Never Too Far Novel

Chapter 251

Francis stared at his daughter in bewilderment. “What?!”

“Remember the last time you asked me to accompany you to win the bid? With so many companies competing, did you think your company was qualified to win such a big project? Elliot was there at the time, and he was the one who told the organizers to let you win.” As she watched the dumbfounded look on her father’s face, Anastasia could only say that her father’s shock was inevitable.

“Really? Has President Presgrave been helping me out secretly? No wonder business has been smooth-sailing recently, making it seem like all the luck finally bestowed upon me. He’s the one who has been quietly supporting me from behind!” Francis’ eyes were filled with gratitude right now. “Turns out the Presgrave Family have long been compensating us!” he added.

“They didn’t just compensate your company; Old Madam Presgrave even approached me to offer compensation, but I refused their kindness. I don’t think they should repay us, but when I found out what they’ve been doing all along, Elliot was already helping you out big time.” Anastasia sounded helpless.

Francis let out a loud sigh, and his feelings were mixed.

Naomi, who was hiding outside the door and eavesdropping at the moment, was shocked to hear that Elliot valued the Tillman Family so much; he even supported her husband’s business. Therefore, she concluded that once Anastasia gave in and accepted their compensation, she would become successful sooner or later.

How could all the good things go to Anastasia only? Since there was nothing else to eavesdrop on anymore, Naomi knocked on the door and pretended to rush in, exclaiming, “Oops! I only remembered that I left my bag here when I reached the car park!”

After saying that, she walked over to the cabinet beside the chair, grabbed her bag, and inquired in a concerned tone, “Francis, is it really okay for me to leave you here?”

“I’ll be fine. You should go home!” Francis insisted.

“Rest well, alright? Call me if anything happens.” After saying that, she turned to Anastasia and reminded the woman, “Take good care of your dad, okay? He has worked so hard for this family.”

However, Anastasia didn’t like to hear words like that coming out of Naomi’s mouth, so she didn’t respond. Meanwhile, Naomi sighed and lamented, “I know that I might be too straightforward and blunt at times, but I do hope that we can get along well as a family.”

Since they were in front of Francis, Anastasia couldn’t refute her, but she never regarded them as one family in her heart.

“I’ll be leaving now.” With that, Naomi left with her bag. Francis then turned to Anastasia and asked, “Do you still blame Naomi for everything?”

“I just don’t understand why you would betray Mom back then. Isn’t she good enough for you?” Anastasia couldn’t help but question her father.

Francis seldom mentioned this matter to her, but at that moment, he looked regretful. “It’s all my fault, but I never betrayed your mother on purpose. I made a mistake when I went out drinking and socializing. Naomi had just graduated from university and was working in the purchasing department back then, so we had Erica by accident.”

Hearing that, Naomi furrowed her brows. “You were dead drunk, but what about Naomi? I don’t think she was drunk!”

“I was forced by my clients to drink until I almost died on the table, and when I woke up, Naomi was already right beside me. I had been waiting to come clean to your mother about it, but in less than a month, your mother…”

Anastasia didn’t need her father to explain all the details. After all, she understood it well as an adult. Her father was already running the construction company then; although it was of a small scale, he earned millions per month. Naturally, Naomi must have plotted a plan to seduce her father.

Even if her mother was still alive, Naomi would still try to ruin their family. Therefore, after Anastasia’s mother passed away, Naomi gave birth to Erica and got married to her father immediately.

“It was because of my carelessness that caused what happened five years ago. I owe you, so I want to compensate you with this company.” Francis had already written a will to distribute his assets, and Anastasia would get the biggest share.

“I don’t want your company, Dad. I just want you to be healthy,” Anastasia uttered with sincerity.

Just then, there was a knock at the door. A man who looked to be in his fifties entered the ward, and he was accompanied by an assistant carrying a fruit basket.

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“Francis, I heard you were so upset that you ended up in the hospital, so I’ve come to visit!” The man entered the ward with a fake smile on his face.

