Never Too Far Novel

“No wonder, but it’s beautiful here. It’s mesmerizing.” Ruka scanned the ornaments in which each of them held a special meaning to it.

At that moment, the appetizers and fruit juices were served. Her eyes sparkled as she was already starving. She gulped her saliva while looking at the mouth-watering appetizers.

“If you’re hungry, just dig in.” Ren smiled as there was a smidgen of affection seeped into his voice.

She nodded and took one of the mozzarella sticks before feeding herself. It tasted awesome with its cheesy crunchiness.

“What is the earliest memory you can remember?” he asked out of curiosity.

With narrowed eyes, she chewed the food while recalling. “I think it’s when I was six or seven. It was the time I started elementary school. Why?” she questioned back.

He bit his lips. I knew it. This brat can’t remember everything that had happened until she turned five. She doesn’t know how clingy she was back then.

“Nevermind. Have more.” He had no intention of explaining.

“You should have them too.” Ruka placed a mozzarella stick onto his plate and he looked at it. Ren, who did not favor fried food, ate it nevertheless.

“Mr. Ren, are you normally busy with your work?”

“Very.”

“I bet you know many big names of the country, don’t you?”

“Hmm.”

“Aunt Scarlet told me that you don’t even have the time for blind dates.”

Ren narrowed his eyes. “Do you have a hobby of digging into my matters?”

“No. I’m worried about your marriage, like Aunt Scarlet does. I just hope that you’ll find someone that you can spend the rest of your life with.” Ruka gazed at him with sincerity, showing her genuine concern about one of his biggest life events.

He snorted. “Yeah, yeah. I should be worrying when even a kiddo like you has a boyfriend.”

Her cheeks tinged with red. “We haven’t gone that far yet! It’s just that we click and we enjoy the company of each other.”

“Oh, really? Do you have his picture?”

She was slightly stunned. Does he wanna see him?

Nonetheless, she bashfully took out her phone and found a photo they had taken together before showing Ren. “See the guy wearing a white T-shirt? That’s him.”

He grabbed the gadget to take a look at it. It was a picture of eight of them on a mountain. A smiling Ruka stood next to a tall guy, whose smile was dashingly bright. He seemed like the type that girls would fall for in schools.

“He’s Jethro. I have known him since high school. He’s my senior,” she announced seriously yet nervously as if she was introducing his friend to the elders.

“Hmm. He’s quite handsome.” The moment Ren returned her phone, his phone rang and he picked it up.

“Hello.”

“Sir, Miss Parfait is at the door to see you,” reported the bodyguard.

Ren’s brows furrowed as he responded, “I’m coming.”

He then told Ruka, “I’ll be outside for a while. Go ahead and enjoy the food without me.”

“Okay.” She nodded while thinking, He is a busy man. He has to deal with work even during meal time.

As soon as Ren’s tall stature appeared by the door, a woman sprinted toward him and hugged him tightly. Considering the faint smell of alcohol on her, it was obvious that she had some drinks.

Clinging onto him, she buried her face into his chest and uttered with delight, “Ren, I knew that you’d be here. I miss you, especially tonight.”

“You’re drunk. I’ll ask someone to send you home.” He pushed her away and grasped her shoulders while looking at her calmly.

She seemed to be in her late twenties. With that bushy curly hair and sublime make-up, she appeared gorgeous yet sexy. She was a total beauty queen and yet, someone like her had been pursuing Ren for a whole five years, but it did not come to fruition.

“No! I don’t wanna go home. I wanna stay with you. Ren, I don’t wanna go anywhere except staying by your side. Please don’t drive me away.” Victoria Parfait stared at him with glazing eyes, which was rife with her deep admiration for him.

Ren rejected in a low voice, “I’m slammed tonight.”

“That’s the excuse you use every single time. You just don’t wanna see me, do you? Tell me, which part of me are you unsatisfied with? I’ll change. I’ll change until you’re satisfied. For the past five years, there’s not a day I live through without missing you. I’ve waited for you this long. You gotta give me a reason.” Victoria’s voice was filled with sorrow and grievance. She was indeed drunk and hence the daring confession to the vice president of the country.

