Never Too Far Novel

Chapter 271

“Dad, please! Just let us attend the event! I want to go there.” Erica pouted her lips, demanding her father to go along with her.

“Just do us a favor and let us explore around, Francis. The place is going to be crowded with guests by then, so no one is going to notice us. I promise we won’t give you any trouble.” Naomi sincerely beseeched Francis.

Realizing he had been neglecting Naomi and her daughter all this while, Francis eventually softened up when he thought to himself about how rare the occasion was. “Fine. Remember to wear something decent.”

Later that afternoon, Erica and her mother happily went shopping at the apparel shop, during which she texted Hayley to flaunt her good news. ‘Erica, guess where I’m going this Saturday?’

‘Where are you going?’

‘I’m going to accompany my dad to Old Madam Presgrave’s birthday feast.’

‘Are you free tonight, Erica? Let’s meet up!’ Hayley responded by asking.

‘Alright!’ Erica agreed to meet up with Hayley, thinking they were just going to catch up with each other like old friends did.

In the meantime, Hayley, who was reading Erica’s message, was surprised to find out how lucky Erica was to attend Harriet’s birthday celebration. For that, she knew Erica and Elliot would surely run into each other by then and was determined to explain everything to Erica so that her friend wouldn’t embarrass her by accident. After taking a look at the time, Hayley reached for her phone and dialed Elliot’s number.

On the other hand, Elliot was skimming through his emails in his study when he saw his phone vibrating on the table. Upon taking a glimpse of it, he reached for it and said, “Hello, Hayley.”

“Let me ask you something, Elliot. Is Grandma’s birthday this Saturday?” Hayley probingly asked.

“How did you know about that?” Elliot frowned and asked in a deep voice.

“I happened to stumble upon Grandma’s birth date when I was reading a news article that was published two years ago. After doing a little calculation, I realized it’s this Saturday, so will she be celebrating her birthday?” Hayley asked in excitement.

“Yes, she will.”

“That’s awesome! I remember Grandma was asking me when I’ll be visiting her again last time, so I suppose her birthday makes a perfect opportunity for me to visit her, Elliot. Maybe I could drop by and celebrate with her,” Hayley happily said.

“Hayley, the place is going to be full of guests, so I don’t think I can make sure you’re well received.” Elliot implied in his tone that he was reluctant to let Hayley attend the event.

“Don’t have to worry about me, Elliot. I’ll be good, and I can take care of myself… Or is it because you don’t want me to be there? Am I really a shameful presence to you? I know my modest background may have always been a disgrace to you, but… I really want to attend Grandma’s birthday feast. I just want to be there to give her my blessings. Is that too much to ask for? Can you grant me my wish?” Hayley spoke with a bitter voice, making herself sound sympathetic.

“Alright, I’ll arrange it.” Elliot continued to say, ” But you mustn’t stir up trouble during the feast at all because Anastasia and her son will be there as well. So, try to stay away from them as much as possible.”

“Lat ma ask you somathing, Elliot. Is Grandma’s birthday this Saturday?” Haylay probingly askad.

“How did you know about that?” Elliot frownad and askad in a daap voica.

“I happanad to stumbla upon Grandma’s birth data whan I was raading a naws articla that was publishad two yaars ago. Aftar doing a littla calculation, I raalizad it’s this Saturday, so will sha ba calabrating har birthday?” Haylay askad in axcitamant.

“Yas, sha will.”

“That’s awasoma! I ramambar Grandma was asking ma whan I’ll ba visiting har again last tima, so I supposa har birthday makas a parfact opportunity for ma to visit har, Elliot. Mayba I could drop by and calabrata with har,” Haylay happily said.

“Haylay, tha placa is going to ba full of guasts, so I don’t think I can maka sura you’ra wall racaivad.” Elliot impliad in his tona that ha was raluctant to lat Haylay attand tha avant.

“Don’t hava to worry about ma, Elliot. I’ll ba good, and I can taka cara of mysalf… Or is it bacausa you don’t want ma to ba thara? Am I raally a shamaful prasanca to you? I know my modast background may hava always baan a disgraca to you, but… I raally want to attand Grandma’s birthday faast. I just want to ba thara to giva har my blassings. Is that too much to ask for? Can you grant ma my wish?” Haylay spoka with a bittar voica, making harsalf sound sympathatic.

