Never Too Far Novel

Chapter 1591-1600

“When the doctor advised us to discontinue treatment, there was a boy in desperate need of a heart in the ER. As we were about to leave the hospital, we were suddenly summoned to discuss organ donation. Finally, we donated Kev’s heart to the boy, and his family later donated 100 million to us,” Olivia stated.

Selena’s eyes widened as she couldn’t believe the family’s money came from this source. Furthermore, it was Kevin, Ellen’s brother, who obtained it for them. “Mom, the person in desperate need of a heart in the past was Young Master Jared, right?” she said after taking a deep breath.

“That’s correct. As a result, the Presgrave Family has always been grateful to us. They will assist us with anything, including your studies. Because of their assistance, you could study abroad and attend a prestigious university.”

“Can we still ask for more money, Mom?”

“Without a doubt. However, we have sufficient funds.”

“We’re not particularly wealthy, Mom. You have no idea how real billionaires live their lives. They can purchase a purse worth millions without batting an eyelid! That is something we can never imagine!” Dorothy had humiliated Selena badly. As a result, Selena despised the fact that her family was not wealthy enough.

“We can’t compete with those billionaires, but don’t we have it all? Besides, Connor is not a glutton. We can’t ask for more when we have enough,” Olivia stated. She desired more, but Connor never requested it.

“Does Ellen know about this, Mom?”

“We will never tell her. We’ll take this secret with us to the grave. Otherwise, Ellen will cause us problems. The Presgraves will then learn the truth. We have no way of explaining this to the family.”

Selena was finally feeling much better. So, Ellen’s brother is entirely responsible for our prosperity and wealth. On the other hand, Ellen reaped no benefits as Kevin’s younger sister.

“I will keep it a secret from her, Mom,” she assured her mother.

“Only the three of us will know the truth, and no one else should.” Olivia kept warning Selena.

“Okay, I will never leak the secret!” Selena promised, not wanting to lose her wealth as well.

“So, Young Master Jared’s heart came from Kevin. Is the young master aware of this, Mom?”

“Certainly not. Young Master Jared was only ten years old at the time. He appeared to have left the country after having his heart replaced. Furthermore, he had no contact with us.”

Selena reasoned that she couldn’t tell Jared about it. He would spoil Ellen if he knew the truth.

“Mom, we have to figure something out! What if Young Master Jared suddenly feels uneasy about his heart and goes to see a doctor about it? Then, he’ll realize Kevin is Ellen’s brother!”

“It’s not possible!” Olivia became pale when she heard that.

“Can we turn Kevin into Dad’s child and make him my brother, Mom? Simply inform everyone that I am Kevin’s sister and Ellen is Kevin’s cousin. Then, Young Master Jared will repay me when he discovers that.”

Olivia was taken aback when she heard Selena’s words. “What are you on about, Lena?”

Selena had suffered severe humiliation earlier on so at this point, she was having a lot of crazy ideas running through her head. She sat next to Olivia and took her arm before saying, “Mom, I believe my

plan is feasible. Allow Kevin to be Dad’s illegitimate son and thus, my elder brother. Because Kevin has died, Young Master Jared cannot discover the truth. If the young master decides to investigate, Kevin’s body is long gone and there is nothing left to perform a DNA paternity test on.”

Meanwhile, Olivia had never considered such a bold idea before. However, after hearing Selena’s words, she felt it made sense.

“Let me consider it. I can’t decide on my own. Your father must help you with this.” It was late at night by the time Olivia finished speaking. Then, she told Selena, “You should go to bed right now. I’m tired as well.”

When Selena went back to her room, she was still processing the truth. She couldn’t help but recall her childhood. Then, she remembered the biting cold little house and her frostbitten hands. Everything changed when she was eight years old. She transferred from a run-down school to a private aristocratic elementary school. Furthermore, she began to wear a beautiful and high-end school uniform. She then moved into her current home and sat in her father’s new car. It continued from elementary school to college, and until she went abroad.

