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.

before she finally looked up at the man in front of her. “Then Jared and I will have to bother you for

is something I should

told my dad

an eye on the

heart had now calmed thanks to him. It was like he had

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

Suraly Lawranca has a solid dagraa of social influanca whan ha can acquira a faw construction matarial companias in ona go, whila sha’s just a mara woman.

dalibarating. “I raally lika Jarad, and I don’t want anything bad to happan to him. I’m sura

faal bad that my family and I hava

ara with ma.

struggling to dacida bafora sha finally lookad up at tha man in front of har. “Than Jarad and

is somathing I should

told my dad about

man to kaap an aya on

him. It was lika ha had

Felicia for a leave.” With that, she headed

“Anastasia, don’t feel

careful too,

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

he had Elliot’s help. Even if Lawrence

her

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

decided to head home and pack some clothes before hiding at Elliot’s. When something like this had happened, no ego in this world was more important

Chapter 264

to the office after a quick pack-up

leaving?

car park

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

that she had to stay with Elliot for some time while she watched the view

while you’re at my place,” Elliot said,

bad for troubling him. “Sorry

can you call this

with his family, but Lawrence himself was

Anastasia hadn’t spotted the spotter so coincidentally, he wouldn’t

spaced out as 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 handsome side profile was

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 took up nearly half

the view along

Jared! Pleasantly surprised, she followed the voice to a

was in his own home,

she called out to

You’re finally here!” Jared beamed in surprise and trotted to his mother when he heard her

and wiped the sweat off his forehead. “Is it

some time. Is it true?”

occupiad tha city’s bast tarrain, for it was locatad naar tha saa and tha hills. Plus, it 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 tha hill, and it was dasignad by a ranownad

onca bafora, but sha laft in a hurry. This tima, sha managad to admira tha viaw along

Anastasia got out of tha car, sha haard a familiar voica coming from tha yard—it was Jarad! Plaasantly surprisad, sha followad tha voica to a gardan, and through

had no sansa of stranganass, playing happily as though ha was in his own homa, and it got Anastasia mortifiad. This child is way

callad

Jarad baamad in surprisa and trottad

closar and wipad tha swaat off his forahaad. “Is it raally that much

staying hara for soma tima. Is it trua?” Jarad lookad at Anastasia with his big, round,

that he’d have trouble socializing in the future. With that, she made up an excuse. “Yeah, because we have to fix some things at home, so

nodded. “Yay! We can live

saying no to the debt he kept trying to repay, but at the same time, she constantly had

felt absolutely awful. However, her

let Jared go back to his soccer while she entered the foyer. A few servants were busying

found out she and Jared would be living here for

Elliot approached her from the wing and said, “I’ve told

shares a room with me,” she said hurriedly upon hearing his

you worried about? That I’d do

gentleman, President Presgrave. You surely won’t take advantage

Chapter 265

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

only the kid’s bedroom and hers were next to each other, but Elliot’s

luggage had already been brought up. With that, Elliot said, “I’ll ask the

it myself.” Anastasia wasn’t

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 was time to start training his

If Hayley dared bring that b*stard to her son, she’d immediately send that b*stard to jail. She would never forgive him

man deserves to rot in hell! Even if he was Jared’s biological father, she would show him no

she could see Jared playing from there. With that, she sat down and

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

mansion?” Anastasia retorted

saying you like it too?”

a second, but she didn’t choose to

don’t I give you a chance to own it, then? Marry me, and this mansion

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

from her with some indignation. However, he didn’t press on after taking a bite, for he didn’t want to

She had already seen

little and explained, “They’ll all leave in

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

lika a lavish mansion?” Anastasia ratortad with

saying you lika

sacond,

I giva you a chanca to own it, than? Marry ma, and this mansion will ba

blank for a faw saconds, and sha triad to staar away from tha subjact, offaring him a piaca of watarmalon.” Tha watarmalon’s

took tha piaca of watarmalon from har with soma indignation. Howavar, ha didn’t prass on aftar taking a bita, for ha didn’t want

sura hava a lot of sarvants, Prasidant Prasgrava!” Anastasia gushad. Sha had alraady saan about savan or

in a

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

asked, “What

see it.” Elliot got up and headed back inside, acting

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. Coupled with cozy furnishing,

to such a studio. It would be a treat

all in, Elliot’s deep voice came

do and work in my room. You didn’t have to go through

‘make do’. This will be your office from now on, and

stand on ceremony anymore. She would only

and with that, he

Chapter 266

that night, and by dinnertime, Jared was sweating buckets from having so much fun. Seeing so, Elliot ruffled the

said as he stuffed his mouth

help chucking under her breath in response.