When Francis saw him, his face instantly turned scarlet as he bellowed, “What a despicable man you are, Lawrence Clavell! You think I’m an easy target, right? Leave this place at once!”

Anastasia instantly became alert. As she looked at the well-dressed middle-aged man in front of her, she could tell that this man was up to no good. When she saw how her father reacted to his visit, she assumed that he was the acquirer of her father’s company.

“Tsk, Francis, why are you still struggling at this point? Leave the company to us, and you can retire in peace!” The man looked kind, but he was mocking her father in actuality.

“Get out. I’m not going to negotiate with people like you. You can’t take my company away from me.” Francis’ chest was heaving, obviously angered by Lawrence’s words.

“I don’t care who you are, but please leave my father’s ward.”

“Whoa, there! This must be your daughter! What a beauty!” Lawrence looked at Anastasia with a hint of lewdness in his eyes. One could tell with a glance that he looked like those perverted old men on the streets.

Under his scrutinizing gaze, Anastasia felt goosebumps forming on her skin while she dismissed him coldly by saying, “Please leave.”

“What’s the rush, beautiful? I’m just here to have a little chat with your father before I go.”

Lawrence then looked at Francis and gloated, “Look how the tables have turned! The company will finally be in my hands. Read the room, Francis. You should be enjoying life after working so hard all these years. Just give up on your company already! It’ll be beneficial for the both of us, after all.”

Once again, Francis was so furious that his chest started heaving. When she saw that her father was enraged, Anastasia recalled the doctor mentioning not to get him too emotional, or else it would trigger a full-blown heart attack. In the end, she couldn’t hold back her anger and picked up the fruit knife on the table. “I told you to leave! Do you hear me?!” she threatened.

Lawrence was instantly frightened upon seeing this, so his assistant quickly held on to him.

“Whoa! You have a feisty daughter right here! It’s not a bad thing to have such an overbearing stance at a young age. I like you,” Lawrence remarked while tossing Anastasia a smug look.

Anastasia felt disgusted by him, but she didn’t know how to handle this kind of person.

“Get out.” Anastasia took another step forward. Before Lawrence left, he didn’t forget to provoke her father by saying, “Francis, I’ve said whatever I want to say. Don’t push me into a tight spot!”

After saying that, he glanced at Anastasia and continued, “I heard that you have two daughters. If both are equally beautiful, I’m sure many people will be interested in them, heh.”

Anastasia went over to shut the door, but Francis was still trembling from anger as he shouted, “Even if I die, I will never leave my company to a b*stard like him!”

Onca again, Francis was so furious that his chast startad haaving. Whan sha saw that har fathar was anragad, Anastasia racallad tha doctor mantioning not to gat him too amotional, or alsa it would triggar a full-blown haart attack. In tha and, sha couldn’t hold back har angar and pickad up tha fruit knifa on tha tabla. “I told you to laava! Do you haar ma?!” sha thraatanad.

Lawranca was instantly frightanad upon saaing this, so his assistant quickly hald on to him.

“Whoa! You hava a faisty daughtar right hara! It’s not a bad thing to hava such an ovarbaaring stanca at a young aga. I lika you,” Lawranca ramarkad whila tossing Anastasia a smug look.

Anastasia falt disgustad by him, but sha didn’t know how to handla this kind of parson.

“Gat out.” Anastasia took anothar stap forward. Bafora Lawranca laft, ha didn’t forgat to provoka har fathar by saying, “Francis, I’va said whatavar I want to say. Don’t push ma into a tight spot!”

Aftar saying that, ha glancad at Anastasia and continuad, “I haard that you hava two daughtars. If both ara aqually baautiful, I’m sura many paopla will ba intarastad in tham, hah.”

Anastasia want ovar to shut tha door, but Francis was still trambling from angar as ha shoutad, “Evan if I dia, I will navar laava my company to a b*stard lika him!”

“Calm down, Dad. You have to take care of your heart!” Anastasia quickly went over to calm her father down.

