Never Too Far Novel

“Do you know that I was conscious for about ten seconds that night? And how much it pains me to hear what you’ve said to Erica?” Francis asked.

Naomi’s face blanched at the revelation as she drew a sharp breath in horror. He woke up?

“I’m so sorry, Francis. I was wrong. Please give me another chance. Help me out and I’ll do anything as you say to repay you for the rest of my life.” She was willing to do anything just to leave this appalling place.

He shook his head. “I’m not here to get you out. You should atone for your sins.”

“Francis, I’m sorry! I was wrong…” She began wailing from the bottom of her lungs.

Still, Francis was not to be moved as he continued and questioned, “And what about Erica’s true identity? I bet you had used Anastasia’s blood to replace hers in order to deceive me. You’ve used me to bring up your daughter for over 20 years and yet, this is how you treat my daughter? You’re heartless, Naomi.”

“To Erica, you’ve always been her father. She’s a good daughter and she loves you.” Naomi tried to put in good words for her daughter.

“If she truly loved me, she wouldn’t have joined hands with you to conspire against me by changing my last will and taking away my company. And for sure, she wouldn’t have murdered someone just to hide the truth of her identity!”

“Erica is still young, that’s why. She doesn’t know anything. Save her, please! She’s your daughter!” pleaded Naomi.

“Anastasia will deal with you and Erica as she has the right to do so. Everything will be done according to her call and I won’t interfere in this matter,” Francis uttered, driving the last nail into her coffin.

As the realization of her last strand of hope vanishing dawned upon her, her eyes widened in total fear. “What? You’re going to let her handle everything? N-No. Francis, she hates me to death; she’ll kill us! I’m begging you. Please save us!”

“If you had treated her nicely, she wouldn’t have taken things this far. It’s your karma.” A visit at death’s door had cleared the haze in his mind. He had made up his mind to spend the rest of his lifetime with his biological daughter in peace; the others did not bother him in the slightest anymore.

After saying what he intended to say, Francis rose to his feet.

“Francis. Francis! Don’t go! Please, save me!” The desperate woman banged her head onto the transparent barrier continuously in an attempt to make him stay.

Still, he tuned out the noise and left without turning his head.

Meanwhile, Naomi, who was held by the officers, did not feel a smidgen of pain despite the bleeding. Instead, the unprecedented despair was swallowing her little by little inside out.

The jewelry showcase commenced as scheduled at 2.00PM on Friday and it was expected to end at 9.00PM.

Since Anastasia’s jewelry would be displayed in the afternoon, she and Felicia promised to meet up together. They seated themselves at the front row, which was the best spot to watch the show.

Underneath Anastasia’s long coat was a black dress that hugged her figure well. In spite of the unobtrusive color, she exerted elegance that could readily captivate others with one single movement.

The ceremony opening was then followed up by the runway where the models began to take the center stage and present the jewelries, which were imbued with exotic styles from worldwide. Akin to other audiences, Anastasia was having the time of her life while discussing the features of the design with Felicia at times.

Finally, Anastasia’s work ‘Gloryio’ was mentioned alongside her name when the host was introducing the next design.

Her heart palpitated and before long, she saw that very necklace worn around the model’s neck. The model’s enticing collarbone complemented the jewelry well by drawing all eyes onto the item as it glittered under the illuminating lights.

As soon as the model took the limelight, the crowd plunged into a silent commotion with murmuring voices echoing against the walls.

After a few rounds of catwalks, the models retreated to the backstage, where a number of rich people expressed their liking toward Gloryio. After all, it was a one-of-a-kind jewelry that was worth adding to their collection.

“I’m sorry, but this set has been taken.”

“What? I should be the fastest one. Who is it?” the rich lady growled in disapproval.

“It’s President Presgrave of Presgrave Group. It is said that he wishes to give it to his lover,” explained the manager.

Almost instantly, the rich lady broke into a smile. “Oh! I gladly admit that I’m indeed one step too late. He has good taste.”

That was a given, considering that the designer was Elliot’s very lover!

