Never Too Far Novel

“Next question. What does Connor have to do with Kevin?”

“After Kevin’s parents passed away, Connor—his uncle—and his wife Olivia became his guardians.”

Something invisible squeezed Jared’s heart and he placed his hand on his chest. “Do you know that Kevin had a younger sister called Ellen?”

“I think he did, but she was very young back then. We didn’t look into much of that family.”

“Are you aware that Connor hogged all that compensation money and consigned his niece to an old lady? He did not look after her for the past sixteen years.” Jared could not smother the pain in his chest.

He realized that Ellen’s brother was the one who donated his heart to him, and Ellen did not know a thing about the donation. Otherwise, she would’ve told him when they were at the cemetery.

Darn it! He slammed his hand on the steering wheel, making Benjamin flinch. Benjamin hurriedly comforted, “Mr. Presgrave, calm down. You mustn’t be too emotional!”

“You had one job and yet, Ellen did not get her due at all. Connor and his family took all the credit. She has had a hard time since young. You guys are partly responsible for that.” Jared’s expression turned grim. His fist could’ve landed on Benjamin’s face if he did not rein in his temper.

Benjamin was so frightened that he let off the steam by criticizing Connor. “How can they not look after the donor’s sister and enjoy the money by themselves? They’re ridiculous!”

Benjamin suddenly thought of the rumor that had been circulating in the company. I think the rumored girl is Ellen too. Are they the same person? Gosh… He’s gonna tell me off for sure.

“Find out how Connor spent that money. I’ll ask Ellen to get ’em back.”

“What about this time? Are you still going to give him money?”

“I will, but not to them.” Jared snorted coldly. For the past few years, Jared had already repaid Connor enough for signing the contract back then. Now, it was time for Ellen to reclaim what was rightfully hers. Jared would make it happen.

Then, he requested Benjamin to get out of the car so that he could go to Ellen, whom he missed so much. Strong guilt was fettering him. I have her brother’s heart, yet she is clueless about it. How am I supposed to tell her the truth so that she won’t get hurt?

Connor left the cafe when he happened to see Benjamin entering a car. “Mr. Stark, could you give me a lift?”

Benjamin could not bother to straighten up his attitude. During the past sixteen years, he was in charge of handling Connor’s matters and requests. Connor was so shameless that he could send his daughter abroad to pursue her studies by using the Presgrave Family’s name. Yet, the donor’s sister did not benefit from anything.

“Sorry, but I have a meeting to rush to,” Benjamin replied as his visage grim.

The sensitive Connor noticed the change in Benjamin’s attitude, so he bent over. “What’s the matter, Mr. Stark? Did I say something wrong?”

“Mr. Aguirre, I think you should figure things out on your own. There are certain principles that we must abide by as humans. How could you cross the line?” Benjamin wanted to teach him a lesson.

Connor’s neck turned crimson. “I can’t follow. What did I do?”

“Say, does the donor have a sister? Did she benefit anything from the deal? Do you know how angry President Presgrave is?”

Connor’s mind went blank, and he was jittery. “Mr. Presgrave already found out about it?”

“He’s not an idiot. Just who are you trying to fool?”

Did Mr. Presgrave see through my lies? Is he aware of Kevin’s identity?

Connor’s countenance turned pale for embarrassing himself. He resented Olivia for coming up with this horrible idea. Forget about the money, I bet Jared would not even wish to see me anymore.

Benjamin drove his car away, leaving Connor standing all alone in the same spot. It took him a while before he called Olivia.

“Honey, how did it go?”

“Your idea is literally stupid. Mr. Presgrave has found out that Ellen’s brother is Kevin, and you told me to blabber all those nonsense to him? Do you think he’ll give us the money now?”

“What? He knows that Kevin is Ellen’s brother? Honey, did you actually do as I say? How can you be this silly? I was just thinking out loud. You shouldn’t have taken it seriously.” She refused to take the blame.

“You! I-If we don’t get the money, you’re gonna get it from me.” His ineptitude made him vent his anger on his wife.

Meanwhile, Olivia was an irresponsible person who never acknowledged her wrongdoings. The money received from Jared was the reason Connor and Olivia could put up with each other this long. Otherwise, they would’ve separated ways eons ago.

Connor’s face was burning in embarrassment.

We’re done for. We’re not getting another penny, and now Ellen’s gonna come after us.

On the other hand, Olivia was equally livid after the phone call. She dialed Selena right away.

“What? Mr. Presgrave found out that Kevin is Ellen’s brother? We’re doomed, Mom. If Ellen knows that we didn’t give her a share of the money, she’s gonna take her revenge!”

