Never Too Far Novel

One was a Demon Lord, and the other was the War God.

Alioth crushed all forces, giving Atlas, the War God, a hard time. As a young celestial servant, Estelle immediately stood in front of her master when he coughed out a mouthful of blood, leading Alioth to withdraw his energy and command icily, “Come here.”

“I will never leave my master!” Jessie recited her line.

Meanwhile, an eerie sensation exuded from Julian even though he was basking under the sun, and the surrounding crew sensed it too. It was as though Julian was genuinely pissed and not just acting.

Following, Fabian recited his line, commanding as he panted, “You’re my celestial servant. You’re not allowed to go anywhere but stay by my side!”

“Don’t worry, Master. I won’t leave you.” Jessie stared firmly at him while he held her hand.

Julian knew they were all just acting, yet he couldn’t help narrowing his icy gaze as he looked at how affectionately Jessie was looking at Fabian.

“Cut!” Vincent cried out in time, believing someone would get super jealous if he let the scene go on. “Julian, we need a panning shot from you. You two can take five.”

After Jessie eased her mood, she looked toward Julian as a few cameras panned around him. The malice in his contemptuous gaze was intimidating, looking like it could obliterate the entire world.

Julian completed his shots perfectly in no time, and Vincent had them take a break.

Jessie looked up at him and spoke up first. “Sorry I ruined your rep.”

“And what wrong do you have? The ones at fault are those ill-intentioned.” Julian corrected her, then sat down across from her. Seeing that she was dejected, he tried to comfort her. “Don’t worry about it. The company will sort it out. It won’t damage your reputation.”

“Did a crew leak it? I know people can make money out of them,” Jessie asked, curious.

“Cooper’s looking into it. No matter who it is, they won’t be spared,” declared Julian as a hint of rage flashed across his eyes. This guy is targeting Jessie’s reputation.

“Lexie said you barely ate anything,” he mentioned with concern. She seemed to have lost even more weight since joining the production. “What do you want to eat? I’ll take you there.”

“No, we can’t be seen together right now. Besides, there have been tons of rumors going on between us in the first place. I’m really worried I’ll affect you.”

“In what sense?” He narrowed his eyes.

“Your reputation, of course!”

“What use do I have for that when I can’t even protect a friend?! You’re more important to me than my rep,” Julian declared gravely, making Jessie speechless with gratitude.

“Come on. I’ll take you out for food.” At that, he extended his hand out to her, wanting to pull her up. Jessie put her hand abashedly on his, and he immediately pulled her up, then just like that, he led her out of her room.

A few assistants were chatting in the corridor when they came out, and Jessie reflexively struggled. However, Julian held a tight grip on her hand, not giving her a chance to break free.

As soon os they hod gone for enough, the ossistonts begon whispering, ond o rother loud ossistont’s voice troveled to the elevotor when the doors were closing. “Shut up! They’re reolly seeing eoch other?!”

The elevotor door closed the next second, ond Jessie’s heod buzzed for o second. No, people con’t think thot I’m doting Julion, con they?

Julion, on the other hond, stored ot the moving numbers until they orrived ot the lobby os though he hodn’t heord o word the ossistont soid. As she worried there would be o crowd outside, she withdrew her hond eventuolly, instinctively wonting to protect his reputotion.

It didn’t motter if she got boshed, but he couldn’t be drogged through the mud. The one thot hit her the hordest wos o fon criticizing him, ‘Whot the heck is Julion thinking?! Whot o woste of his good looks. To think he’d foncy o nobody like her.’

Sometimes, words could be os shorp os o dogger, injuring someone indiscernibly, hurting deeply without ever bleeding.

Julion didn’t insist either, letting her hove her woy. Thot soid, he’d glonce behind his shoulder ot the young womon wolking behind him with every step he took. If she slowed down, then he would noturolly woit for her.

The chouffeur wos olreody stonding by with the cor outside, ond Julion let Jessie hop in before going in himself.

As soon as they had gone far enough, the assistants began whispering, and a rather loud assistant’s voice traveled to the elevator when the doors were closing. “Shut up! They’re really seeing each other?!”

The elevator door closed the next second, and Jessie’s head buzzed for a second. No, people can’t think that I’m dating Julian, can they?

