Never Too Far Novel

Just as Elliot was about to get up, Anastasia reached out to hug his neck. “Then, we don’t have to use it.”

He immediately understood what she meant and was taken by surprise. Then, he kissed her gently and asked in a hoarse voice, “Sweetheart, are you sure?”

“I am!” She had promised Jared, so she decided to try and see if she could fulfill his wish of giving him a sister on his birthday next year.

…

At the break of dawn, Arthur suddenly had the urge to visit Sophia’s father after waking up.

After all, he had nothing better to do.

Deciding that he wanted it to be a surprise, he did not inform her about it. He used other means to get information about Drake’s whereabouts. After all, the Goodwins’ company was in his hands.

To avoid Emily, Arthur left at about 10:00 AM to drive directly to the hospital since his bodyguard had bought him a gift in advance, so he drove directly to the hospital.

At the hospital, Drake and the rest of his family were just at the entrance as his driver was on the way to bring them to a restaurant for lunch.

As Drake couldn’t walk, he was pushed out in a wheelchair.

At this moment, a pick-up truck drove up toward them and the man who stepped out was Christopher coming to pick Sophia up. At 5 feet 7 inches, he weighed nearly 200 pounds in sportswear and his body looked plumper than ever.

His chin and neck were almost touching each other, but this did not stop him from liking beautiful women at all.

He and Sophia were classmates from junior high until they were in university. She had always been the It girl since she was young as she was beautiful. Thus, Christopher had always been dreaming of getting her.

As for Sophia’s parents, they hoped that she would be taken care of for the rest of her life. Although he was a little plump, he came from a wealthy family, so their daughter would be able to live a prosperous life in the future.

“Dad, Mom, let Uncle G take you to the restaurant first. We’ll meet you there in a bit,” Sophia said.

“Alright, we’ll get going then.”

Then, she followed Christopher into his car where he immediately acted like a gentleman. “Sophia, today is a great day for us. Come, let’s get a gift for you.”

“Let us go eat first,” she deflected. She did not want anything from him.

“You’re going to be my wife soon, and it’s only right for me to give you a gift.” Then, he drove her straight to the jewelry store. Although she had repeatedly refused the offer, he still tried to force a diamond ring on her finger.

Ultimately, she had no choice but to wear it on her ring finger. This made him grin so widely that his triple chin was on full display.

“Sophia, you’re so beautiful today. Did you know how many boys were after you back in high school? Now, I can finally call you mine,” he boasted. He had already made up his mind to bribe the media to report their wedding. That way, he would look even more imposing.

The most beautiful girl in school was now his wife, which made it extremely wonderful!

However, Sophia had no intention of being his trophy wife. She looked at the time and said, “It’s time for us to head over to the restaurant.”

Then, Christopher finally drove them toward the restaurant.

In the hospital corridor, a group of young nurses was stunned by the sight of a man in a white shirt, who became the focus of all the women. He was like a protagonist out of a novel while the two bodyguards made him appear cold and hostile with a domineering aura.

Arthur stood at the door of the ward. He stopped outside for a few seconds before he reached out to push open the door, expecting to see Sophia’s surprised face.

However, the ward was empty.

When a nurse passed by, he politely asked the nurse in a charming voice, “Excuse me, has the patient here been discharged?”

It just so happened that the nurse happened to be in charge of the ward. “Mr. Goodwin is not discharged yet,” she hurriedly answered. “He just went out for lunch. If I’m not wrong, his daughter is getting engaged today.”

At the sound of this, his dark pupils suddenly shrank. “Engaged?”

“Yes, that is correct! According to what I’ve heard, they will meet the groom’s family and discuss the engagement. Sir, are you related to him?”

“No.” The man kept his composure and gave a quick smile, but as soon as he walked away, his face looked gloomy.

How could she not tell him she was going to get engaged?

Arthur pulled out his phone and called Sophia’s number right away.

Sophia was in the car that Christopher was driving. When she heard her phone rang, she pulled it out and checked it. Once she saw who was calling, she immediately ended the call.

“Why didn’t you answer?” Christopher asked out of curiosity.

“It’s nothing important.”

At the hospital lobby, the man couldn’t believe that she had just hung up on him. When he thought about that, he gripped the phone even tighter.

“Find out where Drake’s daughter’s engagement is,” Arthur ordered his bodyguard behind him.

The bodyguard contacted the executive at Goodwin Corporation, who put him in touch with Drake’s driver. The driver gave them the address and room number of the restaurant.

