Never Too Far Novel

Chapter 1141-1150

Ren felt bad when he saw her eating in such a hurry. “Slow down. No one’s going to stop you from eating,” he chided.

“But I’m so hungry! I only took a couple of bites at your house today,” Ruka exclaimed, but her words were a little muffled by how full her mouth was.

Ren gave her an affectionate smile. “You won’t be able to sleep tonight if you’re too full.”

“Then, if I can’t sleep tonight, can I sleep in tomorrow?” Ruka asked. She felt the need to seek his permission each time she wanted to sleep in at his house, or else, she would not be able to sleep well.

“You can sleep for as long as you want,” Ren promised as his smile widened.

Ruka looked at him and asked, “How should I address you now?”

“What would you prefer?” he ventured expectantly.

“Ren,” Ruka declared. By dropping the ‘mister’, it felt like they would become equals now.

“Alright. You can call me that for now, but you’ll have to use something else after the May elections,” Ren reminded. He could not wait to hear her addressing him with something else entirely.

Ruka’s mind was blank at first, but when she realized what he meant, she blushed and nodded shyly.

“Okay. When the time comes, I’ll call you hubby.”

Ren had not eaten much yet, but now, he could tell that his stomach was not the one that was hungry. Every fiber of his being yearned for the woman who sat in front of him right now. He could barely push the feeling away. It was fine when she was not around him, but now that she was here with him and smiling so brightly, he found that his patience was being tested to the limit.

All of a sudden, soft thuds could be heard from the window. When Ruka turned to look and saw what was happening, her eyes widened in surprise and she exclaimed, “It’s snowing!”

She quickly set her cutlery down and rushed out to the garden to enjoy the first snowfall of the year.

By the time Ren caught up to her, he found her whirling about in the snow like a carefree child who was trying to find the prettiest snowflake. He had been standing there for a while to watch her when all of a sudden, she turned dizzy and stumbled over to him.

Immediately, he opened his arms to catch her. She had nearly forgotten about her fainting spell earlier today. She was still a little weak from the lack of oxygen and should not be engaging in strenuous activity, which included spinning around.

Thankfully, Ren was nearby. In her dizziness, she instinctively fell into his embrace.

Ren held her steady and bent down to observe her face. She was still trying to catch her breath, but she buried her head against his chest and refused to leave.

He could not resist pinching her cheeks as he chuckled lovingly.

Ruka looked up at him and fluttered her eyelashes. “Am I beautiful, Ren?”

Ren’s eyes flickered a little as the pretty little face that belonged to the woman in his arms right now made his mind wander. She was not the most beautiful woman in the world, but she was the one he loved the most. No one could ever replace the smile on her face or the sound of her voice. She was his source of light and hope.

“You’re gorgeous,” he said.

“Now that we’re standing in the snow together, we know what it’s like to be together until our hair turns white!” Ruka announced gleefully as she hugged him.

Ren was enamored with her, including all the adorable things she said. “Yeah. We’ll be together even when our hair turns white, or more accurately, gray.”

Ruka stared at the scene in front of her. The flecks of snow that flurried around them were illuminated by the glow of the street lamps. They dotted his hair and clothes, and she fell into a daze as she took in the picturesque scene that filled her eyes. Meanwhile, he carried her back into the house.

“You’ll catch a cold if you continue standing in the snow like that. I don’t want you to actually spend all your time recuperating here,” Ren said out of concern.

Ruka smiled. “What am I here for then?”

“To accompany me,” he announced.

Ruka blushed. “To accompany you while you work, or for something else?”

Ren often thought that Ruka had an innocent mind, but her words were fraught with innuendo.

“I won’t protest to anything you wish to do with me. The only thing that matters is what you desire.” Ren’s smirk made it sound even more suggestive.

Ruka turned away shyly. At the same time, she received a notification on her phone, so she used it as an excuse to escape. “Let me check my phone.”

She sat down on the couch, but she froze when she saw the text. It was from Jethro Ortiz.

‘What are you up to, Ruka? Are you free later? I’ll take you to the movies.’

