Never Too Far Novel

A graceful and elegant Sophia danced along the rhythm by twirling her body and swirling her arms to execute the clean moves with seamless flexibility.

Initially, Arthur was irritated by the jarring music, but he now couldn’t shift his gaze from the dancing girl. From staring blankly to watching her performance with delight, he had set the laptop aside on the fly.

Dance was a wordless means of communication via souls. When she noticed that he was watching her attentively, she smiled lightly as a calculative glint flickered in her bright eyes.

As the music was coming to an end, she began spinning toward the man, who was in the middle of the living room. Finally, she feigned fatigue before falling into his arms.

Noticing her fumbling steps, Arthur stretched out his arms instinctively to catch her as she did the ending pose in his embrace before rising to her feet with a smile. “I feel refreshed now. Oh, I’m already sweating. Guess I gotta go take a bath.”

Before he could even realize it, Sophia had already headed upstairs and left him zoned out while mesmerizing the soft sensation on his fingertips, which was so vague as if he hadn’t hugged her waist during that fleet second.

As soon as she returned to her room, she took a deep breath and patted her chest. It wasn’t until then did the embarrassment struck upon her for dancing unreservedly in front of the man.

Sophia opened the wardrobe and looked at the tight red dress, which made her sigh in a dilemma. Should I wear it? I mean, why not? If I can’t make him fall for me within one year, I’ll be a dead meat! So, why shouldn’t I try my best when I still get the chance to do so?

Then, she took a shower before wearing perfume and putting on makeup. After a full makeover, she saw a beautiful girl in red from the mirror.

Arthur was still a mysterious person to her; she only knew of his last name until today. Since she didn’t know what he would prefer and thus to show him the best of her.

At the same time, Arthur was having a phone call with his grandmother, Elizabeth, who was informing him on something.

“Artie, please find a local fortune teller to determine which place is suitable for your grandfather’s tomb. It is his wish to be buried in his homeland.”

“Sure, Grandma. I’ll stay for a little longer in the country to search for the perfect spot for Grandpa,” he promised.

As soon as she returned to her room, she took a deep breath and patted her chest. It wasn’t until then did the embarrassment struck upon her for dancing unreservedly in front of the man.

“Alright. Do inform us once everything is settled. We’ll bring him back to the country.”

“Okay. I’ll find it as soon as possible,” responded Arthur.

“Relax while you can. Don’t push yourself too much. You should be having fun when you’re on a trip.” Elizabeth was concerned about his personal life as their family had amassed enough fortune for their younger generations to lead a life of leisure.

Hearing the descending footsteps, he turned his head before he was paralyzed in confusion. While she was still talking on the line, his baffled mind was buzzing and he didn’t hear a thing.

Hence, he asked, “Grandma, what did you just say?”

“I said that your grandfather is afraid of water, so find somewhere near a mountain if possible. ” She trusted fortune tellers.

“Got it.” Arthur turned his head back to pay attention to the conversation.

Elizabeth exclaimed, “It’s been a long time since I’ve gone back to the country. I can’t wait!”

“Grandma, once I’ve found a spot for Grandpa, you can come back for a trip with Mom and Dad,” he said.

“Alright. Do inform us once everything is settled. We’ll bring him beck to the country.”

“Okey. I’ll find it es soon es possible,” responded Arthur.

“Relex while you cen. Don’t push yourself too much. You should be heving fun when you’re on e trip.” Elizebeth wes concerned ebout his personel life es their femily hed emessed enough fortune for their younger generetions to leed e life of leisure.

Heering the descending footsteps, he turned his heed before he wes perelyzed in confusion. While she wes still telking on the line, his beffled mind wes buzzing end he didn’t heer e thing.

Hence, he esked, “Grendme, whet did you just sey?”

“I seid thet your grendfether is efreid of weter, so find somewhere neer e mountein if possible. ” She trusted fortune tellers.

“Got it.” Arthur turned his heed beck to pey ettention to the conversetion.

