.

Nicholas might be familiar with the art of tea drinking, but that did not mean that he was in the mood for tea. Seeing how Remus was playing dumb and acting like he didn’t understand, he got straight to the point. “Grandpa, why are you targeting the Reinhart siblings?”

Remus chuckled softly. “Nicholas, you are the heir of the Sawyer Family. You should be focusing on your work, not standing up for others. It turns out that the Sawyer Family has gotten so idle that they have time to stick their noses in other people’s business while I was away.”

Nicholas scowled. “Grandpa, you know why I’m here, so don’t try to suppress me with these words. I’m not trying to stand up for anybody. I just want to know how these siblings have offended you that you have to be so ruthless toward them.”

Remus coldly snorted at those words. “Ruthless? Little brat, do you know what it means to be ruthless? Don’t interfere in this matter.” He paused for a moment. “By the way, if you have so much time on your hands, why don’t you meet the girl from the Stone Family more often? You should marry her soon.”

“I refuse. Greg is not willing either.” Nicholas’ voice turned frosty,

Remus seemed to have expected Nicholas’ response, so he was not surprised in the slightest. He even responded in a flat tone, “You don’t like that girl? That’s fine. Have you gone through the pictures I sent you previously? Choose one from among them. Just let me know if you find somebody you like.”

Nicholas gritted his teeth. “Don’t change the subject. If you are targeting the siblings,

then you should at least give me a reason. If they are in the wrong, you won’t need to do anything yourself. I will do it for you.”

“A reason? The reason is that the girl is not worthy of the Sawyer Family. I neither wish nor agree for you to marry an unknown person like her. How can she enter the Sawyer Family when she can’t even handle her family affairs properly?”

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Nicholas fell silent. His reasoning is not wrong, but the Reinhart siblings have never interacted with Grandpa before. At most, they only met each other once or twice in passing. Forcing them to pay this kind of price based on those one or two meetings is overboard. Besides, there’s nothing between Tessa and I. Why did he mention her marrying into the Sawyer Family? This matter can’t be so simple for Grandpa to target them like this. I’m sure there’s some inside story behind this incident that I don’t know about.

Meanwhile, Tessa felt extremely distressed after Nicholas came to pick Gregory up. In particular, the aggrieved look that Gregory gave her before he left lingered in her mind. She could not get it out of her head. It felt like her emotions were going to suffocate her to death.

She turned on her phone and looked at pictures of herself and Gregory. Reaching out, she stroked his smiling face in the picture. “I’m sorry, Greg. I didn’t mean to hurt you…”

Nevertheless, the damage had been done. Although Nicholas managed to coax Greg into going home under the excuse that I am busy, I’m sure Greg no longer wants to see me again. He has never liked talking to strangers. In the future, what will Greg do once I’m gone?

She thought back to the time when she first met Gregory. The image of him stretching out his hands for her to carry him made her heart hurt so much that she felt as though her heart was about to explode.

She sighed. Eventually, she exited her photo gallery and stopped looking at the pictures inside. It felt as though Gregory’s shadow lingered in every corner of this house. As a result, it became too depressing to stay here alone. Picking up her keys, she walked straight out the door.

It was not until she left the house that she realized she had nowhere to go. Timothy’s company was a no go because she would only worry him if she went there in her current state. Therefore, she wandered the streets aimlessly. Before she knew it, she arrived in the vicinity of the Heavenly Chorus Orchestra building. She was taken aback by the sight of the familiar-looking building. I don’t even work here anymore, so why did I come here? I should go back quickly!

She turned around and bumped into a person’s chest.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” She hurriedly lowered her head and apologized.

“It’s fine. Just pay more attention to where you’re going next time. Don’t wander along the streets again if you have something on your mind.” A gentle voice rang out above her head.

This voice… These words… Why do they sound so familiar? She hurriedly looked up. When she saw the person standing in front of her, she immediately became dumbfounded.

Scott was also taken aback to see that it was Tessa. Then, he immediately laughed. “It’s you. I already told you to watch where you’re walking. Why are you still being so absent-minded?

Tessa was embarrassed. Out of the two occasions that she failed to pay attention to where she was going, she just had to run into him on both occasions. Be that as it may, she was a little happy to meet him again. “If I remember correctly, you are Scott Brooks, right?”

This time, he was the one who seemed dumbfounded. “You know me?”

She smiled and replied, “I’ve seen your performance before. You are the main violinist of the Berlin Philharmonic, Scott Brooks. The Italian song ‘Devil’s Trill Sonata’ that you performed previously was the most emotional version that I’ve ever heard in my life. The ‘Zigeunerlieder’ that you performed also perfectly portrayed the musical style of the gypsies. If I didn’t know your origins, I would have thought that you grew up there.”

He had heard many compliments in his life, but almost all of them were very fake and shallow. They were usually praises telling him that he played very well. It was rare for somebody to comment on his music in this manner, so his eyes immediately lit up brightly.

