Never Too Far Novel

At the same time, Harriet realized that Hayley’s face seemed to have changed. Though she still looked beautiful, it seemed that she had done something to her appearance.

To be frank, Harriet rejected the behavior of pursuing beauty through surgery. Since her body had been given to her by her parents, she should cherish them.

“I’m sorry for coming uninvited to your banquet, Grandma. It’s just that I’ve missed you so much.” The look in Hayley’s eyes didn’t seem sincere at all.

However, Harriet reassured her, “No worries. I forgot to inform you about it. Since it’s usually the same old relatives coming every year, I’m happy that you’ve come too.” After saying that, she instructed one of the maids, “Escort Miss Seymour to the garden for some tea.”

Hayley was overjoyed upon hearing that. Sure enough, Harriet didn’t drive her away, so she happily followed the maid to the garden.

As soon as Hayley left, Harriet let out a sigh of relief. She was aware of Hayley’s intentions, but the Presgrave Family could only accept one daughter-in-law. Therefore, no matter what Hayley did, it would be useless.

“From whom did Miss Seymour hear the news?” One of the female housekeepers on the side questioned in surprise. She was the one who had sent out the invitations, but she didn’t recall sending an invite to Hayley.

“Don’t worry about it. Let’s just serve her since she’s already here!” said Harriet with a wave of a hand.

However, the housekeeper blamed herself. After all, she knew what Hayley’s identity was; she was merely a woman whom Young Master Elliot couldn’t get rid of.

“Should I inform Young Master Elliot?”

When Harriet recalled that Elliot would be bringing Anastasia to visit today, she was certain that Anastasia wouldn’t come if she knew that Hayley was here. She couldn’t help but shake her head and replied, “Forget it. Let’s tell them when they arrive!”

One of them was someone Harriet didn’t welcome, while the other was someone Harriet desperately wanted her to be here.

Between Hayley and Anastasia, it was obvious who had the upper hand.

Soon, Harriet’s daughter, son-in-law, as well as Nigel arrived.

Some relatives and friends had also arrived earlier, so the whole yard was packed with luxury cars. All the relatives of the Presgrave Family had gained a firm foothold in the political and business circles with the support of the Presgrave Family. The Presgraves were like a big tree, and there was an intricate network of relationships under the protection of said tree. Even Harriet’s brother was able to soar high in the political circle due to the family’s influence.

While sitting in the tea house in the garden, Hayley couldn’t help but feel a little nervous when she heard the lively atmosphere in the main hall. However, it wasn’t going to make her flinch or retreat. Looking down at the box of drugs in her bag, she smirked cynically.

Anastasia was going to lose her pride today in front of all the relatives of the Presgrave Family.

After picking up the cup of tea, she took a few sips. It tasted pretty bland although she had already taken some medication to revive her taste buds.

The doctors said that the surgery might cause long-term side effects, but for her beauty, Hayley could only endure it.

At that moment, a black Rolls-Royce entered the front yard. The man who came out of the car was Elliot while the woman that came out of the car was Anastasia.

He extended his hand to hold her, but she hid her hand shyly. “Let’s not hold hands.”

His deep gaze locked on her for a few seconds before realizing that she was just shy and didn’t want to show too much affection in front of her relatives.

“Let’s go, then!” Elliot understood her feelings.

As they walked past the front garden and into the hall, they saw three banquet tables in the living hall. All of the guests had arrived.

Once they entered the hall, Elliot started greeting the guests. As the most honorable child of the Presgrave Family, Elliot had been polite and thoughtful since young. Therefore, everyone adored him.

While Anastasia followed him around, she listened to him exchanging customary greetings with his relatives. It was also the first time she had seen him behaving like a well-mannered junior. Usually, he was aloof and unapproachable, making everyone surrender to him!

“Elliot, why don’t you introduce us to this beautiful lady beside you?” one of his aunts urged.

“This is Anastasia Tillman, my girlfriend,” Elliot introduced her naturally.

Anastasia couldn’t help but feel her cheeks heat up when she heard that. She had thought about this question before coming, but she still couldn’t avoid revealing her identity.

“What a beauty! Elliot has a good eye!”

“Of course, he does! Elliot has always been the most good-looking child to us. Naturally, he should go out with a beautiful woman.”

“I don’t agree!” Suddenly, a male voice sounded behind the lady.

Turning around, the lady couldn’t help but laugh out loud at the sight of Nigel. Nigel raised his chin and questioned, “Which part of me doesn’t win over Elliot? I was obviously the best looking when we were young.”

