Never Too Far Novel

The child who addressed him as mister was in actuality his son, and to have gotten to know him as a stranger at first must feel terribly upsetting and regrettable.

Words could not describe the love he felt for his son.

Elliot sensed that Anastasia was behind him, so he adjusted Jared’s covers lightly and got up to leave.

Anastasia had been standing there for quite some time. She was dressed quite thinly so she was starting to feel a little cold. Elliot’s large hands warmed up her chilly ones as he pulled her back to bed.

The next day, Anastasia received a call from Francis. He called to inform her that Naomi’s court proceedings would begin on Tuesday and asked if she had time to attend. Naturally, Anastasia would make the time for it. She wanted to witness Naomi’s downfall in person and see if Naomi truly regretted what she did.

Tuesday morning, after dropping Jared off at school, Anastasia and Elliot went over to the courthouse.

Francis was already there when they arrived, and he seemed to have worked through his emotions as he was a lot calmer this time.

At ten o’clock, Naomi was brought into the courtroom. Her hands and feet were cuffed, and her hair had turned gray in many areas. She looked as if she had aged ten years. When she saw the people sitting in the stands, she looked over at Francis with pleading eyes and her voice trembled as she called out, “Francis… Francis…”

Francis looked at Naomi with nothing but pain. There was no love and no concern at all. Naomi glanced at Anastasia, but she knew that with her here, there was no way that Francis would take pity on her and forgive her.

Elliot was also sitting beside Anastasia, and compared to them, Naomi looked like she belonged in a different world entirely.

The proceedings started, and Francis’ lawyer began to give an explicit account of what happened. Despite the cold and matter-of-fact tone he used to describe the sequence of events, it was still enough to shock and strike fury in the hearts of anyone who heard it. For the sake of money, Naomi was willing to betray her husband and even go so far as to make an attempt on his life.

The culprits behind the entire scheme were Erica, Alex, and Naomi.

Naomi sat stiffly in her seat as she heard the recount of what she had done. She saw Francis sitting there with his head lowered, and tears of anger and regret began to stream down her face.

She recalled how blissful she felt when Francis married her. He worked hard to build his empire, but he would always provide her a princely sum to spend every month. She was free to do whatever she wanted with it, and her daughter, the one she had hidden away all these years, was able to grow up happy and confident as Francis’ daughter too.

Why did everything turn out this way in the end?

Not only did she ruin her own life, but she also ruined her daughter’s youth and future.

Anastasia remained calm on the outside, but on the inside, she was hoping that her father would not plead clemency for this woman. She wanted Naomi to face the full consequences of her actions.

Francis did not do anything, but toward the end of the proceedings, Naomi turned to him and pleaded with a tear-stricken face, “Francis, I know what I did was wrong, and I’m willing to bear the consequences, but please… please forgive Erica. I’m the one who taught her to do everything. She’s not a bad person.”

Francis said nothing. Naomi had received an eighteen-year sentence. If she managed to stay alive until the end of her sentence, she would be an old woman in her seventies when she was released.

When she did not hear a reply from Francis, she screamed in tears, “Erica has treated you like a father for 22 years! She’s only 23 years old! My poor daughter…”

Francis did feel sorry for Erica because she was a child that he had raised, but when he glanced at Anastasia and recalled everything that Naomi and Erica had done to her all these years, he suppressed those feelings.

He had no right to forgive them on Anastasia’s behalf. Anastasia was the only one who could decide whether Erica could be forgiven.

Though it went without saying that Anastasia would not do such a thing, and she would remain unmoved even if Naomi cried until her eyes bled out.

She turned to Francis. “Let’s go, Dad.”

Francis nodded and left with Anastasia and Elliot. All of Naomi’s hopes were dashed as Erica would soon be sentenced as well. If Francis refused to help, then her daughter would not receive any leniency either.

Naomi’s crimes made it to the news. She had a short-lived moment of glory as the president of Tillman Constructions, and at the time, she had been incredibly smug about it to the press. Now, that only served to highlight just how far she had fallen.

Elliot and Anastasia escorted Francis to his car and watched him leave before they headed over to their car.

That night, they had dinner at Presgrave Residence. When their wedding plans came up in conversation, Anastasia said to Harriet, “Grandma, I’d like us to keep a low profile for the wedding. I don’t need a grand wedding and I don’t want the reporters to report about our ceremony.”