Ruka tapped out her reply. ‘Sorry, Jethro, but I’m busy.’

Just then, her phone started ringing. It echoed a little in the expansive living room and she quickly answered the call. “Hello?”

“Ruka…” Jethro sounded drunk. “I want to see you…”

Ruka could tell that he was drunk. She frowned and asked, “Have you been drinking?”

“I just went through a breakup. I’m so stupid. I shouldn’t have trusted her. I thought she loved me, but she… she broke up with me today.” Jethro’s voice choked up.

“Don’t be sad. You deserve someone better,” Ruka consoled.

“I’m so dumb, Ruka. I only realized now that you like me. Do we still have a chance? I think I like you too. We could try dating…” Jethro immediately started asking her out.

Ruka was stunned, and right at that moment, she felt someone staring at her. The piercing gaze in Ren’s eyes made her hairs stand on end.

“Uh! Jethro, I can’t talk right now. I have something to do. You shouldn’t like me either. I like someone else. Bye!” Ruka quickly ended the call under the pressuring gaze of the man in front of her.

“A friend of mine,” she explained a little evasively.

“The boy you said you liked?” Ren had not forgotten about it. She did tell him that she liked Jethro.

Ruka pressed her lips together and tried to explain, “Not someone I like, per se! I just… just felt a little bit attracted to him, and also… You didn’t tell me you liked me either then!”

She wisely pushed all the responsibility to him. It was his fault for not telling her sooner that he liked her! It was not her fault that she started liking someone else!

“If I recall correctly, you went to the movies with him, and you even got drunk because of him.” Ren continued to probe her about her past as if she had been exceptionally close with other men before this.

She quickly shook her head. “No, don’t get the wrong idea. We didn’t even hold hands!”

He narrowed his eyes dangerously. “Is that so?”

“Yes! Of course! I swear that the only man whose hand I’ve held is you,” Ruka declared.

Ren got jealous easily. She was afraid that he would be upset if she did not explain things properly.

“What about kissing?” he asked.

“You’re my first kiss! What more do you want from me?!” Ruka huffed.

He smirked. “When did I become your first kiss?”

“Well… That time when I was drunk, I kissed you in the car, didn’t I? That was my first kiss,” she replied with a pout.

Ren’s towering figure loomed over her as he approached her. She was startled and stumbled back down on the couch in fear that he was going to punish her for this.

However, her phone started ringing once more. It was Jethro again. Ruka silenced her phone before glancing at Ren nervously. “He just went through a breakup and is just seeking comfort from a friend.”

“Answer it. Put it on speaker,” Ren said.

Ruka blinked. Was he so kind-hearted that he thought she should try and console Jethro? Either way, she did as told. “Hi, Jethro.”

“Ruka, I feel so bad right now. I don’t blame anybody but myself. Someone told me that you’ve had a crush on me for a long time now. I’m such a fool for not noticing it sooner. Ruka, can you forgive me, please? I really like you a lot. You’re so kind and beautiful. I’m kicking myself for not noticing your feelings sooner…”

Ruka shrank back a little when she saw the grotesque expression on Ren’s face. She wanted to end the call at once to stop him from hearing Jethro’s confession.

Ren sat down on the couch and pulled Ruka into his arms before grabbing her phone. Then, with his voice as cold as ice, he warned, “Ruka has a boyfriend. Don’t bother her ever again.”

“W-Who are you? Where’s Ruka? I want to talk to Ruka,” Jethro cried out frantically.

“Jethro, he’s my boyfriend. Don’t call me again,” Ruka said gravely.

“I don’t believe that! Ruka, didn’t you have a crush on me for three years? Why would you start dating someone in less than a month?” Jethro refused to believe what he was hearing.

Ruka turned to the side and spotted the frown on Ren’s face, along with the dangerous glint in his eyes. At the very next second, she felt her chin being lifted and his lips crashing against hers.

“Mmph…” Ruka gasped.

Ren tossed the phone aside and cupped her tiny face with his large hands as he deepened the kiss.

“Ruka, are you listening to me?” Jethro’s anxious voice came through the speakers of her phone.

