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.

have thought Anastasia would one day be

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

Why were you hunted, and who were

Wanda recounted the first time she overheard Erica and her birth father’s conversation, to Erica pushing her

disregarded human life and broke so many laws just to keep her true parentage under wraps. All Erica ever thought about was money and living a lavish, comfortable life. In her twenty years of living in Tillman

is the truth. Are you

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

she saw Wanda’s sincere gaze. In that case, you shouldn’t

you want to press charges against Erica?” she asked

also blackmailed her for a million. I’ll be put

blackmailed her, but you didn’t receive a single penny from her. I can have the lawyer defend you so that you’ll receive the most lenient sentence.

and beyond furious when she had 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

No one should be spared,” Wanda said with red-rimmed eyes. Poor Mrs. Garner, having to suffer this kind of torment when she’s at

her. “As long as you’re

with her and taken over her home, but the love that was

police, who immediately looked into

be paying a heavy price for her misdeeds, she thought, and all of this was

regret her actions. That was

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

brought to the visiting room, and when she saw the classy, stunning Anastasia through the bars, she lunged forward agitatedly.

crossed her arms while sneering, exuding apathy. “I’ve come

Erica? Has she done

daughter is charged with

she can’t even kill an animal? Don’t slander my daughter, Anastasia Tillman. You’re

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

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

after she heard Naomi’s plea. “I do

I’ve missed him so much!” Naomi instantly

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

just yet.” Anastasia crushed her

said nothing but terrible 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! He won’t sit back and watch me go to

to sneer. How could

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

response and shrieked, “How dare you, Anastasia. You can hate

do you know who your daughter attempted to

filled Naomi’s

But because Mrs. 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 familiar with it.” Anastasia smirked

and nearly fell over. Luckily she held

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 Mrs. Garner was saved, Erica then sought help from her birth father, Patrick. They

seemed to be left with no choice. “Spare my

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 to salvage all that I’ve lost. I want to see you pay the price for

turned and left, leaving Naomi to hold a death grip on the bars and scream, “Spare my daughter, Anastasia! She’s still so young… Please have mercy on her, please,

to herself. Spare

high-end restaurant. She was enjoying a plate of perfectly cooked steak like she was still a socialite until the police walked in, where

now the prime suspect for attempting to assassinate Madam Wanda Garner

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

me first! I didn’t mean to kill

Presgrave Hospital, Francis had made significant recovery as he could now get out of bed and move about; he had even gone to the gym once! He was now an agile man

be discharged,” he spoke excitedly as he looked at

something to tell you next. Please stay

I’ve faced death in the face, so there is nothing

by

calm, Francis’ expression was full of

paternity 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

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

to run the test back

in Naomi’s conduct. He turned to look at Anastasia with remorse filling in his

the past, so there is no point in bringing it up. Right now, I just hope that you won’t be lenient this time.

sort of crime?” Francis asked in

the incident regarding Mrs. Garner to Francis, who could not believe his ears that Erica was actually heartless enough to commit attempted murder. “She has the exact

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

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

to cooperate in the investigation of Naomi’s case. You would need to be interviewed by the police regarding the matter of how she forced medications

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

completed. I don’t want such a dangerous person staying by

he was relieved that she was able to handle everything on her own. As such, he decided not to

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

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

was busy with such complications, she convinced herself to relax and focus on

pay a visit to the gown boutique and change

and replied, “Sure.” He’s

at the boutique and looked stunning with a strong resemblance

own this color as much as

for your kind words,” Anastasia replied politely and

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 full of anticipation to see the

and the illuminated yacht stood out even more in the sea. It was

direction of the yacht and as Anastasia alighted from the car, her long hair was blowing in the wind. Her figure was mesmerizing

cabin when she heard her son’s voice ring out

was also dressed exceptionally handsome tonight with a fitted tuxedo while radiating the aura of a rich little young man. Furthermore, Anastasia could tell that her son’s

taken aback because her son actually resembled Elliot a lot after the get-up.

Jared tilted his head slightly as

Anastasia enjoyed listening to

why I’m such

hearing his double entendre compliment. “I think you’re taking this chance to

paired with a dark-colored vest as he could withstand the cold. The tapered pants that

feel flushed. Wow, not many people can resist his

about to be engaged soon, she suddenly felt worried that

for a beautiful woman. Her imperfections naturally become perfections to

times, even avoiding him, these traits had become

well,”

“Really?”

the low neckline, but there aren’t that many people around tonight, 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 to patrol her on, then

my mommy company. You guys can have some romantic time together.” After

a low voice, “Don’t you worry. There are bodyguards upstairs, so they will keep

and enjoyed the feeling of being out at sea. The yacht sailed along the sea steadily and they remained close to the shores

released and she felt as

tender and juicy steak was paired perfectly with some fine wine. Jared, on

from his stay at Presgrave Residence for the past month. Perhaps, he was even much healthier than

for taking care of Jared so well. At the same

stared at Elliot’s broad and strong back. At that

Jared on the bed and Anastasia waited outside the corridor

silently before he was led to Anastasia to the master bedroom. As soon as they entered the doors,

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

already raised her chin and cupped her tiny face

he was satiated and released her as she snuggled into his arms shyly and caught her

our engagement party,” Elliot spoke softly in her ears in

she didn’t want to make him wait any

company. The first thing he wanted

be able to regain consciousness and that there would be proof that he had received a bribe of

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 never expected that he would have to pay such a huge price at this age for a

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 fear for her future and regret for her actions. They placed Jared on the bed and Anastasia waited outside the corridor for Elliot to

after it was revealed, the news with the heading, ‘The second daughter of the Tillman Family, Erica Tillman, was involved in the murder

she was worried that he would reveal something incriminating about her. After all, she had been by his side and concocted plenty of

a piece of news about Erica. At that moment, she

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

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

face required fixing and upkeep. However, she couldn’t afford that, so she had no choice but to continue

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

bathroom and took a look at her face in the mirror, which was still quite beautiful. However, she panicked as she studied her face intently. The bulge on her forehead was too prominent and couldn’t

to obtain money. Suddenly, she thought of Elliot and wondered if she could blackmail him into giving her money for that

to Harriet, so perhaps he would forgive her by

the time and it was only 9.00AM, so she decided to wait for Elliot at the underground parking lot

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

underground parking

minutes, she saw the lights of a familiar car turning in this direction. That was a distinct, elegant feeling exuded by

Elliot was here.

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

hand. However,

Elliot’s friend, so step aside,”

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

a mocking voice that rang out from behind, “How can you be so shameless, huh? I can’t

you’ve forced your own sister into prison, so you’re