While it may seem amazing to receive high-profile coverage, it came with a lot of risks. Anastasia did not want their family’s lives to be scrutinized. She just wanted to have a quiet and peaceful life.

Harriet was happy to accept the suggestion. Her biggest concern was not having the ceremony live up to Anastasia’s expectations, but since it was a request from Anastasia herself, she would plan according to her wishes.

The wedding was to be held at the start of May on a private island within the country’s borders. Around a hundred guests were invited.

While they did keep a low profile, Elliot still invested a lot of time and money into creating a lavish and romantic ceremony for Anastasia.

In the days leading up to the ceremony, Anastasia got busy too. She had a lot of decisions to make, such as choosing her wedding gown and the gown for the banquet at night, as well as other minute details for the ceremony. She poured her heart into preparing everything.

As for her guests, apart from friends and relatives from her father’s side, Anastasia also invited Felicia and Grace. While she had friends overseas, she was mindful of the great distance and decided against informing them.

Spring was afoot and the lovely spring breeze came wafting in through the window. Anastasia began to feel a little drowsy. Jared was in school by now, and she had spent the morning discussing wedding details with the wedding planners. Once they left, she got a thin blanket and decided to take a nap on the couch.

All of a sudden, she felt a firm hand closing in around her shoulder, and she stirred awake to see a familiar face staring back at her. She nestled back down into his chest and fell sound asleep.

Elliot stroked her long hair and peppered it with kisses as he accompanied her while she napped.

When Anastasia woke up from her afternoon nap, she found out that Elliot had brought a female bodyguard back with him.

She was Adriana Williams, a 33-year-old woman with impeccable fighting skills and a long list of credentials. In addition to that, she was also a very intelligent and capable woman who could help Anastasia with all manner of issues. She was going to assume the role of Anastasia’s personal bodyguard and would be with her at all times.

Anastasia took a liking to Adriana thanks to her pair of trustworthy eyes. They made her feel safe.

“From now on, you must bring Adriana along with you wherever you go, so that she can keep you safe,” Elliot said. Anastasia and Jared were now his weaknesses because they were what he cared about the most.

Anastasia nodded agreeably. “Okay.”

A gentle spring shower began late in the afternoon, and when Jared came home, he pulled on his rain boots and grabbed an umbrella to go off and play in the garden.

Anastasia did not stop him. The newly hired servants were preparing dinner, so Anastasia joined Jared in the garden. However, her mind wandered for just a few moments and when she snapped out of it, Jared was gone.

She jumped to her feet in fear. “Jared? Jared… where are you?”

“Mommy! Mommy, look.” Jared stuck his head out of a nearby bush and showed her what he cupped in his hands—a kitten whose fur was soaking wet, and who was meowing weakly.

Anastasia was stunned. She watched as Jared carefully wrapped the kitten in his clean clothes and asked, “Mommy, can I keep it?” He was staring at her with imploring eyes that made him look as pitiful as the kitten in his arms.

How could Anastasia deny her son when he looked so sincere about this?

“Okay, you can keep it.” Anastasia nodded.

“Yay!” Jared was overjoyed. He did not continue playing in the rain anymore, but instead, he carried the kitten into the house at once.

This kitten probably had no idea that it was about to live its best life as it was soon to become a member of this household.

Soon, all the arrangements were made for the kitten to rest comfortably. Anastasia blowdried the kitten’s fur and saw that it was probably a stray cat as it did not seem like a purebred cat. It looked like an ordinary cat, but it had a large pair of eyes that were quite adorable.

“Mommy, will Daddy agree to let me keep it?” Jared asked tentatively. He thought about how serious and proper his father was, and a man like him might not like having a kitten in the house!

“It’s okay. Mommy will help you ask him too,” Anastasia assured Jared. With her help, there would not be any problems.

She knew that Jared did not know how Elliot would kill to give him everything in the world. All Jared was asking for was to raise a kitten, so there was no doubt that Elliot would agree.

The kitten was very docile. Perhaps it knew that it was incredibly lucky to have met such a kind and cute little owner, so it stayed in Jared’s arms quietly and meowed once in a while.

Anastasia accompanied Jared down the stairs as they headed into the kitchen to find some food for the kitten.

At around half past six, they heard a car pulling into the driveway. Jared carried the kitten over to the door to wait and soon, he saw his father walking in.

“Meow!” As if it had sensed Elliot’s dominating presence, the little kitten meowed pitifully and struggled in Jared’s arms to try and escape.

