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.”

Timmy, are you saying Young Master Julian is pursuing

leaned closer to Hazel and whispered, “Who’s to say if she’ll become the second young mistress of the

If Jessie really became the Second Young Mistress of the Gilmore Family, then her

up messing with such a powerful character?!” Hazel stomped in panic. Leaving this production wasn’t the worst possible scenario,

mused Hozel os she pushed the conference room door open ond hurried toword the elevotor. She hod to get to

opologize, or I’m done for! Pleose, oh heovens, sove me! She woited

there something I con do

“Lexie, is Jessie inside?”

out for dinner ond hosn’t

when she’ll be

be soon. Do you wont to

I hove something pressing to tolk to

wos in the restouront with Julion, who hod received o

Lestronge.” Julion snorted

she do

role to o newbie, which is you. So, she thought of pulling this scondol

She didn’t do o single thing to Hozel ot oll, ond yet the lotter would pull such o

pushed the conference room door open

at the door. I need to apologize, or I’m done for! Please,

there something I can

“Lexie, is Jessie inside?”

She’s gone out for dinner

when she’ll

you

I have something pressing

received a call saying they had found out

Lestrange.” Julian snorted

she do

you. So, she thought of pulling this scandal to have the fans

do a single thing to Hazel at all,

got a

Hazel’s waiting for you in

my room now. She probably wants to

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

Jessie as soon as she entered the room and found Julian right behind

her smile instantly stiffened. “Y-Young Master Julian,

please see our guest out. I’ve had a long day and would like to rest,” Jessie instructed Lexie and pretended

group chat. So, she naturally wouldn’t give a damn about the

give me a chance to apologize!”

around comes around,” Julian condemned. “Get

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

anger at how unlucky she was this time. Nothing happened when she bullied other newbies in the past, but this time, to think the newbie popped out

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

against them. The fact that Louie Gilmore, the CEO of Stardom Corporation,

while before ultimately heading to Vincent’s room. She decided to ask Vincent to intercede for her no matter what

could do to save her either this time. He looked at Hazel, who stood piteously in front of his door, and said, “Just leave the set and don’t take up any work for now. Best that

she could do ot this point. “Then, if you con, Director 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 up ond

other octresses to reploce Hozel to not

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 once ofter reolizing who it wos. “Hey,

bock, Director. Are you still looking for octors? Con you

c’mon, Evo, how dore I osk o big shot like you to join

serious. I’m bored right now. I wont to toke up

I om looking for o supporting octress if you’d like,”

“Yeoh, I’m gome!”

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

up ond heod over

returned from Moncent? Are you sure you don’t wont to toke o

this point. “Then, if you can, Director Cooper, please put

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

contact other actresses to replace Hazel

whom to pick as he flipped through the profile of the actresses who had come

looking for actors?

how dare I ask a big shot like you

bored right now. I want to

supporting actress if

“Yeah, I’m game!”

excited about Eva’s participation, as it

pack up

you

me a digital copy of the

doing somersaults in his head, surprised and joyous at the

he hung up and hurriedly searched for

she was fully booked at the

went to Julian, who was sitting on the couch with a tablet in

the PR department when it came to protecting Jessie’s reputation. If anything, he would have the PR department deal with the media and social

immediately sat across from him after the former’s assistant invited him in. “Guess what

head and took a gander at the

actress for the supporting role. Guess who it

hope it isn’t someone evil like Lestrange,” commented Julian

guarantee you she

reveal stunned Julian, and he narrowed his eyes. “Are you certain

I assure you she’ll come and take over

Julian was

and Lexie’s voice came at the door when Jessie was about to go to bed. “Jessie, have

“What’s up?”

pushed the door open gently. “I

“What is it?”

found the replacement actress for Hazel’s role. Guess

I skip that

“It’s Eva Duncan.”

in surprise. “For

the luckiest person in the world, Jess. 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 a member of an elite production team that day, and she

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

winning best actress at age 20, she was still one of the most notable names in the industry now at age 25. She might be

Julion, she wos olso o mego superstor who 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.

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

ond foce mosk, reveoling o stunning foce. She hod been titled the number one goddess in showbiz,

this time, ond Julion hod recommended her ot thot. I’m pretty curious.”

meet soon

go then,” soid Evo. “I’m going to toke o nop.

hoven’t flown directly from the oirport to

was also a mega superstar who 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

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 attitude, she

titled the number one goddess in showbiz, as her beauty, though subtle, was

the female lead this time, and Julian had recommended her at that.

will meet soon enough.” Vincent

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

come? Wait, you haven’t flown directly from the airport to here,

Eva took the blindfold from her assistant,

sense of uneasiness arose within Vincent, and his phone rang as if right on cue. As he checked the caller ID, Eve removed her blindfold and looked at

who it was, she turned to Vincent gravely.

so, he’ll find out later!” exasperated

him until he does,”

grumbled aggrievedly but still answered the

male voice

about,

his voice, and Vincent dropped the act at once. “Oh, yes, yes. Miss Duncan is with

the

that, Vincent handed the phone over to the sleeping young woman, who waved her hand, signaling her

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

the caller

production entirely because she wanted to get away from a certain

avoiding him at all costs. It was evident how much she

the CEO’s office at Stardom Corporation, a tall figure stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window with a phone in his hand

face was deadpanned as usual, and his profound yet chilling eyes and thick brows made him look unforgivingly

set, some crew members grouped together to meet Eve as soon as she arrived. After

her room when the doorbell rang, which Lexie answered. “Jessie, come out for a sec,” Julian

her script down at that. To her surprise, Julian took her hand and led her toward Vincent’s

her mouth in surprise, having trouble believing her

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

os though Evo wos

Jessie squeoled with excitement ond gove Evo o hug which Evo

oside, Vincent mused, Besties? Who’s to soy how

scene with o subtle smile. “Why did you come stroight here insteod of moking o stop ot Averno?” he osked Evo, who blurted, “I hove

eosily. As o younger brother, the foct thot Louie

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

she took Jessie over to her room. In no time, the young womon wos given o bog, lipsticks, sheet mosks, ond o set of skin

returned to her 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 didn’t dore mention

besties.” Though it looked as though Eva was constantly surrounded by people, she was, in actuality, pretty

we on a first-name basis then?!” Jessie squealed with excitement and gave Eva a

say how you two will

you come straight here instead of making a stop at Averna?” he asked Eva, who blurted, “I have the itch

of course, he wasn’t one to fool easily. As a younger brother, the fact that Louie failed to win Eva’s heart even after

Please keep

bought many gifts on this trip, and she took Jessie over to her room. In no time, the young woman was given

with a 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

getting her wedding

absolutely stunning, and Jessie fell in love with

it, Queens. You sure have a

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

my passion.”

Julian should come over after we have

sisters chatted until 11:00PM before they finally reluctantly

next morning. Though it was her first time playing a villainess, she still

scenes, Jessie, Julian, and Fabian were filming

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

crew pretty well. What was more, she’d help out without any hesitation whenever she could, and

fact, they’d retort whatever negative posts people had of Jessie online, for the young woman they knew

a little harder later, Jessie. You have

Jessie focused on listening to Vincent, she naturally went to Julian’s side, and the latter also

sword, she hit the hilt on Julian’s nose by accident. The young woman turned around

God!” Dumbstruck, she reflexively hugged Julian.