Selena was a very ambitious individual. She felt that her life could not be still. Even though she inherited her father’s money, she thought it was insufficient for her needs.

She closed her eyes but couldn’t fall asleep. In her mind, she was creating a beautiful dream. She fantasized about turning Kevin into her brother, causing Jared to look at her differently due to his gratitude for the donated heart. They then fell in love and began dating.

The sweet dream was shattered the following day by the alarm clock. Selena madly turned off the alarm and covered her head with a quilt.

It was the weekend. Ellen woke up early to take a cab to Lockwood Village, which was about to be demolished, to pack her priceless possessions. She packed many things, some of which belonged to

Jessica and others to her as a child. Then, she took a photo album and flipped through the yellow pages to look at her brother. Her eyes welled up with tears right away.

“How are you, Dad, and Mom doing in heaven, Kevin?” Tears streamed down Ellen’s cheeks and her nose was clogged.

“Don’t worry about me. I’m doing well right now and will take good care of myself.” She smiled with tears welling up in her eyes.

Ellen took a cab home after packing up her belongings. She expected the village to be demolished in a few days, with a landmark to take its place in a few years.

She was about to board a cab and leave when she saw Connor, her uncle. When she was about to call out to him, she noticed that he was holding the hand of a woman, and the woman was holding the hand of a boy who was holding a toy.

As a result, Ellen decided not to call him. She also wanted to avoid him because she didn’t want him to notice her.

As she hid behind a bush, she saw Connor leave with the woman and child. She couldn’t help but be surprised.

She couldn’t help but wonder who that woman was to Connor and if that boy was his child.

She remembered Connor was holding the woman’s hand so tenderly. It wasn’t the kind of love one would show a relative.

Ellen finally boarded the cab, her mind a jumbled mess. From what she remembered, Connor was obedient to his wife Olivia. Olivia was a bossy woman. She would go insane if she discovered Connor had a mistress and an illegitimate son.

Ellen rested her chin on her hand as she thought things through, but she didn’t understand much.

Is it true that all honest-looking men cheat?

Conner was a trustworthy man in her eyes. However, she had now learned of his affairs.

It heightened her apprehension about marriage. While working in the cafe, she overheard her coworkers discussing their families’ affairs, which made her realize that marrying an evil man would be a tragedy for a woman. It was preferable to remain single.

Ellen didn’t want to think about it too much. She hoped that Connor would take the secret with him to the grave.

In the end, she returned home and began unpacking her belongings. After whipping up a plate of pasta for herself, she began studying a marketing planning book in the hopes of improving herself.

While she was reading a book in the afternoon, her phone rang. Her heart rate increased as she picked up the phone and looked at the caller ID.

It was a call from Jared.

“Hello, President Presgrave!” Ellen greeted.

“Are you available tonight?” It was obvious that Jared wanted to spend time with her.

“I’m free,” she replied. Her social life was simple, so she was always available when she was resting.

“The Super Car Club is holding an event today. I’d like for you to join us.”

“Huh? Me?” Ellen imagined it would be an event attended only by wealthy people, so she was afraid she wouldn’t fit in.

“I want you to go,” Jared said in a low voice.

Ellen couldn’t come up with an excuse to decline his invitation, so all she could say was, “Okay! Do I need to prepare anything?”

“The haute couture boutique will contact you. Tonight, you’ll wear a lovely evening gown and be my date.”

Ellen nodded, thinking that she needed to return the evening gown once the event was over. “Okay.”

“See you tonight,” Jared said sweetly before hanging up the phone.

Ellen couldn’t help but be excited about it.

At the Joypur Residence…

Dorothy’s heart had been racing since she saw Jared at the dinner party that day. She had no idea he had returned and taken over his family’s business. Despite her wealth, she desired the Presgrave Group, which was the world’s most powerful corporation.

Dorothy was overjoyed when she received the invitation list for the Super Car Club’s event that day. Jared’s name was on the list.

