Julia was especially displeased. “Why are you smiling?”

“Nothing. There’s something that I need you to know. Professor Ward hired me, so it ought to be Professor Ward who speaks to me in person if he wants to fire me. Only then I’ll leave. Even if you have the courage to infuriate me, I will not leave here either.”

Julia narrowed her eyes. “Why? Do you love this job so much that you will put up with a person like me?”

Deirdre said honestly, “It’s because I need money and need to make a living to support myself. If you were to pay me a full 40,000 dollars, perhaps I might consider not working as your piano teacher and tender my resignation on my own accord.”

Julia was stunned for a moment before she said angrily, “You wish!”

Then, the lesson lasted until night.

Deirdre could tell that Julia was rather interested in playing the piano because she stopped being so cynical when she was engrossed in the lesson.

Deirdre met Professor Ward at night, and he sounded like a kind, easygoing