Never Too Far Novel

They were immediately surrounded by the motorcycles. The gangsters began to bang on the car windows with the iron bars in their hands. As such, the bodyguard in the driver’s seat swerved the car to knock down some of the outlaws, but the people banging on the windows were too many for them. Suddenly, a row of studs appeared in front of the moving car. It turned out that the motorcycles were only there to divert their attention, forcing the car to accelerate, and then unable to brake in time to avoid the studs.

Sure enough, popping sounds were heard. Although the car tires were anti-puncture, the car was eventually slowed by the overwhelming number of nails. As a result, the three cars behind immediately accelerated and caught up.

“President Presgrave, it appears that we will have to get out of the car to deal with these gangsters.” The captain of the bodyguard analyzed the situation calmly, knowing that they would be unable to proceed at all under the current circumstances. “The cars behind us did not catch up with us, but we’re already entangled by them. We can only get out for the time being.”

Elliot nodded, after which the bodyguard neatly drew the car mat beneath his feet, revealing the spot where they hid their sophisticated and well-equipped weapons.

“Take this, President Presgrave. We must launch a successful counterattack against these outlaws.”

Elliot accepted the gun, and he was still well-versed in the shooting techniques. Despite having been in the business industry for many years and maintaining a successful career, he clearly did not forget the skills he had learned while he was training in the secret army.

To avoid the confrontation on the avenue, the car took a side road and drove into the dense woods.

The four people in the car quickly exited the vehicle and sought shelter. At this point, the outlaws’ cars rushed in, followed by the motorcycles arriving one by one. When the first man collapsed to the ground, the others instantly became vigilant.

The outlaws lacked a comprehensive understanding of their adversaries. They were simply outlaws who wanted money after completing their missions, but this time they knew the target was a wealthy man. It was very simple for them to get rid of a businessman.

However, when the second and third men were killed, their nerves were put to the test. Their opponents’ skills and equipment were obviously superior, as was their shooting accuracy.

“Come on! Get your act together, everyone! Whoever kills the target receives one million as a reward!”

When the terrified men learned of the million dollar reward, they quickly regained their senses and spirits. They would never be able to make such good money in their lives, so today was their only chance.

When the outlaws’ leader discovered that they had lost six of their members, he became enraged and pulled out the bazooka they had just used to fire aimlessly at their opponents, eventually forcing one of Elliot’s bodyguards to appear. While dodging bullets, the bodyguard injured his leg and fell to the ground at a position very close to Elliot.

Elliot ignored the risk of being discovered while saving his bodyguard. He reached out and dragged his bodyguard to a safe location.

“Don’t worry about me, President Presgrave. The most important thing right now is your safety,” the bodyguard breathed out. His broken leg was bloodied and burned.

Elliot removed his suit before he ripped off the shirt sleeve to expertly bandage the bodyguard’s wound. “Please bear with it for a while. We’ll take you to the hospital as soon as we get back to the city.”

Even though the bodyguard grimaced in pain, he was moved. The reason why they were protective of Elliot was because he was a kind-hearted boss.

Elliot was unlike any other businessman who didn’t care about the lives of his subordinates. Instead, he always treated his bodyguards like brothers.

Elliot’s personality made his subordinates want to serve him, even if it meant risking their lives.

At this fraction of moment, the outlaws discovered Elliot’s hiding spot and immediately approached him.

Elliot had to get up and leave to keep his subordinates safe, leading the group of outlaws in a different direction to distract them.

A few bullets flew by his side and he deftly avoided them all. He ran to a high vantage point and aimed his shot at the four outlaws with no misses. They were shot dead before they could even call for help.

Elliot returned to the injured bodyguard’s side just as the captain of the bodyguard joined him. “President Presgrave, could you please take Mark and depart in this direction? You can hail a cab along the way to get to the hospital. We’ll go in the opposite direction to distract the outlaws,” the captain said.

“I’ll go with you!” Elliot suggested.

The stunned captain refused. “No, your identity is too important for us to risk. We must—”

“Stop talking nonsense. Let’s go.” Elliot stood up, ran 100 meters in a favorable direction, and fired two shots into the sky.

The captain exhaled a sigh. He had to admit that the entire bodyguard team was less brave and capable than Elliot at times.

Elliot was a truly admirable human being.

