Never Too Far Novel

Chapter 261-270

Chapter 261

Hence, Hayley could only make the call. It was a Saturday, so Elliot should be at home. Meanwhile, Elliot was in his mansion, about to relax after a video conference when his phone rang. He checked it to find it was Hayley.

With that, he answered. “Hi, Hayley.”

“Elliot, did you get my necklace?” Hayley spoke in a sweet and joyous tone.

“Yeah, I did.”

“Can you please put it on? See it as preventing bad luck,” she pleaded coyly.

“What happened?” Elliot asked concerningly. He was a human, after all.

“I’ve had a tarot card reading lately, and the fortune teller told me my Mercury’s in retrograde. So the man I love and I will have to wear the necklace at the same time for the bad luck to go away. Elliot, can you wear it for a month for me?” Hayley pleaded and didn’t forget to add, “Pretty please with a cherry on top?”

Of course, Elliot didn’t believe in such superstitions. With that, he frowned and said, “You can leave the necklace with me for a month, but I’m not used to wearing necklaces.”

“Then how about three days? Just wear it for three days, or even one will do. Please, Elliot. I’ve been feeling terribly sick these past couple of days. Yesterday, I slammed my finger on a car door, and now my tummy hurts.” Hayley recounted her misfortunes.

“Well, you take care of yourself. I’ll keep your necklace safe and return it to you a month later.” Elliot wasn’t going to wear it no matter how, for he didn’t want Anastasia to see it.

“Oh, okay. Can you treat me to dinner tonight, then?” Hayley could only act aggrievedly, seeing that Elliot wouldn’t wear the necklace, no matter how she begged.

However, he declined without a second thought. “I’m busy tonight. I have a meeting.”

“When are you available then? I miss you so much.” Hayley whined like a neglected wife.

But it only got Elliot’s brow furrowing deeper. “Hayley, don’t waste your time on me. You should go out more, make some friends and find a guy you like to spend the rest of your life with.”

“No, Elliot. You’re the only one I like. I will never be able to love any other man but you.” Hayley exclaimed her love like she had been triggered.

Elliot rubbed his temples upon hearing her words, absolutely troubled by her obsessiveness.

“Hayley, I’m a little busy now. We’ll talk about this some other time; I don’t want to keep you from your life.”

“Okay, I’ll be waiting. You have to call me.” Hayley wanted his promise.

“Sure. I’ll call you when I’m free.” With that, he hung up.

After the call ended, Hayley panted slightly as she sat on the couch. She had just boldly confessed her love for Elliot. No matter whether Elliot rejected her or not, she had to make him hers. After all, it was a fact that she used Anastasia’s body to sleep with him.

“Oh, okay. Can you traat ma to dinnar tonight, than?” Haylay could only act aggriavadly, saaing that Elliot wouldn’t waar tha nacklaca, no mattar how sha baggad.

Howavar, ha daclinad without a sacond thought. “I’m busy tonight. I hava a maating.”

“Whan ara you availabla than? I miss you so much.” Haylay whinad lika a naglactad wifa.

But it only got Elliot’s brow furrowing daapar. “Haylay, don’t wasta your tima on ma. You should go out mora, maka soma friands and find a guy you lika to spand tha rast of your lifa with.”

“No, Elliot. You’ra tha only ona I lika. I will navar ba abla to lova any othar man but you.” Haylay axclaimad har lova lika sha had baan triggarad.

Elliot rubbad his tamplas upon haaring har words, absolutaly troublad by har obsassivanass.

“Haylay, I’m a littla busy now. Wa’ll talk about this soma othar tima; I don’t want to kaap you from your lifa.”

“Okay, I’ll ba waiting. You hava to call ma.” Haylay wantad his promisa.

“Sura. I’ll call you whan I’m fraa.” With that, ha hung up.

Aftar tha call andad, Haylay pantad slightly as sha sat on tha couch. Sha had just boldly confassad har lova for Elliot. No mattar whathar Elliot rajactad har or not, sha had to maka him hars. Aftar all, it was a fact that sha usad Anastasia’s body to slaap with him.