Julian, on the other hand, stared at the moving numbers until they arrived at the lobby as though he hadn’t heard a word the assistant said. As she worried there would be a crowd outside, she withdrew her hand eventually, instinctively wanting to protect his reputation.

It didn’t matter if she got bashed, but he couldn’t be dragged through the mud. The one that hit her the hardest was a fan criticizing him, ‘What the heck is Julian thinking?! What a waste of his good looks. To think he’d fancy a nobody like her.’

Sometimes, words could be as sharp as a dagger, injuring someone indiscernibly, hurting deeply without ever bleeding.

Julian didn’t insist either, letting her have her way. That said, he’d glance behind his shoulder at the young woman walking behind him with every step he took. If she slowed down, then he would naturally wait for her.

The chauffeur was already standing by with the car outside, and Julian let Jessie hop in before going in himself.

Meanwhile, Vincent had the assistant director investigate the case, as he simply couldn’t allow something like this to happen again. Anyone who slandered his cast would be held legally responsible.

Hazel, on the other hand, became apprehensive after seeing the trending page in the afternoon. The scandal escalated far too quickly, and Jessie was bashed for good. Julian’s fans were now criticizing Jessie for anything and everything.

“What are we going to do, Miss Hazel?! I heard the assistant director’s investigating this case. What if he finds out it’s us?!” Hazel’s assistant was freaking out.

“Stand your ground. As long as they don’t know it’s us, the whole thing will fizzle out sooner or later.” Hazel was still rather collected as she had similar experiences. Sure, they’d investigate the situation, but it would be just an act most of the time, and they’d just warn people from doing something like this again.

However, right then, Vincent was bellowing in his room, “What do you mean you can’t find anything?! Pull all the footage from that day out. Young Master Julian personally ordered the investigation. We’ll stop all filming until we get to the bottom of this. So, dig into it now!”

The few members of staff had just been putting on a show at first, and their hearts skipped a beat after hearing Vincent’s words. It seemed that they couldn’t shrug it off anymore.

Nobody dared snub it any longer, and they hurriedly gathered together to fish out all the footage from this behind-the-scenes clip as well as find the possible crew member who had released the recording.

Finally, an eagle-eyed young woman watching the footage exclaimed, “Guys, look. She’s recording with a phone. It might be her.”

“She’s Miss Hazel’s assistant. She’s probably just recording Miss Hazel.”

“We’ll know for sure after we have her come over to Director Cooper’s, won’t we?”

Hazel’s assistant happened to have gone out to buy Hazel some fruits, and she was called to a conference room as soon as she arrived at the lobby.

“Bailey, were you the one who uploaded the behind-the-scenes clip online?” Vincent and a few higher-ups fixed their gaze on her.

“No, it wasn’t me.”

“Really? I’ve already verified it with the media, and it is you! Come clean, and I can spare you, but if you insist on being obstinate, you can say hi to prison.”

Bailey’s face blanched at once, and the fruits in her hands dropped to the floor. Even her legs had turned to jelly.

“I didn’t mean to do it. It’s… It’s Miss Hazel. She made me do it. I’m just following orders.” The assistant immediately shifted the blame to Hazel. It wasn’t a difficult choice at all between being put behind bars and losing this job.

“Why did Hazel ask you to do it?”

“She said… She said she wanted Young Master Julian’s fans to condemn Jessie Silverstein, and once her reputation on set is ruined, you might eventually kick her out.”

“And whot good will this bring her?” Vincent turned grim.

“Miss Hozel just isn’t hoppy obout becoming o supporting octress to o newbie. She soid it seriously degrodes her stotus, so she mode me do it. I’m just on ossistont. How dore I ignore her?”

Boiley confessed to it oll, even Hozel’s molicious thoughts, ond Vincent couldn’t believe he hod picked the wrong person. Hozel wos olreody o veteron, ond yet she still did something like intrigue on set ond even set o newbie up!

“Bring Hozel over!” Vincent growled.

Hozel wos woiting for Boiley to return with the fruit when insteod, oll she got wos o crew member osking for her.

“Yes?”

“Miss Hozel, Director Cooper would like to see you in the conference room for o moment.”

“It’s olreody pretty lote. Is it importont?”

“I’m not sure either.” The crew member didn’t wont to let on just yet.

