Chapter 819 Parting Ways
“Miss Reinhart, do you have time? Let’s meet up.”
Tessa was stunned for a second to hear the aloofness in Hathaway’s voice. A glint of sorrow flashed across her eyes as she took a moment for herself before answering in a hoarse voice, “Yeah. Where should we meet?”
“I’ll send you the location.” Hathaway informed an address before terminating the call.
Half an hour later, Nicholas drove Tessa to an exquisite and elegantly decorated manor; it was Hathaway’s place. The hanging black curtains was an indication that someone from the family had passed away. It made Tessa’s tranquil heart rippled once again.
The couple headed to the living room to see Hathaway sitting on the couch in a black long dress with a white flower on her chest, surrounded by a pall of bereft.
“Miss Hathaway—” Before Tessa could offer her comfort, Hathaway interrupted her.
“You’re no longer my disciple, just so you know. So, just be comfortable.”
Tessa’s face dimmed and her stomach was churning due to sadness. Biting her lips, she decided to apologize. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know that things would come to this.”
“You don’t have to apologize to me. It’s not your fault, but I don’t think I can get along like how we used to from now on.” Hathaway shook her head as she refused to accept the apology.
Again, Tessa’s heart squeezed and the shrewd Nicholas took hold of her hand as though he was trying to cheer her up. Meanwhile, Hathaway ignored their interactions and asked them to take a seat.
She dived straight into the topic with equanimity. “I’ve called you guys here for one thing—although I’ve agreed to the contract termination, there’s a long way ahead of you with that gifted talent of yours. I have some acquaintances that I can introduce you to. Of course, I will inform them about your situation so that there will be no misunderstandings in between.”
Tessa was stupefied, for she had not expected her teacher to take her into consideration despite the tragedy. It definitely induced discomfort in her. Nicholas was equally shocked as he took a glance at Hathaway.
In the face of their surprised gazes, Hathaway looked at Tessa. “What do you think?”
“I—” Tessa hesitated momentarily before continuing with a quivering voice, “I respect your decision.”
Before they left the place, her footsteps came to a halt at the entrance due to the surging urge.
“May I ask you something?” She wheeled around to meet Hathaway’s eyes.
The latter flinched slightly. “Go on.”
“Have you ever regretted… being my teacher?” Tessa’s heart was palpitating quickly at that moment, but it sank to the pit of her stomach when there was only a long silence from Hathaway.
Right when she was going to give up on it, Hathaway’s low voice resounded. “Probably not…”
Tessa felt much better upon hearing those words. Staring at Hathaway with a solemn face, her voice sounded determined as she claimed, “It doesn’t matter if you acknowledge me as your student because I will always see you as my teacher for eternity.”
Having said that, she pulled Nicholas over and left. Along their way home, she leaned onto his shoulder and sobbed silently, drenching his shirt with tears.
In the car, he could feel the sadness exuded from her filling the air. Instead of saying anything, he hugged her tightly in his arms and accompanied her in silence.
Tessa was still dwelling on the intense sorrow by the time they arrived home. Leaving with no choice, he carried her off the car to the bedroom, where she cried buckets later on.
In retrospect, she genuinely cherished Hathaway as her teacher and never once had she imagined themselves to part ways someday.
It took her a long time to start gathering herself from all the crying.
