Never Too Far Novel

However, Emily had badmouthed Sophia in front of Martha, saying that Sophia was a vixen who wouldn’t leave Arthur alone and seduced him, which instantly made Martha furious. This time, she returned to the country precisely because she heard from Emily that there was a girl who was deceiving her grandson, and she wanted to come back and set things straight.

When Arthur’s eyes swept across Emily’s guilty expression, he could already guess what she had said to Martha.

At 5.00PM in the international airport, a large private jet arrived before a luxuriously dressed old lady holding a box wrapped in black silk cloth in her hand appeared from the VIP entrance, her movements gentle and careful. Behind her, there was a line of four maids and eight bodyguards following her.

Arthur, who had been waiting at the entrance, immediately stepped up to greet her. “Grandma.”

Martha looked at her grandson with sharp and piercing eyes. “Artie, why do you look so unenergetic? Didn’t you sleep well last night?”

“I missed you so much that I couldn’t sleep well,” he explained with a smile.

“I don’t believe you at all.” Martha and her son had both married and had children at a young age. Therefore, although she was only 68 years old this year, her grandson was already grown up.

“It really hurts.” Arthur curled his lips and smiled while stretching out his hand to carefully take the urn from Martha’s hand. “Let me take Grandpa back.”

Arthur accompanied Martha back to the villa. Along the way, she observed how much the country had developed. Although she was born abroad and lived outside of the country as well, she still wanted her hometown to prosper.

“How homely!” She sighed.

“Grandma, if you like it here, we can set up a house here. What do you think?” Arthur suggested.

Martha looked at her grandson in surprise. As she had watched him grow up since he was a child, she knew his personality and preferences well. When Arthur met her gaze, there was a flash of discomfort in his eyes.

“Are you hiding something from me?” she immediately asked.

“No.”

“Out with it. Tell me about Miss Sophia. I want to know what kind of girl can affect my grandson as well.” Martha refused to let him avoid the topic.

Arthur chuckled. “She’s just an ordinary girl. There’s nothing special.”

Looking at her grandson’s reaction, she felt that this girl named Sophia was not just anyone and became even more interested in the reason why this girl was able to make her grandson defend her like this.

“Grandma, I’ll ask the realtors to come over and talk to you tomorrow.” Arthur changed the subject.

Martha didn’t continue to probe either. After all, she would be here for some time, and she would eventually get the chance to meet that girl.

Meanwhile, Drake had already returned to Goodwin Residence to recuperate his health. Sophia saw that all of the staff in the house had been dismissed, and her mother had started to take charge of the cooking. However, because it had been quite a while since Emma last cooked, her skills had become rusty, and she accidentally cut her finger while cutting vegetables for dinner.

At the table, Drake blamed himself. “It’s all my fault. If I didn’t get set up by that b*stard, we can at least hire a maid.”

Sophia felt her heart ache for Emma as well and she offered, “I’ll cook from now on!”

Emma smiled. “It’s fine! I don’t think you even know how to hold a knife.”

Seeing that her family was starting to live frugally, Sophia couldn’t afford to sit around anymore. It just so happened that Arthur gave her a vacation, so she could take the opportunity to find a job. In the evening, she started to write a résumé and sent it to many large companies online, hoping that she could get a job as soon as possible.

At night, in Martha’s room at Arthur’s villa, Emily reported to her what had happened in the past few days, making Sophia seem like a seductress.

“Grandma, she took Artie to fool around in a hotel last night, and even had her pajamas wet. After that, when I tagged along with the bodyguard to send them a new set, I saw that the two of them were only wearing bathrobes in the room.”

Martha frowned. When did her grandson start liking to fool around with girls in hotels? He was simply ruining their family’s name.

“It seems that I have to meet Miss Sophia when I have the time.”

“Grandma, when you meet her, you have to warn her to stay away from Artie,” Emily reminded.

Martha nodded before saying, “Then, you have to work hard too! Don’t waste the opportunity that I created for you and Artie.”

Emily pursed her lips and said in a slightly aggrieved tone, “I will.”

Early in the morning, Sophia answered a call in a daze. “Hello? Who is it?”

