“Mom… do you really think I can do it?”
Tessa’s hands stilled as she spoke, her eyes glistening with tears. When Grace looked up, she caught sight of a single tear sliding down her daughter’s cheek. The sight pierced her heart. She hadn’t realized how much pressure Tessa had been under. All this time, she thought she’d been protecting her well enough–that Tessa didn’t have to worry about these things. But now she saw how naïve that thought had been.
“You…”
Before Grace could finish, Tessa’s tears began to fall even harder. “I’m sorry, Mom. I know I haven’t done well, but I really am trying my best. I’ve seen how much pressure you’ve been under lately. Even if I didn’t say it out loud, I know you’re exhausted.”
“Tessa, don’t think that way. You’re already doing well.”
Seeing her cry like that, Grace grew flustered and quickly reached out to comfort her. “You just need to be yourself. You don’t have to compare yourself to anyone else. Thinking like that is a mistake. As long as you’re better today than you were yesterday, that’s already enough.”
“I just want to help you, Mom. I don’t want to be your burden.”
Grace took her hand gently, and Tessa sank down beside her. Seeing her daughter in tears, Grace’s heart softened completely. She wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her into her embrace. “Don’t think like that, sweetheart. You’ve never been a burden to me. You’re my precious girl. You’ve always meant the world to me. If you keep saying things like that, you’ll make me upset.”
Grace’s voice was steady and full of warmth as she reassured her. Tessa wasn’t as capable as Aurora in business, but she was driven, and that alone meant everything. Grace truly couldn’t ask for more. Watching Tessa cry like that, Grace’s heart ached. She hadn’t realized that her own unspoken pressure had been passed on to her daughter. She’d always believed she’d shielded Tessa well enough from all that.
When Tessa lifted her tear-filled eyes to look at her, her voice trembled. “Mom, do you really mean that?”
“Of course I do,” Grace said with a soft smile. “No one’s perfect, and no one is naturally good at everything. All we can do is keep trying.”
“Mm… thank you, Mom.” Tessa threw herself into her mother’s arms, clinging tightly. Then, as if remembering something, she hesitated. “Oh, right, Mom, about that thing I mentioned to you… you didn’t tell my sister, did you?”
Grace looked a little puzzled. “Why? Can’t I tell her?”
“It’s not that,” Tessa said quickly, her tone cautious. “It’s just… it doesn’t seem appropriate. After all, the Carter family banquet was a private event, not something made public. If she finds out, won’t she be upset with me?” Her voice wavered as she spoke, fingers tightening slightly, her expression full of hesitation.
“I don’t think she’ll be,” Grace replied after a pause, recalling Aurora’s calm reaction earlier. “You’re probably overthinking it.”
But Tessa shook her head earnestly. “Mom, my sister isn’t as simple as you think. So, if you do tell her, please let me know first. That way, if she brings it up later, I’ll be prepared.”