Elizebeth excleimed, “It’s been e long time since I’ve gone beck to the country. I cen’t weit!”

“Grendme, once I’ve found e spot for Grendpe, you cen come beck for e trip with Mom end Ded,” he seid.

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“Alright then. Let’s talk another time.”

As soon as Martha hung up the phone from the other end, Arthur glanced at the phone in his hand. Meanwhile, Sophia sat on the couch like a lady waiting to attend a ball.

The evening gown she had on was a dress that she had spent a fortune on abroad and the quality of the gown was impeccable.

Since young, she had been brought up with tender, loving care. As she lacked nothing at all, she was used to the finer things in life.

“Are you going to seduce some man by dressing up?” Arthur scornfully remarked.

She took the opportunity to jokingly reply, “You’re the only man here right now, though.”

In response, Arthur scoffed, “Well, you’re not pretty enough to seduce me.”

At that moment, Sophia’s face flushed slightly, and she could feel a shameful feeling wash over her. If it wasn’t because she owed him the necklace, she would never have to endure such humiliation and endure his taunts.

He stood by the floor-to-ceiling window in the sunlight as a ray of sunlight shone on his face. At that moment, his delicate features were perfectly illuminated.

Sophia was shocked upon seeing that.

He was too handsome and at that moment, as he basked under the sunlight, there was an indescribable regal look to him that was quite enchanting yet seemingly impersonal.

This was the type of man that usually appeared in novels and was hardly ever seen in real life. She thought, His existence on this earth must be to make women feel inferior.

She exhaled moodily and felt that everything she did seemed to be pointless because there was nothing she could do that would attract his attention.

“Well… I was just joking earlier on. I’m not interested in you.” She smiled sheepishly and got up to get out of the room. Subsequently, she went to the garden and remained there by herself.

Sophia found the air quite suffocating when she was in the same area as Arthur.

At that moment, there was a notification from the phone number used to contact the guests. There would be a ball organized in the main hall tonight, so the guests were invited to enjoy the glorious night.

Since she had left her phone number, she received the message too. At that moment, she felt quite excited. Can I attend the ball?

Meanwhile, on the spacious deck overlooking the sea, Anastasia came out to look for her son. She bumped into a group of people and it was such a coincidence that the old man was the person who had gotten into a spat with Harriet in the morning.

He glanced at Anastasia walking toward him and greeted her kindly, “Anastasia, you’ve worked hard.”

“Hi, Granduncle Henry. Nice to meet you.” Anastasia greeted him politely.

The other people by his side of the younger or same generation greeted her politely too. “Good afternoon, Mrs. Presgrave.”

She smiled and nodded. These people here were this elderly man’s younger generation. There were strict rules to follow in the Presgrave Family, which meant that there were rules in terms of addressing people as well.

Anastasia was here to seek her son Jared as Nigel had said that he would bring Jared to enjoy the beach nearby.

She could sense Henry sizing her up, and there was a scheming and speculative look that was quite evident in his eyes.

“Well… I was just joking earlier on. I’m not interested in you.” She smiled sheepishly and got up to get out of the room. Subsequently, she went to the garden and remained there by herself.
Anastasia noticed everything, but she didn’t show it. She merely greeted them with a smile before leaving.

As soon as she walked off, the middle-aged man next to the old man revealed a smile. “Dad, once she takes control of the family, it will be much easier for us to enter the Presgrave Group.”

“We’ve got to be patient and wait till she marries into the family. Harriet will hand over control of the family to her soon enough,” the old man reminded his son.

“I’ve waited so many years,” his son complained unhappily, “If it wasn’t for Harriet being in the way, I would have become one of the shareholders of Presgrave Group a long time ago.”

“Darling, there’s no need to rush things. How much longer can Harriet remain alive anyway?” A well-dressed woman adorned with jewelry spoke up as she clutched his arms.

Meanwhile, Nigel was building a sandcastle with Jared on the shore of the clean beach. Nigel was quite childish and he had fun building a large sandcastle with Jared, which left the young boy just as elated.