“You’ve heard me play before?”

She smiled. “To be honest, I used to dream of becoming a performer like you and becoming famous all over the world.”

She didn’t just listen to his music-it was not as simple as that. The truth was that she had listened to the music of almost all the world-renowned musicians to the point that her ears were about to fall off. She could tell who was playing what in an instant. Even so, I still can’t find a job or a stage where I can show off my talents. Standing shoulder to shoulder with the world-renowned musicians has become nothing more than a far-off dream.

He was a little shocked. “You’re a violinist too?”

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“Yes.” Tessa nodded.

Raising his head, Scott glanced at the office building behind Tessa as realization hit him a little. “It’s no wonder I stumbled upon you near here twice. Are you a member of the Heavenly Chorus Orchestra?”

A trace of intricacy flashed in Tessa’s eyes. Then, she lowered her head and said in an upsetting tone, “I used to be, but I guess I’m not anymore.”

He was a little surprised. “Why do you say so? Did you resign or something?”

“Well, it’s all in the past. So, it’s pointless to talk about it again.” She raised her head. After that, she pulled the corners of her mouth into a smirk and pretended to smile indifferently.

It’s just a casual question that I blurted out. So, I don’t really expect a clear answer. Besides, now that I look at her current facial expression again, I can see that there’s something occupying her mind. What is more, she looks like she doesn’t want to mention it. Scott was someone who knew when to stop meddling in people’s affairs, so he simply did not ask any further questions.

However, he could still vaguely guess that there was a hidden reason behind Tessa’s departure from the Heavenly Chorus Orchestra. After all, he met her near here twice in a row. Perhaps she did not want to leave.

It was rude to rub one’s nose in the dirt. Thus, Scott smiled gently and said, “I still didn’t catch your name, considering we’ve been chatting with each other for so long. Care to tell me your name?”

As he spoke, he reached out with his hand to offer a handshake. “Hi, I’m Scott Brooks.”

Tessa was a little stunned. Shortly after, she smiled brightly and reached out to shake hands with Scott. “Hi, I’m Tessa Reinhart.”

“Well then, Miss Tessa Reinhart, I think the comment you made just now was very interesting, so I wish to chat with you more for a while. If you can spare me some time, may I buy you a cup of coffee?” Scott asked with a smile.

Scott could see that Tessa was actually passionate about music, and the comment she made was also spot-on. She might be a fellow from the same industry.

As someone who had always been accustomed to keeping a distance from anyone, Scott inexplicably wished to befriend Tessa.

Certainly. Tessa was willing to chat with someone like Scott. Maybe I can even learn a lot of musical knowledge from him. Therefore, she nodded without any question. “Sure!”

After that, Scott took Tessa to a cafe called ‘Encoded Strings’.

As she stood in the doorway, she silently read out the name of the cafe in her mind. Encoded Strings? It seems like this cafe is related to stringed instruments.

As expected, as soon as the both of them entered, they heard mellifluous music drifting from the violin inside the cafe. In an instant, Tessa’s eyes brightened up.

Curling the corners of his lips, Scott explained, “I come here often. Although the violin performance here is not as good as those violinists in the orchestra, there’s a sense of tranquility. I feel comfortable here.”

Agreeing with Scott, Tessa nodded. “Truly. The skill of the violinist here is indeed nowhere near a professional violinist. However, they’re still good at playing songs with a slow melody. It’s relaxing.”

After finishing her sentence, she looked at the violinist on the stage rather longingly. It’s a pity. As long as I’m still in Brentwood, I have no chance to stand up on stage and perform, not even on such a small stage.

Upon seeing Tessa’s envious look, he smiled and asked, “Do you want to go up there and give it a try?”

However, she shook her head. “They have their own team performing here. I don’t think they will simply allow anyone to perform on stage.”

“Yes, you can. This place is a public space. Anyone who’s willing to perform can go up there to do so. If no one is willing to perform, the staff of the cafe will do it. Go on. Go ahead and try.” Scott’s gaze was full of encouragement.

The reason why Scott had brought Tessa here was to check out her ability. Her comment previously showed that she has put a lot of effort into this aspect. If she were to actually play it, I’m sure it wouldn’t be too bad.

Tessa was already tempted to give it a try in the first place. Now that she looked at Scott’s gaze, she felt a little excited. At that moment, she felt like each and every cell in her body was shouting at her, Don’t chicken out! You like playing violin, don’t you? Then go ahead and try!

And thus, Tessa immediately got up. After communicating with the staff of the cafe. she directly stood on the center of the stage.

Although her arm had yet to fully recover, Tessa could still play songs with a much softer tempo as they would not affect her injury. Therefore, she chose a song titled ‘Cinema Paradiso!

From the moment she picked up the violin, the aura surrounding Tessa changed immediately.

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Although Tessa was only wearing a simple white T-shirt and a pair of light blue jeans, she appeared as someone who was well-put-together in the eyes of the public. Her simple outfit looked even more imposing than those gorgeous stage costumes, making people’s eyes light up.