However, he did not receive an answer and had he paid closer attention, he would have been able to tell that the owner of the phone was currently occupied!

Ruka was only released from her punishment when she ran out of oxygen. She was still gasping for air when she picked her phone up and said, “Jethro, don’t call me anymore. Goodbye…”

She was not completely out of it and remembered to end the call. Just then, she heard his commanding voice right beside her ear. “From now on, you’re not allowed to meet up with any man without me knowing about it.”

Ruka looked up at him. “Are you telling me that you’ve never met up with any other women before me?”

to dating and romance,

not dare assume that she was the only one

breath washed all over

“Well, haven’t you ever—”

a magnetism to it that made her toes curl. She trembled at the sound of it. She relished the dominance of

spoiled she would be as they spent their future together. She took the initiative to wrap her arms around his

to his love was to love him as deeply

finally satisfied. He had a faint smile as he kissed her

face in front of her right now. He looked like a

seen enough yet? Feel free to continue staring once we’re back in

blushed when she heard him mentioning the bedroom. She let go of his neck and said, “I’ll save

and fell as he laughed, and the sound was just

carry on working. He was on the phone every time she went to check in on him. It was evident that Christmas was not a period of

checked his watch and saw that it was already half past ten. He walked out of his study and knocked

was reading the news on her iPad and hoping that everyone was safe during the holidays. That way, her boyfriend

down on the edge of the bed

a lot of

almost done,” he assured

case, why don’t I wait up

going to wait up for me, you should go and

hard he had to work. She shook her head and said, “No, it’s fine. I won’t share

in the same room as him, she would disturb him and he would not be able

time to sleep as it was. He would be even more exhausted if

He brought her home with him but ended up leaving her all by herself because he

her ruby-red lips. “Be

her arms around his neck and kissed him. Ren’s breath caught in his throat. Whenever she made the first

a little shy after the kiss, but her heart swelled with fondness when she saw his loving eyes. “Don’t stay up

“I won’t,” Ren promised.

was not sleepy yet, so she continued reading the news. She had no interest in current events in the past, but now, she studied each article

as Ren returned to his study, his

just found out that Victoria Parfait met up with Orson Grady in private.” It was Elijah who

brows furrowed tightly. He was angered by the way Victoria was out for vengeance after getting rejected. However, if

Morning came.

was sitting on the couch outside the room. When Elijah saw her, he quickly made a shushing sound and she quietened her footsteps as

the morning, so it’s good if he can sleep in a little longer,” Elijah muttered back. His eyes were red from lack of sleep as

there so much that needs to

one of those things, let alone both.” Elijah sighed. He had a lot on his plate as well, but he felt a deep sense of

good thing for her to stay with Ren. She was supposed to be

home today then. I don’t want to disturb him,”

smiled. “It’s better if you stayed here, Miss Singed. If you’re here, Sir won’t have to spend his time thinking about you. He can use that time on other

a little pink as she said shyly, “It’s

mean that he’ll have to spend all his free time thinking about you?” Elijah prompted

so many years now so he must know him very well. Does this

owed him a lot. She had been preoccupied with another guy before returning to the country and had only

from now on! Ruka thought with a smile as the door to the main bedroom opened. Ren came

eyes narrowed with a glint as she stared at the woman who was still in her pajamas while she

got up right away.

her. He put his arm around her

is right there! What’s he doing? Is it okay for him to

she was the one who got the wrong idea. Ren took her back

Yikes! I’m still in my pajamas! No

downstairs after she changed out of her pajamas and saw

When she saw Elijah poring over a stack of documents, she suggested, “Elijah, why don’t you finish breakfast first

it’s fine. I’m used to it.” Elijah looked

to see if he had enough rest. Ren turned to look at her as well and she pitied him when she saw his eyes. “Look at those dark circles! What time

“Really?

