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

saving me, Miss Anastasia. I owe you my life.” Wanda knew she

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

birth father’s conversation, to Erica pushing her into the sea, up till

her true parentage under wraps. All Erica ever thought

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

I shall be d*mned to hell if I have lied to you!” Wanda was

In that case, you shouldn’t blame

want to press charges against Erica?” she asked Wanda. “I’ll pay for all your legal fees if

million. I’ll be put

single penny from her. I can have the lawyer defend you so that you’ll receive the most lenient sentence. But if you do

two near-death encounters. Therefore, she instantly agreed with little consideration. “Okay, Miss Anastasia. We’ll do as you say. I want to press charges

red-rimmed eyes. Poor Mrs. Garner, having to suffer this kind of torment when she’s at this

uttered Anastasia to comfort her. “As long as you’re willing to press charges, none of them will be

the love that was supposedly hers was also taken away from her,

a report to the police, who immediately looked into her incident from that morning and also

Erica will be paying a heavy price for her misdeeds, she thought, and all

too late for Naomi to regret her actions. That was if she even felt

be available,

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

arms while sneering, exuding apathy. “I’ve come bearing news, Naomi. It’s

Has she done anything wrong?” Naomi turned

daughter is charged

How dare she kill a human when she can’t even kill an animal? Don’t slander my daughter, Anastasia

her ambition and courage so much that

Please forgive her, seeing that both of you have Francis’ blood running in your veins.” Naomi thought

plea. “I do have good news for you, though. My dad has regained

regained consciousness?! That’s great; I’ve missed him so

through. If Francis had regained consciousness, he would definitely forgive her for even manipulating his will, seeing that they shared a daughter, or at least

doesn’t want to see you, much less forgive you for what you’ve done. Don’t get too excited just yet.” Anastasia crushed her hopes unambiguously. Anastasia crossed her

you? But don’t go thinking you can drive a wedge between us. Besides, Erica is Francis’ daughter too! He won’t

she was beginning to

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

can hate Erica, but I won’t allow you to question her

do you know who your

Panic filled Naomi’s

Garner survived, Erica allied with a man to wound her with a machete. Wanna guess his name? Newman. Patrick Newman. I’m sure you’re

over. Luckily she held a tight grip on the table. “I don’t know any Patrick

ago, and Erica, worried that her parentage would be exposed, lured Mrs. Garner to the coast and mercilessly pushed her down. After Mrs. Garner was saved,

Anastasia’s words. Shrieked dramatically, she seemed to be left with

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 to salvage all that I’ve lost. I want

death grip on the bars and scream, “Spare my daughter, Anastasia! She’s still so young…

to herself. Spare

like she was still a socialite until the police walked in, where she turned fearful, causing the cutleries in her hands to slip and

attempting to assassinate Madam Wanda Garner twice. We’re gonna have to take you into custody for

a sheet and everyone in the room had their eyes on her. Her mind was a complete blank and she shivered

one who threatened me first! I didn’t mean to

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

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

to tell you next.

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

She was conceived by Naomi with another man,”

he would be calm, Francis’ expression was full of shock while he was

test with Erica if you would like more confirmation.” Anastasia was sure about this as she knew that Mrs. Garner’ words were definitely worth trusting. Furthermore, Naomi’s reaction also clearly indicated the authenticity

moment, a flash of anger appeared in Francis’ eyes. “I can’t believe that she’s lied to me for the past twenty years! She showed me a paternity test report back then. Was that a falsified report then?” “Miss Erica Tillman, you’re now the prime suspect for attempting to assassinate Madam Wanda Garner twice. We’re gonna have to take you into

she used my blood to run the test back

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

there is no point in bringing 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

Erica… What sort of

believe his ears that Erica was actually heartless enough to commit attempted murder. “She has the exact same personality as her mother. How can they be so heartless? I can’t believe that she

understand that she grew up under your care and you’re attached to her, but could you leave this matter in my hands? Don’t interfere