He beckoned the bodyguard over. “Please send Miss Parfait home.”

However, the woman, who was pushed away, threw herself into his embrace once again. With her hand tightly wrapped around his waist, she shook her head. “No! I ain’t going anywhere. Five years ago, you told me that there’s someone you like, but I’ve never seen any women by your side all along. There’s not a shadow of women near you either. Was it a lie? Why can’t you give me a chance?”

Ruka drank too much fruit juice and so nature was calling for her. She rose from her seat and went out to search for the restroom. When she left the ladies’, she happened to hear a vehement woman speaking. Out of curiosity, she walked toward where the woman was.

Just a single glance of the situation made her cover her mouth.

Holy moly! Is that a woman in Mr. Ren’s arms? She seems to be grumbling about something to him. She’s kinda agitated at the moment.

She wondered if the woman was Ren’s crush. If so, she could inform Scarlet about it and tell her not to worry about it.

“Ren Husson, hurry and tell me. Is there someone you like? Just say it! Who is she? I’ll give up as long as you give me a name.” Victoria lifted her head and looked at him with teary eyes, which were blurry and grieve.

Just as Ren was about to say something, he saw someone fall from behind the pillar. It was Ruka, who decided to return to the private room upon noticing an incoming waiter. However, there was a threshold next to the pillar, which made her trip and fall onto the ground.

This is so embarrassing!

She raised her head to see him shoving the woman away from his arms. He then strode toward Ruka with a worried face whereas she hastily rose to her feet. “No worries! I’m fine.”

The shoved Victoria cast her glance over in surprise, only to see a young girl standing before Ren with a bright smile.

The girl under the illuminating light looked young; her jet-black hair flowed down to her waist and revealed the well-defined features on her palm-sized face, especially with those bright eyes that could talk.

Jealousy surged into Victoria’s heart almost immediately. Taking a deep breath in pain, she marched over and sized Ruka up before asking Ren, “Is it her? Is she the one you’ve been waiting for?”

Meanwhile, Ruka was nonplussed by the sudden turn of events. What is this pretty lady talking about?

His countenance stiffened as he held Victoria’s hand. “I’ll ask someone to send you home right now.” His voice left no room for a denial.

She was baffled and her heart was pricked by an invisible knife. It was her first time seeing him so nervous. Ever since he was elected as the vice president, his manner of working had been calm and solemn. Yet, the anxiety on his face was evident a moment ago.

“Why? You don’t have the guts to admit it to my face? Ren, what are you afraid of?” She shrugged his hand off. There was not one bit of rationality left in her under the influence of alcohol.

It was her first time in five years seeing the man she loved inviting a girl for a meal. Thus, it was enough to prove that this young lady was the person he coveted.

Is she the person he has been waiting for?

“Speak! Is she the one?” Victoria raised her head as she was persistent to get to the bottom of it.

“Stop the fuss. You should get going.” The glint in Ren’s eyes was daunting.

“Miss, what’s your name?” she questioned Ruka suddenly.

“I’m Ruka Singed. I’m…” the innocent girl replied politely.

“She is my sister’s best friend’s daughter,” Ren continued Ruka’s words.

Victoria was stunned for a moment, for she could clearly tell that he was avoiding something.

Is he protecting her? Who is she?

“Nice to meet you. I’m Victoria Parfait.” She took the initiative to introduce herself due to the sudden swell of self-confidence. If this young brat was truly the one he liked, she need not have to worry about her rival.

“Hi. I’m Ruka.” Ruka returned a smile.

However, Victoria’s arm was suddenly grabbed by a hand. Ren pulled her while ordering Ruka, “Go back to the private room. I gotta talk to her for a moment.”

Ruka sensibly wheeled around and left. Victoria’s gaze zeroed in on her figure until she vanished in the corridor. Then, Victoria raised her head at him. “So, you like that kid?”

“Stop spewing nonsense. It’s not like what you think.” He let go of her arm and his countenance slightly darkened. “You’ve gone overboard tonight. You should leave.”

