Never Too Far Novel

A month ago, the bar had changed owners as it was bought by the gorgeously handsome man before him. From then on, the bar was only open whenever the man felt like it, although he spent most of the time drinking alone in the bar. At one time, the ladies who came to the bar were captivated by his charming good looks, but they all ended up fearing him, especially those who tried to approach him. He not only had a cold shoulder, but he greeted those women with a frosty, scathing look. It wasn’t enjoyable to be scrutinized under the man’s gaze, which would freeze a person from head to toe as if skinning them alive.

The man being described was Arthur Weiss, the mysterious young man of noble descent who had been looking for his family heirloom.

“Young Master Weiss, we’ll surely find her,” the bodyguard said in an effort to comfort him.

Arthur’s patience was running out. He had tried everything he could, but he couldn’t find the thief’s whereabouts at all. He had checked the bar’s surveillance footage, as well as surveillance footage of the road, but the young lady was so heavily made-up that there was no way of knowing what she really looked like.

He had considered going to the police, but he didn’t want the loss of his family heirloom to be made public, fearing that the thief might destroy the heirloom if she were to learn that it was an object of great importance. If that happened, even if he caught her, he might not be able to recover it. Therefore, he would rather let her keep the heirloom first and sort her out later when he found her.

Right now, he was waiting for the final piece of information—the cab driver who had driven her to the bar that night was found.

At this moment, a man in his early thirties came in after the bodyguard through the entrance. He had heard that the bar had closed down; it was once a paradise for the rich and the most luxurious money-squandering establishment in town. He then saw a man sitting in a chair next to the bar counter. He was toying with a wine glass, and it was evident from the sound of the wine glass being swirled around that the man had superb bartending skills.

“Young Master Weiss, here’s the cab driver who drove that lady to the bar that night.”

Arthur had another of his men take out two bundles of cash. Then, he pushed the photo next to him toward the man, asking, “Do you remember this lady? The money is yours as long as you tell me where you picked her up.”

Seeing the heavily made-up young lady in the photo, the driver instantly remembered her. “Yes, yes, I do remember this lady. She was coming out of a restaurant when I picked her up.”

“Did she say anything during the ride?”

“Yes, she did. She made a phone call. I remember it very well; she was crying her eyes out, seemingly telling her dad that she didn’t want to get married.”

Arthur felt that victory was in sight. “Can I have the video of the ride that night?”

The cab driver darted a look at the two bundles of cash before taking out his cell phone even more briskly. “Sure, sure. Let me find it for you right away.” Finally, he brought up precisely the video recording of that night.

Arthur looked at the young lady who had gotten into the cab in the video, and sure enough, she was none other than the female thief. I’ve got you at last, he thought.

The cab driver left immediately after getting the money.

On the other hand, Arthur was watching the video recording of that night. The cab ride lasted a total of 23 minutes. The somewhat blurry video showed that after getting into the cab, the young lady first stared blankly out of the car window for a long time.

Suddenly, her cell phone rang; she picked it up and answered, “Hey, Dad.”

Shortly after that, she got emotional and added, “I want to call off the engagement. I don’t want to get married… I just want to get married to the love of my life. I don’t want to get married to Christopher York.”

The person calling her then said something on the other end of the line, upon which she instantly burst into tears and cried like a baby. After that, she hung up the phone and said to the cab driver, “Drive me to the most luxurious bar in the city.”

The man gave her a few words of comfort before mentioning the name of a bar, to which she replied, “Okay, drive me there.”

After that, she remained silent until getting out of the cab.

Christopher York, huh? A sneer flashed across Arthur’s face. At last, he had a clue about the young lady’s identity. “I want all the information about this lady in ten minutes.”

He had finally reached the limit of his patience.

After less than ten minutes, his bodyguard handed him an iPad. “Young Master Weiss, Christopher York is a well-known rich dandy in Averna. Only one person has been rumored to be engaged to him this year, and her name is Sophia Goodwin.”

Arthur picked up the iPad and fixed his eyes on the lady in the photo. The light shone on her face, illuminating her tender features; she looked as breathtakingly pure as a fresh-out-of-water water lily.

Although she looked totally different from the heavily made-up lady from the other night, there was no way Arthur could mistake her for someone else with his excellent eyesight. It’s her, he thought. He recognized from this pair of eyes that the lady in the photo was the one from the other night. She was heavily made-up that night, but her eyes were indescribably clear and bright; they were as black and lustrous as obsidian. “Find out everything about her family as well as her extended families,” he ordered frostily.

