Never Too Far Novel

“To me, you guys are polar opposites. No matter how similar you both look on the outside, your personalities are obviously different. Queenie Silverstein, you should have more faith in me,” Nigel replied solemnly.

As soon as Queenie heard that, her confidence immediately returned and she hummed in response before saying, “Okay. I’ll let this go.”

“Do you have any plans for tomorrow?” she continued.

“If you agree to have lunch with me, then I will have a plan for tomorrow,” he replied.

Suddenly, Queenie felt a surge of anticipation in her chest. “Sure! Let’s do that.”

“Rest early and don’t think about anything else.”

“So, I can’t think about you tonight? Sure, I’ll do that,” she deliberately teased.

Nigel was speechless. “Except… for me. Think about me.”

“Will you be thinking about me too?” she asked.

“Yes.”

Finally satisfied, she concluded, “Good. I’ll be thinking about you too. Good night.”

“Good night,” he responded.

Queenie waited for a while before hanging up. With anticipation, she was imagining her lunch date with Nigel tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Bonnie had changed into casual clothes and was having her meal downstairs. She asked her mother, “Mom, are Queenie and Young Master Nigel dating?”

“Judging by the situation, I think they are.” Maggie was happy, as she no longer had to worry about her eldest daughter since Queenie was such a lucky person to have met Nigel. For now, she only had to worry about her younger daughter’s future.

“Mom, do you really think that our family can match up to the Manson Family? What if Young Master Nigel is only playing her?” Bonnie asked worriedly.

Truth be told, Maggie was also worried about that matter, for she did not want her daughter to fall for an ungrateful person either. With a frown, she stated, “I will tell Queenie to be more alert. If he is playing with her feelings, then she should stop this relationship and not let it ruin her life.”

“Mom, don’t worry. I’ll help Queenie keep a lookout as well.” Bonnie smiled.

Assuming that it was a kind gesture, Maggie grinned approvingly. “That’s good! This is how sisters are meant to be; always loving, helping, and thinking about each other.”

At about 9.00AM next morning, Courtney heard the doorbell ring before she went to open the door. It was then she saw Leslie standing there with a bouquet of flowers in his hands.

“Mr. Payne, you’re here so early!”

Although Leslie still had a bandaid on his face, he looked to be in high spirits as he dressed up handsomely. He held the flowers in his arms, came into the house, and entered the dining room.

Brandon had left early in the morning whereas Bonnie and Queenie had just finished their breakfast while Maggie was instructing the servants about something.

Just as Bonnie was about to head upstairs, she heard footsteps coming from the entrance and turned her head to see Leslie walking in with a bouquet of flowers. Her expression immediately turned disdainful and she rolled her eyes. “Leslie, didn’t I make myself clear? I told you to never come—”

However, before she could finish, she saw him walking toward the couch with the flowers and knelt on one knee before the couch where Queenie was sitting. “Queenie, please accept these flowers. They are a token of my gratitude.”

Queenie was stunned for a few seconds. Is Leslie giving me flowers? What’s going on?

“Leslie, you’ve got the wrong person!” She frowned.

On the other hand, Bonnie also wondered if Leslie had hit his eye in the car accident yesterday. Otherwise, why was he unable to differentiate between Queenie and herself?

Although Bonnie had given up on him, watching him present flowers to her sister made her feel uncomfortable.

“No, I’ve got you right. This flower is meant for you, Queenie. I apologize for all the hurt I’ve brought to you. Please forgive me.” Leslie felt like he had been reborn and did not even spare Bonnie a glance since he came in.

Meanwhile, Bonnie bit her red lips as she looked disbelievingly at what had happened. Did Leslie just ignore me and is now confessing his love for Queenie?

“Leslie, I heard that you got into an accident yesterday. Where are you hurt?” Bonnie took the initiative to ask about his well-being and walked toward the couch.

As the man turned his head to look at her, his eyes were no longer filled with affection anymore; instead, there was only coldness. “I don’t need your sympathy.”

“I’m sorry. It was all my fault. I shouldn’t have left you behind and caused you to get into an accident.” While saying so, Bonnie was shooting him with eyes full of grievances. Back then, she only had to frown a little and Leslie would buy her gifts to coax her.

At first, she thought that Leslie would still care about her feelings like he always did. Yet, she only heard him snort lightly. “I was blind. How could I have left such a good woman like Queenie and get seduced by a heartless woman like you?”