Tessa took a few deep breaths before putting the violin on her shoulder. One by one, the musical notes came alive and danced around, accompanying Tessa’s musical movement. It was as if they had a soul of their own. Soon, the melodious violin sound came.

At once, the initially whispering noises among the visitors in the cafe disappeared. Everyone’s attention seemed to be attracted by the person standing on the bandstand.

The main rhythm of this song was pristine and clean, while the sound of the violin was melodious and beautiful. By incorporating her own emotions, it was as if Tessa was plangently telling a story through the music. As the people listened to Tessa’s performance, they had mixed emotions.

When the music ended, there was still silence in the cafe. Suddenly, there was a burst of applause coming from the corner. Subsequently, the audience gave out thunderous applause.

At that moment, Tessa could not help but twitch her nose a little. Although it had not been long since her last performance, she felt like a lifetime had passed now that she heard the sound of applause again.

Showing a meaningful smile, Tessa took a deep bow. “Thank you, everyone.” Soon after, she walked down the stage.

Meanwhile, the applause did not stop until Tessa returned to her seat.

Looking at Scott smiling gently in front of her, Tessa felt slightly clueless. “Was I a little showing myself up in front of an expert?”

Upon hearing that, Scott smiled and shook his head. “Why do you think so? Your performance was perfect! It was a performance that carried a slight emotion, which I don’t hear often.”

Then, Scott paused for a while before continuing, “Miss Reinhart, your violin skill is so good. Didn’t you consider joining other orchestras after leaving the Heavenly

Chorus Orchestra?”

Tessa was slightly frustrated. “How could I not think of it? But… if I continue to stay in Brentwood, I’m afraid I won’t have the chance to stand on the stage.”

“In that case, why don’t you consider leaving Brentwood to develop?” Scott asked tentatively.

After listening to Tessa’s performance, Scott had a vague idea that he wanted to recruit Tessa. I want to recruit her to join the Berlin Philharmonic. Such a good candidate should not be cramped here. If Tessa is willing, I can recommend her and arrange a chance for her to meet with our music director, Robert Miller.

“She’s not leaving.”

Suddenly, a sullen low voice of a male sounded above their heads before Tessa could answer.

Feeling a little shocked at the voice, Tessa raised her head. When she saw the person who came, she was instantly at a loss. “Nicholas? Why are you here?”

However, Nicholas pursed his lips. Instead of answering Tessa, Nicholas simply turned to Scott. “I’ll take her away.”

After the statement was made, Nicholas directly pulled Tessa’s wrist and walked out of the cafe.

“Nicholas! Let go of me! You’re hurting me! What are you doing?” Tessa exclaimed as she struggled, trying to break herself from Nicholas’ clutch. However, Nicholas’ grip became stronger and stronger, and he firmly held her wrist in his hand.

Still, Nicholas pursed his lips and did not speak. Instead, he directly pulled her and walked forward.

Nicholas showed up here because he had received news saying Tessa was in a cafe. So, he came to find her deliberately. He wanted to tell her that the decision made by the Heavenly Chorus Orchestra previously was annulled, so he came here purposely to ask her to return.

However, Nicholas did not expect that he would see Tessa performing on stage as soon as he arrived at the cafe. After finishing her performance, she even talked and laughed with an anonymous male.

How would I not know the hidden message behind that man’s words? If he wants to trick

Tessa, that’s out of the question!

“Nicholas! Did you not hear me? Let me go! What are you doing exactly? Where are you taking me?” Tessa was a little exasperated.

Are all members of the Sawyers so hegemonic, doing whatever the hell they want without any negotiation? I’m not someone that the Sawyers can ask to come and can get rid of at the wave of a hand. By what rights are they treating me like this?

Upon hearing Tessa’s constant exclamation, only then did Nicholas halt his tracks. Then, he said coldly, “Come with me. I have something to tell you.”

“What is it that you want to tell me that you can’t say properly? Let me go first,” Tessa also said coldly.

At the same time, Tessa was secretly making snide comments in her mind. How inexplicable! Did I mess around with him or provoke him? Why is he having such a huge resentment? He’s making it seem like I did something to him!

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To be honest, Nicholas also had no idea what was going on with him. Why was I so angry when I saw Tessa talking and laughing with an unknown man?

Nonetheless, Nicholas let go of Tessa after he glanced at her reddened wrist. “Follow me.”

Although Tessa was extremely reluctant to see Nicholas, it was too late for her to make a run for it now. Therefore, she thought she should just take this opportunity to clear the air between Nicholas and her.

With that in mind, Tessa followed Nicholas silently. Later, they entered another cafe which was quieter.

After they were seated, Tessa asked in a cold tone, “Why exactly did you look for me?”

“I learned about the incident with the Heavenly Chorus Orchestra. Previously, I was uninformed of your expulsion. I came to see you this time to ask you to return. About the order of your expulsion, I have revoked it.”