“Oh, my goodness! I’m going to run into him again.” She fisted her hands in excitement.

She would never pass up an opportunity like this. Although she had offended Jared’s companion at the party earlier, she had not given it much thought.

She was convinced Jared just had a fling with Ellen because he was wealthy. It was impossible for him to fall in love with a commoner.

Dorothy was popular with men, which was why she was confident she had the opportunity to make the billionaire fall in love with her.

That day, Selena invited her friends to dinner. One of her friends mentioned that the Super Car Club had an event that night. She also learned that those who received the invitation were all wealthy city residents. It would be an honor to be invited to the event.

“But how do we get in?” Selena asked as she rested her chin in her palm. She had lost confidence now that she knew where their money came from. Other wealthy families had large amounts of passive income, but her family did not and would be depleted entirely one day.

For income, Connor only relied on some investments and regular savings. Meanwhile, Olivia did not work. Furthermore, the family’s expenses were substantial. Selena had to rely on herself to achieve her materialistic ambitions. “Can you ask your friend to take us with him, Lulu?”

However, Lulu shook her head. “There are only a few spots available. Not everyone can attend.”

“Pretty please? Your friend can surely find a solution for us!” Selena pleaded.

“Okay, I’ll ask him. However, I make no guarantees that this will work.” In the end, Lulu had no choice but to ask her friend. She had no idea her friend was a simp. When he heard that another two stunning ladies wanted to join the event, he immediately agreed.

“He said yes,” Lulu announced.

Selena had a gleam in her eyes. “So, we can attend the event?”

“What are we waiting for? Hurry up and choose a dress for tonight! Today is a great night to meet a wealthy man to marry!”

So, the three girls left the cafe and went to a nearby shopping mall to buy clothes.

At 3.00PM, Ellen received a call from the haute couture boutique. Their car would meet her at the front door and drive her to the shop twenty minutes later.

Ellen packed up the evening gown she borrowed the night before and went downstairs twenty minutes later.

She wasn’t as awkward in the boutique as she had been the day before. She found herself alone in the shop once more.

Did Jared book the shop for another two hours?

“President Presgrave told me that you have a party to attend tonight, so we prepared multiple short evening gowns that look great on you.”

Ellen trusted the manager’s judgment, so she nodded and said, “All right!”

Upstairs in the fitting room, she tried on a blue tube-top evening gown, but it was too revealing for her. The manager recognized her as a conservative young lady right away and got a nude pink off-the- shoulder dress ready for Ellen to try on.

It looked good on Ellen and suited her personality perfectly. She didn’t have the usual look that was a result of plastic surgery. Her palm-sized face was round and a little chubby, but it fit her perfectly. Under the harsh light, one couldn’t see the pores on her face, and it appeared as delicate as a peeled, boiled egg. She looked like an innocent young girl.

The manager felt that Jared had good taste since there were very few girls this pretty yet well-behaved.

“Miss Reiss, what about this one?”

“Wow!” Ellen liked the evening gown as well and nodded. “Alright. I’ll wear this one!”

She went through yet another process of makeup and picking out her accessories. She merely wanted a simple chain around her neck as an accessory and nothing else. Meanwhile, her makeup was suited for the occasion. As for her hair, the hairstylist couldn’t think of a prettier style than her wearing it loose since her hair was naturally straight and smooth. Running a hand through it already gave her a unique charm.

Ellen waited for Jared at the boutique while sipping her tea and reading a book. It was a great evening.

Meanwhile, in another boutique, Selena and her friends put on seductive low-cut gowns. They had already met with a rich heir and tonight, she had forced her way into the gathering consisting only of extremely wealthy heirs. Dorothy was also one of the customers there, having dressed extravagantly in a black gown. However, the gown was designed to show off her assets the way she liked them since it exposed her back and waist, not to mention the low neckline.

They left at 5.00PM. The venue was in a racing club in the country, where a private racetrack had been built especially for racing. It was also where the battle would mainly take place. Since it was a racing club, there had to be some exciting racing sessions.