“Hello, are you Miss Sophia? I’m from the HR department at Bourgeois Jewelry Atelier. We have arranged for you to interview for the front desk job at 10 o’clock in the morning. Do you have time to come over?”

When Sophia heard this, she hurriedly replied in an excited tone, “Yes, yes, I’ll definitely be there.”

She was ecstatic as she didn’t expect to receive a response when she had just submitted her resume the previous night. Besides, Bourgeois Jewelry Atelier was a high-end jewelry brand, so it was promising for her career.

After hurriedly getting out of bed, she washed up and put on makeup before leaving. When the time for her appointment came, Sophia’s attractive appearance and elegant aura that she had gained from her dance practice since she was a child were in line with the requirements to be a receptionist.

“Sophia, you can start work tomorrow!” The manager of the HR department instantly hired her.

She felt incredibly lucky. The salary and benefits of the company were not bad as well and completely met her expectations.

When Sophia arrived for her first day at work on Tuesday, she saw that amongst the six receptionists, she was placed on the far left. Although they were working at the front desk, they still had complicated feelings toward each other, especially toward other girls who were prettier than them. Sophia was dressed in a professional suit with her long hair tied back, and her slim figure gave off a refreshing and stunning aura.

“Hello, everyone, I’m Sophia, and I just started working here. I’ll be in your care.” She greeted them.

was a little surprised. It was her first time entering the workforce, and she had already encountered a crisis.

She sat in her position, and there was only a transition plan from the previous staff. As for instructions on how to work, they did not specify in detail.

“Excuse me…” She tried to ask her colleague next to her.

“Don’t ask me. I won’t teach you,” the girl replied arrogantly.

At her answer, Sophia didn’t dare to ask any more questions. Just then, the phone in front of her rang, and she reached out to pick it up. “Hello. How may I help you?”

“Transfer my call to the general manager of the planning department.” A male voice instructed her from the other end of the call.

“Huh? Wait a moment, let me check.” Sophia quickly flipped through the transition plan, but she still couldn’t find an answer after a long time.

The person on the call said angrily, “What’s wrong with you?” After speaking, he instantly hung up.

Sophia’s forehead beaded with sweat from her nervousness. As she wiped her sweat in frustration, the girl next to her sneered, “How could you come to work without any experience?”

“This is indeed my first job.”

“I think you should quit! You can’t handle it.” Her female colleague didn’t want to help her, and she didn’t want her to remain as a receptionist either.

Still, Sophia didn’t give up and replied, “I will try my best. I need this job.”

She was just looking at documents when she saw that her colleagues who had been lazing around suddenly straightened their backs and acted as though they were working hard. She was taken aback by the sight, and as she looked in the direction of the entrance, she saw a slender and charming figure walking in gracefully.

The woman was Anastasia Tillman, the current president of Bourgeois Jewelry Atelier. She had wavy long hair and delicate features, and she wore a luxurious white custom-made suit that complimented her gorgeous waistline as she walked past the front desk while talking on the phone.

“Good morning, President Tillman.” The receptionists immediately got up and bowed in greeting.

Sophia paused in surprise, and after everyone else had finished speaking, her voice sounded belatedly. “Good morning, President Tillman.”

Sophia’s voice stood out from the rest. Anastasia was about to pass by the lobby when she suddenly heard this voice, and she couldn’t help but turn her head and glance at the girl who had greeted her. As their eyes met, one of them was smiling while the other was full of pleasant surprise.

“Miss Goodwin.” Anastasia looked surprised to see Sophia at the front desk.

The other receptionists next to her instantly stared at Sophia. Why is President Tillman addressing her like they’re acquainted? Do they know each other?

Anastasia walked up to Sophia with a friendly expression and asked curiously, “When did you start working at my company?”

“It’s my first day here,” Sophia replied.

Anastasia pondered slightly before offering, “I am short of an assistant. Would you like to be my assistant?”

“But I’m not experienced in this area,” Sophia refused. She couldn’t casually accept the job either.

“That’s fine. You can learn if you don’t know.” Saying that, Anastasia said to Grace who was behind her, “Go to the HR department and handle the necessary procedures for her.”

Then, she turned to Sophia and said, “Come on, follow me to my office.”

