Never Too Far Novel

“I’ll hold you to that. Which day are you on?” Elliot began marking time like a hunter who had set the traps, sitting out, waiting for his game to fall into it.

At that, Anastasia hurriedly answered, “The first day…”

She had to lie no matter what.

“First day, huh,” drawled Elliot. “Six days to go then.”

She laughed up her sleeve as she buried herself in his arms, and Elliot lowered his head to kiss her cheek tyrannically yet dotingly.

“Alright, cut it out. Don’t stay up too late.” She left his arms, allowing him to return to his work, and as she left, he gave her a cheeky smack out of the blue, making her blush. Excuse me!

However, Elliot grinned, seemingly enjoying her reaction while she fled upstairs.

When morning came, Wanda hailed a cab to Tillman Constructions after having her breakfast at home, for she had assumed Anastasia would come bright and early.

“Sorry, I was wondering whether Miss Anastasia Tillman has arrived for work?” she asked after arriving at the guardhouse.

“And you are?”

“I’m looking for her.”

“Register, please.”

“I’m Wanda Garner.” Wanda gave her name.

The guard happened to be Erica’s man and he grabbed his phone, entered the guardhouse, and called Erica after learning who he was speaking to. “Miss Erica, Wanda Garner has arrived.”

“Do as I’ve told you and bring her to me,” she ordered.
“I’ll hold you to that. Which day are you on?” Elliot began marking time like a hunter who had set the traps, sitting out, waiting for his game to fall into it.

“Yes, ma’am. I’ll bring her right away.”

With that, he went out and said to Wanda, who had been waiting outside. “You’re looking for Miss Anastasia Tillman, you said? Follow me. I’ll take you there.”

Wanda was already so eager to meet up with Anastasia that she boarded the golf cart without hesitation, and it wasn’t until the guard had driven more than a mile that she began panicking. “Sir, where are you taking me?”

“Miss Tillman’s up ahead. We’re almost there.” In the security guard’s defense, he didn’t know he was handing a human life to Erica on a silver platter since he believed that Erica just wanted to see her.

“Is Miss Anastasia’s office in this area?” a curious Wanda asked.

The guard naturally wouldn’t ask why Erica wanted to see this woman. His job was only to deliver, and he wouldn’t want to offend Erica unless he wanted to lose his job.

Erica and Patrick had long arrived and they watched the guard escort Wanda to their building from the second-floor window. “Miss Tillman’s inside. Go on in!” said the guard.

Wanda was bewildered that Anastasia’s office was located in such a place, for it looked obviously abandoned.

After she entered the building, the door suddenly shut behind her, and she turned around in fright only to see a man—Erica’s birth father!

At last, she realized she had fallen into a trap. I’ve been brought to Erica!

Erica descended the stairs while sneering, “You’re one lucky woman, Mrs. Garner. Who’d have thought you could still live after falling into the sea.”

“You’re a monster, Erica Tillman. Do you really think I’ll die so easily?” condemned Wanda as she pointed to Erica. As Wanda’s focus was on Erica, it gave Patrick the perfect opportunity to grab her throat.

Unfortunately for Patrick, Wanda was strong, having gained her strength and muscles from doing house chores for years and she sank her teeth into his arm.

“Ahhhh!” he cried out in pain and kicked her away.

Seeing so, Erica immediately charged toward Wanda, who shoved Erica away in turn, making her way to the second floor. The main door was locked now; there was no way she could escape from there.

She set her sights on the windows straight away after arriving on the second floor.

“Dad, grab her. Don’t let her get away,” Erica shouted.

Patrick instantly pulled out the machete they had been setting aside for this and charged toward Wanda, scaring the wits out of her. Before she could register anything, a sharp pain came to her lower abdomen, and she fell back the next second and out of the window.

Though she had suffered an injury on her lower abdomen and also dropped from the second floor, she was still going strong, running toward Tillman Constructions while pressing on her bleeding abdomen.

“Dad, she’s getting away!” Erica shouted in terror.

As anxious as Patrick was, he still dared not jump out of the window. “She hasn’t gone far, Erica. I’ll run downstairs and chase after her.”

The area was deserted, for the warehouses here were all abandoned. Despite being seriously injured and also having fallen off a building, Wanda had one thing in mind: she couldn’t die; she had to bring Erica’s true parentage to light.

Erica has to pay the price!

“Help! Someone wants to kill me… Help!” Wanda shouted feebly.

Patrick had caught up with his machete, and his desire to kill Wanda had overthrown his reasoning at this point. No one else could know of his daughter’s true parentage; this woman had to die!

