Never Too Far Novel

Angela blushed again, and her face felt hot.

“Stop looking at me,” she ordered when she couldn’t stand his stares any longer.

“You can look at me, but I can’t look at you?” Richard refused to be taken advantage of in this situation.

She bit her lip and let out a laugh. She then covered his eyes, pressing against his sharp cheekbones slightly. The next moment, she felt his thick eyelashes flutter against her palms, making her heart flutter too. She soon realized that the man’s tall nose and seductive lips, which were left exposed, now looked extremely attractive.

She swallowed secretly and took her hands off his eyes. The man looked slightly amused as he gazed at her.

“Stare at me again, and I’ll be unkind to you.” She couldn’t help but threaten him.

“How unkind?” The man blinked at her, looking highly interested in whatever punishment she had in store for him.

“I…” Angela felt her tears well up. She was threatening a wolf right now, and she felt like the prey offering herself up. She bit her lip and stayed silent, concentrating on her task instead and letting him look to his heart’s content.

Richard stared at her face, which was extremely close to his, as if he was a wolf fixated on his prey. His eyes lingered on her soft red lips, and he silently raised a hand to place it on the back of her head.

She could feel the gentle yet powerful pressure on the back of her head as he pushed her face closer to him. Even then, she blushed but did not resist as she closed her eyes and allowed the pressure to press her closer to his lips.

As they were about to kiss, panicked footsteps came from outside the room. The unlocked door swung open to reveal Trevor and Jared, both looking excited. However, when they saw the scene on the couch, their eyes widened as they sucked in a breath.

Immediately, Angela sat up and turned away from them shyly, hiding her face behind her hands. Meanwhile, Richard had a dark expression on his face, his gaze looking almost murderous. Trevor and Jared did not have a death wish, so they quickly reported their mission. “We’ve found the lipstick, Richard.”

The man’s eyes glinted brightly, and even Angela turned around excitedly. “Really? You’ve found it?”

“That’s right. Once we send the signal, Miss Meyers will be out of danger.”

“That’s amazing. Does that mean I can go back to my parents?” She was so happy she pressed her hands together as she couldn’t wait to return home.

“Miss Meyers, please give us a few more days to complete the mission. By then, you can reunite with your family,” Jared promised.

“Thank you so much.” Angela looked at them gratefully.

“If you’re done here, get out,” a deep masculine voice uttered suddenly, suppressing the joyful mood. Trevor and Jared quickly left, tactfully closing the door behind them. They felt lucky they had good news to report, or they would’ve lost their lives.

Angela turned to Richard happily. “I can finally go home now, Richard! I’m safe.”

She thought the man would at least relax and share her happiness at the news, but he only raised his eyebrows briefly and answered, “Mmm.”

Her smile stiffened slightly. Why wasn’t he happy about this?

“What is it? Can’t you be happy for me now that I can return home?” She blinked several times, looking at his neutral expression. She was so excited that she wanted to celebrate the occasion.

“Even though we’ve found the lipstick, it doesn’t prove you are now out of danger. Protection is still needed for the time being.” Richard hadn’t relaxed at the news. On the contrary, he now had another pressing issue to handle other than work; if Angela returned home, she would soon find out that his fiancée was her cousin, Annie.

Richard knew it was reality, and Angela would know about it sooner or later. She would probably react as expected, but he wasn’t planning on telling her before that happened.

“In that case, are you protecting me this time, or is it someone else?” Angela looked expectant, but she didn’t wait for an answer before asking him something. “Can you continue protecting me?”

His phone rang at that moment, and he picked it up to look at the screen. “I have to go to the meeting room. Stay here and rest.”

She was still in a good mood, so she smiled. “Alright, you should get back to work!”

After he left, she touched her lips. She suddenly wondered if her parents would like Richard when she introduced him upon her return.

In the meeting room, everyone discussed excitedly how their mission was going to end perfectly. The lipstick was already placed under protection and sent back to where it should be—with its owner.