“Ahh! Kitty, don’t be afraid. This is Daddy. He won’t throw you out,” Jared cried out in alarm, but before he could grab hold of the kitten, it jumped out of his arms and fled out the door.

Anastasia came over and saw the kitten running off into the garden. She sighed as she thought about how upset Jared would be now.

Elliot walked over to Jared and bent down in front of him. “Were you raising that cat who ran out?”

“Daddy, I found the little kitten in the garden today and I wanted to show it to you, but it ran off.” Jared’s head was bowed in sadness. His eyes turned red and teary.

Elliot patted Jared on the shoulder. “It’s okay. I’ll help you find it.”

“Really? I want to come too, Daddy!” Jared exclaimed excitedly.

“It just rained and the garden’s covered in puddles now. I’ll help you find it, okay? You stay right here and wait, and I’ll bring it back to you.” Elliot’s deep voice was firm.

“Okay. Thank you, Daddy.” Jared nodded happily.

Anastasia took one look at the finely-dressed man who was about to scurry around the humongous garden looking for a spooked little kitten and assumed that it would be a tall task for him, so she said, “I’ll come with you.”

“I’ll go. You stay with Jared,” he declined the offer after glancing at his sweet wife.

He took off his suit jacket and walked out in his shirt.

Anastasia crouched down to comfort Jared. “Jared, we’ll do our best to look for the kitten, but if it ran out of the garden, it would be very hard for us to find it. Do you understand that?”

Jared nodded. Even though it had only been a few short hours, he had grown quite fond of the little kitten.

He fervently hoped that his father would find it.

Meanwhile, Anastasia was taking pity on her husband. The garden was covered in puddles while the grassy areas had all turned to mud, and Elliot had always been a clean freak.

he was willing to go out and look for

from the front gardens all the way to the back. His sharp ears picked out the weak meows of the young kitten and

live with my son.” All Elliot could do was crouch down and remain motionless as he called out to the kitten who was still darting around

today, and it yearned for the feeling of being protected and

It was too young—perhaps only recently weaned, and it cried out helplessly as it stared at the towering man in

guy,” Elliot called out as he extended his hand to the

finally stood in front of

bottom of his pants

was giving off a gentle and loving aura that had a

At the entrance hall.

little kitten in Elliot’s arms and gleefully rushed

clothes were in and she felt bad for him. While Jared reached out to take the kitten, she reached out to brush a few blades of grass off his shirt

Elliot kissed her

it?” Jared asked at

“Of course.”

give it a name

You can tell us later

hugged the kitten close and said, “Okay! I’ll bring it back to

clean and cozy

buy some cat food tomorrow.” Anastasia

some over later.” Elliot was

once more. It seemed like Elliot was going to spoil Jared

while I take a shower.” Elliot grasped her hand and pulled

him, but once they reached the room, she herded him into the bathroom while she picked

the bathroom, Anastasia walked over to his closet and rummaged among his casual clothes before picking out a gray T-shirt and a pair of loungewear linen pants. She liked the way he looked in these sorts

formal work attire. However, when it came to Elliot,

had everything that she admired in

clothes down on the couch and took a seat to wait for

around to see a man walking out with a towel around

every night, her heart would still skip a few beats and her blood would still start rushing through her veins whenever she saw him like this. She muttered shyly, “Here are your

walked over with a sly smile. “I want my sweetheart to help

mouth to muffle

Elliot was persistent. He stood in front of her and said,

at his sculpted and statuesque body, and she feasted on

his neck, she had to get him to bend down. Anastasia slowly and carefully put on each article of clothing, while Elliot’s eyes stared

as red as a lobster and could no longer look him

her. All day long, he had

she was not around, and he wished

sucked the

verge of taking it further when Anastasia finally regained her senses. “It’s time for dinner. Jared’s

Jared’s asleep, we’ll continue where we left off.” She managed to talk him down, so all Elliot could do was stare at her

gotten married yet, it dawned on Anastasia that they were basically living as if they were, and Elliot had already

happiest days of Anastasia’s life, and her complexion became even rosier than

that a woman in

later, Rey came and dropped off some cat food. From now on, the little cutie was a member of the family, and

thought of a name that he thought suited the

that it was a female kitten,

was now Jared’s precious little

The next morning.