After the showcase, Anastasia decided to invite Felicia for a cup of coffee, but an employee approached Anastasia before she could even leave her seat. “Miss Tillman, please come backstage for a moment.”

Albeit slightly surprised by the request, she went backstage together with Felicia, only to be welcomed by the manager with a smile. “Miss Tillman, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I have a present for you.”

“A present?” While Anastasia was taken aback, the incisive Felicia had a vague guess of the situation.

The manager took out an exquisite white box before opening it to reveal a necklace. It was the one Anastasia had designed! She exclaimed, “This is my design, though! Is it really for me?”

“Yes. Mr. Presgrave has specially noted that he wishes to give it to the woman he loves the most.”

A blushing Anastasia could not contain the sweet joy in her heart. Needless to say, the man had always been adept at giving surprises.

“Anastasia, it seems like there’s a good reason for President Presgrave to insist on using the best diamonds. He’s been planning to give it to you as a gift from the very start,” teased Felicia.

Anastasia could not help but grin from ear to ear. “So, you’ve known this beforehand? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“If I’ve done that, there wouldn’t be any surprises and President Presgrave’s effort would’ve gone down the drain.”

After looking at her own work, Anastasia told the manager, “Please send it to my place.”

“Understood.”

Anastasia left her address with the manager before leaving. Right then, she thought of the man she had been missing.

“Have you received the present?” Elliot chuckled with his low voice.

“Yeah. But why?” asked Anastasia.

“It’s our engagement soon, but you still need a set of jewelry. I think it’ll be meaningful for you to wear it at our engagement ceremony.”

She had nothing to rebut the ideal answer as she was equally pleased. “I think so too.”

“I’ll see you later tonight.”

“Okay. I’m still shopping, just so you know.” She was on cloud nine.

As the engagement ceremony was nearing, Anastasia had been busy these days. Just selecting six sets of gown alone took up a lot of time since she had to take the details into account as well.

Amidst the hectic days, Harriet was the happiest person of all. The future she had been envisioning was coming true at long last—Anastasia was going to be her granddaughter-in-law.

There was a pre-gathering at Presgrave Residence later that night and Anastasia could finally see Nigel, who had been preoccupied due to a business expansion. He barely had the time to catch a breath.

“Still, I can finally become your family as your brother-in-law.” He smiled.

“It feels kinda weird.” She tried to contain her laughter as she was only two years younger than him.

“Fine. You can marry me, then,” he said in undertone so that it would not reach Elliot’s ears.

She played along. “Say it out loud for your brother to hear.”

Suddenly, someone patted Nigel’s shoulder. It was Elliot, whose eyes had narrowed dangerously. “What did you just say?”

“Huh? Did I say something? I said nothing!” Nigel blinked his eyes several times at Anastasia, signaling her to not let the cat out of the bag.

“It’s nothing.” She was about to burst into laughter because of the funny outcome.

Then, Elliot excused himself to greet the seniors and Nigel patted his chest in relief. “I’ve been afraid of him since I was young. You can never imagine his stern face when he’s angry with me. Yet, he used to stand up for me whenever I got into trouble. I really admire him.”

“For real? Tell me more about his younger days! Did he do anything mischievous or embarrassing?” A curious Anastasia was all ears.

Nigel recounted his childhood memories. “Once, I offended the seniors in my school and Elliot—who was abroad at that time—returned to the country immediately to take down seven of them all by himself! I was cheering for him at the sideline and he won! He was so cool!”

As she was listening to the story, Anastasia could literally picture the scene in her head. She had seen pictures of Elliot in his teens and he definitely had the looks of a rich young boy.

“Has he gone out with other girls?” she whispered.

Nigel shook his head as he did not dare to make up a lie for it either. “Though the girls had been lining up to date him, he didn’t like any of them. Only you.”

Anastasia was giddy with merriment at that moment. “Really? Are you telling the truth?”

“I swear.”

Based on their long friendship, she was able to discern the sincerity in his eyes and trusted his words. “Okay. I believe you.”