Jared’s sports car arrived at 5.30PM. His vehicle was gray, which surprised Ellen since this had been the first time that she saw it. It was obvious that it was a limited-edition car.

He politely opened the passenger door for her and sped towards the street in the sunset as the attendants watched enviously. Several black four-wheel drives immediately followed him like a shadow.

After stopping at a traffic light, Jared’s eyes began to study Ellen. She did look pretty in everything. Her dark hair fell onto her shoulders and it concealed her elegant neck slightly, which made him swallow. He stared at her side profile and nearly forgot that the light had turned green.

The driver behind him only dared to press the horn after several seconds to alert him, and Jared stepped on the accelerator and rushed off. He was already 100 meters away by the time the car behind

him started driving, which made the young man behind the wheel exclaim, “What racing car is that? It’s so fast!”

Several four-wheel drives then followed him like galloping wild horses. The sight was shocking to the bystanders, who looked like they had seen a grand scene from a movie.

…

Selena and her friends happily alighted the car in the parking lot of the racing club. As soon as she got off, she saw an extraordinarily handsome man not far away and it made her heart stutter. The man was sitting on the front bonnet of his car and facing the sunset as he made a call.

“Goodness, who is he?” She was immediately attracted to him.

Lulu recognized him instantly and explained, “He’s Lambert Orey, the eldest son of the Blue Ocean Group shipping empire.”

At that point, Selena thought to herself, This man shall be my target for tonight. While he doesn’t look wealthier than Jared, his looks and body are flawless.

At that moment, a man approached Lambert as he tapped on his phone and asked him, “It’s so lively inside. Why don’t you come in?”

“I didn’t want to come.” Lambert watched his screen as his slender fingers tapped away rapidly.

“There are so many pretty girls here. Why don’t you pick a few?”

“I’m not interested.”

“You can have any woman here and entertain yourself with as many of them as you want.” The man lowered his voice as he already seemed excited.

Lambert rolled his eyes at him. “Are they that fun to play with?”

The man sounded confused when he asked, “Don’t tell me you like men!”

Lambert snorted. “My time and effort are extremely valuable, and these women don’t deserve me wasting it on them.”

His lips turned up as he murmured, “Unless I meet one who is worth my time and effort.”

“What’s with that weird obsession with purity? It’s fine as long as it’s a woman, isn’t it?” When it was clear that Lambert could not be convinced, his friend decided to head back in. He had to find a few pretty girls soon, or no girls would be left for him.

Meanwhile, Selena had no choice but to head in first with her friends. She planned to return later to flirt with the handsome man she had met earlier.

At that moment, as the sun was dipping below the horizon, Jared’s charcoal gray car sped over. His vehicle stopped across the street from Lambert, whose attention was drawn to the sports car. It was a car that he had longed for all his life. Then, the passenger side door opened, and a woman exited the vehicle.

A sudden gust of evening wind came from behind her, causing her waist-length hair to become ruffled and hiding her face from view. After she brushed her hair out of her face, Lambert was immediately drawn to her fair and pretty face, which forced him to divert his attention from the vehicle. The sight of that woman made his pupils constrict. In addition, he was captivated by her carefree gait, which made her appear pure and enticing. At first glance, he could tell she was different from the other club girls.

Nonetheless, before he could finish gushing over the woman’s attractiveness, he became aware of a pair of steely eyes staring back at him. He pursed his lips in embarrassment when he realized whom those eyes belonged to.

It was Jared staring at him. Then, Lambert mused, He managed to get his hands on my dream car three years ago, and I still can’t get over it. Nonetheless, he has impeccable taste in both cars and women.

Suddenly, Ellen cast an inquisitive glance at the man leaning against the hood of the vehicle parked across the street. Why is he leaning against the car by himself?

She had only been staring for a few seconds when her attention was drawn by a gentle but firm voice.

“Come, Ellen.”

Then, she withdrew her gaze and walked toward Jared. Suddenly, he wrapped her waist with his arm as if to proclaim to the world that she was his woman.