Ever since he was a child, Nicholas had never spoken with people so patiently. However, it was different this time. It was indeed the Sawyer Group that had wronged Tessa.

At heart, Nicholas felt a little guilty about what Tessa and her brother had suffered recently. “I’ll compensate you for your losses these past days and the damage to your reputation.”

However, Tessa merely sneered, “Are all things measurable by money in the eyes of the rich?”

There was a slight change in Nicholas’ facial expression when he heard that, but he did not answer.

Indeed, using money as compensation does hurt one’s self-esteem. In this regard, Tessa is also someone who stands by her own principles despite her usual personality being gentle. Furthermore, the Sawyer Group did go a little too far in this matter, so her resentfulness is expected. I also sincerely want to invite her back to the orchestra.

In the meantime, Tessa also understood Nicholas a little bit. Usually, he will let his assistant handle these things. However, for him to be able to come to me in person today also

clarifies his stance.

At the thought of that, Tessa’s tone softened a bit. “Let me be straightforward with you. President Sawyer, I have my own view on whether to stay or leave. However, I will not return to the Heavenly Chorus Orchestra for the time being. Thank you for coming to me in person and letting the Heavenly Chorus Orchestra take me in. But… I think we should keep some distance.”

Tessa paused for a moment. Then, she curled the corners of her lips. “After all, it’s good for you, me, and Greg. Thank you, President Sawyer, for appreciating me. But we’re eventually just different. By the way, President Sawyer, there’s one more thing. My brother and I are simply ordinary people, and the Sawyers are really out of our league. So, I sincerely hope that your family will stop targeting us. Thank you.”

After Tessa finished speaking, she felt sick at heart for a while. She did not want to keep staying in the cafe, so she stood up and left.

This time, I’m afraid that we will never cross paths again once I leave. Also, I can’t possibly see Greg and can’t listen to him calling me ‘Miss Tessa sweetly anymore in the future.

There was a wry feeling in Tessa’s heart. But this is also the best choice. At least, it can give Timothy and me a stable life. Let the two people who should never have crossed paths return to their original lives.

Since Tessa started to speak, Nicholas did not once interrupt her. He also did not persuade her to stay when he saw she was leaving. Only his facial expressions became unsightly.

Ever since she had made things clear with Nicholas, Tessa completely cut off all ties with the Sawyers for the next period of time.

As for Nicholas and Gregory, they never once contacted her as well.

Both of them had extreme tacit understanding, and neither of them talked about the conversation from that day. It was as if nothing had ever happened.

Therefore, Timothy’s company still maintained a good cooperative tie with the Sawyer Group

Once in a while, Timothy would come back and mention the progress of the project with the Sawyer Group. However, Tessa simply smiled and did not comment much. She merely asked Timothy to focus on his work occasionally.

However, Tessa still had the same attitude during the first and the second time

Timothy mentioned the cooperative project. She seemed to be a little disinterested in everything.

Hence, Timothy was a little puzzled. “Tess, what happened to you recently?”

“Huh? I’m fine. Why do you ask?” Tessa replied with a smile.

When he saw Tessa’s smiling face, Timothy became even more worried. “I just think that you’re not looking very happy lately. You’re obviously smiling, but…”

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“Silly, I’m really fine.” Tessa burst out laughing.

Still feeling worried, Timothy said, “Tess, why don’t you go study abroad? At the same time, you can also take a break. You don’t have to worry about inoney. Just do whatever you want. Don’t worry about me. I’m all grown up. Instead, I can protect you.”

Study abroad? It has always been my wish to study abroad. In fact, I had the opportunity when I was in college. However, the plan was put on hold as I had to take care of Tim at that time. I have always regretted letting the opportunity slip away. But now that Tim mentioned it, I’m suddenly hesitating a little. Firstly, Tim’s company has just been established, and he’s extremely busy every day. If I leave, I don’t know how he will torment his body. I’m worried about leaving him alone in Brentwood. Secondly, I’m a little reluctant for some unknown reason.

For a moment, Tessa stayed silent. “This matter isn’t urgent, so I’ll think about it again.”

“Sure. Tess, anytime if you feel like going, just let me know. I’ll arrange everything for you.” Seeing that Tessa was unwilling to go now, Timothy did not force her much. Instead, he catered to her opinion.

“Very well. You’re really successful now. I’ll let you know when I want to go.” Tessa smiled.

“It just so happens that I have completed both my work and assignments for today. Why don’t I watch TV with you for a while?” Timothy suggested.

Recently, Timothy had been busy with his company’s affairs. Moreover, he was also busy handling the cooperative tasks with the Sawyer Group. So, he hardly had time to accompany Tessa.

After thinking about it, I may also be a part of the reasons why Tess has been in a bad mood. After all, she doesn’t have a job for the time being. Inevitably, she’ll be struck with boredom from being left alone at home.

In the meantime, Tessa also knew what her younger brother was thinking. Therefore, she could not help but laugh.