At this moment, she was almost sober and was slightly mortified. However, she did not regret blurting these.

“Sorry. I’m behaving like this because I love you so much.” She bit her lip before lifting her head to question, “So, what’s going on between the both of you?”

eyes. “There are things that you just don’t

other party had

more he steered clear of that topic,

had never imagined someone, who was younger than him by many years,

for her all along? But she seems ordinary, except for her beauty and young spirit. She doesn’t seem outstanding in any way. Which charm of hers managed to captivate a man like Ren, who’s perching at the top of the

it, yet she wished to know the reason because she was not a quitter. Some people would set back others’ lifetime once they met up; how could she

but my feelings for you will never change. I will always wait for you. As long as you’re not married, I will continue to

show her love for him through actions. Even if she had to keep waiting,

turned her head to glance at the handsome man, who stood

meantime, Ruka was eating absent-mindedly while thinking of the

she mean by ‘is it

the room. She

“Hmm.”

She planned to gush about the

colleague,” he answered

you

Peeking at the grumpy man,

herself to keep her cool, someone placed a shrimp onto her plate. It turned out that she was so distracted that she forgot to take some dishes for herself.

the chief of

will be

as the fact that Ruka would

her properly. I sounded impolite.” She slumped into

big deal. Don’t stress about it,” Ren comforted

her lips into a

“Miss Parfait looked at me and questioned whether I

his intense gaze landed upon

crush? I

called her name

lifted her head at him in

mind not to address me as ‘Mr. Ren’ in front of others.

you as ‘Mr. Husson’.” She giggled. “I don’t like addressing you like you’re my uncle either.

of delight fleeted across his eyes. “Really? Am I not old

at most. You’re young and very handsome,” she praised, eliciting a smile on Ren’s lips and the appealing

loosen up along the drive back to Husson Residence while he inquired about her life studying abroad. Influenced by her parents since

fifteen minutes to arrive outside Husson Residence. She asked Ren whether he wanted to have tea for a while, after which

not forget to take care of your health,” Ruka advised with a serious expression while bending over. Next, she flashed a pristine

in,” he urged her as he would only leave after watching her

and bypassed the small gate with light footsteps before craning her neck to check if he was gone. The adorable countenance was that of an angel and fairy

In the back seat, the

same time, Angela was working on the balcony in her apartment while waiting for Richard.

myriads of twinkling lights of the city with a gentle gaze. There was a change in her temperament as merriment

heart was filled to the brim with love

remaining thirty to themself as a ‘safety precaution’; it would not cut that deep if they were abandoned one day. However, she thought otherwise and was not afraid to give all of her

and turned around to see the incoming man at the entrance. With a

was the only one awfully missing him during the short separation. Yet, she now knew that

with kisses, leaving her no time

a shower.” She pushed him away. “It’s

I wanted to come back early, but

blaming you. I’m not worried one bit.”

for dinner?”

some cereal. I’m on a diet,”

she finished her words, he held her waist to measure it by spanning his hands. “You don’t need a diet.

on a diet as early as possible. I wanna look

great regardless.” Richard princess-carried her with ease. “I like it when you’re fit and

arms around his neck and pecked

his jacket before taking a shower. She failed to finish her work due to her absent mind, but

not buzz a sound. The

caller ID, she realized that it was his grandfather calling and became slightly jittery. “Hello,

Angela! Is Richard there with

ago. He’s in the shower right now. Is

sigh. “Angela, I’ve talked to him about something earlier, but he disagrees with

you may go

a gathering between the two families instead of a public ceremony. Richard doesn’t see eye to eye with it because he

“Grandpa, I’m okay without a wedding. You don’t have to stress about this. I’ll speak to him about it, so

hope that you’ll understand. I’m worried about his safety. He’s working for the military and there’s many factors that can put his life in danger. I’ve lost my son and I can’t afford to lose my grandson anymore.” He could feel the

important person to him. Look, I’ll discuss it with him. I’m totally fine with a simple wedding. Of course, I don’t wanna expose him in public and put

hard for you to accept this. Every girl wants a grand wedding, but we can’t do that for you due to

a wedding. To me, nothing matters more than being with

it to you

some early rest.” After terminating the call, she looked at the second floor

that Richard quarreled with Phillip because of the conversation they shared about the wedding. He wished to hold a wedding for her and thus the guilt she was feeling right

his job came with a huge risk and canceling the wedding ceremony was a form of protection for him. Furthermore,