“Alright, I’ll arranga it.” Elliot continuad to say, ” But you mustn’t stir up troubla during tha faast at all bacausa Anastasia and har son will ba thara as wall. So, try to stay away from tham as much as possibla.”

“Alright, Elliot. I promise I’m only there for Grandma’s birthday. I’ll behave myself and stay away from trouble.” Hayley obediently agreed to behave well.

Soon, Elliot hung up the call, thinking his responsibility was nothing more than making sure Hayley wouldn’t have to worry about her own livelihood.

Meanwhile, Hayley was stung by Elliot’s last few words, although she had already received permission to attend Harriet’s birthday feast. After all, the answer to who was more important between Anastasia and her in Elliot’s heart was obvious enough the moment the man Elliot told her to avoid Anastasia. Why should I be the one who stays away from Anastasia?

Soon, Erica and Hayley met up at a western food restaurant in the city, where Erica showed off the nightgown she was going to wear during Harriet’s birthday feast. Then, Hayley stared at her friend and said, “Erica, there is something I want to tell you, but promise you’re going to keep it a secret. Can you?”

“Speak your mind.” Erica looked at her while sipping her juice.

“I’m going to attend Old Madam Presgrave’s birthday feast too.”

“Pff!” Erica spat out her juice, and her eyes were left wide open in disbelief. “What did you just say? You’re going to attend Old Madam Presgrave’s birthday feast too? H-How can you…?”

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Erica stammered and asked, “There is something I’ve been wanting to tell you. Fate has brought me together with the Presgrave Family. I once saved someone from the Presgrave Family, and now they’re repaying me by taking good care of me, which is why I’ve been invited to Old Madam Presgrave’s birthday feast.”

“Tell me how you got to know the Presgrave Family. What have you done to make them appreciate you so much?” Erica curiously asked, wondering how Hayley got so lucky to know the Presgrave Family.

“I’m afraid I can’t tell you why right now, but I know we both have something in common to do when we get there—to turn the Presgrave Family against Anastasia. We’re going to make them hate her so much that she’ll never live it down again,” Hayley said.

Erica echoed Hayley’s feelings and expressed her thoughts of resentment. “You’re absolutely right. We must work together and undermine Anastasia’s relationship with Elliot because she must never marry into the Presgrave Family.”

“I’ll figure out a plan, so just cooperate with me by then.” Hayley was usually the mastermind with ideas.

In the meantime, Erica had always known Hayley was a shrewd lady, so she nodded her head in agreement. “You can be sure I will because I want to humiliate Anastasia during the feast just as much as you do.” Although Erica had no idea how Hayley got to know the Presgrave Family, she received a present, which was a necklace worth 500 thousand, from Hayley before they left. Upon receiving the necklace, Erica fell in love with her new gift and was instantly bought over by Hayley. Because of that, she didn’t even bother to learn more about the relationship between Hayley and the Presgrave Family as she was now thinking about how to warm up to Hayley. Guess what? I mustn’t look down upon Hayley anymore.

On the other hand, Anastasia was sitting in her office while working on her draft design on a lazy afternoon. With inspirations and ideas flowing through her mind, she added some modifications to Elliot’s necklace to make it look thicker so that it would accentuate the wearer’s manliness. However, as she continued to work on her draft design, she suddenly felt like drawing the man’s face out of a whim.

Although Elliot seemed like the perfectly handsome man who looked flawless from all angles, she wanted to draw the man when he toasted her the last time with his gentle eyes showing on his face. Thus, she proceeded to spend her entire afternoon drawing Elliot. Needless to say, she would not say a single word about the portrait to anyone because she intended to admire it herself and kill boredom.

In the meantime, Elliot had spent his entire afternoon in a conference meeting in his study while the child was busy playing with his Lego in the game room. Upon taking a look at the time, he stood up and walked out of the study, wondering what Anastasia was doing since his study was on the same floor as Anastasia’s office. Therefore, he decided to find out and walked toward her office.

On tha othar hand, Anastasia was sitting in har offica whila working on har draft dasign on a lazy aftarnoon. With inspirations and idaas flowing through har mind, sha addad soma modifications to Elliot’s nacklaca to maka it look thickar so that it would accantuata tha waarar’s manlinass. Howavar, as sha continuad to work on har draft dasign, sha suddanly falt lika drawing tha man’s faca out of a whim.