She was filled with gratitude toward Anastasia for taking care of her, and Anastasia was also glad

inside the elevator, Anastasia asked Sophia concernedly, “Why

noticed his caring attitude toward her, so she thought that he liked Sophia. And when her husband was in danger last time, Arthur and Richard had rushed

explained embarrassedly, “President Tillman, you

she didn’t look like she was from an ordinary family. So, she asked, “Are you having

was unable to look

can rest easy and work with me! If there’s anything you don’t know, I’ll ask someone to teach you.” As they exited the elevator, Anastasia instructed while pointing

to receive this treatment on her first day

her position to the president’s

to teach her everything she needs to know about work. She’s a

President Tillman, I

own office, which was spacious and bright, and she could enjoy the excellent view from the floor-to-ceiling windows. As they were located in a landmark building in the city center, the

rang with a call

collapsed. I’m rushing over from the financial

aback as well, and she hurriedly

went out, but after a moment of thought, she said to Sophia, “Sophia, come out with me. Grace, stay here and

of the lobby, Adriana had already parked the car outside and was waiting for them. Then, the three immediately rushed toward

emergency rescue room, while the housekeeper,

grandmother

replied with reddened eyes, “There’s no reason. She just said in the morning that she wanted to trim the flowers herself, so

and she comforted her nephew, “Calm down, Elliot. At your grandma’s

live a long life. However, Harriet was already 83 this year. A person’s life was like a candle, and there would always come the time when its flame would

is she, Rob?” Brenda asked the

Old Madam Presgrave. Moreover, she

couldn’t hold back her tears, and she asked in a hoarse voice, “How much time

addition to severe heart failure, many of her organs are not functioning well either. She

buried herself in her husband’s arms,

the entire hallway, even if she didn’t know what was going on, the atmosphere had already made her heart beat violently, and she looked at her husband. Elliot’s

she asked softly, “What happened to

passing,”

that, Anastasia let her tears fall

ward and said, “Old Madam Presgrave wants

answered, “I’m

Brenda gave her

saw Harriet hooked up to a ventilator, and her white hair made her seem much weaker than before. However, her eyes

over, my child.” Harriet extended her hand

Harriet took her hand in hers. “You’re the child I worry about the

better.” Anastasia held her sadness in

was open-minded. When the doctor wanted to extend her life earlier, she immediately refused. She just wanted to leave the world neatly instead of paying to go through

say to me?”

you.” Harriet looked at her with a regretful expression. “When I asked you to marry into our family, I wanted

Elliot. As long as I can be with him, I can do anything.” Anastasia reassured her, not

around anymore, Elliot will only have you and his aunt left.” As she spoke, her eyes

tears back as well. While wiping her tears away, she comforted, “Don’t worry,

Once Harriet was gone, he would be the saddest person as his parents died early when he was a child, and he was brought up by his grandmother.

you. You have to be strong. Don’t let

and nodded. “All right,

hurriedly advised her to rest,

to the nurse behind her, and the nurse went outside. Not long later, Elliot came in. He half knelt by the bed and leaned in

his hand and said, “Elliot, you have to take good care of

myself. I’ll use my life to protect her,” Elliot

with tears as his voice pierced through her heart and deeply moved

most capable and powerful person in our family, so you have to take care of Nigel

Grandma. You should rest.” Elliot reached out and

She didn’t have much time left in the first place, so she wanted to use her last moments to the best that she could and look at the people she was worried about

but with my current state, I don’t

him over

want to scare the young child and shook her head resolutely. “I really don’t want to scare him. Just

she didn’t love her grandson, but she loved him too much. Anastasia nodded in understanding as well. Just then, Harriet’s breathing quickened,

kindly handed her a piece of tissue. When she looked up and saw that it was

he sat next to Elliot. The two cousins looked at each other, neither of them saying a word. Then, Anastasia asked Sophia to go back first as they would stay in the hospital to accompany Harriet in her final moments. When it was time to pick