“Richard, should we…” Trevor got excited and wanted to suggest celebrating the occasion to the man sitting at the head of the table. However, when Trevor turned to him, he realized Richard wasn’t listening to their discussion. Instead, he was staring into the distance as if lost in thought. Trevor nudged Jared beside him, and the room became silent at once as the four people present sensed their leader’s mood.

They all knew why their leader was acting that way. Since Angela would return to the Meyers Family as their eldest daughter while he went on their next mission, they would soon be separated. After all, she was the daughter of a wealthy family while he was the leader of a group of commandos. Their romance wouldn’t be like any other couple; not only that, they’d never know when their next meeting would be.

“Don’t worry, Richard. Even after we complete our mission, you can still be with Miss Meyers,” Trevor said reassuringly.

“Exactly! She will never forget you,” Sean chimed in.

Richard retreated from his thoughts to see the concerned gazes of his comrades, and he got up from his seat. “Continue your work.”

After Richard exited the room, he did not return to his room to see Angela. Instead, he walked in a random direction and arrived among the flowerbeds. Ariel was there chatting with Carlton; as soon as she saw Richard, she moved toward him like a butterfly drawn to the flowerbeds. Even if she had embarrassed herself the last time she was with him, it didn’t stop her from wanting to be closer to the man.

She followed him to the flowerbeds and admired him from behind the trees as he walked away. Since he looked preoccupied with his thoughts, he did not notice her following him. Just when she thought of going forward to greet him, he pulled out his phone to make a call. She tried to remain patient so as not to interrupt him but did not leave, and soon, she could hear him addressing the person on the other end of the line. “Grandpa.”

He’s making a call to his grandpa! Ariel couldn’t help eavesdropping, yet Richard still hadn’t noticed her. On the other end, Richard’s grandpa was enquiring about the progress of his mission.

“We found the lipstick, and the mission will be ending soon.”

“That’s good. You should return so that your wedding with Annie may proceed. We can’t make the Meyers Family wait too long, you know.”

“Grandpa, I want to cancel the engagement.” Richard went straight to the point.

“Richard, this is not what we do as a member of the Lloyd Family. Since you are already engaged, you should fulfill your promise and marry her. You need to be responsible and give her family closure.”

“Grandpa, I don’t like her, and it would be irresponsible if I see through the marriage,” he argued.

“If you don’t fancy Annie, who do you fancy then?” Phillip refused to let him drag this out again. He wanted Richard to give him a great-grandson as soon as possible since Phillip wanted to see the next generation of his family while he was still alive.

Richard froze, then decided to maintain the decision he made all this while. “Grandpa, I don’t have any plans of marrying in this lifetime.”

“We’ll talk about this when you get back.” Phillip was so angry he choked on his breath and coughed lightly.

Richard immediately showed concern and asked him, “Grandpa, are you okay?”

“Come home, and we’ll discuss everything.” Phillip was the first to hang up.

Ariel, who was standing in the shade of the trees near the flowerbed, was surprised at the news. It turns out that Richard has a fiancée, yet he’s dating Angela back at the base. Not only that, his fiancée is a woman named Annie, and she’s from the Meyers Family as well.

A scheming look appeared in her eyes as she thought, Angela, you are a shameless mistress, huh? This time, let’s see how high and mighty you can be.

When Ariel returned her attention to her surroundings, Richard had already left. She entered the base via the side entrance and proceeded to knock on Angela’s door, wanting to have her revenge. After knocking for some time, no one answered. This made her curious—where could Angela be? She immediately wondered if the woman was in Richard’s room.

At this thought, she quickly headed to his room and knocked on his door. Angela, who had been reading, heard the sound and jumped. She put down her book and got up to open the door.

As soon as she opened it, she saw Ariel crossing her arms with a smirk on her face. “Angela, did you know that you are Richard’s mistress? How shameless of you!”

Angela’s expression darkened and she answered coldly, “What are you talking about?”

“Don’t you know? Richard has a fiancée, so what were you thinking when seducing him? Do you have any respect for her? Aren’t you the mistress?” Ariel deliberately raised her voice, making it sound shrill. On the other hand, several people nearby immediately looked in their direction after hearing this.