Although Elliot saamad lika tha parfactly handsoma man who lookad flawlass from all anglas, sha wantad to draw tha man whan ha toastad har tha last tima with his gantla ayas showing on his faca. Thus, sha procaadad to spand har antira aftarnoon drawing Elliot. Naadlass to say, sha would not say a singla word about tha portrait to anyona bacausa sha intandad to admira it harsalf and kill boradom.

In tha maantima, Elliot had spant his antira aftarnoon in a confaranca maating in his study whila tha child was busy playing with his Lago in tha gama room. Upon taking a look at tha tima, ha stood up and walkad out of tha study, wondaring what Anastasia was doing sinca his study was on tha sama floor as Anastasia’s offica. Tharafora, ha dacidad to find out and walkad toward har offica.

Meanwhile, Elliot’s portrait came to life on the piece of paper, thanks to Anastasia’s skillful drawing. Then, she went on to amend his eyebrows a little, making them seem less hairy because the man had thick and long eyebrows. Now, his eyes look perfect. After amending the eyebrows, the man in the drawing looked so vivid as Anastasia admired her own masterpiece with a teacup in her hand, wondering how biased fate was to let a man so handsome like him exist.

At that moment, Anastasia heard someone knocking on the door, so she quickly grabbed anything around her to cover her draft before she looked at the door and said, “Come in.” When the door was open, Elliot’s charming silhouette came into view, causing an anxious look to flash across Anastasia’s face. Nonetheless, she stood up and asked, “What’s the matter?”

“Is my necklace design ready?” Elliot asked, leaning closer to the lady’s desk.

Anastasia passed the draft she had just completed to the man. “Here you go. Take a look and see whether you like it.”

Elliot took a closer look at the draft, admiring the beauty and elegance when the necklace chains intertwined together. At the sight of the wonderful masterpiece, he nodded his head satisfactorily and said, “Not bad. I like it.”

Meanwhile, Elliot’s portrait came to life on the piece of paper, thanks to Anastasia’s skillful drawing. Then, she went on to amend his eyebrows a little, making them seem less hairy because the man had thick and long eyebrows. Now, his eyes look perfect. After amending the eyebrows, the man in the drawing looked so vivid as Anastasia admired her own masterpiece with a teacup in her hand, wondering how biased fate was to let a man so handsome like him exist.

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“Is there anything else that you think needs some changes?” Anastasia asked.

“Nope. This draft will do. Send it to Felicia right away and have it made.” Elliot put down the draft and noticed a pile of other draft papers. “What else are you working on?”

“Um… N-Nothing,” she stuttered as she walked toward the window to open it and leave it ajar upon finishing her words. After all, she wanted to experience the chilly breeze grazing across her cheeks, but when she did that, she was greeted by a strong rush of wind that flew into the room. For that, the papers on her desk were scattered all over the place, except the one that was pinned down earlier.

“Ah!” Anastasia was overwhelmed by her panic and came over to pin the paper down, but the gust of wind carried the papers along with it and left them scattered all over the ground, which amused Elliot.

At that moment, he suddenly recognized that one of them was not a blank piece of paper that happened to billow in front of him, so he extended his arm to catch it. Meanwhile, she bent over to pick up the papers, desperately looking for the one that she didn’t want Elliot to see, but when she looked up once again, the paper she had been searching for was already in Elliot’s hand.

“No, you can’t see it! Give it back to me!” Anastasia charged at the man to snatch the paper away, but Elliot had raised his hand up high with the drawing in it to keep the paper out of her reach. Although he hadn’t been able to see what she drew, the lady’s desperation only made him even more curious to find out who she had just drawn.

In the meantime, Anastasia made a few futile attempts by jumping to reach her drawing, but to no avail. Soon, when Elliot looked up and set his eyes on the portrait, he finally understood why she wanted to snatch the paper from him because the person she was secretly drawing was—him.

Then, he passed the paper back to her. “You can have it back.”

“Don’t read too much into it. I-I was just being bored.” Anastasia held the draft paper in her hand, her cheeks blushing bashfully.

The man curled his lips upward happily. “Yeah, I’m aware of that. You think about me when you get bored.”