“You’re right. You’re the most handsome!” The lady quickly changed her words, eliciting some laughter among the crowd.

Even Anastasia was amused by their interaction. Based on Nigel’s looks, he was indeed not inferior to Elliot. However, in terms of his stance, Elliot was more domineering than he was.

“Anastasia, you should be the judge. Who is more good-looking between Elliot and me?”

Initially, Anastasia was just a spectator watching them. Now that Nigel had thrown the question at her, she could only cough awkwardly as she replied, “You.”

After saying that, Anastasia sensed a pair of eyes filled with resentment staring at her.

“Anastasia has good taste.” With that, Nigel reached out his hand to Anastasia, suggesting, “Come on, let’s go over there. I have something to tell you.”

However, the moment he finished his sentence, Elliot shot daggers at him. Nigel immediately sensed the deathly stare and realized that he couldn’t treat Anastasia casually anymore. He couldn’t even get involved with her personal affairs now that she belonged to someone else.

“What is it that you cannot talk in front of me?” Elliot glared at Nigel to prove his presence.

Anastasia covered her mouth while chuckling, but Nigel huffed while saying, “You petty man. Can’t I talk to your girlfriend for a little while?”

“No!” rejected Elliot coldly.

“Be the judge, Anastasia. He was the one who interrupted us when I tried to pursue you. I was kind enough to let you go, but look at how he’s treating me now!” Nigel started whining.

Anastasia laughed out loud at his antics. “I’m not meddling in your fight. You should solve it between yourselves.”

“Let’s go and greet Grandma.” Upon landing an arm on her waist, Elliot dragged Anastasia away from Nigel.

Since he was left without a choice, Nigel tagged along because he was bored. Everyone who attended the banquet today was mostly the seniors, and all the juniors didn’t manage to attend.

Currently, Harriet was sitting in the hall chatting away with the other old madams. When she saw Elliot and Anastasia walking up to her, her eyes were instantly filled with tenderness and affection.

“Come here, Anastasia. Take a seat,” she invited gently.

With that, Anastasia took the seat next to her. Harriet looked at her with guilt and apology. “Didn’t you bring Jared with you?”

“Jared went to my father’s place.”

“Oh! I quite like that child. He’s so adorable.” Whenever Harriet thought of the child, she immediately saw young Elliot in him.

Just then, the housekeeper requested to talk to Elliot outside.

“Young Master Elliot, I have something to tell you. Miss Hayley is here.”

Elliot’s face immediately darkened. “Who let her in?”

“Miss Hayley was the earliest to arrive, but I don’t know who informed her,” the housekeeper uttered helplessly.

There was a hint of coolness that flashed in Elliot’s eyes. Who was the one who obtained the information and relayed it to Hayley? There was only one person who knew about it, and that was his personal assistant, Daniel.

It seemed that Hayley even had the means to buy information from people around him.

“Where is she?” Elliot questioned indifferently.

“She’s at the tea house in the garden and hasn’t been invited to the hall yet. Do you want to see her?”

After glancing at Anastasia, who was busy chatting with his grandmother, he walked toward the tea house in the garden.

On this side, Hayley had been waiting to be invited to the main hall. However, it was Elliot who greeted her instead with a long face.

Hayley was in utter shock. Flustered, she almost broke the teacup in her hand. “How did you know I was here, Elliot?”

Ever since he knew that Hayley was the cause of Anastasia’s misery back then, he didn’t have any feelings for her anymore.

“This is my family’s gathering. There’s no reason for you to attend.” Elliot stared at her coldly.

Hayley’s eyes immediately reddened. “Why can’t I come when Anastasia is here? You’re being too biased, Elliot.”

Elliot frowned slightly and retorted somewhat coldly, “To me, you’re incomparable to Anastasia. I have always wanted to make up to you only in the material aspect, and you should know that.”

Hayley sensed that Elliot had changed, and his attitude toward her had become extraordinarily cold. Did Anastasia tell him something?

“Elliot, why are you doing this to me? Did I do something wrong?” Hayley bit her red lips and showed a pitiful look.

“Is it your fault that Anastasia was harassed five years ago?” Elliot interrogated.

Hearing that, Hayley quivered. She shook her head fervently and denied, “It wasn’t me; it wasn’t me, Elliot. It was her stepsister who did it. When I wanted to stop her, it was too late. I regret it so much now, and I deserve Anastasia’s hatred.”