After greeting the elderly members, Elliot turned his head to see the duo talking with such proximity. Watching how their heads almost touched, Elliot guessed that Anastasia was prying into his past.

His aroused interest led his feet toward them, after which he crossed his arms while pricking up his ears to hear the conversation.

Both of them were so immersed in the gossip that they did not realize the protagonist was just right there. Meanwhile, Nigel’s eyes lit up as he recalled something. “I’ll tell you one of his dark histories.”

“Dark history?”

“Before he was 16, he drove the car and was caught red-handed. The police gave him a lecture and forced him to rewrite all of the driving rules by hand.” Nigel guffawed without feeling a tad of guilt.

Anastasia let out a hearty laughter as well.

Suddenly, they could feel a cold chill accosting them as a voice resounded. “Is it that hilarious?”

The smile on Nigel’s face went stiff before he cleared his throat. “Elliot, I’m already saving your face by not exposing the time you entered the ladies’ by mistake.”

not like you’re much better than I am. I have plenty of stories about you too!” Elliot squinted his eyes with a piercing gaze at his

to the ladies’ before?” Anastasia’s eyes widened in shock. Was he mistaken as a

my stories, I’ll tell you later tonight in bed. Don’t listen to

embarrassment whereas Nigel patted Elliot’s shoulder. “Patience, Elliot. Be patient. You’re

fall asleep at night.

by and it was the engagement day at

resources, began to offer their sincere wishes to the couple with the intent to spread the news. Soon,

and shoved everything off the desk in a fit of pique at

had become Mrs. Presgrave

been staying indoors. However, she was left with not much money; even her meals would become a problem if she could not

The desperate woman,

money from Anastasia, who was

could threaten her with the incident

sleeves, Hayley was certain that Anastasia would provide her with some

hundred thousand meant nothing to Anastasia, but it was enough for Hayley

had nothing to

took a burner phone

voice came from the other side of the

made sure that she was using a voice changer app. “Anastasia Tillman, I

in Anastasia’s voice at the drop

it’s me! I miss our son so

dare come close to

you give me some money. Otherwise, I’ll expose everything that had happened five years ago. I will tell everyone that you

to maintain her composure while dealing

want?” She

she heard

consider it if it’s a hundred

hundred thousand. That’s

more than a hundred thousand.” Anastasia was

that rich guy. How can you not have more than

for some reason. ‘His’ voice and tone was familiar to Anastasia’s ears. Then, a figure seeped into her

the person talking is not the gigolo,

by saying, “Elliot and I are not on good terms. He

“Anastasia Tillman, that trick won’t work on me! He’ll give you anything you

fake. He doesn’t love me.

those lies. I know a lot about you and

the moment. It seemed like Hayley had been trying to contact her

not have the audacity to appear before Anastasia, Hayley was trying her

lonely Erica who’s currently in prison. I guess I should

easy to prove whether the person on the phone was indeed

hundred thousand is what you want, isn’t it? You gotta promise that you stay out

due to ‘fear’, Hayley was in triumph as

was certain that it was indeed Hayley attempting to bamboozle her. Hayley was in dire need of money to refine her looks, yet Elliot had driven her away

get money from Anastasia, which caused Anastasia to frown in vexation.

not going to forgive Hayley this time round. “How should

gotta

hundred thousand in cash and the remaining amount with a credit card. But you gotta promise me that you won’t bother my life again. Otherwise, I won’t give the money to you.”

but you have to give me the

dialing Elliot’s number and informed

her plate with tonight’s engagement ceremony going on, she could not

a sigh of relief as she left her room, thinking that Anastasia was so foolish to have fallen for such a

her ‘flawless’ plan, Hayley figured that she could make Anastasia her very own magic money tree in the

grocery store before texting the password. An

apart from hiring someone with two hundred dollars to help her

room, there was a guy shoving a bulging bag into one

the nearby throng was Hayley, whose eyes were staring at the locker with excitement.

how much money she would own in the near future, five hundred thousand was a trifle