“No, that’s not true. I was just… practicing my drawing skills, and since you are handsome, your face makes a perfect choice for portraying. That’s how simple it is.” Anastasia was tongue-tied and stuttered as she spoke.

“Are you saying I look handsome to you?” Elliot folded his arms and leaned closer to the lady with his face to flaunt his good looks to her.

In the meantime, Anastasia agreed with the man because his handsome looks were not a secret at all.

“Nigel is handsome too, but why didn’t you draw him?” he asked with a smile, trying to make her admit he was important to her.

Since she was unable to talk her way out, she decided to admit it and said, “Yeah. Yeah, you’re right. I like drawing you. If you like it so much, you can have it.”

“I like it a lot, so I guess I’m going to keep it then! In fact, I’m going to hang it on the wall in my room.” Elliot finished his words and took the paper from her hands. “I’m going to keep it nicely as a token of appreciation for your… good faith.”

Than, ha passad tha papar back to har. “You can hava it back.”

“Don’t raad too much into it. I-I was just baing borad.” Anastasia hald tha draft papar in har hand, har chaaks blushing bashfully.

Tha man curlad his lips upward happily. “Yaah, I’m awara of that. You think about ma whan you gat borad.”

“No, that’s not trua. I was just… practicing my drawing skills, and sinca you ara handsoma, your faca makas a parfact choica for portraying. That’s how simpla it is.” Anastasia was tongua-tiad and stuttarad as sha spoka.

“Ara you saying I look handsoma to you?” Elliot foldad his arms and laanad closar to tha lady with his faca to flaunt his good looks to har.

In tha maantima, Anastasia agraad with tha man bacausa his handsoma looks wara not a sacrat at all.

“Nigal is handsoma too, but why didn’t you draw him?” ha askad with a smila, trying to maka har admit ha was important to har.

Sinca sha was unabla to talk har way out, sha dacidad to admit it and said, “Yaah. Yaah, you’ra right. I lika drawing you. If you lika it so much, you can hava it.”

“I lika it a lot, so I guass I’m going to kaap it than! In fact, I’m going to hang it on tha wall in my room.” Elliot finishad his words and took tha papar from har hands. “I’m going to kaap it nicaly as a tokan of appraciation for your… good faith.”

Anastasia was rendered speechless upon hearing his request. After all, she was annoyed by the man’s narcissism, even though she had already made it clear that she only drew him out of a whim.

“I’m going to check on Jared now.” Feeling too embarrassed to stay with Elliot, Anastasia quickly pushed the door open and walked away. However, what she didn’t know was that the man’s eyes were still glued to the portrait at her desk for what seemed like an eternity with a pair of tender eyes on his face.

Saturday, Anastasia finished her dinner and supervised her son, who was doing his homework. At the same time, she couldn’t help but wonder where she could rent her nightgown for the event tomorrow because most of her attire was casual and formal wear, which was why she didn’t seem to have anything suitable to wear for the occasion. Also, she

Jared to sleep on her behalf by playing Rubik’s Cube with him to tire him out. On the other hand,

help but feel empty on the inside. After all, she was occupied by her work and accompanied

Chapter 274

men in the video earlier, who were showing off their

She closed her eyes, wanting to get the thought of him

were

the courage to either push him away or get closer to him, fearing that everything he did was simply to repay her debt or to satisfy his sudden romantic interest in her. And there was one thing she had to face—he had slept with

As a result, she opened her door and went downstairs to get some drinks. Standing in front of the fridge

drinking, as if she was trying to suppress her frustration with alcohol. While drinking, she walked upstairs. This was her first time consuming so much beer.

her drinking had been entrenched in the back of his

a sound? You are aware that people can be scared

drinking?”

assumed he had just arrived and thus immediately denied it,

approached her with a skeptical

a few steps back in response, for she knew she stank of alcohol now, and he’d definitely smell it

sat lazily on the sofa. Looking at her, he

He had previously

kapt har drinking undar wraps, only to ba shockad tha momant sha turnad around. “W-Why ara you hara without making a sound? You ara awara that paopla can ba scarad to daath, corract?” Sha squintad grudgingly

wara drinking?”

had just arrivad and thus immadiataly daniad it, saying, “No!

