Never Too Far Novel

Josephine hadn’t accepted even one gift that Luke gave her throughout the time he pursued her, and neither did she ever give any suggestive remarks. Luke had been one-sidedly pursuing her all this while.

“Although Josephine and I have only known each other for a few days, my love for her is no less than yours. You should back off!” Ethan warned Luke.

“Why should I?” Luke immediately blew his top. He was still reluctant to give up on Josephine and her grandfather’s connections. He couldn’t just let go, considering how his company needed those connections to build up its network.

This happened to be something about Luke that Ethan had seen through. “It seems to me you’re not in love with Josephine. You have your eyes on her grandfather’s authority and connections, huh? Someone like you does not deserve to love Josephine.”

Luke was completely triggered by Ethan’s words. He suddenly roared, “Ethan Quarles, this is my territory. You’d better not mess with me, or I will make life a living hell for you!”

Josephine was taken aback by how Luke suddenly threatened Ethan, and she quickly tried to persuade Luke to calm down.

“How am I supposed to stay calm? I’ve been pursuing you for a year, and now someone else got in the way and took you away from me! Do I look like a pushover?!” I need to teach him a lesson! he thought.

Seeing how agitated Luke was, Josephine took a deep breath and insisted, “Luke, it doesn’t matter who came first. I was the one who fell for Ethan and actively pursued him. It has nothing to do with him.”

Josephine’s words seemed to have stabbed Luke right where it hurt. It felt like he had lost his sanity at this very moment as his dignity as a man was trampled on. No matter what, he knew he needed to vent his anger toward Ethan. His fists were already clenched as he stared at Josephine with an unwilling gaze. “Josephine, do you really like him that much?”

It was obvious that Luke had lost his temper after being embarrassed. He was also no longer patient or polite toward Josephine.

She firmly answered him, “Yes, I love him.”

Suddenly, Josephine was roughly shoved by Luke, whose clenched fist was already swinging at Ethan’s face.

When he raised his fist, Josephine, who had been pushed aside, almost instinctively pushed back. Luke couldn’t stop his punch in time.

Bam!

The fist socked Josephine straight on the cheek, hurting her so badly that she fell back into Ethan’s arms.

Ethan wanted to protect Josephine, but his hand was a second too late. As he tightly hugged the woman, he sent Luke flying when he kicked out with his long leg. However, the corner of Josephine’s mouth was already torn as it started bleeding as she lay against his chest.

“Josephine!” Ethan’s heart was broken as he called out to her. He wanted nothing more than to punch himself across the face when he saw the blood trickle from her mouth.

Meanwhile, Luke got up and started panicking. He didn’t expect to hit Josephine in the face.

He finally came back to his senses when he saw the pale woman drenched in cold sweat, leaning against Ethan’s chest with blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. “Joey, I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!”

He tried to approach her, only to hear the other man angrily yell at him. “F*ck off! Stay away from her!”

Ethan’s gaze shot at Luke like a sharp knife, and he protected Josephine in his arms with his torso so that Luke wouldn’t hurt her anymore.

Josephine’s cheek hurt so badly that she couldn’t speak, but still, she uttered in a hoarse voice, “Let’s go.”

“Josephine, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to do that. I wasn’t trying to hit you.” Luke finally realized that he and Josephine couldn’t even be friends after his punch.

She glanced back at him. “Luke, I know you didn’t hit me on purpose. I willingly took the punch on his behalf.”

Ethan’s eyes narrowed when he heard that. “Don’t ever do something so stupid again,” he grunted as he held her close. His heart ached for her.

Josephine tried to put on a smile, but the movement tugged on her injury, making her hiss in pain.

“Alright, stop talking. I’ll take you to the hospital.” Ethan helped her out of the private room after saying that.

Luke was left to blame himself. He truly did love Josephine, but he no longer had the right to seek her hand.

Josephine went for a check-up at a nearby hospital. The examination showed only skin swelling and a cut on the corner of her mouth. However, half of her face had become swollen, making her too embarrassed to see anyone. She didn’t want to see Ethan, as she wondered if he would find her appearance ridiculous and unattractive.

“I won’t eat dinner. I want to go home. D-Don’t bother walking me back. I’ll take a cab,” Josephine said as she held onto her swollen face and tried to leave quickly.

Seeing through her thoughts, Ethan couldn’t help but chuckle and ask, “What? Do you think I will find you unappealing because of your appearance?”