“I doubt she dares! She was way too young back then. What did she even know at that age? Even if we had given some money to her, would she have been able to use it?” Olivia acted like an elderly person with a conventional mindset.

“Mom, it’s possible, if Mr. Presgrave helps her. With his backing, she might be able to take away half of the assets we own right now.” Selena, who had been to college, knew the laws better.

“What? Is it that serious? What are we gonna do?” Olivia was surprised because Selena had a point.

“We mustn’t sit still doing anything. It’s possible that Ellen will hate Mr. Presgrave if she knows that he has Kevin’s heart. Let’s hope that she’ll hate him.”

“Ellen is head over heels for him, though. Why will she hate him?”

“Tell her that the Presgrave Family set Kevin up when he hadn’t passed away. That way, she’ll resent the Presgraves to the bone.”

“Will it work?” Olivia was at her wit’s ends.

“Trust me. Mom, just sit back and watch. I’m sure this will drive a wedge between her and Mr. Presgrave. Alright. I think I should give her a call right now.” Selena had to be one step ahead of Jared before he revealed the truth to Ellen.

Selena, who was at a hotel, dialed Ellen’s number. Meanwhile, Ellen was patting the cat on the balcony. Life was peaceful and wonderful at that moment.

Suddenly, her phone rang. Her brows knitted when she realized that it was a call from Selena.

Why is she calling me?

Ellen decided to ignore it, but Selena did not stop calling her.

Did something happen to Uncle Connor? His affair is a time bomb after all.

She answered the call at long last, albeit with an unfriendly tone. “Hello.”

“Thank God you answered the call. You know what? I overheard something shocking and I must tell you this.” Selena sounded urgent.

What is it?”

“It’s about Kevin. I overheard my parents talking. It is shocking.”

Ellen frowned. “Just tell me.”

“Listen, you better break up with Mr. Presgrave. Don’t hesitate or you’ll feel sorry for your brother,” emphasized Selena on purpose.

“Why?” Ellen could not understand the situation.

“Just do as I say, or you’ll regret it.”

“I’m done talking to you.” Ellen knew that favorable words would never come out of Selena’s lips.

tell you. Back then, someone wanted Kevin’s heart, and my parents didn’t dare to tell you. They’re from a

Even the cat in

his heart. Wanna know who the donee was? Jared Presgrave. He was in dire need of a healthy heart, and his parents found us. They threatened Dad and Mom and offered a deal, so they had no choice but to sign the contract to protect us. Ellen, I

shut her eyes, feeling the looming dizziness. It was

heart by force? So, he was buried without a heart? Why was it Jared? Why did

in her eyes. “Are you sure about

for your sake. Don’t be fooled by his looks, money, and gentle side. Think about it, why is he treating you so well? Isn’t it because of Kevin?

not because of love, but to repay Kevin’s

waiting for the perfect timing to tell you the truth so that you

can’t be true. You’re lying!” Ellen closed her eyes, not wanting to accept

loaded with Dad’s salary, right? Well, it’s all from the Presgraves. My parents didn’t give you a single penny because you were young back

visage. Tears began streaming down her cheeks. Ellen had previously made a few speculations regarding the reason behind her uncle’s sudden wealth; even the other relatives gushed about

the price

Uncle Connor do that? How could they take Kev’s

threat is enough to force my parents to sign the agreement. Otherwise, both of us wouldn’t be able to be

she raised her voice. “What did they do to take

doctor told my parents to be ready to give up on him. They were about to remove

could they take his heart away, by force at that! I can’t believe that I didn’t know about this all those years.”

the way to see you. We

poor and powerless? I will never step back from this!” Ire had long prevailed over Ellen’s rationality. Now, the Presgrave Family

idea worked! If Ellen decided not to marry

to face an infuriated Ellen was none

sorry, Ellen. I just found out about it not long ago. Don’t do anything stupid, okay?” Selena

Selena quickly wrapped it up. “It must be Mr. Presgrave! Don’t open the door, Ellen! Honestly,

and Selena pouted. Alas. Only if I could witness what’s

while her hands formed into tight fists. Tears trickled down her cheeks, yet her heart was blazing

stop ringing. Next, she opened the door to reveal a huffing Jared,

a resentful gaze. It was as if she was

her teeth, she pointed at his chest. “Does that

I was going to tell

he felt. However, he was grateful to God for bestowing such a fate to let him meet her,

suddenly burst into tears. Her body teetered, and

hugged her waist to pull her into his arms. The dizzy

She’d rather prop herself against the wall instead of letting him touch

squeezed. “Do you hate

gazed at him. “Why? Do you feel accepting his heart is

I rushed all the way here to apologize to you,”