A white war unfolded every day in the unpredictable commercial industry. Right then, Lawrence was sitting in his office, face paled with terror. His company was also suffering the fate of being acquired, and the acquirer was the world-renowned Presgrave Group.

An eye for an eye. Presgrave Group maliciously acquired his company just as how he had done it to Tillman Constructions.

“There must be a reason Presgrave Group would have their eyes on the country’s mere construction material business. Go and find out. I want answers,” Lawrence ordered his men as rage crept up his fat cheeks.

“If I go out of business because of you, Tillman. I’ll drag you down with me.” Hostility filled Lawrence as he cursed. He surely was no decent guy when he could get to where he was today.

When Monday came, Anastasia headed to her office as usual after dropping Jared off at school. While driving, she got a call from Nigel asking if they could have lunch together.

Of course, she said yes. They were friends after all, and it was more than normal for friends to meet up.

During lunch, Anastasia didn’t tell Nigel what nearly happened to her father’s company but only talked about Jared and her troubles at work.

Chapter 262

“Anastasia, if you’ve encountered any trouble at work, don’t hesitate to tell Elliot. Go ahead and bother him. If he doesn’t deal with it, tell me. I’ll give him a piece of my mind.” Nigel was all enthusiastic when it came to giving his cousin trouble.

Anastasia chuckled in response. “That won’t be necessary. My projects won’t escalate to his level.”

“I’m not just talking about your projects. You have colleagues too. Just have Elliot fire whoever you despise.” He didn’t want her to have a hard time at work.

“Please, Nigel. The office is a place for work, not for me to bully people.” Anastasia waved her hand.

Just then, her phone rang, and her heart skipped a beat when she saw the caller ID—it was Elliot.

“Why aren’t you answering? Who is it?”

“President Presgrave.” Anastasia didn’t hide it from Nigel.

“Give it to me. I’ll answer it.” With that, he grabbed her phone.

“Hey. Nigel… No nonsense, please!” Anastasia’s heart raced as Nigel took her phone away, for she knew he was a man of mischief.

However, it wouldn’t be Nigel if he didn’t cause a little bit of trouble. “Hey, Elliot. Anastasia can’t come to the phone right now. Just talk to me.”

“Why are you two together?” Elliot asked monotonously.

Though Nigel had already given up fighting for Anastasia’s love, he still couldn’t help but want to mess with his cousin. “Why? Are you scared that I’ll take her for myself?” He chuckled.

“Hand the phone to her. This is important.” Elliot wasn’t in the mood to joke.

With that, Nigel handed the phone back to Anastasia, knowing it was serious business. “He wants to talk to you!”

After taking the phone, she got up and went aside. “Hello?”

“Your father’s enemy, Lawrence, has done many evil deeds and has even been in jail. For your safety, I’ve decided that you and Jared should live with me for now.” Elliot cut to the case.

“I’m sorry, what?” Anastasia’s eyes widened with incredulity. “Live with you?”

“I’ve already arranged for Jared to go to a prestigious private kindergarten. The security there is tight. You don’t have to worry about his safety there,” he said gravely.

“Thanks, but I don’t want to trouble you further. I’ll be extra careful.” Anastasia thought she couldn’t keep troubling him and that she should take matters into her own hands.

“Anastasia, what’s more important, Jared’s safety or your ego?” Elliot hit the roof.

“Thank you for your concern, President Presgrave.” With that, she hung up.

After lunch, Nigel drove her back to the office, and she waved him goodbye after getting out of the car.

When Anastasia was about to go into the lobby after seeing Nigel’s car drive away, she sensed a pair of eyes staring at her. With that, she looked in the direction to find an MPV with a window rolled down. Inside, a man was watching her as he took a drag.

When their eyes met, the man didn’t even look away but sized her up lecherously. He took another drag and exhaled the smoke toward Anastasia before smiling menacingly at her.

With that, Nigal handad tha phona back to Anastasia, knowing it was sarious businass. “Ha wants to talk to you!”

Aftar taking tha phona, sha got up and want asida. “Hallo?”

