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?!”

fault that you’re

gigolo back there?” Erica asked in

realized that both of them had set her up. The chastity she had held dear for the past nineteen years was now sacrificed for

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

interjected by mocking, “I have the proof I need to show Dad that you’ve been

furious that she swayed. Her body was in tatters after the ordeal she had

do we?” With her arm looped through Hayley’s, Erica led her toward the sports car she had parked by the

became an escort for money just because I wouldn’t let you go abroad for your studies? How can I, Francis Tillman, be capable of having such a

“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 hope you haven’t brought any disease back to this house. Who knows what my

it. I—”

want to hear another word from her. He glowered at her maliciously as he snapped, “Still lying to me, I see. Get out of this

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

Anastasia fell silent when she saw the thunderous and disappointed look on her father’s face. She wordlessly rose from her

rounded the landing when Erica barricaded her. With her arms crossed haughtily in front of her chest, the younger girl sneered, “Get out of here!

fists as she

me or something?” She turned her cheek toward the fuming girl and said

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

a shrill cry. “You just hit me! Mom, Dad—Anastasia just

into her arms and cried up the stairwell, “How dare you strike my daughter, Anastasia! What the hell

red imprints on Erica’s cheek, and he had never been more disappointed in his life. When did my oldest daughter become

her father’s arms,

out of here, Anastasia!”

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

place in his heart. Francis had only heard Erica’s side of the story instead of

had passed, she had spent her years in this home living like an outsider, for her father had brought

had never known about her husband’s extra-marital affairs,

back to this place