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.

someone wanted Kevin’s heart, and my parents didn’t dare

the core. Even the cat in her

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

shut her eyes, feeling the looming dizziness.

took Kev’s heart by force? So, he was buried without a heart?

eyes. “Are you sure about this?

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!”

was saying Jared treated Ellen well not because of love, but to repay Kevin’s

to you. He’s waiting for the perfect timing to tell you the truth so that

Ellen closed her

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 young back then. They have been saving it for your dowry.” Selena was set

regarding the reason behind her uncle’s sudden wealth; even the other relatives gushed about it

price for Kevin’s

Uncle Connor do that? How could they take

could they do? 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 agreement. Otherwise, both of us wouldn’t be able to be here right now. They didn’t have a choice, Ellen.” Selena fanned

the best of Ellen as she raised her voice. “What did they

my parents to be ready to give up on him. They were about to remove the machine from Kevin when the Presgraves came.” Selena made an

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

is on the way to see you. We should

fear 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. Now, the Presgrave

If Ellen decided not to marry Jared and dwelled in the painful lie,

an infuriated Ellen was none other than

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

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

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

ringing. Next,

front of him had a

his chest. “Does

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

the guiltier he felt. However, he was grateful to God for bestowing

suddenly burst into tears. Her body

pale complexion, Jared hurriedly hugged her waist to pull her into his arms. The dizzy Ellen shoved

screamed. She’d rather prop herself against the wall instead

“Do you

feel accepting his heart is a matter

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

should apologize to my late brother for taking his heart by force, you monsters!” The girl in anguish could not take it

I was able to survive, thanks to him, and my

a self-destructive predicament. She raised her head, revealing her hatred-filled eyes. “You done? Get

but promise me that you

it’s none of your business. Do not make me hate you more, Jared Presgrave. I’ll get out of here and the company, and I won’t

anxiety, but he tried to soften his voice. “Ellen, we can

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

returned to the living room for the cat. After settling it

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

the seven-year-old girl in the dark, so how could Ellen

protect her and love her forever

behind the door while anything that did not belong to her

over by Olivia. “I found a

was

Presgrave. What happens to her if they break up? Plus,

chase!” He glared

called Ellen to drive a wedge between the couple, and Ellen is misled into believing that the Presgraves forced 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 the same story. That way, she’ll

paused momentarily. “Are we

confidently. “Do you think she

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 be able to choke up the money for Ellen. It’s not bad

attempt to get money, he sighed. 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 became petty. Right, we mustn’t

many things Jared had given her. She looked at

details of what happened that year to validate Selena’s words. In the end, she contacted Connor, whom

floor when the dialer’s name gave him a bag of nerves, but he picked up the phone nevertheless.

have something to ask you.” She

be about your brother’s donation to the

to sign the agreement? Did they force us to

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

they

and naive about the world, Ellie. How can someone like us go against a rich family? Even if they didn’t tell us what they’d do to us, we wouldn’t be able to survive after getting in

be honest. Is

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

a vivid image in her memory. On the day Kevin passed away, a few men in suits came to Connor’s

and stifled her breath, whereas tears wet

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 tried to make her perceive the

I be afraid?” She bit her

that’s how it is

much pain?” A sharp pang pricked Ellen’s

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

much pain. They dug his heart out before he

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

her. “Ellen, where

tears streamed down her cheeks. The

entered the elevator with her while

wished that she would yell or vent her emotions at him as long as it was not a cold treatment. At that point, it felt

her luggage as he trailed behind her. She hailed

don’t wanna see you.” She turned around with resentful and sorrowful

you want to see

in this lifetime.”

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

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

noticed the concern in her gaze and added, “I can wait for another donor. If you want it back, I

was she to despise him for that? Although she

hard for me to look you

and almost dragged the sophisticated man along the road. Jared’s knees were on the ground, prompting her to

he pre-empted her. “You’re welcome, miss. You should stay away

misunderstanding something, sir. Please do not do something like this again. It’s dangerous,” she reminded. Later, she

hand, the bodyguards gazed

should we go to the

“Sir, are you alright?”

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

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

bodyguards drove off while Jared heaved a

that emotional upon knowing the truth. Clearly, someone provoked her with

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

news from the Aguirre

the notion of Ellen coming after their money under Jared’s support. Thus, they decided to

how the Aguirres told her the story. If they lied that it was a forceful donation,