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.

I’ll tell you. Back then, someone wanted Kevin’s heart, and my parents didn’t dare to

core. Even the

Kevin was forced to donate 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

looming dizziness. It was a huge blow to

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

were forming in her eyes. “Are you sure about this?

the truth. I’m telling you 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? He’s afraid of karma!”

Ellen well not because of love, but to repay

the perfect timing to tell you

lying!” Ellen closed her eyes, not wanting to

right? Well, it’s all from the Presgraves. My parents didn’t give

cheeks. Ellen had previously made a few speculations regarding the reason behind her uncle’s

was the price for Kevin’s

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

to build a nation. What can we expect from them? A sheer little threat is enough to force my parents to sign the agreement. Otherwise, both of us wouldn’t be able to be here right now. They didn’t have

she raised her voice. “What did they do to take Kev’s heart away? Tell

were about to remove the

his heart away, by force at that! I can’t believe that I didn’t know about this all those

way to see you. We

the strong ones just because we’re poor and powerless? I will never step back from this!” Ire had long prevailed over Ellen’s rationality.

the mirror in the hotel room. Her idea worked! If Ellen decided not to

person who would need to face an infuriated Ellen was

just found out about it not long ago. Don’t do anything stupid,

up. “It must be Mr. Presgrave! Don’t open the door, Ellen!

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

cheeks, yet her heart was blazing in grief, hatred, and anger. They stirred her heart into turmoil, urging her to murder the man outside

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

front of him had a resentful gaze. It was

at his chest. “Does that belong to

this? I was going to tell you. The donor was your brother.

the guiltier he felt. However, he was grateful to

into tears. Her body teetered, and she

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

rather prop

heart squeezed. “Do you hate

“Why? Do you feel accepting his heart is

the way

taking his heart by force, you monsters!” The girl in anguish could not take

I was able to survive, thanks to him, and my family is eternally grateful to yours. It is only today that I found out you didn’t get your due from the agreement. I’m hurt and angry at your uncle’s family. Ellen, please give me another chance to make

predicament. She

you won’t do anything silly.” He was

and the company, and I won’t touch any of those things you bought me. I don’t wish to see you ever again.” Her

to soften his voice. “Ellen,

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 tears, but he knew she would hate whatever he did

the cat. After settling it into the box, she gave it to him.

for real, and if he forgot about it instead, the cat might starve to death. He held the box as she closed the door loudly, failing to bring himself to leave the place out of worry. This

all, Connor and Olivia kept the seven-year-old girl in the dark, so how could

her and love her

packing her stuff behind the door while anything that did not belong to her

to be pulled over by Olivia. “I found a way to

was

Plus, we’ve gone bust. If she insists on getting the money from us, we’ll have no choice but

cut to the chase!” He

donation agreement. She can’t even bear the sight of Mr. Presgrave now. If she happens to call you, just tell her the same story. That way, she’ll resent the Presgrave Family to

paused momentarily. “Are we not gonna

be afraid?” Olivia rebuked confidently. “Do you think she can seriously pull something on

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 to feed. I won’t

about them. The Presgrave Family was no longer their backup, and all they had left

until then that she realized how many things Jared had given her. She looked at her phone, which was

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

the hall on the second floor when the dialer’s name gave him

something to ask you.”

about your brother’s donation to

you to sign the agreement? Did they force us to donate Kevin’s

figured it was fine to lie to make her hate the Presgrave Family. “Yeah, they did. If I didn’t sign

would they have

a rich family? Even if they didn’t

be honest. Is

After the surgery, they even stopped by to thank us and

in suits came to Connor’s place and gave a credit card right in front of her eyes! So, that was

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

has passed for many years. You should lead a good life too. If anything happens, I will 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

She bit her

that’s how it is for normal people like us. Don’t ever gamble your life. And one more thing—stay away from Mr.

sharp

sure. We weren’t allowed to enter

They dug his heart out before he

could not stop crying. Right now, her only wish was to leave everything 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

gentle Jared approached her. “Ellen,

a single word as tears streamed down her cheeks. The sheer sight

you a ride.” He entered the elevator

he wished that she would yell or vent her emotions at him as long as it was

entrance of the neighborhood. She was pulling her luggage as he trailed behind her. She hailed a

wanna see you.” She turned around with resentful and sorrowful

you want to see

lifetime.” She

I return Kevin’s heart?” He patted his chest. “If you

hurriedly looked back at him with frantic eyes, fearing that he might do something

her gaze and added, “I can wait for

poor boy was bedridden, waiting to be saved, so who was she to despise him for that? Although she did not wish to see him, she had never thought

It’s just hard for me to look you in the

were on the ground, prompting her to pop her head

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

do something like this again. It’s dangerous,” she reminded. Later, she averted her gaze back to

the bodyguards gazed at Jared’s scraped

should we go

“Sir, are you alright?”

his head before something occurred to him. “Follow

to stay, it would be

Jared heaved a sigh, her final words easing his heart a

Ellen shouldn’t be that emotional upon knowing the truth. Clearly,

so it was not a forceful deal. Therefore, he wondered why the permissible deal sounded like a deception

from the Aguirre Family. Perhaps

he put it that way. The Aguirre Family feared the notion of Ellen coming after their money under Jared’s support. Thus, they decided to seize the chance to drive a

the story. If they lied that it was a forceful donation, she would resent