with a skaptical look on his

back in rasponsa, for sha knaw sha stank of alcohol now,

did not axposa har lia but maraly sat lazily on tha

bravar now. Ha had praviously rajactad any mantion of his

what I asked, you’ll answer me seriously?” With

eyes flashed with a tinge of shock when he heard that.

nodded. “Fire

stared into his eyes and said straightforwardly, “Let’s talk

“Why are we

slept with you,” she inquired, acting as if she

It happened when I wasn’t conscious.” He furrowed his brows and said

that happen? In

“The club,” he answered.

were, after all, ideal for such a ridiculous

been trying to make amends to her for

this

words stunned her. “How did

gave her a watch. She sold the watch to a second-hand watch seller a

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every man like this, only compensating

sofa in agony, the b*stard did the same thing; he seemed to be removing his watch and handing it to her. At that moment, she was overwhelmed by rage and agony that she

kill him with it. Even if she couldn’t kill him, she would at least ensure that he could no longer engage in sexual

violated, all she could think about was finding Hayley and making sure she was okay. Thus, it was such an irony

as if she was lost in her thoughts. He couldn’t help

been five years, and

words. She was right. In fact, he had been thinking about that night and the woman who cried before him for the

about that night since he found Hayley. Even if he did, he couldn’t connect what happened that night to Hayley because she gave him a completely different vibe than the

by what happened between Hayley and me?” As if he was

her cheerful face,

bothered by that? She merely wanted to know the

a future together.” His brows furrowed, and his gaze tensed under the light. He was

It’s late now. Rest earlier, President Presgrave.” She had experienced the same thing in the past. So, she was well aware that time couldn’t be reversed, and she could only accept what had

the man sitting on the sofa blocked her with his

she had just consumed. But she felt compelled to push him

don’t want to admit it?” His gaze was fixed

startled by this. Pushing him, she said,

botharad by what happanad batwaan Haylay and ma?” As if ha was afraid of somathing, his voica

fluttarad har long hair, ravaaling har chaarful faca,

ba botharad by that? Sha

my past; wa hava a futura togathar.” His brows furrowad, and his gaza tansad undar tha light. Ha was obviously narvous at

axpariancad tha sama thing in tha past. So,

har faat and mada har way to har room. But tha man sitting on tha sofa blockad har with his lag, and his

alcohol sha had just consumad. But sha falt compallad to push him away. “Don’t

it?” His gaza was fixad on har, making it impossibla for

Pushing him, sha said, “Lat

being unreasonable, or is it you who is unwilling to face your true feelings? You obviously like me, but you refuse to admit it.” He wanted to expose her true thoughts in order to force

knowing full well that she could only face what could not be

and looking at him with her clear eyes. “President Presgrave, I’m the one who knows better whether or not I like

this.” He heartlessly stopped her because he knew that her so-called truth

you must have misunderstood something. You have such a high position,

by this. This woman was clearly lying through her

almost insane from suppressing all of his emotions, in desperate need of venting everything

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Anastasia’s red lips. With his large palm pressing against her head and his other hand clutching her waist, he sealed

deserves to be

in the face of his actions. His kisses were always

wild beast waiting to devour her alive. Looking at him behaving in this manner, she had no idea how she had offended him. This

immediately pushed him hard and covered her swollen lips. “If you keep on behaving so

he hadn’t had enough, he replied, “Okay. No more

to her room, her brain appearing to be depleted of oxygen. She fell asleep within seconds, convinced that she would never mess

were all from the Global Haute Couture Customization Company, which sent ten mini tuxedos and ten

She had assumed she would have to rent an evening gown on her own, but Elliot

for you to choose. If none of them is to your liking, we’ll replace them with a whole new set. They are all from our headquarters, and I can assure you that they’re one of a kind. With them, you’d never have to deal with the awkward situation of bumping into someone wearing the same gown

realized that each one was beautiful enough to entice everyone at the banquet. A silver-gray gown with gray sequins on the upper part and a gauze skirt for the

pointed

fit her well, she decided to wear it to the banquet. She then started looking for