reluctantly, and Anastasia got Adriana to take the kitten to the vet. It would need to be given a thorough bath

brought Bella back all clean and groomed. It was

beside it. Soon, Bella crawled onto her lap and curled

chuckled at the sight. She had dreamt about raising a cat when she was young, but she had not had the right to raise a pet in that house. Now, her

led her to recall her life five years ago. When she first left the country, life was tough for her. The

as she did keep her son, and when he was born, his existence mended

to her. They were students who had been properly enrolled in the design institute, unlike her, who had to fight hard to find a way to

because she received help from them, but due to certain reasons, they had to separate again. However, the times she spent with them were filled

the older

three years together at the design institute. Anastasia’s mind began to drift off under the warm afternoon

an unknown number calling, but she answered

designer at Bourgeois?” It was a breezy male voice that spoke

in the recesses of Anastasia’s mind, and she exclaimed, “Mason Sullivan? You’re

think I

in the country?” Anastasia asked excitedly. She had just been reminiscing about the past when

What an uncanny coincidence.

design office at Bourgeois right now, and I found out that you

was surprised at yet another

not too long ago.” Mason was pretty happy too. “I’ve been meaning to look for you but I couldn’t find you at

my numbers quite a few times and

you free to come and meet up with

asked as she checked the

we sat down for a good talk, old

I reach

“Sure.”

she went upstairs to get two spare

country, Katrina should be too, so she wanted to invite them

with Adriana

later, she saw a

an aura of someone who would accomplish great things in

his position was in Bourgeois. Could it be the head of design position that Felicia mentioned? That

to stand beside her. Mason’s breath caught in his throat as

in the bleakest period of her life. She was entirely different from this elegant and refined woman who was flashing him a brilliant

much! I could hardly recognize you.” Mason could not take his eyes off

you! A lot has happened in the three years we’ve lost touch.

let’s go!” Mason noticed Adriana and asked with a

she’s my friend.

you,” Mason greeted her

little awkward, and he thought that this friend of hers

nudged Adriana. “Adriana, I’m going to get something to eat with my friend. You’ll be alright by yourself

“Miss Tillman, this…”

fine,” Anastasia assured

“I’ll go with you, but I’ll

their conversation and could tell that Adriana behaved more like a bodyguard

her from joining them. The three of them headed to a

and now that Anastasia was having a meal with another

phone vibrated with a new message notification. He was listening to one of his employees give a presentation, but after glancing at his phone, he picked it

came to Presgrave

followed by a picture of Anastasia walking with

nothing out of the ordinary about the two people in the

not look for him? Why did she come to meet some other guy instead? Why were they having a meal

and more frantic with

who he is?”

Mason Sullivan, a

“Look into this

staring at the picture on his phone, and soon, Rey passed an iPad over to him with a resume on

carefully, and once he saw where Mason had graduated from, he realized that this must be one of Anastasia’s

Head of Design at

knew was that it was the hardest period of her life. She

of the

were the case, there would be no way for Elliot to get involved in their relationship. He did not want Anastasia to be

At the restaurant.

seat, Mason stared at Anastasia and commented wistfully, “It’s great that you

for all your help back then. You helped me survive the darkest period of my life,” Anastasia declared gratefully.

and currently working

I’m sure she’ll do well as a model,”

is the total opposite of me. She used to be rather childish and would have said a lot of

It was all in the

pregnant. Even so, Mason ignored his sister’s protests and continued to take very good care of her. She was all alone

and it was Mason who accompanied her through it all. He carried Jared and ran down many blocks of streets until they found a doctor who could attend to Jared. Thankfully,

was him who ignored his sister’s objections and did

her,

seen

He’s already four! I’ll

he’s quite a looker now. He was so cute as a baby, so he’ll definitely

look like his father,

working in Bourgeois?” Anastasia asked out

and invited to take the position, and I have a lot of faith in Bourgeois’ future development as a company, so I decided to come back to the country. I never thought our paths would cross like this again, but I

right, I used to work

to? Why did you resign?”

two invitation cards, so she took them out and passed it over to Mason. “Here, I’ll be getting married soon, so I

the invitation cards for a very long time before taking them. There was a flash of dejection in his

He flipped the card open as he said that. Once he saw

would be shocked. She nodded and said, “Yeah, my fiancé’s name is Elliot

Mason chuckled somewhat bitterly as he bid goodbye to his fleeting moment of

person they longed for, one still did not get a second chance, because someone even better—a man even more powerful than

Anastasia nodded and shared a secret.

say that

but what he did left you with so much pain, and so much despair… that

attempted to take her life by jumping off a bridge. Mason was the

who got her pregnant was

just leave the