head. He did not look bad, actually. It just made his eyes seem deeper. Still, she felt bad that he had to stay up so

you a massage.” Ruka massaged his temples

two of them gazing at each other affectionately without any consideration

enjoyed the relaxing massage, and his dimples

him now pleased Ruka. She loved seeing his smile, which was so

was lit up so clearly that even her peach

making her look a little bewitching as she called out to him

room right now. His large hands reached out to cup

withdrew her hand bashfully and threw a furtive

he saw what they did just now. She bit her lip and glared at the man

served just in

how full his schedule was, she blinked and thought to

drained after

many meetings,” Ruka could not

of the meetings would involve other people reporting to

I’ll come home for dinner,” Ren instructed. He did not want to spend the

wanted to have dinner with her and quickly said, “No, it’s

clear your schedule for dinner,”

Ren. “You don’t need to accompany me, really. You have a lot of work to do right

You’re the most important person to him, so work can wait,” Elijah said with

locked gazes with a pair of mirthful eyes. Even

shyly. “Alright! I’ll wait for you to

Ruka took her phone and went out to the

not hide the emotion in her voice as she asked,

very good to me, Mom. You

me to worry about, of course. You silly girl, you should have told

It’s my fault.” Ruka felt

get married! Your father and I have been wondering what

However, while it did feel like a dream back then, she had come to accept it with time. All she wanted to do now

of added pressure. Ruka dared not even consider

At Meyers Residence.

son-in-law-to-be. Though Angela and Richard were not married yet, the wedding was taking place soon after Christmas, and all the old Meyers couple could think about was the grandchild they would soon

as soon as she took them, Daphne rushed over and stopped her. “Hey! Put that down. You

Angela shook her head helplessly. It was not like she

something Angela was greatly displeased with. She wanted to enjoy their

too anxious. She’s been losing sleep too, you know? She didn’t sleep well at all for

over her daughter. Angela was her precious baby, one she raised for so many years, and childbirth was no easy feat.

best way to shower his wife with affection. He got up and took Angela’s album from

snorted and leaned against his shoulder. “Why are you getting

look at the photo album. Gilbert went out to take a call, while Daphne busied herself

the world was covered in a layer of clean, white

a photo of me with my diaper soaking wet?!” Angela called out

her hands and turned to the man

smirked and did not protest. After turning the page, he saw three-year-old Angela who was a

yearn for a daughter—one that would be as pretty and

rest of his

a daughter! One that looks just like you,”

Angela smiled. “Alright.”

at photo after photo as Angela described the event or

It was now afternoon.

entire morning reading in the study. All of a sudden, she recalled the little kitten she saw with Ren the last time. He didn’t take it home with him. Did he leave it at a pet store for them to take

books, so she reached out to grab it. She yanked on

catch it before it fell to the ground, a few photos still fell out and scattered on

saw the photos. They were photos of her when she

take a closer look, she realized they were photos taken of her when she was four or five years old.

a rather pompous and overbearing expression on her face. She was surprised

ugly-looking photos of me when he could’ve kept nicer

notebook. Instead, the notebook was filled with squiggly lines and scrawled writing that seemed to have been done

three-year-old? Was it me? Is this mine from

found a

skipped a beat. Ren must have taught her how to write when she was little. As she continued staring at the writing,

to find traces of love etched in time, after all. Ruka rested her chin on her hands and thought about how well-hidden Ren’s love for her had been. If it had not

but Ruka could still recall how fierce he was when he lectured her all the way home

perfect all this while. It felt like the star student was pairing up with the one who scored

as well. She was going to pretend that she never

to know if he could bring

was

half past five that

the door to greet him. As soon as Ren got out of the

with his long arms and kissed her

the trunk and took out the

someone to look after the kitten, but it’s yours to care for now, Miss Singed. We’ve brought the food and

out of the carrier and the kitten began to meow weakly in her arms. Her

cute! Let’s raise

agreed with an indulgent expression,

you and the cat,”

bodyguards had cleared off. Her heart felt warm and fuzzy as she said, “I’ll raise the cat and

a deal.” They walked into the house with the

with the cat, Ren and Elijah headed

won’t use your

exposed my relationship with Ruka, it won’t affect my chances during the elections. However,

to keep Miss Singed

family was well-protected, so now, Ruka was

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255