Even so, it was true that the two of them had not chatted much recently. Seeing that Timothy finally took a break for a while, Tessa thought it was also very suffocating for him if he did not have any entertainment to unwind. Hence, she nodded.

After turning on the TV, they saw it was time for entertainment news.

What came in sight was a photo of Nicholas’ side profile, followed by a photo of an unknown woman with a gentle and quiet look. The two photos were shown side-by side.

With a professional smile, the anchor started announcing, “Now, for someone. entertainment news, it was recently reported on the Internet that the relationship between Nicholas Sawyer, the president of the Sawyer Group, and the daughter of the Stones, Hayley Stones, has intensified. The couple is expected to hold a wedding in the near future.”

After Tessa heard the anchor’s words, she was stunned for a while. However, she quickly regained her composure. Then, she turned to look at Timothy. “This sort of entertainment news is quite boring. Is there anything else you want to watch? How about we watch the latest movie?”

In a daze, Timothy nodded and subconsciously said, “Up to you, Tess.”

Timothy was still a little stupefied even after a while. I suppose I didn’t have blurred vision, and my ears also weren’t deaf just now. The news reported that Nicholas and the Stones would be united in marriage. B-But wasn’t he still single a while ago? Moreover, there seems to be a little notion between him and Tess. But why is he off the market in the blink of an eye? Furthermore, he’s reported to be getting married in the near future. Was it all my delusions? Tess’ reaction was too chill when she learned about the news as well. After all, I was also the former owner of this house. Didn’t Greg drop by a few days ago? What happened in between the timeline that I wasn’t aware of?

And thus, Timothy asked cautiously, “Tess, what happened between the two of you?”

“Huh?” Tessa raised her head and looked at Timothy with a confused look on her face.

Once again, Timothy asked, “Don’t you have any opinion about the marriage of convenience between President Sawyer and the Stones?”

However, Tessa smiled indifferently. “What opinion can I have? It has nothing to do with me regarding whoever he marries. Besides, they’re both well-matched in social and economic status. They’re already in the same circle in the first place. The opinion that I express wouldn’t carry any meaning at all, so we’ll just live our separate lives well. Alright, let’s not meddle too much in someone else’s affairs. Didn’t you say you want to watch TV with me? How about this movie?” Tessa picked a movie and turned to ask Timothy.

Since Tessa had said so, Timothy naturally chose to listen to her words unconditionally. So, he nodded. “Okay.”

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In Dynasty Gardens, Nicholas was still unaware that he had been ‘engaged’ unilaterally. After work, he went straight home.

As soon as he entered the house, he saw a slightly aggrieved-looking Gregory sitting on the sofa.

When Andrew saw that Nicholas came back, he immediately stepped forward and pleaded, “Master Nicholas, young master has found out. He’s throwing a little tantrum right now. Please come quick and cheer him up.”

Nicholas was a little puzzled. “What did he find out?”

For a moment, Andrew had no idea how to answer Nicholas. It’s a little hard for me to grasp Master Nicholas’ mind. It’s obviously his business, but why do I have a feeling that he’s unaware of it too?

At that moment, Gregory got off the sofa and looked at Nicholas aggrievedly. “Daddy, is it because another lady wants to marry into our family that Miss Tessa ran away?”

What’s about this topic of marriage? Also, what does this have to do with Tessa?

Therefore, Gregory handed Nicholas the phone. “Daddy, see for yourself! I don’t want anyone else! No one can replace my beloved Miss Tessa!”

After Nicholas saw the trending topics in the search bar, he could not help but frown immediately.

There was also a picture of Nicholas sending Hayley home last time. The woman in the photo was smiling and looking at the person in the car with a blissful look on her face. One glance, and people could feel that there was a kind of unclear ambiguity between the two.

Grandpa actually came up with such a trick! He’s directly forcing me into accepting this marriage by publishing the article with the secretly taken photo! Great! Just great!

Squatting down, Nicholas caressed the head of his aggrieved-looking son. “No, it’s not like that. Besides, I won’t let that lady marry into our family.”

Upon hearing that, Gregory looked at Nicholas hesitantly for a while. Eventually, he felt that Nicholas would not lie to him since he had always kept his words. Thus, he nodded obediently. “Okay. Daddy, you must keep your word.”

Nicholas nodded. Then, he looked at Andrew. “I’ll go back to the Sawyer Residence for a while. Make sure you take good care of Greg.”

After that, the car engine let out a roaring sound, and it drove away.

Not long after, Nicholas arrived at the mansion.

Just like usual, Remus was drinking his tea while teasing the birds. He was feeling very relaxed. Upon seeing Nicholas entering the house in a rage, he simply raised his eyelids a little. “Oh, you came?”

Nicholas said coldly, “What are you trying to do again? Since when did I agree to be engaged to Hayley?”

“You’re still going to marry her even if you don’t want to.”