She remained silent without responding, prompting him to state firmly, “I will only feel sorry for you, never disgusted.”

“I can’t face my parents right now. I’m afraid they’ll think I’ve been bullied outside, especially if I tell my grandfather. I can’t go home.” Josephine quickly thought of this and looked at the man who didn’t mind her appearance. “Can I stay in your hotel suite for two nights until my swelling goes down?”

“Of course,” Ethan replied, thinking he needed to buy a villa as soon as possible. He couldn’t keep letting this girl stay in the hotel with him forever.

Back in the car, Ethan thought about what Josephine had said to Luke earlier and turned to ask her, “Are those words you said earlier genuine?”

Josephine blinked, immediately recalling what she had said earlier. One side of her face blushed as she mumbled, “I just wanted to dispel Luke’s thoughts of pursuing me.”

She hadn’t given much thought to whether it was sincere or not. Those words had just come out without much consideration.

“Anyway, I’m touched tonight,” Ethan said happily, even though she had suffered.

Josephine blinked. She was willing to take that punch for him. She would have been heartbroken if Luke had punched Ethan in his handsome face.

Forget it. I’ll take the pain!

Since she had insisted on bringing Ethan here tonight, she could not possibly let him get hurt.

Josephine told her mother she had to stay temporarily with her colleague to complete their work. Her mother asked who the colleague was and whether it was a man or a woman. Josephine replied that it was Wren, and her mother agreed.

With a swollen face, Josephine followed Ethan back to his hotel. He ordered a big meal when they arrived since they were both hungry.

Josephine went to the bathroom and looked at her swollen, red face in the mirror, feeling bitter inside.

When will the swelling go down? I’m not pretty right now.

They had a romantic dinner seated by the French windows, but Josephine couldn’t shake off the feeling of misery. She lowered her head and ate her food in small bites. However, it occasionally tugged at her wound, causing her to gasp in pain.

“Take your time,” Ethan urged her on the other end.

Josephine put down half of her hair to cover up her swollen face. Ethan saw her small actions, but he didn’t know how to comfort her. Truth was, he genuinely didn’t care. Even with half of Josephine’s face swollen, it didn’t affect his fondness for her.

After dinner, Josephine suddenly remembered that she had to work overtime to finish her article that night. “Goodness, I still have to write a news article. I need it early tomorrow morning.”

Josephine finished eating and sat on the couch, thereafter turning on her computer to start working. Her slender fingers danced on the keyboard, showing her experience in writing news articles.

It was said that hard-working men were the most handsome, but hard-working women were equally charming. Ethan sat at the table, holding a glass of red wine, admiring how this woman worked seriously. He couldn’t take his eyes off her.

Josephine’s hair covered one side of her swollen face, but the other side remained delicate and beautiful under the light. Her gaze exuded a professional and competent aura. Ethan felt sorry for her and brought a glass of water over, placing it in front of her. “Take a sip of water before you continue writing.”

Josephine picked up the water glass and murmured gratefully, “Thank you.”

Meanwhile, Ethan sat on the couch, staring at her screen. She blushed a little and mumbled, “Don’t look.”

It was because she was writing a piece that mentioned the relationship between the sexes. Although she had never been in a serious relationship, her words were delicate and sharp when she wrote this type of article, as if she were an experienced person in love.

Truth was, Josephine was a girl who often burst out with dirty jokes among her colleagues, and sometimes with her friends too.

“Why can’t I look?” Ethan couldn’t help but ask with a smile when he noticed the headline she wrote, ‘Who likes doing the deed more, men or women?’

“I just don’t want you to look.” Josephine covered her computer and blushed.

“Where did you get the experience to write these news articles?” The man did not let her off the hook and continued to ask.

Josephine’s face turned red upon realizing that Ethan had seen what she wrote. “Have you never heard of someone imagining things?” she stuttered.

Ethan burst out laughing. “Are you writing based on your imagination?”

“We conducted a survey report.” With that, she moved her computer to the couch to write. While writing, she muttered, “I will also have to send the manuscript to my desk later.”

Ethan was slightly surprised to hear that. “It’s so late. Are you returning to the company?”

“Yeah!”

“I’ll have someone else send it for you. It’s too late, so don’t go.” Ethan felt sorry for her. After all, she got beaten up today and needed rest.