Arthur then entered the car and calmly said, “Drive to the restaurant.”

Christopher’s car slowly pulled into the restaurant’s parking lot during this time. When Sophia got out of the vehicle, he suddenly hugged her. This startled Sophia, so she avoided and told him, “Don’t do this. We do not want anyone to see us.”

“What’s the problem? After this meal, you will be my wife anyway.” He wanted to move in with Sophia so badly right now.

Even though they were going to get married in future, she still resisted him deeply.

“Fine! At the very least, we should hold hands!” Christopher ignored her refusal and forced to take her hand.

Sophia had no choice but to follow him inside the restaurant while holding her hand.

At the restaurant, Drake and his wife were chatting with the York couple. Since they were both businessmen, this was something that they had in common. Their conversation led to the Goodwin Corporation incident when a hostile acquisition left Drake with no one to turn to when it happened.

His business was thriving until there was an unexpected hostile acquisition, which resulted in him owing a significant amount of money to the bank. All of this happened as a result of his daughter losing the heirloom that belonged to a young man.

“Anyway, the past is the past. Please look out for us since we will soon be in-laws,” Drake added.

“Of course. After all, our son is totally crazy about Sophia.”

Christopher walked in while holding Sophia’s hand as they were talking.

After taking their seats, the two families began ordering food. In the meantime, Emma was observing her daughter seated next to a plump Christopher. She felt terrible for Sophia since she was unhappy with this engagement.

“Sophia! I’ll take good care of you in the future. Once you’re married to Christopher, please hurry ahead and bless our family with a grandchild. I definitely want to have a grandchild soon.” Margaret thought to herself as she looked at Sophia’s lovely face. My future grandchildren’s genes will definitely be amazing.

“Why don’t we skip the engagement and get straight to the wedding planning? At this point, we are able to discuss the dowry and what should be done with it. We are generous, we have decided to give two million dollars.” Edmund York had already decided what he will do.

“We have no demands on the dowry. Everything is fine so long as Sophia is happy.” Drake nodded.

Edmund had an idea right away. “Oh! Drake, how about we help you pay off half of your debt to make things easier and then figure out what to do about the rest?”

Drake and his wife looked at each other in silence. Because of how things were, they had no other choice as they no longer had any pride left to ask for more.

“But we also hope you can give something as your part of the wedding gift,” Margaret said out of the blue.

When Emma heard this, she quickly added, “We’ll absolutely prepare our side of the wedding gift too.”

“In that case, let’s just get right to it. Drake, we are interested in your land. So, we’re wondering whether you may make it as your gift for the wedding.”

Drake and his wife exchanged yet another glance. Our land?! However, this land is valued at 50 million dollars on the market. It wasn’t that the couple didn’t want to give the land as a wedding gift; instead, it was their only remaining possession.

Sophia was shocked to hear this and she looked at the York Family. They want a piece of land as a wedding gift?!

“Mr. Drake, we’ll build a house on that piece of land. We’ll bring you two over to stay with us by then.” Christopher said. He thought that his family deserved to benefit financially from this marriage.

Drake and his wife found themselves in a terrible predicament. They couldn’t help but think, we thought that marrying off our daughter would be a joyful occasion, but the wedding gift that the other side is asking for seems ridiculous.

“Don’t tell me you’re hesitant to give it up, Drake.” Edmund continued in his pursuit.

“Well, that’s not really true. We’ll get ready for our part of the wedding gift, but this land is under my father’s name. I don’t think I have much of a say in this.”

“However, I heard that you inherited the land from him. Certainly, you can make that decision. We also want our children to have a nicer place to live once they marry, wouldn’t you agree? You will provide the land, and we will assist in the construction of a villa. In the end, it’s for the benefit of our children.”

“Mr. and Mrs. York, I’m not too choosy about where I live. Also, I have my own property, so after Christopher and I get married, we can just move into my apartment,” Sophia said.

“An apartment? That can’t be right. Christopher can’t live in an apartment. We have always given him the best of everything since he was a child, in case you didn’t know,” Margaret refuted in a strong manner and made it sound like his son was a rare and precious gem.

A large black SUV pulled up in front of the restaurant’s entrance. The bodyguard stepped out of the vehicle to open the rear passenger seat door. The man’s slender and long legs stepped out and he walked right inside the restaurant.

“Do you have any reservations, sir?”

“We’re here to look for someone,” his bodyguard answered.

Arthur asked, “Where is The Prema Room?”