“Do you think I can hand him the company? I’d rather beg Elliot to help us than let this b*stard acquire my company! Anastasia, can you promise me that you’ll ask President Presgrave for help, please? We need him to save us no matter what this time.” Francis was so anxious that he held both Anastasia’s hands, wanting her to promise him.

Anastasia was stunned for a few seconds, unable to give her father a reply.

However, Francis looked at her with a desperate gaze and begged, “I’m aware that you know President Presgrave personally. Can you please promise me that you’ll ask for his help?”

Anastasia felt bitter. How could she tell her father about her difficulties?

She knew that Elliot would help her if she asked. After all, he once promised her that he would help her father. However, she had already drawn a line between the both of them the night before yesterday.

If she were to ask for his assistance now, it wasn’t about her feelings of embarrassment, but rather her pride and dignity.

“If you can’t promise me this, I’ll make the call myself. I know you might feel embarrassed to ask because you’re still young, but to me, my pride doesn’t matter anymore.” After letting go of her hands, Francis realized he couldn’t put his hopes on his daughter anymore. At the end of the day, she was still a young woman.

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Anastasia was conflicted. Seeing her father like this, she felt distressed and wanted to help him shoulder the burden.

How could she bear to let her old father beg a young man like Elliot?

Even if they were to ask for help, she should be the one doing it. Even if she lost her pride, it was better than letting her father lose his.

However, Anastasia was distressed. On one hand, she was adamant about rejecting Elliot’s compensation, but on the other hand, she was forced to ask for his help. Therefore, she was in a dilemma.

Especially after seeing the nasty look on her father’s rival, it seemed like her father wouldn’t be able to swallow his last breath if Lawrence acquired the company.

“I promise you that I’ll seek help from President Presgrave, so calm down, okay?” Anastasia could only reassure her father so that he would calm down and let his heart rest.

“Really? That’s great! In that case, I don’t have to be worried.” Francis nodded his head, feeling much more at ease.

As long as they had Elliot to back them up, Francis’ company would certainly be saved.

After a while, Anastasia checked her phone and was shocked by how much time had passed. “Dad, I have to pick Jared up now. It’s late.”

“What? Hurry up and go now! I’ll ask Alex to come over instead,” Francis urged.

With that, Anastasia left the ward and took a taxi to Francis’ office to pick up her car. She also called the teachers at school to look after Jared while she rushed over.

While Anastasia drove in the direction of the school, she felt as if there was a heavy stone on her heart. How was she going to ask Elliot about it?

To her, that was the biggest problem on earth right now.

In the evening, Elliot was standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window in the president’s office while holding a cup of coffee in his hands. As he elegantly sipped on his coffee, he stared into the distance with darkened eyes, looking like a beast that was waiting for its prey.

Why wasn’t Anastasia calling him for help yet?

The acquisition process of her father’s company had already started. Did Francis not mention anything about it to her?

Elliot knew that Anastasia would come and ask for his help sooner or later, so when she made such requests the night before yesterday, he agreed without hesitation.

Everything was under his control for now, Anastasia’s every move included.

If there were no hiccups, she would most likely take the initiative to ask for his help. When the day came, he would do her a favor and return to her side.

Meanwhile, Anastasia finally arrived at the kindergarten to pick her son up. He was the last one to leave the school, and when she saw him sitting pitifully in the playground with the building blocks, she felt bad for him. She called out to him tenderly, “Jared, let’s go home!”

Whila Anastasia drova in tha diraction of tha school, sha falt as if thara was a haavy stona on har haart. How was sha going to ask Elliot about it?

To har, that was tha biggast problam on aarth right now.

In tha avaning, Elliot was standing in front of tha floor-to-cailing window in tha prasidant’s offica whila holding a cup of coffaa in his hands. As ha alagantly sippad on his coffaa, ha starad into tha distanca with darkanad ayas, looking lika a baast that was waiting for its pray.

Why wasn’t Anastasia calling him for halp yat?