“Excuse me. Did you say I’m heartless? How am I heartless?” Bonnie refused to admit that.

Watching them about to get into a heated argument, Queenie wanted to leave as she stood up and said, “You guys go on. I’ll be in my room.”

However, Leslie grabbed her wrist as soon as she rose to her feet. “Queenie, don’t leave.”

Immediately, she withdrew her hand and warned, “Don’t touch me.”

Despite being given the cold shoulder, Leslie did not show any displeasure. On the contrary, he smiled and offered, “Since we can’t be lovers, can we be friends?”

Bonnie’s eyes were wide with shock. Has Leslie fallen for Queenie?

Clearly, Queenie did not want to have anything to do with him, so she went upstairs, but Leslie had no intentions of leaving either. Meanwhile, Bonnie sat on the couch and pretended to be aggrieved.

She wanted to test Leslie’s reaction because she did not believe that he would forget about her overnight. In fact, she was confident that her charms could keep him around.

As soon as she noticed he had turned his head to look at her, her eyes reddened. “I’m sorry, okay? I didn’t want to hurt you last night. I was mad.”

However, she did not know that the car accident from last night almost killed Leslie. After the near-death experience, he finally understood that the most important thing in the world was not outer beauty but having a conscience.

“We’re done. All I want to do now is to compensate for what I’ve done to Queenie,” he stated.

“Leslie, have you forgotten how she brought Nigel to dinner last night and humiliated you? I don’t recall seeing her being sad about that!” Bonnie snorted lightly and argued.

At that moment, Leslie received a call before he answered it while rising to his feet. “Has everything been sent over?”

Then, he quickened his pace out the door. Bonnie involuntarily got up and stood before the French window, wondering what he sent over. As he was from a well-off family and was not a stingy person, the gifts he had given her throughout the six months they were together might have exceeded a few hundred thousand.

Soon after that, she saw him returning with three employees from a jewelry store. They were wearing gloves as they carefully drew out four sets of jewelry from the suitcases they had brought.

The sun was shining down on them, making the jewelry dazzle ravishingly, and every piece made Bonnie’s heart skip a beat. These four sets of jewelry must have cost at least a hundred thousand! When has Leslie become so generous?

“Mr. Payne, the jewelry you ordered has arrived. Please sign here.”

“Very well. I’ll contact you if there’s any issues.” Leslie nodded as he sat down on the couch.

Once the jewelry store employees had left, Bonnie quickly sat down beside him and pointed at one of the necklaces. “Leslie, the dress I ordered just happens to need a matching necklace! Can you give me this one?”

“You see these four sets of jewelry? Well, none of them are yours and you can stop dreaming about it. These are all for Queenie.” After finishing his words, he shut the jewelry boxes and carried them upstairs.

Bonnie, who was left alone in the living room, narrowed her eyes and secretly stomped her feet. As expected, one never knew what they had until they lost it. At this point, she realized that she was now more attracted to Leslie than before.

Yet, the man only had eyes for her sister now.

On the other hand, Queenie was passing the time in her room by flipping through books. She was waiting for the clock to strike 11.00AM so that she could leave for her date with Nigel. Unexpectedly, someone knocked on her door.

“Queenie, open up. I have something to tell you.” The sound of Leslie’s voice rang from the outside.

Frowning, she wondered why he had yet to leave. She wanted to ignore him, but he would knock on her door every few seconds, which annoyed her. Thus, she got up and opened the door to see him carrying a few jewelry boxes in his arms.

“Queenie, why don’t you have a look at these and see if you like them? I picked them out especially for you.” Leslie clumsily unlatched the first jewelry box to show her the contents.

However, Queenie merely swept her gaze over the jewelry before looking back at him. “Leslie, I’m telling you, don’t bother me ever again. We can’t even be friends, let alone be lovers, so please leave my house.”

Leslie pursed his lips. Of course, it did not feel good to be rejected, but the usually proud and arrogant man was humbled at this moment. He reasoned with her while hugging those jewelry boxes to his chest. “If you want me to leave, sure, I’ll leave, but you have to accept these. I’ve hurt you so much, so I must compensate for it.”

Before Queenie could react, he pushed her door open and placed all the boxes on the couch in her bedroom. Then, he turned around and left.

“Leslie, take them with you,” she called out from behind him.

However, Leslie ran downstairs and left through the living room. Bonnie approached him and wanted to converse with him, but he did not bother to even spare her a glance.