Just then, a motorcycle was passing by, and when the man heard Wanda’s cries for help, he immediately turned in. “Help, help…” Wanda called out at once, seeing there was finally someone.

“What’s wrong, ma’am?” the man asked when he saw that she was covered in blood.

“Someone wants to kill me. Please take me to Tillman Constructions’ front gate…”

Coincidentally, the man was an employee of Tillman Constructions. Without another word, he helped Wanda to his motorcycle and sped away.

Meanwhile, Patrick had hidden away, and cold sweat gathered on his forehead when he saw that Wanda had been taken away. Alas, he had failed his daughter.

Not minutes after Wanda had been taken to the front gates that a black Rolls-Royce pulled over, for a crowd was blocking the path.

“Dad, she’s getting away!” Erica shouted in terror.

As anxious as Patrick was, he still dared not jump out of the window. “She hasn’t gone far, Erica. I’ll run downstairs and chase after her.”
“Miss Tillman, something seems to be going on in front,” the bodyguard notified Anastasia, who was seated at the back.

Worried about the commotion, Anastasia got out of the car and hurriedly squeezed into the crowd. Just then, someone shouted, “Miss Tillman’s here!”

Anastasia discovered the weak woman lying on the ground was none other than Mrs. Garner, who had been working in Tillman Residence for the longest time.

“Mrs. Garner?” She squatted down and couldn’t help being taken aback when she saw her bloody lower abdomen.

“Miss Tillman… I want to tell you a secret… Erica isn’t your father’s daughter…” The next second, Wanda’s eyes rolled upward, out cold.

It took Anastasia a few seconds to recover from the shocking revelation, and she hurriedly turned to her bodyguard behind. “Take her to the hospital.”

With that, the bodyguard dashed to the nearest hospital. While Wanda was taken to the emergency room, Anastasia waited right outside, mulling over what Wanda had just said.

Erica isn’t Dad’s daughter… Does that mean Naomi had her with some other guy? Dad definitely wouldn’t be stupid enough not to do a DNA test before accepting Erica into the family. So Naomi tricked Dad, didn’t she?

Anastasia was too little to remember anything at that time. So if Naomi really did do something, it would’ve been using Anastasia’s blood in replace of Erica’s to successfully pass her father’s test.

Anger flashed across Anastasia’s eyes as the thought crossed her mind. Even her father had been deceived for twenty-over years. This despicable woman, who had no blood relations with her family, drove her out of her own home and even seized her father’s love for years!

Anastasia was so livid that her body started shaking. Also, why had Wanda suffered such a serious injury? Who did it to her?

Anastasia stayed outside of the emergency room alone. She had wanted to tell Francis about it but decided against it in the end, for she worried something would happen to him if he couldn’t take the news since he had just woken up.

Meanwhile, Erica drove back downtown with Patrick in nothing but fear and worry. Wanda had once again slipped from her fingers, so it was only a matter of time before Anastasia discovered the truth of her parentage.

And now, the one thing she had to do was to return to Tillman Residence, take all her mother’s precious jewelry and bank cards, and hide them somewhere.

She had Patrick lie low in the meantime, asking him not to find anyone lately and steer clear of the police lest he dragged her down.

Never had Patrick imagined in all his life he would kill someone for his daughter. Worst of all, he had bloodied his hand without finishing the job. He would definitely be doomed if Wanda ever regained consciousness.

In the Tillman Residence, Erica charged into Francis’ bedroom and ransacked the place, searching for anything she could immediately exchange for money.

However, it never occurred to her if she would ever have the chance to spend them after seizing them.

All Erica ever thought about was money and living a lavish, comfortable life. In her twenty years of living in Tillman Residence, she only ever learned one thing—spending.

Life would be a living hell for her if she didn’t have money. All credit to Naomi as well for successfully producing an incompetent daughter.

Lastly, Erica opened Francis’ watch case and took everything in there away without hesitation.

She decided that she would leave Averna and hide in a different town. For all she knew, Wanda might not actually hold her liable.

Back in the hospital, the doctors managed to revive Wanda. Fortunately, the wound wasn’t on her vital organs, or she actually might not have survived.

Wanda had also woken up in no time, finding Anastasia standing by her bed. Because of Naomi, Wanda also snubbed Anastasia in many ways.

who’d have thought Anastasia would one day be her

owe you my life.” Wanda knew she would’ve bled

tell me in detail. Why were you hunted, and who

first time she overheard Erica and her birth father’s conversation,

laws just to keep her true parentage under wraps. All Erica ever thought about was money and

you swear everything you’ve told me is the truth. Are you

if I have lied to you!” Wanda

In that case, you shouldn’t blame anyone

Garner, do you want to press charges against Erica?” she asked Wanda.