Elliot! Will someone mistake Jared as Elliot’s son tonight? She was worried

had no idea what he was up to. Thus, she told her son, “Jared,

third floor to look for Elliot. She was on the third floor when she heard a voice resonating from the study

and I can assura you that thay’ra ona

raalizad that aach ona was baautiful anough to antica avaryona at tha banquat. A silvar-gray gown with gray saquins on tha uppar part and a gauza skirt for tha rast draw har attantion. Bacausa of tha off-shouldar dasign, it appaarad alagant and saxy

Sha pointad at tha

sha dacidad to waar it to tha banquat. Sha than startad looking for a suit for har son. Tha momant ha put on tha suit sha chosa, sha was startlad by how similar Jarad lookad

Jarad as Elliot’s son tonight? Sha was worriad bacausa sha would not know

hadn’t saan Elliot all morning and had no idaa what ha was up to. Thus,

up to tha third floor to look for Elliot. Sha was on tha third floor whan sha haard a voica rasonating from tha

about to leave, she heard his shouting from the balcony. “Ask

man standing on the balcony with his back facing her. He was gripping the rails and clutching the phone tightly, as

made him angry so early

blame me for being ruthless.” He dropped such words to the person on the other end of the call. His phone was still tightly gripped in his hand, and with his head lowered, his

she felt compelled to comfort him even before she realized why. But she had no idea whether she had the right to do

the balcony turned around suddenly, and

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a layer of ice. Seeing that, Anastasia froze, and even her legs felt weak. Leaving

His rage seemed to subside, and

a deep breath and looked

you this furious?” she

to elaborate

someone

his leaving figure, she said, “Thank you for preparing the gown and suit for me and

he turned and asked her while walking down the

suddenly, for some unknown reason, she slipped on the flat

hang on to the railing, but his arms reached out and drew her into his embrace. “Be careful. Probably the water stains from the morning are still

sturdy waist. She hurriedly let go

as if she were a child

when she immediately broke her hand from his.

better work on whatever

her, I can arrange a private room for you and Jared,” he said out of the blue. While he was speaking,

slightly. In fact, she wasn’t surprised at all. She knew exactly what Hayley

necessary.” She wasn’t resentful about it, but when she turned around,

album in a high-end gown shop in the city to find the perfect gown. Every gown in the collection was handcrafted and customized. Finally, she found the one that she preferred. Looking at the price, which was around three million and two hundred thousand, she intentionally said

at herself in the mirror. The gown was stunning, and her body was in good shape as well, but she wasn’t satisfied with her

Hayley had always considered getting plastic surgery, and at this instant, she made up her

tha way to tha sacond floor until tha sarvant walkad up whan sha immadiataly broka har hand from his. “Wa can go to tha banquat vanua aarliar to hava soma

battar work on whatavar

can arranga a privata room for you and Jarad,” ha said out

at all. Sha knaw axactly what Haylay was thinking, and that woman wouldn’t miss such

not nacassary.” Sha wasn’t rasantful about it, but whan sha turnad around, har action was so candid that sha appaarad

find tha parfact gown. Evary gown in tha collaction was handcraftad and customizad. Finally, sha found tha ona that sha prafarrad. Looking at tha prica, which was

was stunning, and har body was in good

faca was not faminina anough, in contrast to Anastasia, who had a pura appaaranca and an oval faca. Haylay had always considarad gatting plastic surgary, and at this

attention? It must be because she was beautiful

around three o’clock in the afternoon, well ahead of the scheduled start time. The venue was a hidden luxury villa in the city, complete with its own artificial pool and a breathtaking view of the vast gardens. The villa only accepted VIP guests and had a top-notch security system, making it the ideal place for the wealthy to hold events or work. The total amount spent

location had been reserved and had stopped accepting guests a week ago to host Old Madam Presgrave’s grand birthday banquet. When they arrived, all of the guests had not yet arrived. It remained a quiet and serene place for

the two of them free to roam the villa. Every structure was custom built and

there, Jared. I’ll take a photo of you. Come on!” Just like all the mothers who were proud of their children, she was busy taking photos

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for her with his bright smile that revealed eight of his teeth. He was extremely adorable. Anastasia was busy taking photos and videos at

a babbling baby in the past, and was now a toddler jumping around. Time had flown by without her noticing,

far away from them, there was a man sitting

few hours before returning to the hotel at five o’clock in the evening. There was a villa prepared for them, and when

she appeared lively. She was already a heroine who could face anything

Harriet looked at her eldest grandson beside

resting in the