Never Too Far Novel

Chapter 1 A Night of Absurdities

“Anastasia, help! I’ve been molested at the club!”

The desperate and helpless sound of her best friend’s voice was the only thing on Anastasia Tillman’s mind as she rushed over to the clubhouse.

Room 808. Anastasia looked up at the number plaque on the door of the private room. It was the same room number that her best friend, Hayley Seymour, had texted her. Without another thought, she barged through the door to save her friend.

When the door swung open under her hand, she was greeted by the darkness within. Suddenly, a strong hand clasped around her wrist and dragged her into the dark room, followed by a loud thud as the door slammed shut.

“Hey—who are you, and what do you want?!” Anastasia shrieked, her eyes darting around wildly as she tried to make out her surroundings.

“Settle down, and I’ll treat you well.” A man’s deep and husky voice spoke close to her ear.

The next second, Anastasia was unceremoniously tossed onto the couch, and before she could scramble to her feet, a lean and strong body pinned her down.

She let out a muffled cry when a pair of lips that tasted like peppermint captured hers.

The man on top of her felt burning hot to the touch. A sense of hopelessness brought tears to her eyes as she tried to struggle against the man, but in the end, she could do nothing but endure the man’s ferocity.

An hour later, Anastasia staggered out of the room, looking disheveled. She had only just been through a nightmare, but that didn’t distract her from worrying about her best friend’s safety.

She was just about to call Hayley’s number when she saw a group of men and women walking out the side door. Under the lights, she instantly recognized the two of the women in the group.

One happened to be Hayley, her best friend who had cried for help on the phone earlier, and the other was Anastasia’s stepsister, Erica Tillman. The two girls walked side by side with their arms linked, as if they were the closest of friends.

Shock and rage colored Anastasia’s features when she saw them. “Stop right there, Hayley!” she called out loudly over the distance as her fists clenched tightly at her sides.

Upon hearing this, Hayley and Erica swiveled around to face her. Anastasia glowered at them, ashen-faced as she demanded of Hayley, “Why would you lie to me?!”

“It’s not my fault

a good time with that gigolo back there?” Erica asked in a sing-song voice, smiling

then that Anastasia realized that both of them had set her up. The chastity she had

friend, Anastasia? I’ve been living in your shadow ever since we met! I hate you, and I want nothing more than to

on the other hand, swiftly interjected by mocking, “I have the proof I need to show Dad that you’ve been pimping yourself for money at the club. It won’t be long until

the ordeal she had been through, and the collective weight of her

don’t want to be seen with trash, do we?” With her arm looped through Hayley’s, Erica led

because I wouldn’t let you go abroad for your studies? How can I, Francis Tillman, be capable of

“Dad, I didn’t—”

starve you, or did we deprive you of anything? I can’t believe you would pimp yourself to random strangers in a filthy clubhouse! For your sake, I

it. I—”

maliciously as he snapped, “Still lying to me, I see. Get out of this home right now! I will not stand to have you under my roof. No daughter of mine could be so shameless. From now

watched this scene play out as she leaned against the banister with her chin propped on her hand. Everything was going exactly the way she had planned. In a matter of minutes, Anastasia was going to be cast

she saw the thunderous and disappointed look on her father’s

younger

she glowered at Erica’s pleased

eyes, Erica leaned forward. “What, do you want to slap me or something?” She turned her cheek toward the

down across

Mom, Dad—Anastasia just hit me!”

into her arms and cried up the stairwell, “How dare

cheek, and he had never been more disappointed in his life. When did my oldest daughter become so

into her father’s arms, taking in exaggerated deep breaths like she was

here, Anastasia!” Francis

her things, Anastasia grabbed her passport and went down the stairs. Her heart grew stone-cold when she saw how her own father was holding Erica

Erica’s side of the story

passed, she had spent her years in this home living like an outsider, for her father had brought home his mistress and his illegitimate daughter to form

mother had never known about her husband’s extra-marital affairs, not even in her

come back to this place