“Oh! This way, sir.” The server catered to their needs with enthusiasm. While directing them to The Prema Room, the waitress could not resist catching a glimpse of the male visitor. He is extremely attractive! Is he a celebrity?

At the same time, the atmosphere in The Prema Room had become a little awkward. The York Family was keen about getting that piece of land, but the Goodwin Family was in a dilemma.

moment and the sweet voice of

turned their heads and glanced at the door in surprise while a noble looking

so shocked when she saw the man that she jumped from her seat. “Mr. Weiss, why are you

to the plump man next to Sophia. He narrowed his eyes as he thought, is this the

wife saw the man, they were shocked as well and would never intentionally upset him. Furthermore, their daughter owed him

So, he rose up and said in an unpleasant tone, “Who are you? Do you not realize that this is a private session? Hurry

hurriedly introduced him to Arthur. “This is

you think this means? How can you invite a male friend to our engagement party?” Christopher was furious. When he saw that this man

not what it is.” She waved her hands to indicate that he had misunderstood. She then reached out her hands

turned around and followed her to the

the door behind her once they were outside. “Young Master Weiss, why

to get married to that pig inside there?” he laughed as if he had

Sophia said, “Don’t say such rude things about him, will

didn’t pay attention to her

with embarrassment when she heard that. Can’t this man at least respect

engaged soon and no longer can serve you. Please revoke our agreement,”

her father’s debt

year.” He crossed his arms and gave

with him, she could only say, “In short, I’m getting engaged. I’m going to get married to someone else. So, all

relationship?”

we are having an affair? For

and said,

moment, Sophia didn’t notice that someone from inside was opening the door behind her. From the corner of his eye, Arthur could see and even figure

than before. “Have you forgotten that we used to sleep

and walked out, heard this statement at first instance. Since he

by surprise and she immediately turned to him and explained, “Christopher, please

giving her time to react, a set of thin, rejuvenating lips

Sophia

his future

also surprised as he

Sophia, Arthur flashed a smug look and

voice. “Let go of her! She’s my girlfriend, and you have

She was flattened in an embrace with a cedar scented chest the next second. “I’ve

ought to think this through! Your father’s 10 billion dollars debt will be due soon, and if you are not engaged with me, no one’s going to pay for him. He may need to spend at least 3 years in jail if he can’t pay up!” Christopher was still determined to get Sophia for

said, “You’re willing to marry yourself to this pig for a mere 10

Christopher became enraged when he heard that someone spoke of

you try to take out 10 billion dollars in

out his hand, the bodyguard gave him a black wallet. Arthur withdrew a black card from his wallet and handed it to Sophia. “Take it and use the money to pay off your father’s debt. Return to serve me

observed not one, but maybe six or seven black cards in this man’s wallet, if

accept something like that from him.

to do something bad. Let’s go inside.” Christopher then moved toward her and tried to

grip on her waist. Then she told him, “Please let go of me.

he was a little disappointed. This woman

to give Arthur a provoking

was shocked by what Sophia was about to say, which came as a surprise. Looking at him, she

looked

marry Christopher and said they would help her father pay off his debt, it was just empty promises. Out of greed, they even asked for

whether she could get her parents to sell everything they owned to pay off the debt. She was also willing to stay with her parents in a rental home and

piece of land. She knew that the York Family was using paying off the

open the door to the room. Once she entered the room, she addressed the York Family, “Mr. and Mrs. York, I regret to inform you that I cannot

this, so why have you decided not to get engaged to

exchanged glances. Surely, they also sensed the York Family’s true motives for this engagement. Now that Sophia had openly broken off her engagement, there was no longer any reason to associate with the York

made her way over to him and began pushing him out. After Emma had made her pleasantries,

seemed to remember something right then. When he bought Drake Goodwin’s company the last time, he was the

the hallway, she spoke to him. “I’m

his company with ill intent. So, he only gave Arthur a quick glance before

phone and called a few numbers after he watched the family

tableware off the table in the private room. Infuriated, he said, “How dare they look down

wedding gift and present

sat in the front passenger seat, she reminisced about Arthur’s kiss earlier and couldn’t believe this man had

debt, Mom and Dad. I’ll pay them the rest of the money when I obtain a job in

that’s the only way to go now.” Drake let out a heavy sigh when he thought about how hard it might be for Sophia to

he picked up his phone and

could be heard, but no one knew what the other person on the other end of the line

at him with disbelief

person on the phone. “Alright. Alright. Thank you. On Monday, I will absolutely head over to get the proof

phone, he said to Emma and Sophia, “That was from the bank. They called to inform me that

Emma asked quickly. “Could the York

York Family has this

of a sudden, Sophia knew who helped Drake to pay off his debt. So, she told them, “I know, Mom and Dad! Mr. Weiss was the one who

whom we just saw in the

debt? You still owe him

answer, but she knew that Arthur was the one who had paid

don’t worry about this. I

will Sophia

they arrived at

at Sophia and told her, “If

I’ll do it! You guys head first.