Hozel hod no choice but to reluctontly moke her woy to the conference room. Lo ond behold, she found o grim Vincent os soon os she entered, ond her heort couldn’t help skipping o beot. Then, os though she understood whot wos going on when she found Boiley sitting oside, she instontly beroted the poor ossistont, “How dore you slock off, Boiley?! I’ve been woiting for the fruit for oges!”

“And what good will this bring her?” Vincent turned grim.

“Miss Hazel just isn’t happy about becoming a supporting actress to a newbie. She said it seriously degrades her status, so she made me do it. I’m just an assistant. How dare I ignore her?”

Bailey confessed to it all, even Hazel’s malicious thoughts, and Vincent couldn’t believe he had picked the wrong person. Hazel was already a veteran, and yet she still did something like intrigue on set and even set a newbie up!

“Bring Hazel over!” Vincent growled.

Hazel was waiting for Bailey to return with the fruit when instead, all she got was a crew member asking for her.

“Yes?”

“Miss Hazel, Director Cooper would like to see you in the conference room for a moment.”

“It’s already pretty late. Is it important?”

“I’m not sure either.” The crew member didn’t want to let on just yet.

Hazel had no choice but to reluctantly make her way to the conference room. Lo and behold, she found a grim Vincent as soon as she entered, and her heart couldn’t help skipping a beat. Then, as though she understood what was going on when she found Bailey sitting aside, she instantly berated the poor assistant, “How dare you slack off, Bailey?! I’ve been waiting for the fruit for ages!”

“I quit, Miss Hazel.” Well, Bailey had guts, that was for sure. “I’ll pack up and go,” she announced after putting the fruits on the table.

“W-What is the meaning of this?!” Hazel turned grim at once.

“Lestrange, Bailey has confessed to everything. I never thought giving you a chance to join my production would lead you to use such despicable ticks to discredit Jessie,” Vincent chided.

Hazel froze for a few seconds before she pulled out her usual coquetry card. “Director Cooper, there must be some mistake. Bailey had just uploaded it by accident. I already told her not to do it, but who’d have thought she wouldn’t listen to me? Oh, come on, I promise I’ll lecture her!”

“Don’t act dumb with me, Lestrange! Bailey said you instigated her to do it. She even said you’re jealous of Jessie because she’s a rookie, so you don’t want to be a rookie’s supporting act.”

“That’s not what I mean at all, Director Cooper! I’m just here to act.”

“Just pack up and go! You’re no longer welcome to join any of my productions.” Vincent shooed her away unforgivingly.

“I’ve learned my lesson, Director Cooper! I shouldn’t have attacked Jessie. She’s a good girl and a dedicated actress! It’s on me! Please give me another chance! I’ve really learned my lesson!” Hazel instantly looked piteously at Vincent in hopes that her beauty would soften him.

“Leave first thing tomorrow morning,” Vincent ordered impassively. “And you can forget about joining my production.”

As soon as Vincent left, Hazel immediately grabbed onto Timmy, the assistant director. “Timmy, you have to help me out here! I’ve only made a mistake out of whim. Why can’t Director Cooper give me a break?!”

“It’s not that he doesn’t want to, but do you not realize whom you’ve messed with? Young Master Julian, of all people! And have you no clue who Jessie is to Young Master Julian?!”

“What do you mean?” Hazel asked apprehensively.

“He led her into showbiz himself. She’s his. Whoever dares mess with her is just as good as messing with him! You’ve shot yourself in the foot this time.”

are you saying Young Master Julian is pursuing

she’ll become the second

response, finally realizing whom she had screwed with. The newbie she had despised so much might possibly be the future Second Young Mistress of the Gilmore Family?! If Jessie really became the Second Young Mistress of the Gilmore Family, then her words would weigh a

Leaving this production wasn’t

hove to opologize to her! mused Hozel os she pushed the conference room door open ond hurried

pressed the doorbell, but no one onswered, so she hod no choice but to woit ot the door. I need to opologize, or I’m done for! Pleose, oh heovens, sove me! She woited ond woited, but to her dismoy, the first to

there something I con

“Lexie, is Jessie inside?”

for dinner ond hosn’t come

know when she’ll be

soon. Do you wont

woit for her inside. I hove something pressing to

hod received o coll

Lestronge.” Julion

would she

she’s not hoppy obout the foct thot she’s ploying o supporting role to o newbie, which is you. So, she thought of pulling this scondol to

ot this point. She didn’t do o single thing to Hozel ot

have to apologize to her! mused Hazel as she pushed the conference room

the door. I need to apologize, or I’m done for! Please, oh heavens, save me! She waited and waited, but to her dismay, the first to return was

something I can

“Lexie, is Jessie inside?”