Having gotten accustomed to his temper, the bodyguard beside him immediately did as he was told.

Arthur had grown up being raised like a prince since he was born, and his family owned a territory that spanned an incredibly wide area. Consequently, as the only child of his family, he was both the lifeblood of his family and the heir to a family fortune that was worth hundreds of millions. As a result, he had never been offended by anyone from his birth until he was 27 years old. If he was dissatisfied with anything, it had to be dealt with within a day. This time, however, he had lost his family heirloom for over a month, which was the greatest humiliation of his life. Therefore, it was foreseeable how miserable the young lady’s fate would be.

Ten minutes later, the bodyguard handed the iPad to him once again. “Young Master Weiss, here is all the information about Sophia Goodwin. Please take a look.”

Arthur read through the story about the Goodwin Family. Sophia’s father was the chairman of two listed companies and had a fortune of over ten billion. However, his business had been losing money in recent years, so he was now two billion in debt instead. Therefore, he intended to establish a collaboration with the York Family, forming an alliance with them by marrying off his beloved only daughter to Christopher.

Arthur checked the time; it was 8:00 PM. He curled his lips into a sneer, saying, “Let’s pay a visit to the Goodwins.”

Meanwhile, at the Goodwin Residence, Drake Goodwin was distressed by his company’s inability to sustain itself while fretting about his runaway daughter. The deal had been made between the two families, and Christopher liked Sophia very much, but she wilfully and recklessly sneaked out of the country. Since then, she had been incommunicado, her whereabouts unknown.

Emma, his wife, said worriedly, “Take the medicine, Drake, or your heart’s gonna give you problems again.”

Drake swallowed the medicine before asking the butler, “Have you found out which country Sophia is in?”

“Miss Sophia is hiding very well this time. We really can’t find her; she’s got the backbone not to use all her debit cards even after you’ve had them unfrozen.”

“Well, she’s not to blame for this. I’ve spoiled her rotten since she was little.” Drake cared very much about Sophia, after all. At this moment, he was worried again about how she was doing abroad.

“Sigh. Sophia probably dislikes Young Master Christopher for his looks.”

Drake argued, “He’s a little chubby, but that’s understandable. It’ll be fine as long as he loses a bit of weight!” In his opinion, Christopher was somewhat overweight and plain-looking, but he wasn’t all that bad as a husband.

Arthur read through the story about the Goodwin Family. Sophia’s father was the chairman of two listed companies and had a fortune of over ten billion. However, his business had been losing money in recent years, so he was now two billion in debt instead. Therefore, he intended to establish a collaboration with the York Family, forming an alliance with them by marrying off his beloved only daughter to Christopher.

“I’m afraid it won’t be easy for him to lose weight with his size.” Emma gave him a dirty look. “He’s almost 220 pounds.”

Drake immediately heaved a sigh. “If I’d had another choice, I wouldn’t have put Sophia through this.”

“Who cares if the company is going bankrupt? It’s fine as long as we’ve got some money left to support ourselves in our old age,” Emma said.

“The company was founded by my grandpa, so I have to keep it afloat. I’d never give up unless we’re in a hopeless situation,” Drake replied with ambition.

However, little did he know that he would be in a hopeless situation tonight—and a chillingly hopeless situation at that, because his daughter had brought the Goodwins an even greater disaster in the form of a young man from a mysterious and overwhelmingly wealthy family.

Just then, the servant came over and reported, “Sir, someone’s asking to meet you.”

“Who’d be visiting at such a late hour? Invite the person in,” Drake replied with a wave of his hand.

Soon after that, he saw a dignified-looking young man dressed in expensive clothes coming in under the light. He looked charmingly handsome, as if his face had been kissed by God. Not only that, but as he walked, he gave off an air of aloofness, projecting a powerful and forbidding presence.

Emma’s eyes widened slightly. Just who is this rich young man? Is he here because of Sophia?

“What can I do for you, sir?” Drake said with a smile as he greeted the young man. He searched his memory, but he couldn’t seem to remember or know such a figure.

“This is our Young Master. His family name is Weiss, so you may call him Young Master Weiss,” Arthur’s bodyguard replied in a deep voice.

Drake carefully searched his memory again for a family surnamed Weiss, but nothing came to mind. He couldn’t help but ask, “Mr. Weiss, may I know who your father is?”

“You’re not qualified to know that,” Arthur replied impassively.

Drake was rendered speechless for a moment. I’ve never seen such an arrogant young man before, he thought. Holding back his temper, he asked, “In that case, Young Master Weiss, what makes you come to me at this time of night?”