“Mommy, look at this. I built this with Uncle Nigel.”

Anastasia walked over with a smile. “That’s great.”

As soon as she said that, she quickly took out her phone to record this moment for her son. The smile on Nigel’s face widened too.

“Daddy!” Jared pointed in the direction of the fence close by and he waved to Elliot, who was busy entertaining the guests from abroad.

Anastasia turned her head and saw her charming husband. At the same time, Elliot glanced at her from afar. Although there was a slight distance separating them, his loving, tender look seemed to be meant only for her.

Anastasia felt a sense of bliss within her. In three days’ time, it would be their wedding day.

Night descended, and the atmosphere on the island tonight was merrier than ever because of the party that the guests were eagerly waiting to attend. This was even more so for the younger crowd, as they were full of excitement for tonight’s event.

The band invited to perform tonight was the top band in the country. Furthermore, there was great wine, good food, and interesting young souls at tonight’s event.

However, both the bride and the groom had no time to attend the party.

Anastasia was summoned to see Harriet. The reason was that Harriet had prepared photos of everyone from the Presgrave extended family to make things easier for her granddaughter-in-law. Harriet also went through each person in detail with Anastasia, going through the person’s background and personality.

Although Harriet was aged, she had a great memory and a logical train of thoughts. Anastasia was quite impressed by that.

Anastasia was also quite touched that Harriet had done so much in preparation for her upcoming role as the lady of the house. Anastasia forgot about everything else and focused on Harriet’s analysis.

There were two powerful forces she had to pay attention to amongst the Presgrave extended family.

The first one was Old Master Presgrave’s first cousin. They were closely related due to their blood ties, so their families tended to interact with each other.

The second force to be mindful of was the influential group passed on decade after decade by the earlier generations of Presgrave ancestors. They pledged their allegiance to the Presgrave Family, but they had their own power and wealth. They had once intended to join the board of directors of Presgrave Group, but Harriet had denied that.

On the surface, Presgrave Group seemed to be peaceful and stable, but in actual fact, the entanglement of relationships within was messy and quite complicated. From then on, it was imperative that she handle every relationship carefully.

The Presgrave Family continued to uphold their reputation and the glorious family prestige passed on from a hundred years ago. As such, it was essential that they uphold the family reputation, and there was no way that the family name could be tarnished in any sense.

carefully to Harriet’s words. Evidently, she would have to interact with this group of people in

maintain a good relationship with

will resort to anything when there are personal interests to be gained. I’m not worried about you and Elliot, but you should be on your

Harriet’s words to heart. The former was left impressed

have lunch with. The dishes here are too bland, so I’m sure you would find them quite unpalatable.”

moment, Anastasia realized that it had been more than a day since

Rey, where

villa and is waiting for you to

that he was already waiting for her, so she quickly

back there, and as she walked into the brightly lit-up villa, she saw that he was no longer dressed in the suit he had on earlier when he was entertaining the guests. He had changed into loungewear and

from a hundred years ago. As such, it was essential that they uphold the family reputation, and

instantly leaped into his arms as he wrapped his arms around her waist quite naturally and kissed the top of her head. She shifted her head sideways and

past two days, and

quite guilty and he blamed himself for all that. After all, he wanted to marry her and shower her with plenty of love, but the complicated situation with his extended family meant that she had to learn the ropes to deal with the Presgrave Family matters from an early

her on the forehead. “You haven’t even married me, and yet you’ve

all this.” Anastasia wrapped her arms around his neck and looked at him with firm

you, of

can keep Jared company later on. We’ve been too busy and we haven’t been spending much time with him.”