I’ll be put behind

that you’ll receive the most lenient sentence. But if you

“Okay, Miss Anastasia. We’ll do as you say. I want to press charges against her. I want the father and daughter to be put behind

with red-rimmed eyes.

into the guard. Don’t you worry,” uttered Anastasia to comfort her. “As long as you’re willing to

hatred for them was naturally just as intense. Not only had Naomi brought her daughter along with her and taken over her home, but the love that was supposedly hers was also taken away from

made a report to the police, who immediately looked

on the other hand, stood behind the window of Wanda’s ward and watched her relate her mishaps. Erica will be paying a heavy price for her misdeeds, she thought,

regret her actions. That was if

long time since Anastasia visited her stepmother. Since she happened to be available, why not let Naomi

she saw the classy, stunning Anastasia through the bars, she lunged forward agitatedly. “Anastasia, Anastasia, are you here to

sneering, exuding apathy. “I’ve come

What about Erica? Has she done

is charged with

doesn’t have the guts to do that. How dare she kill a human when she can’t even kill an animal? Don’t slander my daughter, Anastasia

didn’t dare to murder in the past, but you’ve fattened up her ambition and courage

your sister, no matter what she has done. Please forgive her, seeing that both of you have Francis’ blood running in your veins.” Naomi thought kinship could

plea. “I do have

consciousness?! That’s great; I’ve

If Francis had regained consciousness, he would definitely forgive her for even manipulating his will, seeing that

you’ve done. Don’t get too excited just yet.” Anastasia crushed her hopes unambiguously. Anastasia crossed her arms while sneering, exuding

things about me to your father, haven’t you? But don’t go thinking you can drive a wedge between us. Besides, Erica is Francis’ daughter too!

so livid that she was beginning to sneer. How could

call Erica my father’s daughter?” Anastasia decided to drop the

Anastasia. You can hate Erica, but I won’t allow you to

do you know who your daughter attempted

filled

by pushing her off a cliff into the sea. But because Mrs. Garner survived, Erica allied with a man to wound her with

Luckily she held a tight grip on the

Tillman Family. She’s your daughter with Patrick Newman. Mrs. Garner discovered his identity when he went to Tillman Residence a month ago, and Erica, worried that her parentage would be exposed, lured Mrs. Garner to the coast and mercilessly pushed her down. After

Anastasia’s words. Shrieked dramatically, she seemed to be left with no choice. “Spare my

married my father with a daughter that has no blood relation to him whatsoever and used my blood to trick my father into thinking Erica is indeed a descendent of the Tillman Family. All these years, your daughter was treated with nothing but love and affection while I—there’s nothing any one of you can do

and scream, “Spare my daughter, Anastasia!

sneered to herself. Spare Erica?

was still a socialite until the police walked in, where she turned fearful, causing

Tillman, you’re now the prime suspect for attempting to assassinate Madam Wanda Garner twice. We’re gonna have

their eyes on her. Her mind was a complete blank and she shivered uncontrollably. In the end, she was forcefully dragged out of

did not! She was the one who threatened me first! I didn’t mean

Francis had made significant recovery as he could now get out of bed and move about; he had even

to be discharged,” he spoke excitedly as he looked at his daughter

to tell

I’ve faced death in the face, so there is nothing I can’t handle.” Francis heaved a

was conceived by Naomi with another man,”

Francis’ expression was full of shock while he was significantly stunned. “What?! Are

confirmation.” Anastasia was sure about this as she

she’s lied to me for the past twenty years! She showed me a paternity test report back then. Was that a falsified

to run the test back then,”

disappointed in Naomi’s conduct. He turned to look at Anastasia with remorse filling in his eyes. “Anastasia, I’m so sorry for neglecting you all

it up. Right now, I just hope that you won’t be lenient this time. Naomi has to face the consequences of her actions. Erica has also committed a crime and she’s been taken into police custody

of crime?” Francis

attempted murder. “She has the exact same personality as her mother. How can

you’re attached to her, but could you leave this matter in my hands? Don’t interfere in this.” She

nodded in agreement. “Sure, I won’t interfere in this. Just do what’s

I need you to cooperate in the investigation of Naomi’s case. You would need to be interviewed by the police regarding the

want any of his feelings and kinship toward Naomi to jeopardize the matter. She had already made up her

