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.”

have plenty of stories about you too!” Elliot squinted his eyes with a piercing gaze

ladies’ before?” Anastasia’s eyes

of my stories, I’ll tell you

Elliot’s shoulder.

patience was wearing thin to the point that he could not fall asleep at night.

it was

couple with the intent to spread the news. Soon, the Internet

other side, Hayley saw the news and shoved everything off the desk

Anastasia had become Mrs. Presgrave and Hayley was

to her face, Hayley had been staying indoors. However, she was left with not much money; even her meals would become

for desperate measures. The desperate woman, who met a dead

to receive some money from Anastasia, who was going to marry Elliot

by now. Thus, Hayley could threaten her with the incident

was certain that Anastasia would provide

enough for Hayley to

She had nothing to lose

Hayley took

voice came from the other side of

“Anastasia Tillman, I heard that you’re getting married soon. Congratulations!” It was a

soared in Anastasia’s voice

our son so

you dare come

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

currently at Elliot’s villa, tried to maintain her composure while

do you want?” She feigned fear at the

hesitate once she heard

but I can consider it if it’s a hundred

thousand.

can’t give you more than a hundred thousand.” Anastasia

marry Elliot Presgrave, that rich guy.

‘His’ voice and tone was familiar to Anastasia’s ears. Then, a

is not the gigolo,

she decided to test the waters by saying, “Elliot and I are

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

is fake. He doesn’t love me. It’s a

lies.

was Hayley calling her at the moment.

before Anastasia, Hayley was trying her luck to blackmail

currently in prison. I guess I

prove whether the person on the phone was indeed Hayley

promise that you stay out of my son’s sight or I’ll make you pay for it,”

Anastasia had priced up the offer due to ‘fear’, Hayley was in triumph as her trick

Hayley attempting to bamboozle her. Hayley was in dire need of money to refine her looks, yet Elliot had

she acted as the gigolo to get money from Anastasia, which caused Anastasia to frown in vexation.

was not going to forgive Hayley this time round. “How should I give you

you gotta leave the money there

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.” Anastasia

but you have to give me the right

call before dialing Elliot’s number and informed him about the situation, asking him

Anastasia had enough on her plate with tonight’s engagement ceremony going on, she could not afford to worry about

that Anastasia was so foolish to have fallen for such a trick. Five hundred

a chance to recover her looks! As she was feeling giddy about her ‘flawless’ plan, Hayley figured that she

a grocery store before texting the password. An hour

the money furtively, she planned to wear a disguise apart from hiring someone

the crowded locker room, there was a guy shoving a bulging bag into one of the lockers. He set a password before taking

nearby throng was Hayley, whose eyes were staring at

five hundred thousand was a trifle to Anastasia. It would

Hayley received a message from Anastasia that read, ‘I’ve left the money as told. You better

her, who seemed quite dense,

move a hefty bag from the locker to

as she told immediately upon receiving the money. The loaded bag was so heavy that he could barely move it. After looking left and right, she wore

the man had arrived at the entrance,

in that bag? It’s

glossed it over by saying,

thousand dollar cash

side to have a look of the content. It was loaded with cash as she had expected! Just as she was about to carry the bag, a shadow loomed over her

“Hayley Seymour, you’re under arrest for blackmailing Miss Tillman a large sum of money.

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

said, she forwent the money and dashed with all her might.

me!

Miss Tillman’s bodyguards.

did that b*tch know

not speak of Miss Tillman like that.” Then, the bodyguard flung her toward the

stomach, for she had not

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

growled Hayley before she was cuffed and

taken into custody.

we

as the elite makeup team tended to her at Elliot’s

Because of her advanced age, he had to

Why aren’t you wearing the watch I gave you? Do you not like my present?” Harriet saw Elliot’s

replied, “Okay, Grandma. I’ll wear that watch

God and was bought according to your zodiac

God?”

watch brings good luck

then, I will wear it

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. Coincidentally, Jared was

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

take a watch

“Sure! Which one?”

her. “Help me to search for it. It should be

curiously. After all, she knew that the watch he

a gift

a surge of joy, as she was a bit jealous, wondering which woman gave

will bring it to

she paired it with her white diamond dress,

his watches. Under the lights, the watches radiated its uniqueness and showed off the man’s taste

Anastasia could see the light emerald watch reflecting a motif of a wolf’s head upon

the picture. Then, she placed it in her

was prominent today, which signaled a very

Anastasia sitting in one of the luxurious cars’ back

the engagement was a seven star one in the middle of the city and it was one of the properties of the Mansons.

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 hair, accentuating his good looks. He

woman he had been anticipating finally

back at him too. Witnessing the man’s charisma made her shy as

her eyes

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

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

worthy

they were a pair from the start and that

devastating to him, even though

the thing he hoped

was being led by Elliot into the main

she finally turn back and see Nigel. She raised her hand to greet

replied, “You finally

admiring the woman who was soon

thirdwheel involuntarily, Nigel coughed lightly. “Can you two stop publicly displaying your love? At least wait until the engagement

Elliot peered at him. “Nigel,

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

Inside the venue hall.

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

making the venue have a

waiting room by the side, Anastasia finally remembered about the watch, so she took it out and gave it to him. “Is it this

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

“Your grandmother’s

wavered at this, as it was this precise watch that attracted

just treated it as a gift from his grandmother

was indeed lucky since he had

and they entered the

this

head dotingly.

am! I can finally call Mr. Presgrave as ‘Daddy’!” Jared

Anastasia laughed at his words. “Yup.

suit, looking elegant.

would truly love him and that he would spend the rest of his life making it up to

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

and said, “Mom, it’s almost

then!” Harriet could not wait to announce that Anastasia was

wishing for this for

Harriet

start at 6.50 pm, so there