Arthur darted his eyes toward the couple. “Your daughter has stolen my family heirloom, so I’m here to look for her.”

“What? You mean Sophia has stolen from you? That’s impossible! Sophia never steals from anyone,” Emma immediately retorted for Sophia’s sake.

“Your daughter has stolen Young Master Weiss’ priceless family heirloom in a bar. Please return it immediately,” Arthur’s bodyguard replied.

Drake thought this was impossible, though. “This has got to be a misunderstanding, or you guys must’ve gotten the wrong person. My daughter isn’t in the country. She went abroad a month ago.”

The bodyguard produced an iPad and handed it to the couple. “Is this your daughter?”

Emma immediately took the iPad to confirm it, and sure enough, she recognized Sophia at a glance despite the latter’s heavy makeup. “What’s wrong with Sophia? It’s indeed my daughter in the video, but she won’t steal anything.”

“Where is she?” Arthur asked, narrowing his glacial eyes.

“My daughter isn’t in the country. And besides, we’ve lost touch with her as well. I’m sorry, Young Master Weiss, but I’m afraid you have to wait until she comes back. When she does, we’ll immediately ask her about this,” Emma replied honestly.

“Wait? I hate this word the most.” Arthur had run out of patience because of this, so it was impossible for him to wait any longer.

“But there’s nothing we can do about this. We can’t get in touch with our daughter at the moment. If she’s really taken something from you, we’ll definitely ask her to return it.”

“Your daughter has taken Young Master Weiss’ dearest possession. If the object is broken, there’s no way you can afford to pay for it.” The bodyguard explained the gravity of the situation.

Drake and Emma exchanged a brief look. Then, Drake promised, “If our daughter has really taken it, we’ll definitely give it back to you in perfect condition.”

guys can’t get in touch with her for the time being, right? I have a way to make her contact you guys.” Arthur’s eyes flickered menacingly like a demon spreading its

Emma

impassively.

showed up and left after leaving behind a jumble of mysteries. It was as though

asked,

this Young Master Weiss from?”

anyone surnamed Weiss among the bigwigs that I know of. Perhaps he’s just a nobody,” Drake said in vexation. It’s rare for

and the way he dresses are definitely those of a kid

over nothing.” Drake looked down on such gilded youth. “How could I not know what kind of a person I’ve brought Sophia up to be? She’d never steal anything. She had never even taken one more candy from others since she

he has a way to make Sophia contact us voluntarily. What way

couldn’t wrap his head around it either. How can he find

go to sleep that night when he suddenly got a phone call. “Bad news, Mr.

it be? Who

“We don’t know yet.”

find out. This is my last chance,” Drake

next morning. Because of his immense debts, his company was jointly sued by multiple creditors and it was about to be declared bankrupt and liquidated. In just a night, the creditors who

and asked, “David, you said before that you’d give me time to raise funds. Why didn’t

I can’t do that. I was under

forced

we’re good friends,

who he had offended even after mulling over it for a

heard from outside before

we’re suspecting that you’ve been involved in

Sir, my husband is a legitimate businessman. He

comforted her, “It’s okay. I’ll go over

once and even spread abroad in seconds, covering the headlines of major news outlets across the world. His photo was featured in the headlines of newspapers around the world as if he were a criminal. Moreover, the news media in every country vigorously reported about

the country as Goodwin Corporation was a long-standing business that was famous for their furniture before they finally dabbled in the development of various other industries. As a result, they were

glass as if he had let a huge burden off his shoulders and his seductive lips curled into a slight smile as he said, “If anything, their daughter is

Weiss, the news is being reported all over the world. If that girl

go over and

be waiting for her.” Arthur’s eyes glinted with excitement as if he were hunting his prey.

early next month, so he was not in a hurry and could attend the wedding before leaving

when he received a phone call and happily answered it. “Okay, let’s meet

had asked him

last time—the child was Elliot’s biological son, which also meant that he was their godson! He pondered over what he should prepare as a present. Richard’s not gonna have time to come over at this point. Guess I’ll have to prepare a gift for my godson. But what should I give him? I can’t be stingy about

with anything even after racking his brain as Elliot already owned the things that

room at a high-end restaurant, Elliot looked at his buddy who was entering. He narrowed his eyes and asked, “Why did the Goodwin Corporation

into a smile. “Oh, you’re quite

department dedicated to collecting any information related to the corporate world, it

me why you did it,” he asked

it’s their fault for giving birth to a daughter who made

your family heirloom?” Elliot asked, his eyebrows

have no idea what she’s

force her to show up on her

glass from the table and took a sip. “When she comes back, she’ll pay

his words, Elliot felt a hint

asked, “Elliot, what do you think I should give you as a wedding gift? Tell me,

give me a simple gift.” Elliot didn’t want him to break the

present too, but I don’t know

so you can just give him a few boxes.” Elliot added with a smile, “If you can’t,

my best man!”