Finally, Harriet, who had the most influence, was leaving, and they thought the newly promoted Anastasia was much easier to deal with. All of them were waiting for Harriet to take her last breath, and at the same time, several elders were also sent to the hospital to pay her a

kept their footsteps to the lightest. After Harriet slept, her condition continued

woke up, and Brenda

said in a hoarse voice, “The sun is

go.” Brenda couldn’t help but burst into

as well. As they listened to the sound of Brenda weeping, Anastasia’s

her eyes teary and reluctant, but she still closed her

that was holding her daughter’s

on the inside. The hospital director stood by the bed in silence with the executives of the hospital, sending the noble Harriet off on her

Jared to school, he couldn’t control himself in the end and teared up, his eyes red-rimmed. He said to the little fellow, “Jared, you must always remember what your great-grandma looks like,

to Great-Grandma?” Jared

nothing. She just went somewhere very far away.” After Nigel finished speaking, he kissed Jared on the forehead and said, “Off to the classroom

him a hug before he

out a breath, then wiped away the tears from the corner of his eyes before he headed to the

Lorelai’s father, Liam Presgrave, breathed a sigh of relief. “She’s finally gone. I’ve been waiting for this day for too

not easy to deal with.” Lorelai had personally experienced how powerful

Liam chided with a look of disapproval before he continued happily,

is it possible? How

pregnant with Elliot’s

eyes turned disappointed. “He only has

that there is only one way to get pregnant? I heard that Elliot has saved something in Presgrave Hospital from back then as

blush flushed across Lorelai’s face. “Dad, do you mean I

choice but to acknowledge the child after it’s born.” Liam had

when she thought of the way Anastasia had threatened her earlier, she still felt furious. In her opinion, if her father hadn’t stopped her, she would have returned home to chase after Elliot a long time ago. Then, he might’ve even fallen for her first as she had investigated that after Anastasia became pregnant with his child five years ago, there were no interactions between the two. It was Harriet who forced Elliot to marry her. At first, Elliot had rejected Anastasia. Therefore, she

ones who are eyeing Presgrave Corporation. Nolan is the same. He wants to gain more assets for his children and grandchildren. Hmph! In

curled her lips into a smile. “They wouldn’t be able to do something

course. They’re still related by blood, while we’re not related to the Presgrave

let you down,” Lorelai

support her, she would only live an ordinary life, and it was only if

Elliot was busy handling the affairs of Harriet personally, while Brenda assisted him. Anastasia was sent to the lounge to rest, and Sophia had prepared

yet, right? Why don’t you

Because of her grief, she looked like a different person

eating. Take it away.” Anastasia shook

take care of others. We can’t have you going down right now. You still have your children to take care of, and you have to help President Presgrave arrange the funeral.

very fragile at the moment, and she needed someone to get her out of her slump. Sophia’s words undoubtedly gave her strength. She glanced at her gratefully and said,

anything else happen to her

Not long later, she fell asleep under his consolation, and Sophia

Sophia. After all,

up and replied, “Yes,

case, please take care of my wife and don’t let anyone disturb her,”

Sophia

put on silent mode rang, but she didn’t notice that the contact name was Arthur’s. Soon after, it rang again. In the blink of an eye, more than a dozen

the sight. Just then, a few nurses started talking at the door. She hurriedly got up and went out, whispering to them, “Mrs. Presgrave is resting. Please keep your

immediately jolted in surprise and hurriedly

of the floor-to-ceiling windows. What was this? The bird that he set free had flown away from him? Why couldn’t he contact Sophia? What was she trying to do? Did she think that

he picked up his phone and continued to make another call, but he still

grabbed the car keys from the table, planning

as he opened the door, he saw Martha walking over while chatting with a

“You’re going out?”

coffee,” Arthur replied as he

It’s boring for her to be alone, and you youngsters

“I will.”

to get my clothes made. I heard that there’s a good

ask them to come here and tailor your clothes

tailors embroidered clothes, so you can’t cause such a huge fuss.” Martha only wanted to live an

you.” How

phone to the nurse’s station to charge it, while she came back to the lounge

accompanied her to the funeral home. Harriet had instructed during her lifetime that she wanted to be cremated, so the next step was the

and waited with Sophia’s company. As the wind blew, Anastasia’s tears flowed uncontrollably again. She felt bad for Elliot who was inside, and the fact that he had to face all this. At the

hold hers and handed her a piece of

assistant, her face full of tears. Even if she was