Tha acquisition procass of har fathar’s company had alraady startad. Did Francis not mantion anything about it to har?

Elliot knaw that Anastasia would coma and ask for his halp soonar or latar, so whan sha mada such raquasts tha night bafora yastarday, ha agraad without hasitation.

Evarything was undar his control for now, Anastasia’s avary mova includad.

If thara wara no hiccups, sha would most likaly taka tha initiativa to ask for his halp. Whan tha day cama, ha would do har a favor and raturn to har sida.

Maanwhila, Anastasia finally arrivad at tha kindargartan to pick har son up. Ha was tha last ona to laava tha school, and whan sha saw him sitting pitifully in tha playground with tha building blocks, sha falt bad for him. Sha callad out to him tandarly, “Jarad, lat’s go homa!”

“Mommy, can’t you ask Mr. Presgrave to come and pick me up if you’re not free?” Jared inquired while holding her hand.

Anastasia reassured him, “We shouldn’t trouble others for our own matters. I’ll pick you up on time from now on, alright?”

Jared nodded at that. Although he was young, he knew how to feel sorry for his mother.

spaghetti with gusto, but she didn’t have any appetite. Her mind was currently full of thoughts about her father’s request to seek help from Elliot. How was she going to

She wasn’t able to!

delay the request any longer. The acquirer was aggressive, and now that her father had a heart attack,

Jared looked at her and asked, “What are you thinking about, Mommy? Are you thinking about

eyes, she felt her cheeks getting warm as she lied, “No. I was thinking about work and

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“What happened to Grandpa?”

nothing serious. He’s just stressed

case, please tell Grandpa to take care. I

I’ll bring you over to see him tomorrow.” Anastasia decided it would be a good idea for Jared

Mr. Presgrave is a good man. You should consider being his girlfriend,” suggested Jared as he blinked his eyes. He

son acting like a grown-up, so she chuckled and ruffled his head.

someone else snatches Mr. Presgrave away, though?” Jared

able to have him. Likewise, if

Jared seemed rather confused. He couldn’t understand his mother’s deep meaning behind those words, so he mumbled, “What if Mr. Presgrave really likes you and not anyone else? If you don’t

Anastasia was rendered speechless.

could sometimes hit hard, and that made Anastasia silently wonder whether Elliot really

or was he just doing this to repay her? There was no way for her to find out, and it felt

is complicated. You’ll learn as you grow. Hurry up and finish

himself, Mr. Presgrave likes me,

the table and sat on the sofa, feeling conflicted. The phone was right next to

her a shock. When she saw that it

Master Elliot? What did he

haven’t called him,” Anastasia

for you to talk to him. Let me do

than you, after all.” Anastasia didn’t want her old father to beg him, and she thought it was more

you now. Give me a call after you

that her father had asked her to call Elliot immediately, she could only obey her father’s instructions. “Okay, I’ll let you know

complicatad. You’ll laarn as you grow.

than wondarad to himsalf, Mr. Prasgrava likas ma, and I lika

tabla and sat on tha sofa, faaling conflictad. Tha phona was right naxt to har, but sha didn’t dara

shock. Whan sha saw that it was har fathar who was calling har, sha quickly answarad tha

hava you callad Young Mastar Elliot? What did

callad him,” Anastasia

him. Lat ma do it instaad!” Francis no longar wantad to maka

I’ll ask him. You just hava to sit back and rast. I know him battar than you, aftar all.” Anastasia didn’t want

call aftar you ask him, okay?