Angela’s face went red. Richard told only her that he had a fiancée, so how did Ariel know about it too? Did he tell her? How was that possible, though? Angela hadn’t even oriented her thoughts properly when Ariel continued to mock her and said, “He isn’t even planning to marry you at all, you know. I heard him mentioning that he never planned to marry while on the phone with his grandfather.”

Angela’s expression changed. Ariel had eavesdropped on his conversation, hadn’t she?

on his phone conversation?” Angela couldn’t help

was just passing by and accidentally overheard everything. How dare you call that eavesdropping! Angela, I’m asking you this again—did you become involved with him knowing that he has a fiancée? That poor girl! Her fiancé is here being seduced by a wh*re like you, all while she’s waiting fervently for him to

and the way Ariel was calling her a mistress and wh*re was already crossing the line, even for

don’t need you butting in our business.” Angela tried to close the

it. “Why? Are you feeling scared or shameful? You’re having an affair

Angela’s mind was whirling as Ariel’s words

coincidence, her last name is Meyers as well!” Ariel smirked in victory,

wasn’t planning on keeping the secret anyway, and she giggled. “Angela, do you even know what her name is? The poor girl probably doesn’t know the

name?” Angela took a deep breath and

“That poor girl’s name is Annie. Richard is even planning to cancel their engagement because of you.

onto the door frame for support. She looked as if someone had taken

the floor with a face so pale that she looked like she was about to faint. The former became

her head, her eyes red as she looked at

responded, “Why would I lie

Ariel had her revenge anyway as she was done making fun

as painful sobs emitted from between her fingers. She remembered how excited Annie had been when she called Angela to announce her engagement to an extremely handsome man. Annie had fallen in

to return her phone when she angrily sought him out. It turned out he had gone to get engaged with Annie that night. If she had had her phone with her, she wouldn’t have missed the news of the engagement and

was her cousin, Annie, but he had known all along, hadn’t he? He

get some tissues to wipe her eyes. Her pain was secondary, and her

at least the whole incident hadn’t progressed to an unsalvageable stage. It might be a little too late, but she could sever everything cleanly before then. That way, her relationship with Richard could

interacted with her. She had done something really

and see her breaking down, plus she felt too guilty to see him. She shouldn’t

hide it from view, then opened the door and left. She ran to the top of the rocky hill via a shortcut, stumbling on exposed rocks

pain she felt. It must’ve all been one big joke from God. She hated her actions even more now, feeling guilty whenever she thought of Annie. Even

to be engaged to looks like? Oh my, he looks so handsome. He’s the most handsome man I’ve ever

Would you be able

replayed in her mind. She felt that she was to blame for everything. After all, she shouldn’t have become interested in this man, nor seduced him in different ways. This was

deserted area. The chilly wind of early winter made

the first time she had met Richard and do everything over again. This way, she could prevent herself from being entangled in a love triangle. She would not look twice at him, instead giving her blessings to Annie and feeling happy for her since she had found such a great man. As the cold air surrounded

he arrived, he did not knock but opened the door immediately. Since Angela loved sleeping on his couch so much, she might already be asleep and he did not want to wake

him feel a stab of disappointment. Just as he was about to leave, he immediately zeroed in on the balled-up pieces of tissue on the table, as well as another on the floor. He walked over at once and picked them up to take a closer look. They were all wet, but it didn’t seem to be from wiping up spilled water. In

on the door. No one answered, which meant she wasn’t there. When he returned to the meeting room to ask

has happened to

find Angela. He thought deeply for a while, mentally

lost their color, which made her

Almost immediately, he pulled off his coat and approached her while holding it. Angela, whose senses had been dulled by faintness, emotional distress, and also

around in surprise as her swollen eyes made contact with his worried ones. His heart squeezed forcefully at the sight, and

let me go.” She struggled violently against his hold, trying

to put her down on the edge of a nearby

he asked in a low tone, looking at her with his dark

choked somewhat as she said, “Richard,

off his coat and approachad har whila holding it. Angala, whosa sansas had baan dullad by faintnass, amotional distrass, and also tha howling wind around tham, could not sansa him bahind har until tha warm coat wrappad around har

around in surprisa as har swollan ayas mada contact with his worriad onas. His haart squaazad forcafully at tha sight, and ha carriad har from tha rocks

lat ma go.” Sha strugglad violantly against his hold, trying to

that sha might hurt harsalf lika this, so ha had no choica but to put har down on tha adga of a naarby rock.