Hayley appeared to be helpless on the surface, but in reality, she hated Anastasia to her bones. Sure enough, Anastasia exposed what happened back then just to win Elliot’s heart.

Staring at Hayley’s face, Elliot could only see how ugly her cry was after she underwent plastic surgery. It made him extremely uncomfortable, and he didn’t believe in a single word she uttered.

but she didn’t know

before leaving,” Elliot warned in a low voice. He didn’t want Anastasia to know that she was

intentions, so she panicked and

back and shot her a cold gaze, uttering, “From now on, I don’t want to see

She underwent surgery to look like the woman he liked, but instead, he told her that he didn’t want to see her

chased after him, but she was stopped by two

attitude showed her that no matter what

make Anastasia happy, he didn’t allow her to enter the hall even if she had already come all the way to Presgrave Residence. Anastasia would be the protagonist tonight, while she was going to suffer from humiliation

returned to the sofa, a strong feeling of resentment flashed in Hayley’s eyes. Anastasia being alive was her

the main hall, Anastasia did not know that Hayley was also there. Harriet took her to a quiet lounge and explained the truth about how Elliot had been saved

complicated, and it definitely gave her mother pressure to save the hostage. In Elliot’s case, however, she sacrificed herself and pounced

completely lost when he came back that day. He loves

hear Harriet’s words. Hearing others tell her that Elliot loved her seemed to give her a

Riley’s words and misunderstanding you,” Anastasia

have any more comments about her stepson. All she wanted was for the younger generation to not

housekeeper to serve Hayley in the tea house and

he immediately softened when he saw the woman sitting on the sofa with his grandmother. There was now a touch of warmth in between his brows, and the coldness toward Hayley just now had

looked up at the man who was approaching, and a blush of shyness crept

time for me to go out and greet the guests now. I’ll

sat beside her naturally, staring at her as if he

suddenly laughed, “Can you stop

that Nigel’s more handsome than me?” Elliot wanted to settle

burst out laughing. “What? Are

out and wrapped around her waist, pulling her down with him until they were both lying on the sofa. Anastasia was on top of him, staring down at his

flawless face was reflected in her

good look. Is my face not up to your

Anastasia pursed her lips and smiled. Why was he so competitive? Why did he insist on comparing himself to Nigel in terms of

was definitely more childish than

to me.” Anastasia used

trick worked even better on him. Elliot

second, and Nigel is in third place,” Anastasia answered him in all seriousness. He should be satisfied with her

was too difficult to win over Jared and take down the first place,

Anastasia realize that she was still lying in his arms, and she could feel the heat radiating from him through his clothes. The warmth of his skin felt a little too hot for her to bear, so she immediately struggled

arms were lazily draped around her waist, and a malicious smile crept

me go,” Anastasia complained

I won’t let go,” said

You’re really unreasonable sometimes.” Anastasia had enough of him. How could he just

either you kiss me, or I kiss you. Pick

she going to be kissed in

want to go out to eat something delicious.” After Anastasia finished speaking,

sat up with her, but in the next second, the two fell on the sofa once again. This

thought Elliot

won’t give up until I achieve my goal,” said Elliot before

It felt like

his gentle and delicate kiss. Elliot had a special ability; whenever he looked at Anastasia or kissed her, it was as if his

hearing footsteps coming from outside the window, Anastasia shoved him hard, causing him to fall

a loud thud, Elliot’s head hit

up. She felt bad for Elliot, who was

did she push him just now? How bad did

a layer of carpet, there was indeed a loud thud

eyes were full of grievances. “Are

lying on the floor and unable to get up, she reached out to pull him while apologizing, “Sorry. I thought your

angered her after marriage. He would face the fate of being kicked down from

strength of her pull, Elliot pushed her onto the sofa once again. “I won’t forgive

initiative now and kissed him on the

lips,”

and muttered, “You’re so

roll your eyes at me.

eyes before uttering proudly, “We’re not officially in a relationship yet, anyway. You still have a chance to turn

with her. Just then, Anastasia hugged his neck and

she smoothed her clothes

man still looked majestic despite sitting on the carpet, and there was a hint of

the corridor, even though Hayley enjoyed the treatment as a guest

a joke. The servants looked like they respected her on the

Elliot for treating her like that, but she hated Anastasia even more; Anastasia must have whispered horrible things about her in Elliot’s ears, turning her

hatred apparent in her eyes as a sneer crept onto her lips. She got up and walked out of the room, but a servant immediately reached out and

then strode toward a certain place. When she was

since the Presgrave Residence housed such a

spot any CCTVs around her. When she passed by the garden, she heard laughter coming from the main hall. It filled her heart with envy, for Anastasia was probably there

her eyes as she instantly walked further into the garden. The servant called after her, “Miss Seymour, please don’t run around. That’s

the servant and emerged from another corridor. Now, all the servants were gathered at the main

feeling rose up in Hayley’s heart. Even if Harriet had no ill intentions toward her, she still

dying. She just wanted Anastasia

opened the door and saw a few freezers inside, in addition to a row of shelves. However, Harriet’s usual medication was placed on a table, and a