“Leslie,” she called out again as she bit her lips.

After he left, Queenie looked annoyedly at the four jewelry boxes without any desire to look at them. For her, those were not anything good; they were trouble.

Before she could close the door, Bonnie came over with a resentful expression. “Queenie, what did you say to Leslie last night? Did you talk sh*t about me?”

She believed that Queenie definitely had something to do with why Leslie suddenly changed his mind about her.

While raising her eyebrows, Queenie questioned, “Didn’t you say you never loved him? You should be happy he chose to break up with you.”

A wicked glint flashed across Bonnie’s eyes as she smiled. “That’s right. I don’t love Leslie anymore because I fell for another man.”

heard those words, her expression fell. She could guess who Bonnie was talking about as she clenched her fists. “Bonnie, you can have whatever that belongs to me, but that man… I suggest that

could use against Queenie, Bonnie smirked even more triumphantly. “What right do you have to warn me not to touch him? Aren’t all men

did not know where her rage came from, but when she saw the smug look on

from the slap was loud and crisp. Though Queenie never slapped anyone, Bonnie had stepped

However, just at that moment, she heard her parents’ voices

Where is he?” It was

wait for the day where you’ll be chased out

ran into the

“Ahh!”

into the doorframe as a trail of blood was running down her hairline. It was not serious, but the blood that flowed down

of water when they heard the commotion from upstairs. They did

be so ruthless as to run into the wall and injure

when she saw the terrifying scene of her daughter lying on the floor with her face

struggled to get up and looked at Queenie with her innocent

Send Bonnie to the hospital. She’s going to

his arms and yelled at Queenie, “What did you

She ran into the wall herself.” Though Queenie was telling the truth, the

Queenie. Besides the blood flowing from Bonnie’s forehead, there was a visible handprint on one side of her face,

words in disappointment, she

daze while standing there. Tears of grievance welled up in her eyes as she thought about the questioning gazes her parents threw at her as if she was a

took a deep breath and suddenly had the thought of

move

closet, took out her suitcase, and began to pack her clothes. She

in the hospital

was left by the slap, the nurse applied some topical medication on it to help with

what were you guys arguing about? Why did

I said something wrong

you say?” Brandon

wronged. Does breaking up with Leslie mean I wanted to snatch her boyfriend from her? How could she think of me this way?” As Bonnie narrated her sob story, she wiped her tears

Brandon’s gaze and sighed. “Is

you or hit you for that matter. If you had to be taught a lesson, we should have been the ones to do it. She’ll get it

my face. S-She wanted to ruin my face! I was so scared!” After saying that, Bonnie

You both are twins. Of course, you two

she wanted to disfigure me.” Bonnie was desperately trying

a good child and she wouldn’t have such bad thoughts. Bonnie, you must have misunderstood her.” Maggie did not believe her

loves Young Master Nigel so much that she wouldn’t let anyone steal him from her. She must be in over her head. That’s why she did this to me, but I understand her and don’t blame her.” Bonnie put on a selfless act while smiling. “I hope she and Young

other as enemies and they

parking lot of the Silverstein Residence. She loaded her suitcase onto the passenger seat of her car before stepping hard on

Instead of letting

talk to them

road, she

my way to pick

need. I drove my car

keenly caught something wrong with

a fight with my sister. I want to move out for a while.” After saying that, she asked, “Does your hotel offer monthly

meet up

“Alright.”

where she and Nigel agreed to meet. Very soon, a black SUV entered the

around his and showing off her victory to her. At

someone like Bonnie get

to her. Seeing that she was in a

Queenie was stunned. She felt a warm feeling inside her when he held her hand and all the grievances she had suffered at

her, Nigel healed

as he asked,

Bonnie was plotting to get close to seduce

he was someone who other women could

what kind of person he was first and foremost. She smiled

don’t have to stay at the hotel. You can think about

such a hassle?” Excitement secretly flashed across her eyes. She had thought about living at his home, but she was too embarrassed to mention

twenty-four

his lips into a smile, he persuaded, “Did you forget? If we were to be together, wouldn’t we have to live closer together? Otherwise, how will you get to know me

few seconds. Does

your offer.” Queenie still remembered his junk food stash. If she stayed at his home, she would be able to eat all the snacks she wanted for free. She could use dating him as

to his suggestion, he could not help but wonder

was so naive that he felt worried for her. Therefore, he would only be reassured if