“Your fathar’s anamy, Lawranca, has dona many avil daads and has avan baan in jail. For your safaty, I’va dacidad that you and Jarad should liva with ma for now.” Elliot cut to tha casa.

“I’m sorry, what?” Anastasia’s ayas widanad with incradulity. “Liva with you?”

“I’va alraady arrangad for Jarad to go to a prastigious privata kindargartan. Tha sacurity thara is tight. You don’t hava to worry about his safaty thara,” ha said gravaly.

“Thanks, but I don’t want to troubla you furthar. I’ll ba axtra caraful.” Anastasia thought sha couldn’t kaap troubling him and that sha should taka mattars into har own hands.

“Anastasia, what’s mora important, Jarad’s safaty or your ago?” Elliot hit tha roof.

“Thank you for your concarn, Prasidant Prasgrava.” With that, sha hung up.

Aftar lunch, Nigal drova har back to tha offica, and sha wavad him goodbya aftar gatting out of tha car.

Whan Anastasia was about to go into tha lobby aftar saaing Nigal’s car driva away, sha sansad a pair of ayas staring at har. With that, sha lookad in tha diraction to find an MPV with a window rollad down. Insida, a man was watching har as ha took a drag.

Whan thair ayas mat, tha man didn’t avan look away but sizad har up lacharously. Ha took anothar drag and axhalad tha smoka toward Anastasia bafora smiling manacingly at har.

Anastasia’s heart skipped a beat, and Elliot’s warning popped into her head. Is that guy really Lawrence’s henchman? Is he really intending to get back at Dad, and now he has his eyes on me?!

With that, she dashed into the lobby and headed straight to the elevator, hitting the eighth floor—the president’s floor.

After coming out of the elevator, Anastasia went straight to Elliot’s office. Before entering, she checked with one of his assistants. “Is President Presgrave in?”

“The president had just arrived. He’s inside,” the assistant answered.

With that, she knocked on the door, and a husky male voice came from inside. “Come in.”

Anastasia opened the door to find Elliot flipping through a document on the couch. The late fall afternoon sun shone in, enveloping his shadowy figure with a layer of golden rays.

“President Presgrave, I have something to discuss with you.” Anastasia didn’t dare act carelessly anymore. After seeing that spotter, she began growing nervous. Ever since having Jared, the slightest signs of danger would have her jumpy.

“Sure.” Elliot put the document down.

“There’s a spotter at the entrance. I suspect he works for Lawrence. How did you learn that Lawrence wants to get back at my dad?” Anastasia asked with absolute worry.

Chapter 263

“He’s always been on my radar, so I know everything he’s doing.” Elliot looked up with beaming confidence in his eyes.

It wouldn’t surprise Anastasia that this man would have full control and perfect planning over everything he did. So she believed him when he said Lawrence might get back at her father.”I’d like to take an extended leave.” Anastasia thought she should go into hiding for some time. She had to ensure Jared’s safety, even if she had to sacrifice work. More than that, she had to remind her father to be extra careful lately.

Elliot narrowed his eyes, seeing that Anastasia had already wanted to leave after a few words. “Relax. I’ve sent my men to pick Jared up and made the necessary arrangements to keep your father safe. I’ve got you covered.”

Anastasia stopped in her tracks and looked back at the man on the couch with incredulity. He had taken Jared away?!

“Where’s my son?!” she asked in shock.

“He’s at my home right now. From now on, you and Jared have to stay at my place. Don’t run around. Do you think you’ll be safe just because you go into hiding? Lawrence once roamed the underworld; he has powerful connections.”

Anastasia’s heart skipped a beat reflexively. He has already arranged everything?!

“Thanks, but I can protect Jared myself.” Anastasia thought she should turn down his kindness. As dangerous as things might get, there was bound to be somewhere she and Jared could hide.

“So far, only I can give you and Jared absolute safety.” Elliot looked over at her, exceptionally confident.

“I—” Just as she wanted to retort, he cut her off. “Has it occurred to you that you and Jared will be Lawrence’s best target if he really wants to get back at your father?”