In contrast with Nicholas’ raging state, Remus simply glanced at him lightly and continued drinking his tea. “You’re still not the one who gets to make the final decision in the Sawyers. Since when is it your turn to oppose my decision?”

“I can obey all your decisions when it comes to the company’s affairs. But this is my own marriage. I don’t need your intervention. No matter what, I will not marry Hayley! I suggest that you dismiss this idea as soon as possible,” Nicholas said with a cold voice.

At this moment, Nicholas’ aura was not inferior to Remus’. A storm of anger exploded as the powerful aura between these two directly collided.

Instantly, the living room of the Sawyer Residence became silent. The housekeeper and the servants did not dare to make any sound. As they were well-trained in this manner, they exited the room. Even the birds in the cage seemed to have sensed the danger and stopped chirping.

Then, Remus said coldly, “Nicholas, don’t forget: You’re part of the Sawyers. Your last name is Sawyer!”

Similarly, Nicholas said coldly, “I remember my last name. But if you insist on doing things this way, then I will solve it my own way!”

With that, Nicholas left the Sawyer Residence in great strides. After he got into his car, he called Edward with a sullen look on his face. “I want you to suppress the news for me now and refute the rumor in the name of the Sawyer Group!”

Edward, who was far away in his own house, could feel Nicholas’ anger through the phone. The anger was followed by a bit of trepidation. It’s rare for President Sawer to be this angry.

Therefore, Edward did not dare to delay any longer. He received the order swiftly. “Will do, President Sawyer.”

Not long after, the Sawyer Group’s rumor refutal statement appeared on the trending topics of each major social media application.

Initially, Hayley was very happy when she saw that she was trending along with Nicholas. However, she was left with an egg on her face within an hour, and her facial expression instantly turned hideous.

Sonia was a little puzzled when she saw Hayley’s smiling face disappear in an instant. Then, she glanced at the news, and her facial expression also darkened. “What does Nicholas mean by this?”

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This piece of news was actually released by Remus, and it was approved by the Stones. Hence, this matter could be regarded as consensual between the two families. Initially, they wanted to rely on this news to give pressure to Nicholas. They thought this would allow the two youngsters to go with the flow and directly get married. However, everyone did not expect that Nicholas would be so resolute and frankly defy Remus’ idea.

Maxwell was also enraged, and he snorted, “He’s obviously making a fool out of our family! Well, this kid is so courageous! Get the car ready! We’ll pay a visit to the Sawyer Residence!” The more Maxwell thought about the matter, the more he could not let this slide. His crutches rattled on the ground as he stormed out.

Maxwell swiftly rushed to Remus’ residence. Once he arrived, he glared at Remus angrily. “You ought to give me an explanation for this.”

Likewise, Remus also did not expect Nicholas would directly embarrass the Stones in such a way. So, he thinks he’s all grown up now, and he can make important decisions without asking me.

Although the business of the Stones was nowhere near as good as the Sawyers’, both Remus and Maxwell were lifelong friends. Besides, it was Remus who had released the news. Hence, this could also be considered as Nicholas publicly embarrassed Remus. At the thought of that, Remus was also instantly enraged. “Call that evil grandson of mine!”

Upon receiving the order, the housekeeper immediately called Nicholas. After calling him for ten times, no one answered the call. The housekeeper was rather in a difficult situation. “Sir, Master Nicholas isn’t picking up…”

Maxwell had requested Hayley to stay at home and wait for his news. Nevertheless, it was her first time to experience such an obvious embarrassment, so she was a little annoyed. Without saying a word, she directly went to search for Nicholas in the Sawyer Group’s office building.

Along the way, Hayley had figured things out. As long as Nicholas is willing to come up with a logical reason, then I’ll forgive him and will not pursue this matter. I’ll accept his clarification if he has his own reasons. Even if his reason is for the sake of the company’s development, I can still accept his clarification as long as he’s still here with me. After all, it’s true that we’re the ones who forced him into this marriage. But my feelings for Nicholas are

also real. I really love him. I’m willing to do anything as long as Nicholas is willing to marry

me.

Soon, the car stopped downstairs at the Sawyer Group’s office building.

When Hayley saw Edward, she smiled and said, “Mr. Jackson, I have some matters

that I wish to discuss with President Sawyer. So, I wonder if he can spare me some time.”

Upon hearing that, Edward simply asked Hayley to wait outside. He soon returned to the office to inquire with Nicholas if he would let Hayley in.

“No,” Nicholas said coldly after he found out who the visitor was. Not once did he pause flipping the document in his hand or raise his head.

Even though Nicholas had issued a rumor refutal statement later, Tessa was still disinterested in this matter. It has nothing to do with me whether Nicholas is marrying Hayley or not.

At this moment, Tessa had been invited to meet with Scott at a cafe outside.

When Tessa saw the gentle-looking man again, she immediately thought about how she had left him alone after being taken away by Nicholas last time. Hence, she felt a little embarrassed and apologized to Scott by saying, “I’m really sorry about the incident last time.”