You and your family should apologize to my late brother for taking his heart by force, you monsters!” The girl in anguish could

onto my life when my parents sent me to the hospital. We contacted your uncle, and he agreed. I cannot be any more grateful to your brother. I was able to survive, thanks

self-destructive predicament. She raised

but promise me that you

and the company, and I won’t touch any of those things you bought

anxiety, but he tried to soften his voice.

eyes and placed her hand against his chest, whereas the man was confused by her actions. The steady heartbeat rendered it impossible to fight back the tears in her eyes; he dared not move a muscle, letting her be. No one knew how much he wanted to wipe off those

the living room for the cat. After settling it into the

the cat for real, and if he forgot about it instead, the cat might starve to death. He held the box as

and Olivia kept the seven-year-old girl in the dark,

will protect her and love her

her stuff behind the door while anything that did

over by Olivia. “I

was

they break up? Plus, we’ve gone bust. If

the chase!” He glared at

us to sign the donation agreement. She can’t even bear the sight of Mr. Presgrave now. If she happens to call you, just tell her

paused momentarily. “Are we not gonna

so why should we be afraid?” Olivia rebuked confidently. “Do you think she can seriously pull something on us? Even if that happens, we can just settle it with some

right. With Mr. Presgrave’s support, Ellen can take away half of our assets at any time. Now, my investment has gone out of the window, and I have two families

He thought they would be able to get out of trouble again, yet Benjamin could not care less about them. The Presgrave Family was no longer their backup, and all they had left was the assets in their possession right now. As an afterthought, he

herself to pack her stuff. It was not until then that she realized how many things Jared had given her. She looked at her phone, which was a present from him, and

that year to validate Selena’s words. In the end, she contacted Connor,

second floor when the dialer’s name gave him a bag of

something to ask

about your brother’s donation

sign the agreement?

to make her hate the Presgrave Family. “Yeah, they

they have

if they didn’t tell us what they’d do to us, we wouldn’t

be honest.

After the surgery, they even stopped by to

the day Kevin passed away, a few men in suits came to Connor’s place and gave a credit

sat upon her chest and stifled her breath, whereas tears wet

help you.” Connor comforted her, and the tad of guilt in him remained only for a fleeting second, though. “Ellie, listen. You must not be at odds with the Presgrave Family. They’re loaded and powerful. If you

I be afraid?” She bit her lip. “They can just come

Being able to live a peaceful life is our blessing. At least that’s how it is for normal people like us. Don’t ever gamble your life. And one more thing—stay away from

sharp pang pricked Ellen’s chest, making

We weren’t allowed to enter the operating room.”

pain. They dug his

Jared gave her. She removed the SIM card to insert it into her old phone. Next, she pulled out her luggage and opened the door. To her surprise, the man was leaning against the wall

gentle Jared approached her. “Ellen, where

streamed down her cheeks. The sheer sight of him

entered the elevator with her

her emotions at him as long as it was not a cold treatment. At that point, it felt like she was

as he trailed behind her.

see you.” She turned around with

will you want to see

in this lifetime.” She

me if I return Kevin’s heart?” He patted his chest. “If you hate the idea of me using his heart,

him with frantic eyes, fearing that he might do something stupid as

added, “I can wait for another donor. If you want it back, I can remove

he was only ten back then. The poor boy was bedridden, waiting to be saved, so who was she to despise him

for me to look you in the face.” She wiped her tears and

on the pedal and almost dragged the sophisticated man along the road. Jared’s knees were on the ground, prompting her to pop her head out of the window to check on him. At

reprimand the driver when he pre-empted her. “You’re welcome, miss. You should stay away from a scumbag like him. A handsome man with a slick

this again. It’s dangerous,” she reminded. Later, she averted her gaze

the bodyguards gazed at Jared’s

go to

“Sir, are you alright?”

occurred to him. “Follow her. I have to know

have a place to stay, it would be difficult to track her

instant, two bodyguards drove off while Jared heaved a sigh, her final

shouldn’t be that emotional upon knowing the

wondered why the permissible deal sounded like a deception to Ellen. He fully believed in his parents, who would never do something like

news from the Aguirre Family. Perhaps they contorted

Family feared the notion of Ellen coming after their money under Jared’s support. Thus, they decided to seize the chance to drive a wedge

that note, everything Ellen knew was based on how the Aguirres told her the story. If they lied that it was a forceful donation,