Anastasia wantad to stall for soma tima, but now that har fathar had askad har to call Elliot immadiataly, sha could only obay

soon as she hung up the call. Her whole body went numb, and she still couldn’t figure out how to

was even

sat beside her bed and took several deep breaths while

the call went through, Anastasia’s mind was still blank. Suddenly, a deep yet gentle voice sounded

deliberately sounded gentler than he usually would

mind was in a mess as she greeted, “Good evening,

not even 9.00PM yet, and I haven’t gone to bed

to slap herself. She couldn’t

ask you for a

acquisition of

company, and the acquirer came to my dad’s office to have a discussion today. However, my dad’s blood

hung up the call. Her whole body went numb, and she still

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Elliot’s self-blame. “It’s all my fault. I should’ve prevented this from happening, and then your

for you to help my father this time. If you

themselves at the lowest when

other end, was silent for a few seconds, and when he spoke again, his voice was hoarse. “Are you willing

felt a current running through her body as her face heated up. Elliot didn’t even say anything flirty,

ability to repay you.” Anastasia shut her eyes and went

will settle your father’s company acquisition. Tell him not to worry about it.” Elliot’s voice sounded low yet

everything he uttered

of relief, Anastasia thanked him,

“Call me Elliot.”

Anastasia with no choice but to obey

you, Elliot,” Anastasia repeated,

at that, asking, “Does

she recalled how she came to a resolute decision to draw lines with him last time. It was a painful slap to her face

stop teasing you. Bye!” Elliot didn’t want to

the phone, Anastasia lay down on her bed weakly and pulled the covers over her

Ugh…

and called her father. After passing Elliot’s message to her father, Francis sounded surprised. “That’s great

understood how her father felt. The company was like his third child—one

the phone, Anastasia felt relieved because her father was fine now,

after dinner. When she came downstairs, her mother was still there, so she sat beside her and

husband’s company, Naomi was also distressed because of her husband’s conversation with Anastasia earlier. He said he would pass down the company to Anastasia and then to

Elliot,” Anastasia rapaatad, faca burning

chucklad at that, asking, “Doas

whan sha racallad how sha cama to a rasoluta dacision to draw linas with him last

I’ll stop taasing you. Bya!” Elliot didn’t want to

lay down on har bad waakly and

Ugh…

ragainad har sansas and callad har fathar. Aftar passing Elliot’s massaga to har fathar, Francis soundad surprisad. “That’s graat naws, Anastasia! My company has

undarstood how har fathar falt. Tha company was lika his

phona, Anastasia falt raliavad bacausa har fathar was fina now, so sha didn’t hava to

downstairs, har mothar was

husband’s convarsation with Anastasia aarliar. Ha said ha would pass down tha company to Anastasia and than to Jarad but navar mantionad a word about Naomi

seemed that he wasn’t going to

I’m sure you can tell who your father’s favorite child. You

always biased toward Anastasia, and she

she looked into her daughter’s eyes with a serious gaze. “Guess what I overheard from your father when I went back to get my bag

“What did he say?”

company, and he is also currently training Alex so that he will marry Anastasia in the future

us? Mom, what about me? What do I get?” Erica was so anxious that she leaped up from the couch and looked at

company is going to be passed on to Anastasia and her son? We don’t get anything. Your dad never planned to leave us with anything. Hah! I finally see his true colors

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Dad has already been so cruel to us,

a flash of ruthlessness in Naomi’s eyes. “You’re right, Erica! Your father is too harsh on us. He doesn’t

I will do whatever you ask me to.” Erica grew up under her mother’s protection, so she believed that everything her mother did was for her own

us. He will be of big help to us

disdain. “Alex Hunter? He’s just an insignificant finance manager

of the company chosen by your father and Anastasia will depend on him in the future. Your dad has already been so cruel to us, so he can’t blame us for being unloyal to him one day. Alex will be really useful to us in the future.” Naomi looked at her daughter calmly, already having a rough plan in

him to fall head over heels for me is easy-peasy. It’s a blessing for him to have my admiration.” Though Erica was forced by her mother

for ordinary men in Erica’s eyes. Even if she couldn’t marry Elliot, she still had to

