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.

was pushed open at this moment and the sweet voice of

and glanced at the door in surprise while a noble looking man entered

she saw the man that she jumped from her seat. “Mr. Weiss,

as he thought, is this the man she’s going to marry? Is she

Drake and his wife saw the man, they were shocked as well and would never intentionally upset

rose up and said in an unpleasant tone,

introduced

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

hands to indicate that he had misunderstood. She then reached out

turned around and followed her to the

they were outside. “Young Master Weiss,

there?” he laughed as if he had just

say such

that he’ll squash you?” He didn’t pay attention to her and kept making nasty

face immediately turned red with embarrassment when she heard that. Can’t

Young Master Weiss. I’m getting engaged soon and no longer can serve

way to resolve her father’s debt was to sever ties with

whole year.” He crossed his arms

going to get married to someone else. So, all I can say is that from now on, I’ll only stay on the side of the man I’m going

know about our relationship?” Arthur

as if we are having an affair? For goodness sake, we’re just friends. Why does he have

lip and said, “There’s

from inside was opening the door behind her. From the

forgotten that

had just opened the door and walked out, heard this statement at first instance. Since he was angry, he

and she immediately turned to him and explained, “Christopher, please don’t misunderstand.

face was cupped by two fair and delicate hands. Without giving her time to react, a

took Sophia completely by

could only watch as his future fiancee was

also surprised as he saw Young Master Weiss

smug look and sneered at Christopher to

stupefied by the kiss until she heard Christopher’s angry voice. “Let go of her! She’s my girlfriend,

flattened in an embrace with a cedar scented chest the next second. “I’ve touched her, so what are you going to do?” Arthur smirked

with me, no one’s going to pay for him. He may need to spend at

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

haughty remarks in her life. Meanwhile, Christopher became enraged when he heard that someone spoke of him as a

don’t you try to take out 10 billion dollars

Arthur withdrew a black card from his wallet and handed it to Sophia. “Take it and use the money to pay off your

one, but maybe six or seven black cards in this man’s wallet, if he wasn’t mistaken.

black card and raised her head. She knew she couldn’t accept something like that from him. So, she quickly shook her head and said, “I’m sorry, Mr. Weiss. I

I’m sure he has plans to do something bad. Let’s go inside.” Christopher then moved toward her and tried to pull her away from Arthur, but Arthur’s bodyguard came out immediately and stopped

Then she told him, “Please let go of me. Thank

little disappointed. This woman is willing to

it was finally his turn to give Arthur a

say, which came as a surprise. Looking at him, she said, “Christopher, let’s cancel our engagement for

looked at her

the York Family asked her to 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 a piece of

sell everything they owned to pay off the debt. She was also willing to stay

also tell that her parents were having trouble deciding what to do about the piece of land. She knew that the York Family was using paying off

York, I regret to inform you that I cannot get engaged to Christopher.

so why have you decided not to

Emma exchanged glances. Surely, they also sensed the York Family’s true motives for this engagement. Now that Sophia

his wheelchair while Sophia made her way over to him and began

bought Drake Goodwin’s company the last time, he was the one who earned the

room and saw Arthur still standing in the hallway, she spoke to him. “I’m

company with ill intent. So, he only

phone and called a few numbers after he watched the family of three enter into

off the table in the private room. Infuriated, he said, “How dare they look down on us, the Goodwin Family! Fine! I will wait till Drake is

as a wedding gift and present it to us.

sat in the front passenger seat, she

sell everything that can be sold and pay off the debt, Mom and Dad. I’ll pay them the rest of the money when I

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

Drake’s phone rang. Thus, he picked up

but no one knew what the other person on the other end of the line had said until he asked, “Really? All my debts have

stared at him with disbelief at hearing

with the person on the phone. “Alright. Alright. Thank you. On Monday,

“That was from the bank. They called to inform me that my debt had been fully

quickly. “Could the

way the York Family has

she told them, “I know, Mom and Dad!

whom we just saw in the hallway?” Drake

us pay off the debt? You still owe him an

but she knew that Arthur was the one who had

worry about this. I can handle

and Emma glanced at each other and thought, how will Sophia handle this? Is it possible that Mr.