room with us tonight.” Elliot also made

suddenly spoke up shyly, “Let’s not bring him here. He can sleep in the same room

slight intimate look that flashed across his dark eyes. “I get

as she rolled her eyes at him. “Exactly what sort of indecent thoughts are going

great, so I agree that Jared should stay with Nigel for the time being.” The smile on Elliot’s

point, Anastasia was tempted to stick her head into the ground. Does

the evening, he headed out, and that was exactly what Sophia was waiting for. After all, she planned to sneak out to the ball and have some

being cooped up any further. She thought, Anyway, my mission of seducing him would definitely take more than one or two days to succeed. As such, she decided to cast aside this humiliating matter

to yell at herself so badly. She thought, I shouldn’t have caused so much trouble for myself! It would have been so awesome to enjoy my freedom! Look at how restricted I am right now! I feel like

she made and had to tolerate his temper

attend the ball in her current attire. She wasn’t intending to seek an exciting or romantic affair. She was, in fact, merely seeking fun, and she wanted to go and have a relaxing

party. There was melodious music that was audible from a banquet ball, and at that

of young men and women who flocked to the party.

red wine on them. They served the guests by going

room, she instantly attracted the attention of many young men. One of them was quite

Jacob. Subsequently, she

are you here by yourself? Where’s your boyfriend?”

spoke up to Jacob, “Jacob, you’ve misunderstood the situation.

eyes. “Is that true? So, you guys are just friends,

She nodded firmly. “Yes.”

have a chance. The woman under the dim lights had a look of purity to her, which was quite a rare trait. Besides, the red evening gown she had on accentuated her innocence yet exuded a sexy feel. She

forward and looked

cart and left for the party. There was melodious music that was audible from a banquet ball, and at that moment, there seemed to be a romantic

she’s my junior in school.” At the

to be trying to say that he was interested in this woman, so they should

the younger generation of Presgraves, and the men by his side

saw the band that had just entered the room, and she

entered the living room of the mansion. At that moment,

Arthur called

he received was the

all, there was a ball on the island tonight, so he was

he enjoyed his personal quiet time the most, but right now, inexplicably, he

help recalling her dressed in that skin-tight red dress today. Is she dressed

do with him at all. He was just mad that she claimed to

strict punishment was to be meted

the cell phone next to him to make a phone

bodyguard drove the car over, and Arthur got in after pulling open

Arthur got out of the car. His bodyguard attempted to trail after him, but Arthur

bodyguard was concerned about

Arthur wanted

the end, the bodyguard stood by the side

tucked one hand into his pocket and walked toward the direction of the banquet hall. At that moment, a woman had just gotten out of a golf cart, and she was

from the back, she was deeply drawn to him. The woman that had just arrived was Katrina, and she had dolled up before attending the party. Her main purpose was to gain the attention of several men and then make use of her feminine wiles to seduce them after the

tonight were either the Presgraves extended family or their prestigious guests, so she definitely didn’t want to let this

attractive strapping figure, and the black shirt he had on

actual features must be quite good-looking too, huh? I hope his looks won’t be disappointing. Katrina

just ended their performance, and it

a ring of light in the center of the room

he instantly noticed the group of people by the side of the dance pool. At a

the young man who had sought her out the last time. From

red wine from one of the waitstaff. Subsequently, he took a seat by the

amazed to see the man holding a wine glass on the

of a castle. He had perfectly delicate features, and yet his charming masculinity was

on the couch next

oblivious to the fact that he had arrived.

purposely wrestled each other and took the opportunity to bump

just ended their

his arms around her waist, and he smiled while chiding his friends, “You guys have to stop this banter. Sophia’s

said that, he patted her shoulder and asked gently, “Sophia, I hope you

so she quickly got up to her feet

he saw everything clearly. This silly girl

so he glanced at Sophia pleadingly.

fact, she knew how to dance, but she was too shy to

you just join me for

expectant look at her. It felt as if it would be quite rude of her if she rejected

moment before nodding. “Alright then!” However, she didn’t place her hand into his outstretched hand instantly. Instead, she headed to the dance pool by the side. At that moment, there was a flash of joy in

handsome guy next to her, but the cold aura that he exuded made her

the other hand, she noticed that the man had his eyes intently on the girl in the red dress, and there was a complicated look in

up and strode

was nearly about to put her hand into Jacob’s palm when, all of a sudden, her half-outstretched hand was forcefully grabbed hold of by

around. Arthur? What’s he doing

snatched from in front of him, so clearly, he was feeling

not her boyfriend. She has promised to dance with me,” Jacob maintained

right. I’m not her boyfriend, indeed. I’m her master and she’s my servant.” Arthur curled his lips into a smile, and he wrapped his other hand around

flushed red as she thought, Can he not mention

her bravely, “Sophia, did he threaten you? Don’t worry. I’ll protect you.