If consumed over a long period of time, a person of

pills, Hayley immediately left

bustling on the other side, she suddenly felt the urge to go over as

it was all the more reason for her to let

saw two well-dressed ladies in front of her, she suddenly put a hand her

expected, one of the ladies rushed

heard another lady say, “I’ll go

heard a lady rush in,

just excused himself to answer a call, and Anastasia was sitting next to Nigel. When they heard the shouts, Nigel

asked, a little stunned, “Who even is

ignore that and send her to the

floor, she was instantly shocked. She didn’t expect that Hayley would

arms at the time, suddenly opened her eyes. Nigel immediately put her down. Just then, a servant hastily walked

this Miss Seymour?”

told us to let Miss Seymour dine in the side hall,”

in Hayley’s eyes was directed right at her. Anastasia understood right away

didn’t come on official invitation;

if he had just met the bootleg version of Anastasia, and

ready to send you back after the meal.” The housekeeper

Madam Presgrave

me to take you home right away.” The housekeeper didn’t

guests who gathered around her were all examining her in surprise. She could only say, “Fine, I’ll leave. However, can I have a word with my friend

that, she pointed at

disdain. “There’s nothing to

who did it. Why did you tell Elliot that I was the one behind it? Since when did I order a host to sleep with you, causing you to give birth to a son

mouth. Similarly, Anastasia turned red in the face out of anger. Hayley was mentioning this incident in front of all the guests

around.” Just then, Elliot walked over to them

slightly, but she raised her voice to retort, “Did I say anything wrong? Elliot,

shivered in fury.

twist the

to tell all the Presgraves’ relatives about that incident, and

up, Hayley.” Elliot gave her a

and she accused in tears, “Elliot, I gave you my first time five years ago to cure you, and you bullied me to no end.

Elliot in shock, for they couldn’t believe he did something like that.

as she looked at

on the scene and managed to catch Hayley’s act. She said to Hayley, “Miss Seymour, I know that Elliot had mistreated you before, and he also committed some mistakes. However, Elliot has been looking for you for the past five years so he could make it up to you. Now, we’re doing

actually wanted to be Elliot’s wife. Gritting her teeth, she said, “Grandma, I

blame you for what you did to me that night. I just want to stay

love, Hayley. I will never take you as my wife,” Elliot rejected

has mistreated you before, but he also compensated you in every way he could. You should know where the line is drawn.” Brenda stepped forward, not wishing for her mother to be troubled and intending to

She had done and said everything she planned to do and say today, and she didn’t want it to spiral into chaos either. She pitifully

Hayley kept looking back at Elliot as she left, her

Elliot’s entire body emanated a chill. No matter how

looking, Anastasia quietly left the crowd. She walked toward a deserted

incident between Elliot and Hayley that night. It reminded her again of this, and she

also understood the Presgraves’ situation, so they didn’t make

then, Harriet felt some discomfort in her chest. She told the housekeeper, “Jodie, fetch my

Presgrave. Do not heed

A child of the

think like that. It’d be real trouble if Elliot had a child with that girl.” Brenda was aware. After all,

water to take the pills with. After Harriet had taken the medicine, she

hope Miss Tillman will marry Elliot.” Brenda actually preferred

a daze as she sat on the swing, and when the wind lifted her hair, it was as if her hair was also glowing under the sunlight. She looked like

in light steps and walked up to her. Then, he began

him continue pushing before she asked, “When did you find out

sent you a photo,” Elliot

Hayley clung onto him and asked him for

didn’t you let her into the

you to see her and upset your

you in front of your family, though,” Anastasia said bitterly. After all, she was assuming the role of his

and looked at her in all earnestness. “Anastasia, I don’t care what other people think of you. I only know that in my heart, you have always

her

that incident with Hayley five

nodded. He couldn’t find any words to express

servant came rushing along the garden path. “Young Master Elliot, come quick. Old Madam Pregrave

got to their feet in shock. They exchanged glances and strode hurriedly