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 the waitress welcoming someone was heard shortly after.

families turned their heads and glanced at the door in

seat. “Mr. Weiss, why are you here?” she asked, looking at the

seats to the plump man next to Sophia. He narrowed his eyes as he thought, is this the man she’s going to marry? Is she blind? This man

as well and would never intentionally upset him. Furthermore, their daughter owed him a

rose up and said in an unpleasant tone, “Who are you? Do you not realize that

hurriedly introduced him to Arthur. “This is my friend,

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 truly exceptional, he became really

She then reached out her hands to push and

around and followed her to

outside. “Young Master Weiss, why

there?” he laughed as if he had just seen

Sophia said, “Don’t say such

afraid that he’ll squash you?” He didn’t pay attention to

when she heard that. Can’t this man at

no longer can serve you. Please revoke our agreement,” she said with a

only way to resolve her father’s

you cannot leave my side for a whole year.” He crossed his arms and gave her

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

about our relationship?”

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

her lip and said, “There’s nothing between

her. From the corner of his eye, Arthur could see and even figure

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

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

and she immediately turned to him and explained, “Christopher,

cupped by two fair and delicate hands. Without giving her time to react, a set of thin, rejuvenating lips kissed her soft

Sophia completely

watch as his future fiancee was being kissed by another

the side was also surprised as he saw Young Master Weiss

a smug look and sneered

completely stupefied by the kiss until she heard Christopher’s angry voice. “Let go of her!

flattened in an embrace with a cedar scented chest the

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

Sophia was about to push off Arthur, a deep male voice said, “You’re willing to marry yourself to this

in her life. Meanwhile, Christopher became enraged when he heard that someone spoke

Then, why don’t you try to take out 10

and handed it to Sophia. “Take it and use

black cards in this man’s wallet, if he wasn’t mistaken. With his current net worth, even he

when she looked at the 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.

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

broke free from Arthur’s grip on her waist. Then she told

heard that, he was a little disappointed. This woman is willing to

it was finally his turn to give

was about to say, which came as a surprise. Looking at him,

He looked

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

wondered 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

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

“Mr. and Mrs. York, I regret to inform you that I cannot get engaged to Christopher. Please forgive me.” She then turned

this, so why have you decided not to get engaged

glances. Surely, they also sensed the York Family’s true motives for this engagement. Now that Sophia had openly broken off her engagement,

him and began pushing him out. After Emma had made

hallway and hadn’t left yet. He seemed to remember something right then. When he bought Drake Goodwin’s company the

to him. “I’m going

company with ill intent. So, he only gave Arthur a

his phone and called a few numbers after he watched the family of three enter into the elevator. “I need

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

Drake would offer that plot of land as a wedding gift and present it

return to the hospital. As she sat in the front passenger seat, she reminisced about Arthur’s kiss earlier and couldn’t believe

and pay off the debt, Mom and Dad. I’ll pay them the rest of the money when I obtain a job in the future,” Sophia told her parents seated in the back

go now.” Drake let out a heavy sigh when he thought about how hard it might be for Sophia to pay off his debt for the

Thus, he picked up his phone and

on the other end of the line had said

stared at him with

confusion as he spoke with the person on the phone. “Alright. Alright. Thank you. On Monday, I will absolutely

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

you?” Emma asked quickly. “Could the York

Family

all 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 paid off your

Weiss whom we just saw

off the debt? You

the real answer, but she knew that Arthur was

about this. I can handle

at each other and thought, how will Sophia

they arrived at

Emma looked at Sophia and told her,

I’ll do it! You guys head first. I’ll

said that. After that, she

answered as a low, deep voice of a

who helped settle

I had

did you do it?” Even if her brain were to

carefully, you owe me a family heirloom and 10 billion dollars from

are willing, I can even be your servant for a lifetime.” Sophia had no choice but to sell herself to Arthur. Yet, she didn’t mind

tone, “So, does that mean you’ll do anything I tell you to do

red, but she answered

return to

back.” She responded before she

to make a living, and I can stay

trance as she gazed at the sunshine beyond the

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

saw her, she was so mad that she

her when she heard that. “Can I help you

the desserts off the table all of a sudden. “It’s dirty on the floor. Come here and clean

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

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, “My shoes are dirty on the bottom. Why don’t you wash it after

the floor while she was on her knees. Arthur appeared at the front

cross-legged on a reclining chair with a teacup in one hand and desserts sprawled on the floor underneath her. Then, he noticed Sophia, who was kneeling down and collecting the desserts off the ground as if she were

Sophia clean up the mess she had intentionally made when she heard a cold male

stopped moving when she heard that voice. Then, she turned her head to look at the man who was coming

out to grab it. When she heard the man’s voice, it sounded a little bit mean.

her hand back

she looked at Emily’s shoes, which were placed to one side and said, “Miss Jennings,

couldn’t help but smirk when she saw that Sophia knew how to behave. “Make sure to clean it well,” she

had

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

and demanded, “Artie, why can’t I make her do what I

means no and it’s final.”Arthur maintained his calm manner. Then, he dragged Sophia into the living room where he reminded her, “Moving forward, you must serve me only and

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

what she was told and nodded. “I

his instructions. He couldn’t attend to

from her father thereafter. He contacted

now working for him, so it may be

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

take over your business, Dad?”

profit.” Drake sighed. He recalled how ruthless Arthur had been the last time he took over the business. There was no introduction or advance notice as the man simply

and the sale proceeds were transmitted directly to the bank. It was later found out that

said debt that Arthur had

could do to change the situation. As a result, he had

She stood by the handrail on the second story and glanced down at Arthur working on his laptop downstairs as she spoke. The man seemed so cold, stoic,

to believe that those delicately pursed

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

than a half hour and two cups of coffee later, she was

the jewelry market was becoming increasingly competitive. That meant that if they truly wanted to break away from their old operating model, they had to go

her time as an employee at Bourgeois, she was aware that the company had a lot of unproductive staff. She was aware that the majority of these slackers were executive-levels who received substantial

she made the decision to restructure the entire organization and redeployment

Larry, and Mason the most out of all the employees she knew and they were

a conclusion. The Vice-president was held by Larry while Felicia was promoted to regional chief director. On the other hand, Mason

thing that Anastasia had to do was to give them responsibilities that were suited for their

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

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 same time that the top management of the corporation had practiced fairness and justice. This realization motivated their strong will to devote themselves

Suddenly, she heard Grace’s voice coming from outside and judging from

you can’t enter. President Tillman is

of hers. Coincidentally, this male

door and made his way across to Anastasia’s desk. “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

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

Gordon sneered, after which he quickly added, “All in all, you successfully seduced a man like Elliot just because you have a pretty

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

me to another position, but 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 manager of Bourgeois, he had quite a number of

speaking, she coldly recounted his charges. “Don’t think I don’t know what you have been up to! I have calculated the amount of money that you have

pretended to be calm as he said,

the time when I’ll see you in court. Are you sure you

hip skirt. Dressing like this, she looked slender and mesmerizing while radiating a