That means I don’t need to be

her heart ached at the thought

and went upstairs. Hearing the sound of running water in the bathroom, she seated herself by the bed as she waited for him. At last, Richard emerged from the bathroom with only a gray towel wrapped around his waist. He froze for a moment when he noticed her

something to

the man sat next to

Grandpa about our wedding earlier?” she inquired,

continuing, “I want to give

him. “Let’s just skip the wedding. We can simply have a meal with both our parents. It’s okay even if we don’t get the marriage certificate. Let’s just live this way! I don’t want to be a burden and a source of liability for

the moment I agreed to marry him, I am inherently agreeing to become his liability. The greatest mission of his life is to protect this very country. It’s

you know how much I love you?” The man embraced

else is secondary.” She smiled as she

only want to give you what you deserve.” Richard felt sorry for her; he had failed to provide a wedding ceremony for a lady like her, who was raised with love

there’s only one of you in this world and I don’t wanna risk losing you. Please contact Grandpa. Otherwise, I’m afraid the old

said as he kissed

join me for supper later?”

lovingly he

catch a breath of relief. With that, Angela had changed

year, Andy brought his two buddies here to get drunk

making a lot of money and he could even earn millions per year by relying solely on rebates. As a result,

his two buddies’ shoulders. “Now that I’m in trouble, would you mind

“Go ahead, Andy.”

mother and daughter a lesson. I want them to understand that I, Andy Graham, am not easily intimidated by anyone. Furthermore, I was trampled under the feet by that b*tch’s boyfriend last time, so that is

understand how you feel. We need to show them

must at least have some

How lovely

by an employee. She sat there in a gray suit, looking beautiful, elegant, and full of aura under the spotlights. She made men fall in love with

two men next to Andy were drooling. Although they frequented bars and clubs, the girls there were beautiful but not extravagant. Angela, on the other hand, exuded the aura of a wealthy lady that ordinary

and torment her! Consider this

is

take advantage of her! It’s time for

through his mind. He would never reveal to these

entirely up to you. Let

call you after I kidnap her and you

“Okay,” Andy sneered.

Early in the morning…

night despite getting all drunk and confessing her love to Ren last night. It was because of that confession, which brought her consciousness back to the forefront as she realized how heartbroken she was upon

the relationship between the Ruka chick and

her room while stating, “Miss Parfait, this is the newcomer’s profile for the appointment next week. Please review and sign if there are

way,” the assistant continued, “there were originally six interns, but an intern named Ruka was

and looked at the assistant.

you have any questions, please direct them to him,

quickly flipped through the documents and noticed a youthful photograph of Ruka on the last

Ren appears to be the person who assigned Ruka to the Translation Department! Though he is usually strict and his attitude at work is even stricter,

Affairs. Among the interns, she was thought to come from a middle-class family as

give

had a sudden epiphany and decided to dial Ren’s phone number. She would

low, magnetic voice

Ruka a job in the Translation Department, Ren? Why didn’t you inform me? I would

to Ruka. Let her do things to the best of her

right! What is your relationship with her? You didn’t make it clear last night! Is she someone you genuinely like?” There was a hint

There’s nothing special about our relationship,” he

As an apology for what happened last night, I’d like to treat you to

too preoccupied today. Let’s take a raincheck. Goodbye.” Ren

could she not be jealous? She had loved Ren for five years and had gone almost insane for him. Not only had she squandered her youth for him, but all she got in return was avoidance and cold shoulders from Ren. As his position became more powerful, he

behalf of her mother. Under usual circumstances, Angela would only go to the company

to be reviewed and signed. Although Angela had not yet taken over her mother’s daily tasks, she

Despite the fact that she did not graduate, she did take the

was secretly watching her behind the pillar outside the office. ‘Angela is in the company,’