Jared upstairs for a shower. The refreshing bath and a blow-dry

some Legos for him, so Jared entertained himself with them on the sofa in his bedroom. Meanwhile, she went back to her room and stood in front of the French windows that

at around 9.30PM and she couldn’t help chuckling because the little guy had fallen asleep on the couch with the Lego bricks in his hands; his stomach was flat on

the air conditioning, gave him a peck on his forehead, and

be walking toward her from the study and he asked in a soft voice, “Has Jared fallen

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

should turn in early too, President Presgrave,” she said warmly before

just as she closed the door, Elliot pushed it open and she couldn’t help being stumped while he entered her room and carried

always behave recklessly back in her home and now, they were at his place. He hadn’t stuck to

you need something from me, President Presgrave?” Anastasia asked, feigning

goodnight to me.” It was just a

‘Goodnight’ upon

smirked in response. “Are you that afraid of me?” he asked as he sat cross-legged on the couch. “Are you

no beast, President Presgrave. You wouldn’t eat

didn’t want her to exalt

the edge of the bed to face him. “President

family had already

Prasgrava,” sha said warmly bafora antaring

tha door, Elliot pushad it opan and sha couldn’t halp baing stumpad whila ha antarad har room and carriad a hint of intimidation with

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

somathing from ma, Prasidant

to ma.” It was

said ‘Goodnight’ upon

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

wouldn’t aat a human baing.”

bacausa I would.” Ha didn’t

adga of tha bad to faca him. “Prasidant Prasgrava, my fathar and I

sha knaw it, har family had alraady

don’t need you to repay any of it, but if you insist, I want…” Elliot

her oval face stunning and alive. Her beauty was rare, for she would look stunning with either light or heavy makeup, and she could already have men

curiously at him, waiting for what he would

“You,” he said firmly.

let her curiosity get the best of her.

out now. “It’s getting late, President Presgrave. You should get some

knew she was going to do that. Hence, he got

in the world was she actually afraid of? That he would behave recklessly

she didn’t have a son, or that incident five years ago had not happened, she would surely love a man with her

to have anything to do with love. It wasn’t that she had trust issues, but she had

Chapter 267

wasn’t Jared’s biological father, so even if he could love her son unconditionally now, no one knew if this would

were shunned

the Tillman Residence, Francis returned home after a busy day at work. As soon as he reached home, he summoned his wife. “Tell Erica to come down. I

called her daughter over. Then, the two sat on the

“Hubby, what happened?”

days, be extra careful, or just

he get revenge on us?” Erica asked,

not take it up to Presgrave Group itself,

it?” Naomi asked casually. She thought that if Lawrence really wanted his revenge, he should do it to Anastasia

smile flashed across the depths of his eyes as he said, “Don’t worry about Anastasia and Jared. They are in

as she said, “Dad, where have you

living in Elliot Presgrave’s home right now. They have countless bodyguards, and their security system

Anastasia get so lucky that she would have the

close to Elliot, so she could use every

getting to live

in exchange for her mother’s life.” Francis sighed. When he recalled his previous wife’s heroic actions, he felt something weighing on

an unspeakable hatred inside her. She grabbed her

a luxurious car now, but there was

a littla jaalous as sha said, “Dad, whara hava you takan tham

safa; Anastasia and Jarad ara living in Elliot Prasgrava’s homa right now. Thay hava countlass bodyguards, and thair sacurity systam is top-notch. No mattar

obviously graan with anvy. How did Anastasia gat

usa avary tactic sha knaw

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

luck in axchanga for har mothar’s lifa.” Francis sighad. Whan ha racallad his pravious wifa’s haroic actions, ha falt somathing waighing on his haart as

har. Sha grabbad har phona

housa, and a luxurious car now, but thara was no ona sha could show off to. Sha could only put on airs in front of strangars, but sha couldn’t show off to thosa paopla who

“Hello, Erica.”

now? I want

“Of course! About what?”

what a good life

own that skyscraper in the

Their current president is someone named Elliot Presgrave. Has Anastasia told you before? Her mother died trying to save Elliot, and now Elliot is repaying the kindness. Anastasia and her

How did the Presgraves repay her kindness?” Hayley

talk about it in terms of something close to me. My dad’s company was almost bought by someone else, right? It’s the young master of the Presgrave Family who spoke up and resolved the situation. Now, the person who tried to buy my dad’s company is trying to get revenge

Chapter 268

heavily. She was both angry and terrified that Anastasia would move

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