At this point, the daylight had dwindled to a barely perceptible lightening of the gloom. Elliot and Reece, the captain of the bodyguard, had already drawn the outlaws into the dense forest area.

Dusk arrived earlier than expected; everything in the forest was hidden beneath it, as if a predator was on prey.

“Be careful, President Presgrave,” Reece reminded Elliot since Reece had the responsibility to ensure the man’s safety.

The thirty-five-year-old Reece’s heart was cautious because he had to remain alert.

Elliot nodded, and he checked his gun magazine holder and discovered that he only had one bullet left.

He calmly reloaded it while Reece quickly handed over his firearm, saying, “Here, President Presgrave. I have four more and you can have mine.”

“No, keep it for yourself!” Elliot gently shook his head.

There were only about ten outlaws left when they arrived in the deep woods. They had lost more than half of their members. The leader was irritated and enraged. They appeared to have underestimated their enemy this time.

The information provided by the other party did not state how powerful the businessman was. However, the outlaw leader watched his brothers die one by one at Elliot’s hands.

“After you, President Presgrave.” Reece made the decision to head deep into the forest.

Elliot, on the other hand, was sick of running away from the situation. If he had to walk into the mountains, it would take him a few days to get out, and he didn’t have time to wait that long.

Elliot had only one thing on his mind: to bring Lorelai back so that he could finish the operation at his hospital and to calm his wife.

Therefore, he didn’t want to wait any longer.

At this moment, Elliot noticed an outlaw approaching him in the bushes six meters away, so he motioned Reece to go forward with him. Reece’s heart raced as he saw this and dashed behind Elliot.

The outlaw went over to investigate when he heard a twig snap in the trees behind him, not realizing it was a stone thrown by Reece.

As the outlaw looked around frantically for the source of the noise, Elliot stepped from behind him, snatched his weapon and took him down to finish him off.

Elliot quickly looked at the gun’s magazine and found it more than adequate. Instantly, his eyes turned as cold as a stone, and Reece followed suit when he saw Elliot’s sleek figure moving toward the outlaws.

Within minutes, flocks of frightened birds flew from the woods as it was accompanied by loud noises and screams. After fifteen minutes, there was complete silence.

Reece, who was holding a weapon, was dumbfounded that he had witnessed a scene from an action film whereby the man he was protecting, Elliot Presgrave, was the main character.

“Let’s go before the sun goes down!” Elliot told Reece as he dropped the things in his hands.

Reece was taken aback, and he quickly followed Elliot.

While driving in the car that they came in; they contacted the other team members who were in the other three cars. The team members in those cars soon came to pick them up, but the two injured bodyguards had been transported to the hospital.

Then, Elliot reached for his phone and dialed Anastasia’s number.

“Hello! Hello, Elliot, is that you?” Anastasia’s voice was tinged with emotion.

“It’s me. Don’t worry, I’m fine,” he reassured her. She must have been worried at home for the past two hours!

“You frightened the hell out of me.” She sniffled, indicating that she must have shed tears beforehand.

“I’m not going to die so easily. I still have to look after you and Jared for the rest of my life!” Elliot tried to entice her with humor.

On the other hand, Anastasia’s tears became even more audible. “Could you kindly refrain from bringing up the subject of death? That’s not what I want to hear from you.”

“Okay, fine. I won’t bring it up again,” Elliot coaxed tenderly.

Elliot’s demeanor surprised Reece. Is he the same Mr. Presgrave who killed the outlaws in the woods?

Anastasia informed Elliot to return home early when she learned he would pick up Lorelai.

Meanwhile, Lorelai sat on the sofa, sipping vitality serum for nourishment. She wanted to go outside for fresh air to calm down, as she felt tense and stifled within the villa. Then, she recalled her mother’s warning and knew she had to stay put.

At night, the villa stood out even more prominently. Several shadowy people showed up in front of the villa’s outer wall, and the bodyguards led the way as they climbed up the wall.

Lorelai was asleep in her bedroom when she became aware of the sound. Panicked, she rose to her feet and yelled for her assistant, but nobody responded.

As she walked down the hall, she was thinking about her assistant when she noticed the door to her house being forced open and a tall figure enveloped in a subtle aroma of blood entering the house with a gloomy coldness.

Lorelai stepped back quickly and trembled as she was overwhelmed with fear. The man who appeared before her at this time was not the same man who had once held her heart; instead, he was a dangerous incarnation of Hades, who had come down from hell himself.