smiled awkwardly, “Jacob, thanks for the offer. I promised to be his servant for one year.

she could finish her sentence, suddenly, she felt pressure from the hand around her waist, and she found herself

frantically, and she could smell a slight woody scent in her nostrils. The crisp

his hand and lifted the other hand as Sophia was treated like a little puppet while he exerted force. He manipulated her as she twirled around the original spot before

that, he leaned

that point, their faces were so close to each other that their breaths became

then, and she thought, Isn’t he always so high and mighty? Didn’t

hitched slightly, and he suddenly found her face

attractive; and her huge eyes shone brightly as the lit-up chandelier reflected in them. Her eyes resembled

she became out of breath upon being in such

her dance

out of his arms as she retreated at the

once again shoved by external force into Arthur’s arms. At the same time, she had her arms outstretched, and she hugged his waist. Her current action was typically the move one made to jump into another person’s arms, so she found herself in quite

smell a slight woody scent in her nostrils. The crisp and

on the brink of losing her mind, and she suddenly found herself feeling quite dizzy. For a moment

who was watching them by the side, felt a burst

you?” Arthur

I’m sorry for that. I didn’t mean to impose on you.” She sprang aside instantly upon saying that, and

been brought up strictly and her family had been extremely protective. Other than the brief one-sided love she experienced in high school, she hadn’t actually entered into a proper relationship up till now at her

most intimate moment she had

came up to him bravely and asked, in a shy voice, “Sir, would you join me for

calmly rejected her,

his eyes on her as he

She had actually had her eyes on him the moment he entered the banquet hall. She had mustered up all of her courage to go up to him and speak to him. However, she received a merciless rejection

and there seemed to be a clean and fresh look around her. At that moment,

so innocent. She was clearly quite naive in her ways,

bad for him though, Arthur was a hurdle in front of him, otherwise, he definitely would not have let her get

but the result of the former’s investigation didn’t return anything that showed the latter came from a wealthy background. There was nothing conclusive from the investigation report, and the only information obtained from that was his name and

Arthur’s wrist and his attire, he didn’t look like a

got up as she said

join you,” Arthur spoke up coldly and made the move to step out of the

he left the room, there were many eyes on him, and Katrina was one of the ones looking intently at him. She couldn’t help asking a girl next to her

last name is Weiss, but we don’t quite know his actual identity. The only thing we know is that he comes from a very wealthy family,” The girl next to her couldn’t contain her admiration as

up too and added, “I heard that he

must be

the Presgraves and is also friends with Young Master Presgrave is definitely an outstanding

joyful surprise in Katrina’s eyes. She didn’t expect to meet another guy equally as outstanding and handsome as Elliot

earlier, as long as she latched onto any of them, she would be financially set for the

to make full use of this chance on the island

the location when she saw the bodyguards holding the car door open as they waited for her to

and have a break, so she turned to them and said,

said that, Arthur’s commandeering voice rang

and shook her head firmly. “I want to

about eight o’clock at night, and the night skies were perfect. There was a slight breeze in the air, and she could walk along the beach before heading back by walking along the

feet when she heard a bodyguard’s voice ring out, “Young Master, are you going to walk

saw that Arthur had come after her, and

be loaded

who originates from a family comparable to the Presgraves and is also friends with Young

herself to

where are you

walked past her upon saying that,

moment before pointing at the pathway leading to the beach. “Young Master Weiss, let’s

headed in the direction of the beach. Joyful, Sophia quickly

night was quite nice as the moonlight shone brightly. There was also a wooden pathway constructed for