“Really? Thank you!” In fact, Josephine didn’t want to face her colleagues now. Their imagination was even richer than hers. They would surely spread rumors about her being the homewrecker who got beaten up by the original partner. There would be no reasoning with them.

It was not until 11.00PM that Josephine handed the manuscript to the person Ethan had summoned. After that, she went into the bathroom and looked around. She didn’t know if it was because of the medicine she applied or her young age, but the swelling on her face had disappeared. She looked no different from usual, except that it was still red.

After coming out of the bathroom, Josephine looked at Ethan, who was in the master bedroom. She thought she should go over and say a few words before closing the door and going to bed.

She saw that the bedroom door was not closed, so she walked over. However, before she could knock, a warm figure with only a bath towel wrapped around the waist appeared before her eyes.

He had broad, sturdy honey-colored chest muscles and solid, tough muscle lines below the abs. After the shower, there were even some blood vessels showing.

At that sight, Josephine mused, What a great body! He’s parading it for me?

Ethan looked at her dumbfounded expression and was open about it, ruffling his wet hair and asking with a smile, “Like what you see?”

Josephine gulped discreetly, forcing herself to move her eyes away and stare at the floor. She blushed and mumbled, “I’m returning to my room. Goodnight.”

“Wait a minute.”

Josephine quickly stopped in

man suddenly picked up a bag and handed it to her. “Here’s

Josephine took the bag and saw a thin, burgundy nightgown inside. Her mind buzzed for a moment.

face.” The man was still unsure about her face and wanted to recheck it before

step back. “T-That’s alright.

already ugly enough. She couldn’t possibly show it

realized the handsome guys she usually saw were nothing compared to him. Ethan’s figure is genuinely top-notch! I should have looked at him more instead of

It fit her perfectly, revealing her charming curves which

She wasn’t sleepy and wanted to watch some news, so she decided to go and get

unpredictable. Just as she headed toward the couch, a man wearing only his pajama pants appeared from the balcony where he had just

two of them met in the dimly

chest awkwardly and said, “I’m looking for

was hidden underneath her formal work clothes. Josephine searched through the couch cushions, but the more she hurriedly looked for her cell phone, the harder it was

you need any help?” Ethan shook his cell phone. All he had to do was make a call and they would be able to locate

him with a pleading expression. “Please

Josephine’s cell phone and discovered it was wedged into the gap in

pushed it

but couldn’t. At that, Ethan quickly approached her. Bending down,

breathed, a hint of an alluring scent emanating from her as her pretty face blushed. She took two steps back, placing one

found it amusing that two people dressed like that

and romantic happen

long and he quickly picked up her phone. Josephine took it gratefully and thanked

subtle under the light. It looked as if it was made to be easily torn off, arousing thoughts of carnal desire in

nervous and flustered. Ethan had just moved the couch with force, and now it was diagonally in front of her.

She cried out as her head hit the back of the couch, leaving her kneeling in a

thin nightgown. Before she could

embraced each other, with Ethan’s

but at the moment, she was more focused on the fact that she

to my room,” a

Ethan suddenly carried her and took her straight back to her room. “I’ll

before going out today.” Josephine was rather speechless

said, “Do you remember what you

Josephine didn’t have a

said I’m a jinx reborn and whenever you’re around

take back that statement!” she muttered. “I was just angry at the time. Please don’t

her face, which meant that her chest was not covered. Coupled with her being held in Ethan’s arms, the nightgown’s low V-neck neckline

a light fragrance in his arms kept

ashamed. At this moment, the man leaned over and kissed her on her delicate collarbone as

see Ethan holding

blinked her beautiful eyes, not understanding what he

her and

he meant and buried her face in the blanket. “Ethan, go back to your room

at the embarrassed woman before him. He didn’t tease her anymore

was still happy deep down. It was just

…

went to the bathroom. She was relieved to see that her face was much better.

if she could ask for a day off today. She couldn’t help but

company right by my side? It shouldn’t be difficult to

went out. Meanwhile, Ethan had already gotten up and was standing on the balcony,

I take a day off?”

and added, “Is one

I can take a whole week off?” Josephine was overjoyed upon hearing that. Taking time off from the TV station was

for me,” Ethan said. He suddenly realized that becoming her boss meant

first, then!” Josephine didn’t need

phone call to Atticus to approve Josephine’s

take three days off. She held her face and looked at the scenery of

downstairs for breakfast,” Ethan

thought, Can I

time off. Usually, she

you come shopping with

Ethan smiled. He wanted to buy her some clothes

finishing breakfast, Josephine used the only makeup she had in her bag to apply some light makeup, mainly covering the slightly red half of her face. The