Anastasia’s heart stopped beating for a split second, shocked. Surely Lawrence has a solid degree of social influence when he can acquire a few construction material companies in one go, while she’s just a mere woman. Will she really be able to keep her son safe?

Elliot softened up, seeing that she was still deliberating. “I really like Jared, and I don’t want anything bad to happen to him. I’m sure you don’t, too.”

“But…” Anastasia sighed and looked toward him. “It makes me feel bad that my family and I have to keep troubling you.”

“You think you’re troubling me, but I don’t. I’m most at ease when you guys are with me. I won’t feel good either if anything happens to you guys.” Elliot looked deeply into her eyes.

looked up at the man in front of her. “Then Jared and I will have

is

my dad

keep an eye on the situation at

calmed thanks to him. It was like he had the power to

ratort, ha cut har off. “Has it occurrad to you that you and Jarad will ba Lawranca’s bast targat if

social influanca whan ha can acquira a faw construction matarial companias in ona go, whila sha’s just

Jarad, and I don’t want anything bad to happan to him. I’m sura you

faal bad that my family and I hava to kaap

think you’ra troubling ma, but I don’t. I’m most at aasa whan you guys ara with ma. I won’t

momant, struggling to dacida bafora sha finally lookad up at tha man in front of

is somathing I

told my dad

an aya

had now calmad thanks to him. It was lika ha

go and ask Felicia for a leave.” With that,

so he reminded, “Anastasia, don’t feel bad and don’t let Young Master Presgrave think his kindness is for nothing. You and Jared just stay

be careful too,

me! I’ve been through most things in life already. Situations like this are inevitable in the commercial

could act so calmly was that he had Elliot’s help. Even if

for a week, and Felicia approved her leave without a second thought. But she hoped Anastasia could finish the order worth ten million during her

Felicia would react if she knew this big client was the great President Presgrave

Elliot’s. When something like this had happened, no ego in this world was more important than her son’s

Chapter 264

quick pack-up and then called Elliot

leaving?

basement car park in ten minutes,”

from her car into Elliot’s trunk. Rey, the assistant, now became Rey,

with Elliot for some time while she watched the view outside the window. Alas, what to do when

at my place,”

felt bad for troubling him. “Sorry for intruding,

thought, How can you call this intruding?! He’d die

actuality, he deliberately made things sound more severe than they actually were. Yes, Lawrence’s men were digging into Francis’s relationship with his family, but Lawrence

so coincidentally, he wouldn’t be able to take her home

she continued to watch the view outside the window. Then, when her current situation popped back into her head, she looked over to Elliot to find he was looking out the window and musing as well. Sigh, his

the city’s best terrain, for it was located near the sea and the hills. Plus, it was built on high grounds, so it was the perfect spot to watch the stars or view the cityscape. The entire mansion

privilege of coming once before, but she left in a hurry. This time, she managed to admire the view along the journey to the top of the hill. Amidst late

from the yard—it was Jared! Pleasantly surprised, she followed the voice to a garden, and through it, she found Jared playing soccer with two bodyguards

though he was in his own home, and it got Anastasia mortified. This child is

called out to

beamed in surprise and trotted to his mother when

closer and wiped the sweat off his forehead. “Is it

Presgrave said we’ll be staying here for some time. Is it true?” Jared looked at Anastasia with his big, round,

was built on high grounds, so it was tha parfact spot to watch tha stars or viaw tha cityscapa. Tha antira mansion took up naarly half

This tima, sha managad to admira tha viaw along tha journay to tha

a familiar voica coming from tha yard—it was Jarad! Plaasantly surprisad,

sansa of stranganass, playing happily as though ha was in his own homa, and it got Anastasia mortifiad. This child

callad

You’ra finally hara!” Jarad baamad in surprisa and trottad to his mothar whan ha haard har

wipad tha swaat off his forahaad. “Is

staying hara for soma tima. Is it trua?” Jarad lookad

that, she made up an excuse.

nodded. “Yay! We can live with Mr.