Anastasia that read, ‘I’ve left the money as told. You better do as you’ve promised. Otherwise, you’ll never get away

to her, who seemed

after which she instructed him to move a hefty bag from the locker

could barely move it. After looking left and

arrived at the entrance, she instructed him, “Drop

that bag? It’s so heavy,”

saying, “Just

took the thousand dollar cash and left

a look of the content. It was loaded with cash as she had expected! Just as she was about

casual attires showed their police badges. “Hayley Seymour, you’re under arrest for blackmailing Miss Tillman

face went pallid within split seconds. What? How did she find

dashed with all her might. Still, the bodyguards, who were already guarding outside, thwarted her and rendered

go of me! Who

Miss Tillman’s bodyguards. You can’t

that b*tch know that it’s

Miss Tillman like that.” Then, the bodyguard flung her

spasm of pain contorted her face and her heart sank to the pit of her stomach, for she had not foreseen

amount to five hundred thousand—the higher the amount of money involved, the heavier the penalty would be.

she was cuffed and taken away

room, was informed that Hayley was taken into custody. Everything had gone as planned and it added to the icing

Tillman, shall we

Anastasia as the elite makeup team tended to her at

her advanced age, he had to personally come and pick her up before

you? Do you not like my present?” Harriet saw Elliot’s watch in the car and

Elliot replied, “Okay, Grandma.

by God and was bought according to your zodiac sign!” she

God?” This

This watch brings good luck to

I will

hotel, there was not enough time for him to pick up Anastasia because Elliot had picked Harriet up, so he asked for a motorcade to head over in his stead.

for you to come back and forth. I can take a cab by

me take a watch from

“Sure! Which one?”

me to search for it. It should

this watch have any special meaning?” she asked curiously. After all, she knew that

was a gift from

joy, as she was a

I will bring it to you later,” she

paired it with her white diamond dress,

then arrived at Elliot’s bedroom and entered his closet. Inside, there was a display glass for his watches. Under the lights, the watches radiated its uniqueness and showed off the

Anastasia could see the light emerald watch reflecting

was the same one as in the picture. Then, she placed it in her

which signaled a very

the villa, with Anastasia sitting in one of the luxurious cars’

for the engagement was a seven star one in the middle of the city and it was one of the properties of the Mansons. The exterior of the extravagant hotel was lined

see that on the inside of the black car sat an elegant woman that

had stood there for quite a while in a stylish black suit and combed

woman he had been

the sight of Anastasia staring back at him too. Witnessing the man’s charisma made her

that the look in her eyes was full of

was standing at the side, felt frustrated at the sight of this. Hmph, I’m also dressed to the nines

such a gaze. He had once hoped she would look upon him so, but now he understood that he

Elliot was worthy

a pair from the start and that he himself was only

even though he

as the thing he hoped

was being led by Elliot

entered the elevator did she finally turn back and

Nigel replied, “You finally see

smilingly, admiring the woman who was soon

coughed lightly. “Can you two stop publicly displaying your

Elliot peered at him. “Nigel,

laughing at his words while covering her mouth, as did Nigel, while

Inside the venue hall.

romantic and dreamy. Since Anastasia liked a blue-themed engagement venue, the whole thing was decorated in teal and

were scattered around the scene, making the venue have a slight

being sent to the waiting room by the side, Anastasia finally remembered about the watch, so she took it out and gave

one.” Taking off his other watch, he said, ” This was a gift from my grandma for my 20th birthday.” Wearing it, he continued,

him. “Your grandmother’s words should

wavered at this, as it was this precise watch that attracted Hayley, the evil woman, who nearly

gift from

that he was indeed lucky since he

stepped out with Elliot, and they entered the room

that this was the prettiest he had ever seen his

hit his head dotingly. “Thank you,

can finally call Mr.

words. “Yup. He’s your daddy from now

sitting right in front of the hall in a suit, looking elegant. He did not

his blood would truly love him and that he would

for the others, he did not want nor need to care about

walked over and

not wait to announce that

for this

have!” Harriet was

engagement ceremony was scheduled to start at 6.50 pm, so there