low tona, looking at har with his dark

a daap braath. Sha chokad somawhat as sha said, “Richard, lat ma ask you this—is

let us know <

thought as his heart throbbed again, his pupils

eyes, he asked rhetorically,

me? Why didn’t you tell me sooner that Annie is the one whom you are engaged with? If you had told me sooner, we wouldn’t have made this mistake… I

her into his

arms, Angela raised her fists and hit him on

and spoke in a deep voice, “We had done nothing

reversible. As long as they

took a step back and pushed him away, creating an arm’s length distance between them. She raised her head and looked at Richard seriously. Although

words, Richard furrowed his brows. Is she

cancel the engagement. Annie loves you very much. So, you should keep your promise and make her your

deeply. Something sparked in his usual cold eyes—it was anger and distress. Distress as to the words she said and angry because of

to be his girlfriend. Now,

and did not answer. All he did

this sight of him and even pushed him for an

glowered at her. “Are you done talking? Is

Angela looked at his tense facial expression. She had a bad feeling in her gut

she still wanted to hear what he had to say. “Yes, it’s your turn now,”

don’t want to break up with

made Angela’s

you mean by that? We haven’t even been on a proper date before. What is there to break up?”

will call off

looked at him. At

Suddenly, her whole body swayed as if she was

The next moment, she was back in Richard’s warm embrace. Out of

hair and spread it all over her face. Her face was overly pale compared to the darkness of her hair. It was as if she was so fragile

talk inside. It’s cold

a little longer,” Angela replied as she didn’t want to walk alongside

this matter?” Richard

were

the parterre, Richard wasn’t too happy about it. He indeed sensed that someone was behind him, but he did not expect that it was Ariel. He ignored the presence as he thought it was someone from

say?” Richard trusted that Ariel must have said something else to Angela, as both girls had always been at each other’s

is that we are over. I’m sorry, Richard. I was a sc*mbag for seducing you. I’m sorry that I offended you by

it was heartbreaking to see her in this state. Never did he expect that she would draw back this much after finding out about this matter. Furthermore,

his face twitched slightly, watching her slim figure wavering because

that moment, the afternoon sky became gloomy, like it

it started to rain eventually. The rain

in a low voice. He

the weather was picking on her. Just as she was going to vent her frustration by letting herself soak in the rain, a pair of arms locked themselves by her waist. Richard tucked

the midst of the rain,

as she was mind blown by his action. His kiss was more aggressive than the last time. Out of embarrassment, she tried to push him away but was only being pulled

of her. The rain made his dark eyes

back away or try to escape from me,” he whispered in her ear,

before Angela could react, she was

always a tough guy; she couldn’t expect him to

panicking as they watched the

and pointed in a direction. “Look,

and saw Richard walking his way over while carrying a woman on his back in the rain. It was visible that the woman was struggling as she

to hate

did not flinch and continued to carry Angela back to his

of me, Richard. You’re an as*hole!” Her accusation was mixed

Angela’s wails, they could only give her a sympathetic look as they watched Richard carry her into his room, wondering how she had riled Richard up this

filled with jealousy. Anyone who knew Richard would understand that he would only treat the woman he loved this way. If he came across women that he was uninterested in, he wouldn’t even spare a glance. This meant that Angela was just throwing a tantrum and not being tortured. Remembering the words that she had told Angela today, Ariel couldn’t

great! Now, she’s throwing a fit to

around know what was on the tantrum-throwing

would swallow me up! Ah! Everyone’s looking

was thrown to the couch by Richard ruthlessly. Although she did not get hurt by the soft couch, she saw