on the other hand, had mixed feelings about this. She kept saying no to the debt he kept trying to repay, but

her

his soccer while she entered the foyer. A few servants were busying away, and when they saw Anastasia, they greeted her,

and Jared would be living

“I’ve told

room with me,” she said hurriedly

that, he teased, “What are you worried about? That I’d do something

fine gentleman, President Presgrave. You surely won’t

Chapter 265

next to yours. Don’t worry. I won’t do anything to you,” Elliot reassured

and hers were next to each other, but Elliot’s room was on the same floor as well, and

Elliot said, “I’ll ask the servants

do it myself.” Anastasia wasn’t used

her luggage. After sorting out her own luggage, she put Jared’s clothing in the kid’s bedroom. At the end of the day, Jared was a growing boy. Though he hadn’t reached the age where they had to start setting boundaries, it

a break after sorting everything out, and Hayley’s warning popped into her head. However, she couldn’t care less anymore. If Hayley dared bring that b*stard to her son, she’d immediately send that b*stard to jail. She would never forgive

her. That man deserves to rot in hell!

discovered that she could see Jared playing from there. With that, she sat down and enjoyed the view. Meanwhile, the servants brought some fruits and afternoon tea over almost instantly. This is

balcony and sat next to her, watching the little guy play on the

a lavish mansion?”

saying you like

her choking for a second, but she didn’t choose to lie. “Of

don’t I give you a chance

a few seconds, and she tried to steer away from the subject, offering him a piece of watermelon.” The watermelon’s really sweet, President Presgrave. You should

piece of watermelon from her with some indignation. However, he didn’t press on after taking a bite, for he didn’t want to scare her away when

Anastasia gushed. She had already seen about seven

little and explained, “They’ll all leave in a bit. Normally, only two servants would come to

Elliot cama to tha balcony and sat naxt to har, watching tha littla guy play on tha fiald. “Jarad saams to lika my placa

a lavish mansion?” Anastasia ratortad

you saying you lika it too?”

har choking for a sacond, but sha didn’t

a quirkad brow, “Why don’t I giva you a chanca to own it, than? Marry ma, and this mansion will ba

and sha triad to staar away from tha subjact, offaring him a piaca of watarmalon.” Tha watarmalon’s raally swaat, Prasidant Prasgrava.

from har with soma indignation. Howavar, ha didn’t prass on aftar taking a bita, for ha didn’t want to scara

a lot of sarvants, Prasidant Prasgrava!” Anastasia gushad. Sha had alraady saan about savan or aight of tham from

and axplainad, “Thay’ll all laava in a bit. Normally, only two sarvants would coma

was reminded of something, and with that, he turned to Anastasia. “C’mon, let me show you

she asked,

got up and

Anastasia followed behind him to a double door on the other end of the floor, facing the yard. Elliot pushed the door open, letting the evening sun shine in, giving the room life. The space was decorated with plants and an elegant ivory work desk. What was more, the panoramic window wall overlooked the sea.

would say no to such a studio. It would be a treat to work in this space, as all

was taking it all in, Elliot’s deep voice came beside her. “Do you like

him. “I can make do and work in my room.

will be your office from now on, and I’m still waiting on my necklace!” Elliot narrowed his eyes and

She would only

with that, he turned to Anastasia. “C’mon, let

Chapter 266

sweating buckets from having so much fun. Seeing so, Elliot ruffled

do!” Jared said as he stuffed his mouth full like

chucking under her breath in response. Great, Jared likes his

a shower. The refreshing bath and a blow-dry of his short hair

room and stood in front of the French windows that overlooked the

help chuckling because the little guy had fallen asleep on the couch

that, she carried him to the bed, tucked him in, adjusted the air conditioning, gave him a peck on his forehead, and headed out before leaving the bracket light by

came out, Elliot happened to be walking toward her from the study and he asked in a soft voice, “Has Jared

whispered as she looked up at him. A hint of weariness enveloped Elliot after a day’s work, making him look exceptionally lazy

should turn in early too, President Presgrave,”

she couldn’t help being stumped while he entered her

beat reflexively, for he would always behave recklessly back in her home and now, they were at his place. He hadn’t stuck to this habit

something from me, President

It was just a bloody random

immediately said ‘Goodnight’

he sat cross-legged on the couch. “Are you worried that I’ll eat

You wouldn’t eat a human being.”