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

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

not want any of his feelings and kinship toward Naomi to jeopardize the

get a divorce once the investigation has been completed. I don’t want such a dangerous person staying by your

handle everything on her own. As such, he decided not to bother about the matter with Naomi and Erica. He would just leave everything in Anastasia’s

had arrived to such a stage, there would be no point in him drafting a will anymore because there would be only one

5.00PM, Anastasia suddenly received a phone call from Elliot. He mentioned that he was sending a car over to pick her up as today was the day he received his latest yacht, hence he wanted to bring

busy with such complications, she convinced herself to relax and focus on accompanying Elliot and Jared

Presgrave asked that you pay a visit to

smiled and replied, “Sure.” He’s

at the boutique and looked

see anyone being able to own this color as much as you do! It looks perfect on you!” the boss of the boutique

your kind words,”

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

yacht stood out even more in the sea.

car, her long hair was blowing

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

radiating the aura of a rich little young man. Furthermore, Anastasia could tell that her son’s outfit was tailor-made

time, she was quite taken aback because her son actually resembled Elliot a lot after the get-up. Is this

look so beautiful today!” Jared tilted his head slightly as he realized that his mommy

true?” Anastasia enjoyed

beautiful and that’s why I’m such an adorable and handsome child!” Jared

compliment. “I think you’re taking this chance to praise yourself more than

from behind 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 accentuated his long legs

flushed. Wow, not many people

engaged soon, she suddenly felt worried that

intently with a smile on his face. She fulfilled all his criterias for a beautiful woman. Her imperfections naturally become perfections to him and ever since he fell in

closer to him—or at times, even avoiding him, these traits had become the reasons why he felt attracted

well,”

“Really?”

so I’ll keep my jealousy to myself then,” he spoke up generously, as if she needed

are much more revealing than this! If this was something that he intended

game. Stay here and keep my mommy company. You guys can have some romantic time together.” After Jared said that, he ran

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

days were finally released and she felt as if she was located in another realm,

was also 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 fine wine. Jared, on the other hand, had an exceptionally great meal course too; Anastasia had

to have grown much taller and well-built from his stay at Presgrave Residence for the past month. Perhaps, he was even

At the same time, she also realized that Jared was a huge source

and stared at Elliot’s broad and strong back. At that moment, there was a

and Anastasia waited outside the corridor for Elliot

master

many people present tonight. Finally, I can do what I wanted to do but was too shy earlier to

could react, he had already raised her chin and cupped her tiny face to kiss her

Finally, he was satiated and released her as she snuggled into

preparations for our engagement party,” Elliot spoke softly in her ears in a low

as she didn’t want to make him wait any longer

public for quite some time, turned up at his company. The first thing he wanted to deal with was to sue his lawyer

able to regain consciousness and that there would be proof that he

for Patrick Newman, he had been in a residential area before he was taken into custody that morning. He trembled hard out of fear as he

police station, Erica’s face was as pale as a sheet, and her eyes were lifeless. In just one day, she had lost her arrogance, and all that was left in her was

news with the heading, ‘The second daughter of

was worried that he

her phone when she suddenly saw a piece

reading the news, she

somehow end up in this state!” Hayley couldn’t stop cackling, and just then, she felt a dull pain on her cheekbones from laughing too much. Instantly,

not evident from Hayley’s appearances, but she knew that several spots on her face required fixing and upkeep.

he had been taken into custody, it meant that she had wasted her

intently. The bulge on her forehead was too prominent and couldn’t be covered up despite the amount of foundation she applied to it. It

she thought of Elliot and wondered if she could blackmail him into giving her money for

thing to Harriet, so perhaps he would

underground parking lot of Presgrave Group. She had been to the parking

to turn up there quite often, so the receptionist remembered her and didn’t stop her from

to the underground parking lot.

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

Elliot was here.

to check her makeup under the lights. Subsequently, she tugged at her neckline to lower it

However, the bodyguard, who had just gotten out of the car, stopped

so step aside,” Hayley replied

who stepped out of the car elegantly wasn’t Elliot. In fact, it was Anastasia who

was a mocking voice that rang out from behind,

at Anastasia. “Anastasia, you’ve forced your own sister into prison, so you’re definitely the most heartless and ruthless person in