investigation has been completed. I don’t want

Anastasia intensified at that point. Right now, he was relieved that she was able to handle everything on her own. As such, he decided not to bother about the matter with Naomi and Erica. He would just

point in him

pick her up as today was the day he received his latest yacht, hence he wanted to bring her and Jared out to

to relax and focus on accompanying Elliot

President Presgrave asked that you pay a visit to the gown boutique and change into a gown,” the bodyguard

and replied,

changed into a purple gown at the boutique and looked stunning with a strong resemblance to

able to own this color as much as you do! It looks perfect on

your kind words,” Anastasia

commanded by the dusk, as the night approached. She admired the scenic views along the way and her heart was never more at peace than this moment; it no longer felt heavy and she was

sky had just darkened and the illuminated yacht stood out even more in the sea. It was very luxurious

the direction of the yacht and as Anastasia alighted from the car, her long hair

had just entered the cabin when she heard her son’s voice ring out

of a rich little young man. Furthermore, Anastasia could

son actually resembled Elliot a lot after the get-up. Is

Jared tilted his head slightly as he realized that

Anastasia enjoyed

and that’s why I’m such an adorable and handsome

double entendre compliment. “I think you’re taking this

a door looking tall and mesmerizing. Although it was early spring, he was merely dressed in a white shirt paired with a dark-colored vest as he could withstand the cold. The tapered pants that he wore

sight of him made Anastasia feel flushed. Wow, not many people can

about to be engaged soon, she suddenly felt worried that she

intently with a smile on his face. She fulfilled all his criterias for a beautiful woman. Her imperfections naturally become perfections to him

even avoiding him, these traits

well,” Elliot praised

“Really?”

so I’ll keep my jealousy to myself then,”

this was something that he intended to patrol her on, then he would have his hands full as she

time together.” After Jared said that, he ran up the stairs on

glanced at him as Elliot comforted in a low voice, “Don’t you worry. There are bodyguards upstairs, so they

then that she finally relaxed and enjoyed the feeling of being out at sea. The yacht sailed along the sea steadily

past few days were finally released and she felt

something worth being happy about and Elliot had arranged for a highly-ranked top chef to prepare dinner for them. The tender and juicy steak was paired perfectly with some

seemed to have grown much taller and well-built from his stay at Presgrave Residence for the past

care of Jared so well. At the same time, she also

At that moment, there was a sense of security that welled up within

bed and Anastasia waited outside the corridor for Elliot to

the door silently before he was led to Anastasia to the master bedroom. As soon

do what I wanted to do but was too shy earlier to do

raised her chin

he was satiated and released

start making preparations for our engagement party,” Elliot spoke

she didn’t want to make

some time, turned up at his company. The first thing he wanted to deal

consciousness and that there would be proof that he had received a bribe of a million in his bank account. Thus, there was concrete evidence

in a residential area before he was taken into custody that morning. He trembled hard out of fear as he never expected that he would have to pay such a

and all that was left in her was fear for her future and regret for

it was revealed, the news with the heading, ‘The second daughter of the Tillman Family, Erica Tillman, was involved in the murder of their servant’, was trending

had been detained, Hayley remained holed up in a hotel room and she didn’t dare to appear in public as she was worried that he would reveal something incriminating about her. After all, she

her phone when she suddenly saw a piece

someone?” After she finished reading the news, she cackled loudly and was

would somehow end up in this state!” Hayley couldn’t stop cackling, and just then, she felt a dull pain on her

face required fixing and upkeep. However, she

few million, but now that he had been taken into custody, it meant that she had wasted her efforts for the past

which was still quite beautiful. However, she panicked as she studied her face intently. The bulge on

she thought of Elliot and wondered if she

despicable thing to Harriet, so perhaps he would forgive her by considering their past relationship. Right now, Hayley had no other option

decided to wait for Elliot at the underground parking lot of Presgrave

used to turn up

parking lot.

actually just trying her luck there, but unexpectedly, in merely ten minutes, she saw the lights of a familiar car turning in this direction. That was a distinct, elegant feeling exuded by a Rolls-Royce and she was elated to see

Elliot was here.

lights.

pulled over, Hayley rushed forward with a bag in her hand. However, the bodyguard, who

friend, so step aside,” Hayley replied quite

the car door was opened, and the person who stepped out of the car elegantly wasn’t Elliot. In

turned around to leave. However, there was a mocking voice that rang out from behind, “How can

a deep breath and turned around to glare at Anastasia. “Anastasia, you’ve forced your own sister into prison, so you’re definitely the most