Queenie’s phone rang. She glanced

decided to answer the call in private so that he would not watch her

Soon, she grabbed her phone, exited the

father’s first words would be very loud, she pulled the phone

you?” As expected, her father’s voice

before putting the phone closer to her

you’re still in the mood to eat? You’re lucky Bonnie isn’t disfigured. Do you know what

hit the part of her head that she could cover with her hair. No matter what, Queenie

did it to herself.” Queenie could not help but reason to him because she had no intention to

could she do this to herself? Also,

everything I did, but I will never admit to something I didn’t do.” She was also a person with integrity. If she did it, she would admit it, but if she did not, she would not

since she was young. You’re her older sister, so can’t you be nicer to her?” Brandon was also at a loss for what to do. He thought he had spoiled his eldest daughter so

back her tears, Queenie bit her lips and stated, “Dad, I’ve already decided to stay at a friend’s house for the time being. I think this home will

mean to chase you away… Why are

don’t have to worry about me. Take good care of my injured sister.” After saying that, Queenie hung up. Now, it would be more peaceful at

At the Silverstein Residence.

call, she pretended to come down the stairs and asked, “Dad, where is Queenie? Did she find a place

always been stubborn and she’d hide from us every time we wanted to lecture

Could the friend Queenie was talking about be Nigel? Was

she could get her parents to scold Queenie and drive them away from each other. Yet, she never expected she would give Queenie another reason to leave home to find Nigel. It was such a careless

Nigel was unlike Leslie. She could not meet him as

think Queenie is staying at her friend’s. I think she’s staying at Young Master Nigel’s

wondered if it might be true. Was his eldest daughter staying at Nigel’s home? It seemed like his daughter had grown up and

character and I hope he could be my future son-in-law too.”

have to find me a better guy next time. I don’t want to marry into a family that is not as good as Queenie.” Then, Bonnie shamelessly ran toward

I have the chance. Oh, right. I have an invitation to a banquet on Friday

a high-end

largest business banquet Averna has had in recent years.

see the most was none other than Nigel. As long as

a banquet and used some

like Nigel. She

Back at the restaurant.

good mood as Bonnie had given her a

father scold you?”

did, but I’m thick-skinned enough to not be afraid of getting a scolding from him!” She smiled as she

to Nigel’s home. As she got to the parking lot, she discovered her car

be a sports car,

it someday.” The gaze Nigel showered at

sports car, Nigel opened the door for her to get inside and feel how it was to sit inside a sports car. She stayed in the car and looked around for quite a bit

brought into the elevator by Nigel as they went straight up to the third floor. She was shown to the guest room she previously stayed in, where she saw the few dresses

she had planned for a long stay, she brought many clothes with her and a full set

things, she came out of her room and sat on the couch in the third-floor living room. While she was looking out at the scenery, she felt a hint of sorrow rising inside

without having to help Bonnie clean up the mess she made and

I do about this sister

her sight line. Her eyes lit up, and all her worries were thrown out the window as she reached for the box of chocolate and looked up at the man offering it to her. “How did you know I like

finish two boxes of these chocolates last time? I had three boxes, and this is the last one,” Nigel spoke while sitting down beside her. Then, Queenie silently returned the box to him.

of chocolates back into her arms. “Good things are meant to be shared with the people

widened in astonishment as if those words were sweeter

he liked about her, she felt happy to be

of chocolate, she unwrapped the first

and waited for him to finish before feeding it to him. Unexpectedly, he mischievously held her hand and brought the half-eaten chocolate to her

a bite!

of chocolate into her mouth while blushing and tasted the same rich taste from the same chocolate piece he had

have easily finished the whole box alone, but since two people were sharing it, the chocolates disappeared

not had enough, she said, “This chocolate is so good.

and smiled. Not being available in the country did not mean that he could not get his

and Queenie just happened to see Julian’s name. She thought, So these two handsome fellows

“Hey, Julian.”

over to your place and play some games

you to come over during this near

is it inconvenient?” asked

“What do you think?”

As expected from the person who drew up with Nigel, he got it right on

anyone about this.” Nigel did not want to publicize this matter, as it was better to date someone in the dark. If anyone found out about this, especially

come to your senses?” Julian asked. “Invite her out for a meal with us

eventually.” After Nigel finished, he

that Julian Gilmore, the movie star?” Queenie asked with a curious

that she was Julian’s fan, so before she could completely

He probed while narrowing his

my friends are swooned by

man’s eyes were dangerously narrowed