“E-Elliot, what are you doing here?” She maintained her composure, but her emotions were in disarray.

When she looked closer, she discovered Elliot’s suit was smeared with a red dye that resembled human blood.

mother had not informed her of the plan. Is that what Dad was attempting to

you make

his childhood together, he no longer felt anything. He felt disgusted to the point where he didn’t want

I’m not going anywhere.” An emotional Lorelai shook her head and begged, “Elliot, the child is already in my womb. May I give birth to it?

still adamant and foolish, he coldly said, “Lorelai, you are not qualified to give birth to my child at

you again. I assure you, Elliot, that I will never get married again in my whole life. I will take excellent care of these two children.” Lorelai endeavored

the most in this situation is my wife. You don’t take her seriously, and she is the one whom I love the most. Do you think I will give you a chance to

and gently sat down. If she

my father hadn’t forbidden my return. You see, there was no Anastasia when we first met!” Lorelai remarked with red eyes as she had always felt that she was just unlucky, that she was born into the Presgrave Family and had a strict father. Otherwise, she

don’t return with me, you will never see your father again, I’ll

that way; they’re the Presgraves.” Lorelai was worried since she still had a younger brother, who was just eighteen and with

cooperation today. If you cooperate, I will do what needs to be done.” As Elliot said in a low voice, the

breath. Was Elliot going to

he would do something like that? Why did he have such a deep

you.” Lorelai had given up hope since she was convinced that Elliot would abandon their children despite her efforts to give birth to them. Why should her children be condemned from the moment

affection for her. Still, it appeared he was only interested in Anastasia and has no room in his heart for

came inside, but they were held by the two bodyguards standing beside

back, Miss Presgrave!” The assistant pleaded as well. If it weren’t for the money, they never would have followed her

turned to look at Elliot standing in the hallway, they suddenly became aware of how they had

up, and let’s go!” Lorelai, with

compelled to leave in the future, and there would

airport, and approximately three hours later, the plane took

this very time, a convoy was passing by a luxurious manor, and Martha, seated in the

the line answered

messing with me?” Martha

so don’t get too worked

are overly wayward. You’re not taking me seriously. You’ve finally matured, haven’t you? I’m going to freeze all of your cards from now on. I’ll only unfreeze them when you

end of the phone line, Arthur laughed and said, “Grandma, you vastly underestimate your grandson’s

opulence since young and if you plan on maintaining your original lifestyle, then you would need to try hard at getting a job,” Martha said this derisively and she seemed to relish in watching him try. She was quite

able to take care of myself.” Having said that,

hastily yelled out, “Artie, are you sure that you want to go against my will just for that

is Sophia Goodwin and you can

you guys

“Yes!” Arthur admitted.

flickered and

this for now. I’m sorry to trouble you, but you will have to handle the family business for now. Give

personality well and she felt that time

her decision to freeze all of the bank accounts he held was the right one as it was important to have

moved into her own apartment and she went behind her parents’ back

located extremely close to Presgrave Group, so she claimed that it was for the sake of

Sophia and Arthur stayed

he glanced at Sophia, who was currently doing the laundry on the balcony,

done any chores but was happy to help

cup?” He held her pink undergarment

blushed slightly and reached out to grab it from him. “Why are you studying this

snatch it away

that, he reached out and

him seated on the couch and he was busy tapping away on his laptop. Out of curiosity, she inched closer

in the

frozen?” She blinked. Where did he get

took out

who? From your

I just went

Arthur, you shouldn’t take up a loan like how you borrow a pen! Do you realize how high the interest is? You should settle the loan right away.

he grinned confidently. “Don’t worry. I’ll be able to

as optimistic as him, she still had some savings which she could use

lunch at the same restaurant we went to last night! I like the food.” Arthur folded his laptop shut and

thought that his picky palate would not be able to tolerate that. However, he actually enjoyed the meal very much and the side dishes he tried from last night

let’s go for lunch at the same restaurant. Are you sure that you’re fine with it though?” she asked out of curiosity because

actually liked the food that was enjoyed by the general public. Frankly, they even tasted much better than the ones prepared

waitresses, thanks to his appearance from last night. Surprised to see his return today, they blushed

of Sophia for having

as equally as Arthur did. Despite its

to captivate the women around him and several other female customers from the other tables sneaked furtive looks

head and noticed a girl brazenly capture a photo of him. She quickly interjected, “Excuse me, I would appreciate it if you stop

moment, the girl awkwardly put her phone

sexy woman walked over to them and kept her awe-filled eyes on Arthur as she hurriedly took out

to ask whether you’re interested in becoming a celebrity. We’re currently recruiting a new

introduced herself and

smiled and rejected on behalf of Arthur. “Excuse me, my friend

right fit for our talent recruit too. Why don’t you two come over and have an interview at my company?” It was only then the woman realized that there was another pretty

expression instantly turned cold and he rejected the woman.