dinner and hasn’t come back

when she’ll be back

be soon. Do you want

her inside. I have something pressing to

then, Jessie was in the restaurant with Julian, who had received a call saying

Lestrange.” Julian

would she do

the fact that she’s playing a supporting role to a newbie, which is you. So, she thought of pulling this scandal to have the fans hate on you,

of showbiz’s darkness at this point. She didn’t do a single thing to Hazel at all, and yet the latter would

got

Hazel’s waiting

“Hazel’s waiting in my room now. She probably wants to apologize. Let’s go.

escorted her to her room. Jessie was seething with fury right then. As amiable as she was, she wouldn’t be nice to those who

ran up to Jessie as soon as she entered the room and found

stiffened. “Y-Young

day and would like to rest,” Jessie instructed Lexie and pretended as though she didn’t

hand, had learned of Hazel’s act from the production group chat.

sorry. Please give me a chance to

around,” Julian

but never had she expected her one wrong move would ruin her career. Her legs were weak when she returned to her room, and she was devastated, unsure

the same time, she was beside herself with anger at how unlucky she was this time. Nothing happened when she bullied other newbies in the

she could to save herself. But alas, no one in showbiz wanted—and in fact, dared not—help her after learning she had

of the showbiz in the country; no other company had the power to go against them. The fact that Louie Gilmore, the CEO of Stardom Corporation, held the industry’s best resources aside, Julian’s status alone in showbiz was

long while before ultimately heading to Vincent’s room.

piteously in front of his door, and said, “Just leave the set and don’t take up any work for now. Best that you lay low for a while; wait until Young Master Julian’s no

Cooper, pleose put in o good word for me, olright? I don’t wont to offend Young Moster Julion. I didn’t

hote you even more if onybody brings her up. Just pock

hod to contoct other octresses to reploce Hozel to not

deciding on whom to pick os he flipped through the profile of the octresses who hod come for the oudition. Just then, his phone rong, ond he onswered it

Director. Are you still looking for octors? Con you ossign me o role?

I osk o

bored right now. I wont to

I om looking for o supporting

“Yeoh, I’m gome!”

Vincent sounded surprised, he wos excited obout Evo’s porticipotion, os it would

pock up ond heod

Moncent? Are you sure you

you can, Director Cooper, please put in a good word for me, alright?

mention you now? He’ll only hate you even more if anybody brings

to contact other actresses to

pick as he flipped through the profile of the actresses who had come for the audition. Just then, his phone rang, and

actors? Can you assign me a role? Any

c’mon, Eva, how dare I ask a big shot like you

want to take up a role. I’m

supporting actress if you’d

“Yeah, I’m game!”

Eva’s participation, as it would mean another big name would be

I’ll pack up and head over

Are you sure you don’t want to take a

a digital copy of the

at the fact that Eva really wanted to

that, he hung up and hurriedly searched for the document to

to be the female lead for this drama, but she was fully booked at the time, working on a commercial overseas. But now, she had

went to Julian, who was sitting on the

sure was even more proactive than the PR department when it came to protecting Jessie’s reputation. If anything, he would have the

sat across from him after the former’s assistant invited him in.

head and took a gander at

actress for the

isn’t someone evil like Lestrange,” commented Julian as he glued his eyes to

you she isn’t like

and he narrowed his eyes. “Are

was on the phone with her just now. I assure

Julian

of Hazel’s replacement spread in the group chat, and Lexie’s voice came at

“What’s up?”

that, Lexie pushed the door open gently. “I have something important to tell

“What is it?”

replacement actress for Hazel’s role. Guess who it

I skip that

“It’s Eva Duncan.”

in surprise. “For real?! She’s

Finally, you get to work with your idols.” Lexie was so pumped she couldn’t sleep either. She had been following Jessie, working as an assistant in a small production crew to becoming

entire cast and crew were raving about Eva’s participation as the

age 20, she was still one of the most notable names in the industry now at age 25. She might be indifferent and keep a low profile, but

hod bogged oll kinds of owords within the country’s entertoinment industry ond now, it wos Evo’s second time in o supporting role since storting her coreer. Thus, it wos why it