While shopping, Josephine was finally able to experience the feeling of being envied by others because when Ethan held her

out eight sets of clothes for her, which Josephine could tell were intended as gifts. She didn’t refuse and willingly went along with it

she had given him something to hold over her head and had to

Ethan would get tired, but it turned out that she was the one who got tired because

he finally took her to a real estate agency, where he wanted Josephine

Josephine was surprised and asked, “Why do you want to settle

at her and said,

Josephine was shocked.

down in this

the hotel after dinner, it was already 9.30PM and Josephine was exhausted from walking around. She took off her makeup and looked at herself in the mirror, her expression betraying a hint of exhaustion. All she wanted to do was take a

shower and thought about it, then decided to go out and bid Ethan good night. She wore one of her shirts over her pajamas before pushing the door open. She knew

man was elegantly opening a bottle of red wine at the small bar. Josephine

he going

a glass?”

didn’t love drinking, but she didn’t want to miss this beautiful moment. Drinking a glass with Ethan

she walked over and sat on the chair as she waited for him. Meanwhile, Ethan poured half a glass of wine and handed it over. Josephine took

“Delicious.” Josephine smiled.

and charming jawline, not to mention the throbbing of his Adam’s apple when

elegant and attractive in everything he did. Even his

to clink her glass with his. Ethan smiled and took another sip. He propped his chin up, and the

under the

the influence of alcohol, and just like that, she greedily stared at the man’s face. She found a small mole on the tip of his nose, adding a different sense

good-looking?” Ethan

do you think?” Josephine

“Can’t get enough of

her cheeks and murmured,

this a confession?”

of her red wine before pursing her lips and smiling. “You can

date, then!” Ethan stated in

didn’t pretend anymore. “Okay, but I have to ask you two

aback but he hoarsely murmured, “Sure

have a formal girlfriend overseas?” Josephine

shaking his

approve of you dating a girl from a

After giving it some thought, he stated, “My family hasn’t made any such demands of me.

nodded and said,

she was after his money or his person, the fact was that she had fallen for him and had a

and stood up. He leaned close to Josephine, his handsome face closing the distance. Josephine’s breathing hitched as she thought, Is he going to kiss

was a little confused as to why it was only a brief kiss, but the man chuckled and explained, “Your

that Ethan had noticed that detail. However, she

drink and said, “I’m

that, Ethan gently

Josephine turned back and replied before going to her room, feeling satisfied and filled with expectations for

Jared. Jared thought Ethan had returned, not

still in

staying here for half a

serious

“We’re officially dating now.”

the afternoon and get to know each

meet!”

when she heard she would have lunch with the Presgrave couple. At 12.00PM, Jared brought Ellen along, who was already five months pregnant and had a slightly protruding belly. However, her figure was still as slender as a young girl’s. She wore a delicate champagne satin dress that exuded an

went up and gave Jared a fist bump. The two men had their own way

She had heard that the latter had met and fallen in love with Ethan at

caught my bouquet, didn’t you?” Ellen asked

nodded proudly. “Yes,

together. It means that the next wedding

After all, once she got together with Ethan, she would surely want

hope so!” Josephine

similar and their other halves were good friends, so they naturally

lunch, the two couples parted ways. Jared accompanied Ellen to have a prenatal check-up in the afternoon while Ethan took Josephine for

discussions about her relationship with Ethan and various rumors were spreading in the group she

who

the first to take the lead in every group where she was present. She would harshly criticize Josephine and reveal

help but ask

a few seconds as she looked at the message sent by Wren. Wren had asked, ‘Joey, did you seduce our new

‘Where did you hear that

in the company’s groups is talking about you. Don’t you know?’

‘What?’ Josephine felt overwhelmed.

is spreading rumors and

car was a gift

anymore and replied, ‘Yes, it

really

was reading a message in the group that said, ‘How

snorted and replied directly, ‘Sorry, we’re

the employees who were online as the person involved had now admitted to

in. ‘Josephine, how shameless can you be? You say you’re dating,

enough! We want to

post a selfie with

were eager to kick her while she was down. They were convinced that Josephine was putting on a