However, Scott did not take it to heart. He smiled gently. “It’s okay. I had some things to deal with not long after you left. Not to mention, you didn’t leave on purpose. So, there’s no need for you to apologize.”

After that, Scott paused for a while before he continued, “But I asked you out this time because I have something to ask you.”

“What is it?” Tessa was a little curious,

Scott said, “I want to ask you this: What do you think about the Berlin Philharmonic?”

“Frankly speaking, the Berlin Philharmonic has always been the muse in my heart. I like your performances very much. The Berlin Philharmonic can be regarded as the top-tier orchestra among the international orchestras. So, I’m very longing to join the orchestra one day.”

Whenever she spoke of music, Tessa’s eyes would light up.

At once, Scott said, “Like you said, the Berlin Philharmonic’s standard is very high. With your talent, there’s a possible chance that you can join us in the future. However, you’re still lacking something, so it’s really unlikely that you’re able to join now.”

Upon hearing this, Tessa lowered her eyes. I have watched so many performances done by the Berlin Philharmonic. How would I not know the gap between my skill and theirs! But now that someone suddenly pointed it out mercilessly, I feel even more dejected. “I’m aware of that.”

Seeing Tessa acting this way, Scott could not help laughing. “You don’t have to get dejected so soon. The Berlin Philharmonic intends to train newcomers recently. If you want, you can come to the Berlin Philharmonic and learn first. When you have improved, you’ll definitely have an opportunity to join in the future.”

Always Been Yours Chapter 229

Once again, Tessa’s eyes lit up. She was very moved. “Is what you said true?”

Indeed, having the opportunity to learn in such an international orchestra was like a dream for any musician. Furthermore, Tessa had always dreamed of being part of the Berlin Philharmonic.

Upon hearing that, Scott nodded. “Why would I lie to you? Do you want to give it a try first?”

Tessa also nodded. “I do!”

“Then, prepare yourself for these two days. I’ll take you to the orchestra for an interview this weekend. If you pass the interview, you can come and learn,” Scott said with a smile.

Tessa nodded. “Thank you. I’ll definitely try my best!”

After returning home, Tessa turned her attention to practicing her violin.

Meanwhile, in the Sawyer Group’s office, the employees had felt that the atmosphere of the company was extremely depressing in the past few days. It seemed like the company was surrounded by a gloomy vibe.

As everyone knew that Nicholas was in a bad mood recently, they were so scared that they were very careful when they worked. They were in fear of making mistakes with their work and enrage Nicholas.

“Was Mr. Lennington from the Sales Department summoned away by President Sawyer?” an employee asked in a low voice.

Another employee hurriedly followed and whispered, “That’s right. I heard that there’s mistakes with his report again. At this juncture, I’m afraid he’ll get scolded to the point he would weep.”

Later, another employee who was sitting beside them also suppressed their voice. “You guys still dare to chit-chat? Aren’t you all afraid that you’ll be the next target? Hurry up and check your documents!”

“When will these dreadful days be over? When will President Sawyer be happier? I’m

willing to contribute all my snacks.”

As soon as Kieran entered the company, he heard these gossips, and he could not help frowning. Then, he coughed a few times at the whispering employees.

Like they had seen a ghost, everyone was frightened that they were silent for a moment. When they saw it was Kieran, they breathed a sigh of relief. However, their faces instantly turned grim again. “Master Kieran, please persuade President Sawyer for us…”

Kieran had always had a good relationship with the employees. Upon hearing their request, he smiled. “Don’t worry. Leave this matter to me. You guys should get back to your work now; don’t make mistakes after I put good words with him. By that time, not even deities can save you all.”

Only then did the group dismiss and start getting busy with their own work.

However, Kieran actually chickened out just like the rest of the employees when he truly stood at the doorway of the president’s office.

It seems like Nicholas is really angry this time. I can even feel his anger through the door. It’s true that Mr. Lennington is getting scolded regarding his report inside the office.

Therefore, Kieran took a deep breath and knocked on the door before entering. “Nicholas, Mr. Lennington knows his mistakes. How about you let him go and correct the mistakes first?”

Upon hearing that, Nicholas glanced coldly at Bill, who was about to cry. “Run along.”

After Bill left, Kieran sighed. “Nicholas, don’t be angry. Didn’t you resolve the matter regarding the alliance marriage with the Stones? Besides, you issued a statement, and grandpa didn’t say anything. Getting angry will only harm your health.”

Nicholas looked up at Kieran coldly. “Are you so free that you don’t have anything to do? Are you aware of the time now? Yet, you’re here telling me this?”

“Okay, Nicholas-no, President Sawyer. Since we’re going to talk about business at work, don’t you also bring your emotions to work. Look at the people working under you; they’re all looking like they’ve been drained out of their lives. Can you please have mercy on them?” Kieran uttered helplessly.