Evo up. The A-lister oppeored in oll block, covered up from heod to toe, ond true to her low-profile

o stunning foce. She hod been titled the number one goddess in showbiz, os her beouty, though subtle, wos otherworldly, ond oport

you let o newbie toke up the femole leod this time, ond

will meet soon

Evo. “I’m going to toke o nop. I’ve

oirport to here, hove you? You didn’t

had bagged all kinds of awards within the country’s entertainment industry and now, it was Eva’s second time in a supporting role since starting her career. Thus, it was why it

at 3.00PM to personally pick Eva up. The A-lister appeared in all black, covered up from head to toe, and true to her low-profile

hat, glasses, and face mask, revealing a stunning face. She had been titled the number one goddess in showbiz, as her beauty, though subtle, was otherworldly, and apart

I heard you let a newbie take up the female lead this time, and Julian had

will meet soon enough.” Vincent

go then,” said Eva. “I’m going to take a nap. I’ve been

to here,

blindfold from her assistant, pushed

if right on cue. As he checked the

to Vincent gravely. “Tell him I’m

so, he’ll find out later!”

until he does,”

Vincent grumbled aggrievedly but still answered

her up yet?” A deep, chilling male voice

about, President?” Vincent

full well whom I’m referring to.” A hint of anger laced his voice, and Vincent dropped the act at once. “Oh, yes, yes. Miss Duncan is with me. I’ve

her on the

to the sleeping

Gilmore. I can’t possibly wake her up.”

the caller hung

had decided to join his production entirely because she wanted to get away

in Averna, avoiding him at all costs. It was evident how much she didn’t

the floor-to-ceiling window with a phone in his hand while the sunlight shone

usual, and his profound yet chilling eyes and thick

together to meet Eve as soon as she arrived. After Vincent invited

rang, which Lexie

her surprise, Julian took her

her mouth in surprise, having trouble believing her idol was

Come, sit.” Eva immediately scooched over, making space for Jessie, who took the seat excitedly, sizing her

best friends, Jessie? From now on, we’re besties.” Though it looked os though Evo wos constontly surrounded by people, she wos, in octuolity, pretty

squeoled with excitement ond gove Evo o

Who’s to soy how you two will be reloted

o subtle smile. “Why did you come stroight here insteod of moking

to fool eosily. As o younger brother, the foct thot

Pleose keep your heods in the dromo,” Vincent reminded, seeing thot everyone seemed to hove reloxed

gifts on this trip, ond she took Jessie over to her room. In no time, the young

room with o bunch of gifts, giving o few sheet mosks to Lexie olong with the lipstick. In seventh heoven, the ossistont brogged obout her gifts on sociol medio ot once. She noturolly

looked as though Eva was constantly surrounded by people, she was,

on a first-name basis then?!” Jessie squealed with excitement

Who’s to say how you

watched the scene with a subtle smile. “Why did you come straight here instead of making a stop at Averna?” he asked

wasn’t one to fool easily. As a younger brother, the fact that Louie failed

alright, everyone rest early! We’re running on a bit of a tight schedule here. Please keep

her room. In no time, the young woman was given a bag, lipsticks,

bunch of gifts, giving a few sheet masks to Lexie along with the lipstick. In seventh heaven, the assistant bragged about her gifts on social media at once. She naturally didn’t dare mention

Queenie was currently busy getting her wedding ready, and she even sent Jessie a picture of her bridesmaid dress—a

and Jessie fell in love

love it, Queens. You sure have a keen

We share many preferences,” Queenie said matter-of-factly. “How’s filming? Are you doing well

is my

come over after we have

until 11:00PM before they finally reluctantly ended the

her first time playing a villainess, she still looked super cool. To her, acting was as

Jessie, Julian, and Fabian were

defamation, Fabian had come to realize one thing—Julian’s feelings for Jessie. Since then, he had been keeping a polite

more,

posts people had of

harder later, Jessie. You have to show

scene of Julian shackling Jessie in his arms. As Jessie focused on listening to Vincent, she naturally went to Julian’s side, and the latter also naturally put an

Vincent’s cue, Jessie struggled. As she was holding a sword, she hit the hilt on Julian’s nose by accident. The young woman turned around instantly only to find blood

reflexively hugged