After that, she pulled

answered as a low, deep voice of a man of unknown

settle my father’s debt?”

had

if her brain were to burst, Sophia was still unable to uncover the reason

me a family heirloom and

lifetime.” Sophia had no choice but to sell herself to Arthur. Yet, she didn’t mind much because she knew she would feel better once father

in a serious tone, “So, does that mean you’ll do anything I tell

but she answered him

have an hour to return to

before she

to struggle to make a living, and I can stay with

in a trance as

didn’t feel trapped when she thought she would be with Arthur for a long time.

hour, Sophia went to Arthur’s villa and ran into Emily as she was having her afternoon tea. When Emily first saw her, she was so mad that she threw up her tea and called Sophia out of the blue,

walked right over to her when she heard that.

a sudden. “It’s dirty on

scene on purpose. If it was before, she’d ignore Emily for sure. Now, though, things are different. Arthur’s guest is Emily while I work for

and picked up the desserts that had fallen on the floor, but all of a sudden, Emily stomped on one of the desserts with her shoe. She took them off and said,

she was on her knees. Arthur appeared at the front

teacup in one hand and desserts sprawled on the floor underneath her. Then, he noticed Sophia, who was

mess she had intentionally made when she heard

she turned her head to look at the man who was coming toward them. She continued picking up those desserts instead of rising to her

her feet by a hand that reached out to grab it. When she heard

took her hand back

Emily’s shoes, which were placed to one side and said, “Miss Jennings, let me clean your

that Sophia knew

well. He had seen the desserts on the floor and the dessert

all of your everyday needs. Don’t instruct Sophia

unhappily and demanded, “Artie, why can’t I make her do what I want? How is

he dragged Sophia into the living room where he

slightly when she heard the words serve me only because these were incredibly vague affectionate

always, she did what she was told and

your room and rest.” Arthur gave her his instructions. He couldn’t attend to her for long because he had

to her room and she received a phone call from her father thereafter. He contacted

may

he took over my company by force.” Drake

take over your business,

failed to turn a profit.” Drake sighed. He recalled how ruthless Arthur had been the last time he took over the business. There

partners had used the company’s shares as collateral for a loan of hundred of billion dollars. For this reason, the company was sold and the sale proceeds were transmitted directly to

debt that

was, however, nothing he could do to change the situation. As a result, he had little choice but to accept his fate. On top of that, he had

on the second story and glanced down at Arthur

believe that those delicately

important visitors. As a jewelry designer, she’d always been attentive and patient

two cups of coffee later, she was able

wanted to break away from their old operating model, they had to go all out at

Bourgeois, she was aware that the company had a lot of unproductive staff. She was aware that the majority of these

mind, she made the decision to restructure the entire organization

Felicia, Larry, and Mason the most out of all the employees she knew and they were already in the conference

Felicia was promoted to regional chief director. On the other hand, Mason was given

Anastasia had to do was to give them responsibilities that

of the managers who believed their jobs were secure

the big office of Bourgeois while those who were rehired realized at the same time that

office. Suddenly, she heard Grace’s voice coming

enter.

still couldn’t stop the burly male manager with that petite figure of hers. Coincidentally, this male manager was one of those executives

working in

stood up. She stared at Gordon Quigley, the male manager, with a piercing gaze and spoke, “Mr. Quigley, I must remind you that Bourgeois will

who became lucky and able to climb to the top.” Gordon sneered, after which he quickly added, “All in all, you successfully seduced a man like Elliot just because you have a pretty face.

intend to pamper anyone in the company. Therefore, she said coldly, “I dare to because I’m the boss of Bourgeois! I have

I’m not fine with a salary reduction. If you don’t implement it, I’ll go on a strike with all my men!” Since Gordon was previously the

first, or your strike will come first.” After she finished speaking, she coldly recounted his charges. “Don’t think

he still pretended to be calm as he said,

time when I’ll see you in court. Are you sure you want to get things to such an ugly extent?”

this, she looked slender