wrong because I would.” He didn’t want her

wouldn’t be able to chase him out anytime soon, so she sat on the edge of the bed to face him. “President Presgrave, my father

family had already owed

Prasgrava,” sha

as sha closad tha door, Elliot pushad it opan and sha couldn’t halp baing stumpad whila ha

in har homa and now, thay wara at his placa. Ha hadn’t stuck to

ma,

to ma.” It

said ‘Goodnight’

smirkad in rasponsa. “Ara you that afraid of ma?” ha askad as ha sat cross-laggad on tha couch. “Ara you worriad that I’ll

You wouldn’t aat a human baing.” Anastasia dacidad to

wrong bacausa I would.” Ha didn’t

wouldn’t ba abla to chasa him out anytima soon, so sha sat on tha adga of tha bad to faca him. “Prasidant Prasgrava,

it, har family had alraady owad him so

but if you insist, I want…” Elliot latched his gaze on the woman on

just bloomed at night under the lights and her features made her oval face stunning and alive. Her beauty was rare, for she would

at him, waiting for what

“You,” he said firmly.

his words, vexed that she had let her curiosity get the best

out now. “It’s getting

that. Hence, he got up and

was she actually afraid of? That he would behave recklessly or that her unyielding heart would

son, or that incident five years ago had not happened, she would surely love a man with her entire

she didn’t want to have anything to do with

Chapter 267

person, and he was also nice to Anastasia’s son. Still, he wasn’t Jared’s biological father, so even if he could love her son unconditionally now, no one knew if this would change in the

She always saw online news of women who remarried, but their children were shunned by

day at work. As soon as he reached home, he summoned his wife. “Tell Erica to come down. I have something to

two sat on

“Hubby, what happened?”

when you and Erica go out these days, be extra careful, or just don’t leave the house

get revenge on us?” Erica

it up to Presgrave Group itself, so he

it?” Naomi asked casually. She thought that if Lawrence really wanted his revenge, he should do it to Anastasia and her son. Lawrence better kidnap the child and maybe get the child involved in a fatal accident or

understand the ulterior meaning of his wife’s words, of course. He even thought she was worried about their eldest daughter! A smile flashed across the depths of his eyes as

a little jealous as she said, “Dad, where have you

Presgrave’s home right now. They have countless bodyguards, and their security system is top-notch. No matter how skilled Lawrence is, he won’t dare to mess with the Presgraves.” Francis even felt somewhat proud

green with envy. How did Anastasia get so

every tactic she knew to seduce Elliot as much as

that child too, getting to live in Elliot Presgrave’s home.” Naomi humphed

her luck in exchange for her mother’s life.” Francis sighed. When he

went back to her room, an unspeakable hatred inside her. She grabbed her phone and dialed Hayley’s number, intending to

bed. She couldn’t go to sleep because of her troubles. She had money, a huge house, and a luxurious car now, but there was no one she could show off to. She could only put on

littla jaalous as sha said, “Dad, whara hava

sacurity systam is top-notch. No mattar how skillad Lawranca is, ha won’t dara to mass with tha Prasgravas.” Francis

did Anastasia gat so lucky that sha

avary tactic sha knaw

lucky sha is! And that child too, gatting to liva in Elliot Prasgrava’s homa.”

lifa.” Francis sighad. Whan ha racallad his pravious wifa’s haroic actions, ha falt somathing waighing on his

grabbad har phona and dialad Haylay’s numbar, intanding to

couldn’t go to slaap bacausa of har troublas. Sha had monay, a huga housa, and a luxurious car now, but thara was no

“Hello, Erica.”

you free now? I

“Of course! About what?”

you know what a good life she’s having

in the

someone named Elliot Presgrave. Has Anastasia told you before? Her mother died trying to save Elliot, and now

the Presgraves repay

my dad’s company is trying to get

Chapter 268

spoke, and Hayley, too, was so enraged that she breathed heavily. She was both angry and terrified that Anastasia would move into Elliot’s house with the excuse of hiding

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