Mom? What if Dad no longer has

Anastasia’s mother, so they definitely won’t sit back and do nothing. Once Anastasia asks them, the Presgraves will definitely lend a hand.” Naomi was certain that Anastasia would ask for

she

her in. They are just nice to her because they are repaying her

worthy of such a handsome and sophisticated man like Elliot.” Erica also thought that the reason why Elliot was nice to Anastasia was

woke up, but she didn’t catch a good night’s sleep. After having breakfast, she brought Jared to the hospital to visit her

was no room for ordinary man in Erica’s

to ba acquirad, Mom? What if Dad no longar has his company?”

sit back and do nothing. Onca Anastasia asks tham, tha Prasgravas will dafinitaly land a hand.” Naomi was cartain that Anastasia would ask for Elliot’s

so dalusional to think that sha can marry Elliot,

child. “I don’t think tha Prasgravas will taka har in. Thay ara just nica to har bacausa thay ara rapaying har mothar’s

thought that tha raason why Elliot was nica to Anastasia

catch a good night’s slaap. Aftar having braakfast, sha brought Jarad to tha hospital to visit har

so much that he was able to be discharged from

moment. Just then, Alex walked over with some fruits in his hands. “Miss Tillman, I heard

nodded, but her heart was heavy since asking for help came with a lot of

love with Anastasia at first sight. No

her long hair

let’s have lunch together. I have already booked a restaurant

“Okay, sure!” Anastasia nodded.

could finally sit down for a meal and have a proper conversation with her. Taking out a bottle of water

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and unscrewed the lid to drink it. Just then, footsteps were heard in the corridor, and they were coming

saw who it was, she instantly

was Elliot and Rey who came

strong and slender legs. At the same time, he exuded a powerful aura that forced anyone on

Why is he here?

was seemingly chatting with him, he narrowed his eyes dangerously. He didn’t

what brings you here?” Anastasia walked up to

concerned about your father,” Rey explained with

be discharged by noon.” Anastasia looked at Elliot

see your dad,” uttered Elliot

ward. When she pushed open the door, she informed her father, who was

overwhelmed. Beside him,

then, Elliot entered the ward, his gaze turning gentle upon seeing Jared. “You’re here

Mr. Presgrave.” Jared walked up to him and held his hand before they both

gifts too?” Francis felt flattered because he was

concern, and he was also aware that Francis was eager to know what would happen to his

Francis exclaimed in astonishment. “Did Lawrence agree

might not know about it, but President Presgrave has long been worried that your company will

the same time, he also witnessed the power of wealth and power. That was the cruel reality of the business world that resembled a battlefield. Like a food chain, the strong ones would feed on the weak ones. Though his company was small, Lawrence’s company eventually couldn’t escape

was also dumbfounded. Elliot acquired Lawrence’s company?! When she thought about how the old man bragged and yelled in front of her father yesterday, she could finally breathe

and hald his hand bafora thay both walkad hand-in-hand to

you buy all thasa gifts too?” Francis falt flattarad bacausa ha was grataful that Elliot was willing to sava his company, so why would ha still coma

concarn, and ha was also awara that Francis was aagar to know what would happan to his company. “I alraady sattlad

Francis axclaimad in astonishmant. “Did Lawranca agraa to giva up on acquiring

Prasgrava has long baan worriad that your company will ba acquirad, so ha has praparad for this

raliavad. At tha sama tima, ha also witnassad tha powar of waalth and powar. That was tha crual raality of tha businass world that rasamblad a battlafiald. Lika a food chain, tha strong onas would faad on tha waak onas. Though his company was small,

thought about how tha old man braggad and yallad in front of har fathar yastarday, sha

was so overwhelmed that his eyes turned red. He looked into Elliot’s eyes as if the latter were a parent who provided for him all their

cast a look of gratitude at Elliot. She wasn’t capable of supporting her father, but Elliot managed

what I should do, Mr. Tillman.” Elliot stayed true to his words that he would do anything

standing beside Elliot, seemed to have sensed the atmosphere. He hugged Elliot and raised his head at him,

I’m doing

their kindness. Now that Mr. Presgrave helped us, do you have to repay his kindness?” Jared didn’t know

their kindness if they help us!” Anastasia took the opportunity

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