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.

chase. “Wait, hold on! I’ll tell you. Back then, someone wanted Kevin’s heart, and my parents didn’t

the core. Even the cat in her arms fell onto

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 sign the contract to protect us. Ellen, I apologize on

feeling the looming dizziness. It was

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

eyes. “Are you

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!” Selena prattled nonsense, but it

well not because

naive. You fall for him just because he’s nice to you. He’s waiting for the perfect timing to tell you the truth so that you won’t resent

lying!” Ellen closed her eyes,

how we became rich overnight. Guess why. It’s impossible to be this 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

drained from Ellen’s 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 it

price

How could they take

It’s the Presgraves! They’re the top dogs! Their assets alone are enough to build a nation. What can we expect from them? A sheer little threat is enough to force my parents to sign the

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

They were

I can’t believe that I didn’t know about this all those years.” Daggers pierced

down, Ellen. I bet Mr. Presgrave is on the way

we’re poor and powerless? I will never step back from this!” Ire had long

in the hotel room. Her idea worked! If Ellen decided not to marry Jared and dwelled in the painful lie, she wouldn’t be in a

would need to face an infuriated Ellen was

out about it not long ago.

this moment, both of them heard the doorbell ring, so Selena quickly wrapped it up. “It must be Mr. Presgrave! Don’t open the door, Ellen! Honestly, I still can’t see through

Selena pouted. Alas. Only if I could witness

at the door while her hands formed into tight fists. Tears trickled down her cheeks, yet her heart was blazing in grief, hatred, and anger. They stirred her heart into turmoil, urging her to murder the man outside at

closed her eyes for a few seconds as the doorbell did not stop ringing. Next, she opened the door to reveal a huffing Jared, who

standing in front of him had a resentful gaze.

pointed at his chest. “Does that belong to my

I was going to tell you. The donor

he was grateful

tears. Her

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

of me! Don’t touch me!” she screamed. She’d rather

“Do you

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

I feel guilty about it. I rushed all the

brother for taking his heart by force, you monsters!” The girl

her emotional reaction. “Ellen, it’s all my fault. I ran into a serious accident when I was ten. I was barely hanging 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 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 it up to you.”

innocuous beast in despair, she mired into a self-destructive predicament.

me that you won’t do anything silly.” He

get out of here and the company, and I won’t touch any of those things you bought me. I don’t wish to see

to soften his voice. “Ellen, we can work this out. Please don’t

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

the cat. After settling

He held the box as she closed the door loudly, failing to

girl in the dark,

protect her and love her forever in her

behind the door while anything that did not belong to

pulled over by Olivia. “I found a way to stop Ellen from

was a

to her if they break up? Plus, we’ve

cut to the chase!” He glared

the donation agreement. She can’t even bear the sight of Mr. Presgrave

momentarily. “Are we

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

investment has gone out of the window, and I have two families to feed. I won’t be able to choke up the money for Ellen. It’s

to get out of trouble again, yet Benjamin could not care less about them. The Presgrave Family was no longer their backup, and

how many things Jared had given her. She looked at her phone, which was a present from him, and felt relieved for not discarding her old one yet. It could still

details of what happened that year to validate Selena’s

going to drink in the hall on the second floor when the dialer’s name gave him a bag

something to ask you.”

brother’s donation to

agreement? Did they force us to donate Kevin’s

to make her hate the Presgrave Family. “Yeah, they did. If I didn’t sign

would they

go against a rich family? Even if they didn’t

honest. Is

the surgery, they even stopped by to thank us and stuffed us with money. Ellie, I was

men in suits came to Connor’s place and gave a credit card right in front of

weight sat upon her chest and stifled her breath, whereas

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 make a ruckus, you’ll be in danger.” He

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

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 Mr.

much pain?” A sharp pang pricked Ellen’s chest,

weren’t allowed to enter the operating room.”

so much pain. They dug his

wish was to leave everything Jared gave her. She removed the SIM card to insert it into

approached her. “Ellen,

single word as tears streamed down her cheeks. The sheer sight of him made her

give you a ride.” He entered the elevator

yell or vent her emotions at him

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

my hand. I don’t wanna see you.” She turned around with resentful

will you want to see

lifetime.” She

patted his chest. “If you hate the idea of me using his heart,

at him with frantic eyes, fearing that he might

can wait for another donor. If you want it back,

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

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

were placed against the window, the driver stepped 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 the same time, six bodyguards

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

do something like this again. It’s dangerous,” she reminded. Later, she averted her gaze back to the neighborhood, which shrank into a tiny dot. I

hand, the bodyguards

go to

“Sir, are you alright?”

head before something occurred to him. “Follow her.

did not have a place to stay, it would be difficult

bodyguards drove off while Jared heaved a sigh, her

emotional upon knowing the truth. Clearly,

before proceeding with the transplant, so it was not a forceful deal. Therefore, he wondered why the permissible deal sounded like

Aguirre Family. Perhaps they contorted the

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