The car took Tessa and Louise up a hill.

Among the verdant trees, the upturned eaves of a villa were revealed.

There was only one building at the top. Passing the gate, the car drove for another two minutes and stopped in front of a beautiful four-story house.

Tessa walked into the house, and in a sweet voice, she greeted Selma Larsen, who was wearing a red qipao (cheongsam), "Grandma."

"Oh, Tessa is back."

With an amiable look, Selma rose and held Tessa's hand.

After Tessa went upstairs, Louise, with a sour face, walked up to the old woman.

"Mom, I think I should tell you something about Tessa."

"I can understand why she's undisciplined, impolite, and ungrateful. But she can't mess up with..."

Those words reached Tessa's ears clearly.

But she didn't bother to listen and shut the door of her bedroom on the second floor.

The servants nearby began whispering.

"The more I see Lady Tessa, I more I think she's beautiful. She's like a fairy."

"Don't call her lady! She's said to do farming in a remote village after her father was driven out of the family. Even if she's beautiful, she's merely a rustic."

"Yes! She hasn't received much education in the countryside, while Lady Ashley can not only play the piano but also paint. She's so much inferior to Lady Ashley."

Tessa moved her ears a bit. At this moment, she looked as relaxed as a little fox in sheer boredom.

Servants' upbringing was always related to the family they served.

Sitting cross-legged on her bed, Tessa made a video call to her three elders.

As expected, they kept their mouths shut about the thing with Vance.

Tessa threw a glance at them and snorted.

She had anticipated that they wouldn't tell her the truth. As such, she could only rely on herself to find the answer.

"All right. Let's keep in contact through the floating bottle."

Tessa pressed the screen down with a slam. After counting 10 in her mind, she stood up and pulled the door open.

There, Selma was raising her hand, ready to knock on the door. Obviously, she was startled.

Louise was standing quietly next to her, with her head lowered.

Tessa put a hand on the door frame and looked at them with an innocent and soft smile.

"Tessa, can we enter your bedroom?"

Although Tessa was her granddaughter, Selma appeared somewhat stiff and formal.

"This was my mom's bedroom." Tessa's smile was rather sweet. "Grandma can come in, and no one else is allowed."

Louise's pale face suddenly turned dark with anger.

"Okay, okay, your aunt just wants to apologize to you."

Selma dragged Louise's sleeve.

"Don't take what she said seriously. I've scolded her."

Tessa smiled casually as she savored Louise's expression.

Louise looked down at the ground and said stiffly, "Tessa, please don't mind me being that outspoken."

Tessa's smile became meeker. "But I really mind it."

Louise's face stiffened.

She had condescended to apologize, but Tessa was not grateful at all.

Tessa drawled, "Now that you have self-awareness, why don't you speak less?"

"You..."

Louise frowned deeply and would have flown into a rage if Selma hadn't stared at her. "I said those words for your own good. What you did is..."

"Bad?" Tessa's eyes shone with a keen light. "But I feel good about that."

Selma also became nervous and spoke for Louise. "Tessa, your aunt has known her mistake. She won't do that again."

Tessa beamed a warm smile as if she hadn't said anything aggressive.

"I see, grandma."

Selma sighed with relief and turned to Louise. "You may go downstairs now. I want to chat with Tessa alone."