can’t.” Arthur

“Why not?”

steal all your glory!” Arthur

was

This kind of happiness between friends was simple and pure, and

newspaper flew toward her feet all of a sudden. She kindly picked up the trash and was about to throw it into a nearby trash can, but just as she was about to do so, she saw a

the picture of her father on the headline with a text description next to it, and another

Why was my dad caught, and why did the company go bankrupt?” The girl clutched the newspaper

over to support her,

dad was captured. I have to go back

first time contacting her family ever since she bailed

voice

“Why not?”

might steal all

What happened to Dad? Why was he

you finally get a conscience? Hurry up and

so anxious that her eyes welled up with tears. She had been a bad daughter

you

was too worried about her father, Sophia was so panicked that even when the necklace around her neck suddenly fell into the clothes in her suitcase, she

arrived at the airport and boarded a plane to return home. At the same time, a message

back,

the fastest means of transportation, she still felt that it was slow. It must be my fault. It’s because I didn’t marry Christopher that Dad’s company is in trouble now. She regretted her stubborn decision to bail

him, she was now willing to give up everything to save her father’s

were posted everywhere. Was the media running out of things to report? Did they have to report something like

reach home, Sophia’s cab was blocked by three mysterious

was easily scared, and when he saw the tall bodyguard who came down from the first car, he asked in a trembling voice,

looked at the tall man dressed in black who was walking toward them

must be

“No!”

as she finished speaking, the man said to her through the window, “Miss Goodwin, our young master wants

once forced her to go on a date with him in this way,

is waiting for you. He wants to talk to

the driver and got out of the car before she entered the black SUV and left. In the car, Sophia felt that something was wrong. The windows of these cars were bulletproof, and although Christopher’s family was rich, it wasn’t to the extent where

Where are you bringing me

reach, Miss,” the

the other bodyguards weren’t wearing the usual bodyguard uniforms. Even

really the York Family’s bodyguards?”

pedal to the

at a side entrance of the bar, and Sophia looked at the bar in shock. Didn’t I come here before? “Why did

Our young master is waiting for you

expected her to escape, and two of them

Sophia screamed all the

as she raised her head and lifted her gaze all the way upward… Damn it, did this person have to have such long legs? Finally, she raised her head with difficulty and

exactly are you? Where

shorter than him. She huffed angrily,

stared at her upright and clueless face. His lips curled as he said, “Before you accuse me of kidnapping, why don’t you try

how could I steal from you?” Sophia thought that this

bar, you forcibly got into my car and took the opportunity to take my necklace. Did you lose your memory, thief?” Arthur didn’t

she felt nothing. What’s going on? I swear I was wearing that necklace around my neck all this while. Where did it go? She was only worried about her father’s affairs along the way and wasn’t paying attention to her surroundings, but was she so careless that she didn’t even notice

it in the hotel overseas? Or on the plane? Or in the cab? She had no idea

My hair got caught on your necklace, and when your bodyguard took me out,

wanted to see his family heirloom at that

gulped. She had no idea where she had dropped it, so

“Uh… I…”

your father will be doomed

my dad?” Sophia

now,” Arthur demanded again, his cold gaze boring intently into

station because she accidentally took his necklace last time? In that case, did that mean that

station. Otherwise, don’t think about seeing your

could be heard. How dare this girl threaten Young Master Weiss? Does she have

who the man in front of her was. Even if she did, she would not be afraid

hear her right. This woman wouldn’t return his belongings and was now threatening

to let my

in the air. If it wasn’t because she was a woman, he would’ve definitely thrown a punch her way. If she were a man, they would be in

she backed away in

hand me my necklace.” Shockingly, Arthur

dad gets released.” Sophia

anger turned into amusement as he asked, “Woman, you really don’t know your place.

dad out of the police station. Otherwise, don’t think about seeing your necklace again.” She

though you’re handsome, do I have to know who you

her with wide eyes, feeling scared for this girl who was constantly looking for death. They wanted to show her what their monstrous young master was usually like, and let her know what true

dad safely come

already on the brink of losing his

want to see my necklace within an hour.”

way Sophia could promise him that

see my dad.” Saying that, she picked up her bag and said to the bodyguard, “My suitcase is still in your car.

this girl had the greater say, so he