and your aura, image, height, and looks are top-notch. How about this? I’ll sign on the two of you and you’ll

not interested. Thanks.” Sophia clutched Arthur’s arm and walked off after

about this? We’ll sign you on with an offer of ten million. How about that?” The woman gave her best

Arthur was annoyed.

hit her. She felt herself under immense pressure and the man in front of her did not seem like an ordinary man. The

the woman persisted and kept her eyes on the two retreating figures. Oh, what a shame… If only she could get this man to sign under her, then their company would definitely stand out from then on. She was sure

It was beyond her expectation that

at the restaurant, she had also stopped a bunch of girls from taking photos of him. Indeed, this man attracted the attention of women

window shop until they decided to head back. He was used to being surrounded and flattered by the crowd since young, but he now

home at about 6.00PM and Sophia had already purchased some pasta and fruits.

the kitchen as he used his

and meatballs was served. She also laid out some side dishes she bought in the afternoon

to take a look at the delicious dinner spread. He found himself craving to eat and he was no longer a picky eater as before. After moving in with Sophia, he changed a lot of his bad

a bed that cost millions and he was very picky about the surroundings he stayed in too. Now that he was with

she did some freelance work and submitted short articles to a special column. On days when she was lucky enough, her income from that would be sufficient

pajamas that she had bought for him. The pajamas fitted well on him and he looked casual,

walked over to the direction of the couch and sat next to her. His strapping

air; in the past, he had a cold, elegant fragrance of cedar on him which contrasted his

head to look at the man with wet dark dripping hair who was currently right in front of her. His translucent

him. As such, she could conveniently lie in his arms and take a rest as she watched the TV shows

slightly and he astutely realized that she was inching closer to him. He kept his

buried her face into his arms and snuggled against him as

them spoke a word and they remained snuggled against each

plot of the show. The most important thing was that he enjoyed this moment

depicted a romantic scene between the male and female lead, which happened to be quite an explicit

under a dim street lamp and they were deep in

she realized that it was by his side. “Hey, hand me

intention, so he refused to hand over the remote control. At the same time, he focused

palm to gently grasp and maneuver

the anxious sight of the girl in his arms

next, he purposely planted a kiss on her forehead. She waited until she no longer felt his lips on her forehead before opening her eyes slightly to peek. At that moment, his dominating lips landed on her red lips

though, the kiss was full

any hint of aggression; it was

in his arms after his kiss. Meanwhile, Arthur rose to his feet and went to the bathroom as he needed to take

a gentleman, so he would not resort to any hanky-panky.

bid goodnight to her before heading into his

private jet had just landed and Elliot escorted Lorelai, who had just returned

rejected her requests. Not only that, he threatened that if she was to not undergo the surgery immediately, then her entire family would face a much horrible fate in

of tear that fell from the side of her eye out of discontentment. The pain she felt in her

minutes later in the resting area, Elliot glanced at Benedict, who had just pushed open the door and walked in. There was a sparkle in Elliot’s weary-looking eyes. “Is it

the surgery has ended, so

finally heave a sigh of relief as he had finally got an outcome after tracking for information

it?

Family would only be held in the hands of one particular woman. As

back home. You must be really tired,” Benedict expressed his

things here in your hands, then.” At this point, it was already 5.00AM and all Elliot

as he held his

the living area on the second floor, he noticed a slender figure asleep with her cheeks against a pillow

as he gently placed down his coat and made his way toward her side. He covered her body with the blanket that had slid off to the ground and he

gentle gesture and she opened her eyes wide. As soon as she saw that it was the person she had been longing to

“You’re finally back.”

looked at her slightly chidingly, “Why didn’t you sleep in the room?

was a chance that he could be back tonight, she was unable to go to sleep at ease. She had merely fallen asleep less than an hour ago.