“They’re not carrying out their tasks when they have the time, yet they have the time to talk nonsense behind my back. Is Sawyer Group a charity organization? Does it only support idlers? If they make mistakes again next time, you’ll be held

accountable for the company’s losses,” Nicholas said with a sullen look on his face.

At once, Kieran’s face fell, and he did not even dare to pull the corners of his mouth into a smirk. “N-No. I was wrong, Nicholas. If they deserve a scolding, go ahead and scold them. If not, I will scold them for you!”

I shouldn’t have agreed to be a persuader! I’m even being attacked for no reason. What’s worse, the attack doesn’t seem totally illogical. Argh! I have so much suppressed grievances!

At the thought of that, Kieran sighed deeply. This father-son duo is really behaving in the same manner. I just went to Dynasty Gardens in the morning and met Greg. That little buddy also had a cold facial expression. He was looking unhappy as he hugged his drawing board. No matter what I said or how I cheered him up, I couldn’t put up a smile on Greg’s face. Later, he even told me to shut up in a cold tone. He asked me to come to work if I was so free and told me not to disturb him.

Always Been Yours Chapter 230

I have no idea how I, the second son of the Sawyer Family, got into such a plight and be despised by others. Tessa Reinhart is truly a venomous woman!

Time passed quickly. In the blink of an eye, it was the day Tessa would go for her interview with the Berlin Philharmonic.

Apart from attending their concert, this was Tessa’s first opportunity to meet the members of the world-famous Berlin Philharmonic face-to-face.

Tessa was a little nervous because not only was she about to meet with her favorite orchestra band, but this interview was also very important to her. This may be a highlight to my violin career!

Therefore, Tessa was very attentive when it came to this interview. I have to show my professionalism.

And thus, Tessa did something that she rarely did: She dressed herself up.

Tessa put on a white dress and tied her hair high. She also wore light make-up, which brought out the delicacy of her facial features. Wearing a nice-looking dress, she gave out a well-put and elegant vibe yet did not lose her briskness.

As soon as Scott entered the rehearsal studio, which was recently rented by the orchestra, he saw Tessa sitting on a stool obediently, waiting for the interview.

When Scott noticed Tessa had dressed up, his eyes could not help but light up.

The two times I saw Tessa, she simply wore a T-shirt and a pair of jeans. Moreover, she went out without makeup. Even her face without makeup looked very attractive. Today, she looks stunning. It feels like her whole person is shining. Her aura is so dazzling that it’s making people can’t take their eyes off her.

Upon hearing footsteps coming from behind, Scott suddenly realized that he was a little lost in his thoughts. So, he nodded slightly to his colleague and walked toward

Tessa.

Scott smiled gently at the person in front of him who looked a little uncomfortable. “Tessa, why are you here so early?”

The moment Tessa entered the studio, she started getting butterflies in her stomach. Her palms were sweaty, and she was constantly revising the skills and techniques of

the music piece she was going to perform. She was so focused that she did not notice anyone coming.

When Tessa heard the sound, she was startled. So, she immediately raised her head. Seeing that it was Scott, she breathed a sigh of relief. At that moment, she felt she was not as nervous as before.

Being honest, Tessa said, “Interview is an important matter, so I can’t be late.”

Furthermore, the Berlin Philharmonic is one of the top orchestras. My future career path would be determined by whether I am accepted or not today. Therefore, I can’t afford to be careless.

Seeing that Tessa’s face was a little flushed, Scott smiled gently. Then, he turned around and poured her a glass of water. “Drink some water first. Don’t be nervous when you go in later. Just play like how you normally would. Your performance that day was already great enough.”

Tessa nodded. “Thank you.”

It did not take long for the staff to call Tessa in for her interview.

“Hello, teachers. I’m Tessa Reinhart. I graduated from Southfield Music School…” Tessa briefly introduced herself.

Hearing that, Robert nodded. “Very well. What piece are you going to play?”

With that, Tessa replied, “I’m going to play ‘Canon.”

Upon hearing that, Scott widened his eyes. This piece is the most classical piece in the violin world, and it’s also a very difficult piece, not to mention it’s difficult to grasp the emotion while playing this piece. The technique is also very complicated, and it’s very easy for the violinist to make mistakes. Normally, violinists with little foundation wouldn’t dare to try this piece out easily. After all, if the performer makes a slight mistake, the whole piece will lose its soul. As such, Tessa is likely to miss out on her chance of being a part of the Berlin Philharmonic.

Just as Scott was still stunned, Tessa was ready to play. She bowed to the interviewers in front of her with a very good mannerism. Then, she put the violin on her shoulder.

As a matter of fact, Tessa actually thought about the things Scott was worried about. This piece indeed possesses a challenge to the musician’s skills. However, I can’t perform a piece that’s too ordinary in front of these advanced performers. It’s not enough to impress them. Only such a piece with high-level difficulty will impress them. Besides, it can exemplify my ability.

After that, Tessa slowly closed her eyes, unlocking the confidence that the violin brought her. Within seconds, her aura changed dramatically…