arrived at the

car while Emma looked at Sophia and told her, “If it’s really Mr.

do it! You guys head

After that, she pulled out her phone

was answered as a low, deep voice of a man

settle my

had settled

if her brain were to burst, Sophia was still

a family heirloom and 10

even be your servant for a lifetime.” Sophia had no choice but to sell herself to Arthur. Yet, she didn’t mind much because she knew she

man heard what Sophia said, he asked in a serious tone, “So, does that mean you’ll do

turned red, but she answered him with

hour to return to my villa,” he

I’ll be right back.” She responded before she hung

make a living, and I can stay with him for the

as she gazed

when she thought she would be with Arthur for a long time. Instead, it made her feel happy and she even looked forward

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

right over to her when she heard that. “Can

a sudden. “It’s dirty on the floor. Come here and clean

Emily tried to create a scene on purpose. If it was before, she’d ignore Emily for sure. Now, though, things are different. Arthur’s

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

and kept wiping the floor while she was on her knees.

sprawled on the floor underneath her. Then, he noticed Sophia, who was

was feeling smug as she watched Sophia clean up the mess she had intentionally made

head to look at the man

a hand that reached out to grab it. When she heard the man’s

took her hand back as she

at Emily’s shoes, which were placed to one side and

couldn’t help but smirk when she saw that Sophia knew how to behave.

Emily well. He had seen the desserts

take care of all of your everyday needs. Don’t instruct Sophia any longer,” he told Emily before instructing Sophia, “Stop

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

it’s final.”Arthur maintained his calm manner. Then, he dragged Sophia into the living room where he reminded her,

heard the words serve me only because these were

she did what she

her his instructions. He couldn’t attend to her for long because he had

call from her father thereafter. He contacted to see if it was

I’m now working for him, so it may be a while before I can

because he took over my company by force.” Drake was experiencing feelings that were somewhat

take over your business, Dad?” Sophia

managed the business inefficiently and failed to turn a profit.” Drake sighed. He recalled how ruthless Arthur had been the last time he

loan of hundred of billion dollars. For this reason, the company was sold and the sale proceeds were transmitted directly to the bank. It was later found out that Drake was also

that Arthur had

helpless. There 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,

the second story and glanced down at Arthur working on his laptop downstairs

hadn’t been able to believe that those delicately pursed

earlier in the morning to meet a few important visitors. As a jewelry designer, she’d always been attentive and patient with clients. Even though she was with

less than a half hour and two cups of coffee later, she was able to secure nearly 10 million worth of custom orders

operating model, they had to go all out at the top end and she wanted to build Bourgeois into a top-tier company

of unproductive staff. She

decision to restructure the

out of all the employees she knew and they were already in the conference room at this

held by Larry while Felicia was promoted to regional chief director. On the other hand, Mason was given an instant promotion and had

give them responsibilities that were suited for their

organization underwent a transformation. All of the managers who believed their jobs were secure and well-compensated were demoted to positions of less

promoted and rehired. For a moment, sounds of complaints and rants echoed in the big office of Bourgeois while those who were rehired realized at the

looking at some documents in her office. Suddenly, she heard

can’t enter.

of hers. Coincidentally, this male manager was one

“President Tillman, what’s the meaning of this?! I have been working in Bourgeois for 8 years. I’m pretty sure I could get some credit for my efforts, but how could you demote

piercing gaze and spoke, “Mr. Quigley, I must remind you that Bourgeois will not support idlers from now on. You can submit your resignation if you don’t wish to cooperate with this transfer decision. I’m more than happy to receive your resignation

to climb to the top.” Gordon sneered, after which he quickly added, “All in all, you successfully seduced a man like

“I dare to because

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 manager

finished speaking, she coldly recounted his charges. “Don’t think I don’t know what

panic. Even so, he still pretended to be calm as he said, “President Tillman, you should at least provide evidence if you

retrieve the evidence, that will also be the time when I’ll see you in court. Are you sure you want to get things to such an ugly

this, she looked slender and mesmerizing while radiating a domineering aura at