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?!”

smirked. “It’s not my fault that you’re always so

back there?” Erica asked in a sing-song

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

I was your friend, Anastasia? I’ve been living in your shadow ever

proof I need to show Dad that you’ve been pimping yourself for money at the club. It won’t be

after the ordeal she had been through, and the collective weight of her friend’s betrayal

to be seen with trash, do we?” With her arm looped

Tillman Residence, a low male voice yelled out in rage, “You became an escort for money just because I wouldn’t let you go abroad for your studies? How can I, Francis Tillman, be capable

“Dad, I didn’t—”

believe you would pimp yourself to random strangers in a filthy clubhouse! For your sake, I hope you haven’t brought any disease back to this house. Who knows what my daughter and I could have

it. I—” Anastasia tried

glowered at her 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

on the staircase landing, Erica 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 out of the house and wander around like some

look on her father’s face. She wordlessly rose from her seat and walked up the stairs to

chest, the younger girl sneered, “Get

fists as she glowered

the hatred and anger in Anastasia’s eyes, Erica leaned forward. “What, do you want to slap me or something?” She turned her cheek toward the fuming girl and said smugly,

holding back, Anastasia brought her hand down across Erica’s face, resulting in a

“You just hit me! Mom, Dad—Anastasia just hit me!” She howled as she bolted down the

Lowell quickly pulled her daughter into her arms and cried up the stairwell, “How dare you strike

and he had never been more disappointed in his life. When did my

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

Anastasia!”

stone-cold when she saw how her own father was holding Erica in his

that she indeed had no place in his heart. Francis had only heard Erica’s side of the story instead

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

about her husband’s extra-marital affairs, not

never come back