Meanwhile, there was a romantic garden inside the club decked out in flowers and balloons. A large table was set up under the bright LED lights, on which bottles of various alcohols were placed. When they walked in, more than twenty car owners were seated at the table, and beautiful women of varying beauties were sitting by their sides. Some women appeared sexy, while others appeared demure and exuded a sophisticated air.

While it was a gathering of luxury car owners that evening, it was actually an event where those people showed off their power and wealth. It was also a place where the rich kids could make friends and have a night of fun with women.

When Jared entered hand-in-hand with Ellen, two women seated at the table were stunned. One of them was Dorothy, and the other was Selena.

Dorothy knew Selena was at the event, but she was unwilling to lower her station and speak with someone who was only there as entertainment. After all, Dorothy was there because she was a car owner. On the other hand, Selena also despised Dorothy. She would have demanded retaliation if it

had been anyone else who had slapped her. Meanwhile, she wished for Dorothy to keep her distance from her and enjoy the remainder of the evening.

At that moment, they both had identical expressions of shock. They could not believe that Jared would attend the event with Ellen.

The gathering was hosted by Ryan Day, a man in his thirties who was the founder of the Super Car Club and a second-generation wealthy man who loved cars. When he saw the couple enter, he eagerly approached Jared and gave him a bear hug.

“Mr. Presgrave, I thought you would ignore me!”

Jared smiled. “Why would I? You invited me. Of course, I will come.”

“Whoa! Who is this pretty lady?” Ryan exclaimed.

“This is my girlfriend, Ellen Reiss,” Jared graciously introduced.

Ellen shyly smiled when introduced. Ryan might like beautiful women, but he knew he could not give Jared’s girlfriends a second glance.

However, that was not the case for the other men, who could not help but stare at Ellen despite being surrounded by beautiful women.

“Come,” said Ryan. “Your seats are up front.”

It was only then that Ellen turned her attention to the large table. Suddenly, her eyes met Selena’s, and she stared at her in shock while Selena stared back with blatant envy.

When Jared followed Ellen’s line of sight and spotted Selena, he quickly drew Ellen to their seats at the head of the table. As Ellen sat down, her gaze was drawn to Dorothy, who was sitting across from her,

and she was surprised to find Dorothy at the gathering as well. However, Dorothy scowled at her with intense hatred.

At that moment, Ryan welcomed another guest who walked in. “Mr. Orey, you made it inside. Come, have a seat.”

Lambert then drew out a seat directly across from Jared and sat down. It was apparent from the seating chart that those at the head table would be the most influential of those in attendance. Therefore, those seats belonged to Jared and Lambert.

Meanwhile, Ellen raised her head and made accidental eye contact with Lambert. Earlier, he had only had a fleeting glance at her with the setting sun shining on her face, but since he was able to look at her more closely, he realized that she was his ideal match.

Sensing the unusual intensity of his gaze, she hurriedly looked down.

Then, he smirked and picked up his wine glass. What a shy girl!

On the other hand, Selena’s seat was towards the end of the table, giving her a clear line of sight to Lambert. I am envious of Ellen, who was seated directly opposite Lambert and with two outstanding men.

“Young Master Jared, I have heard of you, but I never had a chance to meet you. It is a pleasure to see you here today,” Lambert greeted, holding his glass up in a toast.

“You’re too kind.” Jared raised his glass to clink it against Lambert’s.

The two men looked at each other with admiration and scrutiny as they locked eyes. There was a subtly charged tension in the air from the clash of their masculine instincts.

“What is your name, Miss?” Lambert asked, curiously glancing at Ellen.

“I’m Ellen Reiss,” she politely replied.

“How do you do? I’m Lambert Orey.” He introduced himself with a smile and a raised eyebrow.

When Jared saw that, he narrowed his eyes and uttered, “Let me add to the introduction; she is my girlfriend.”

While taking a sip of his wine, Lambert froze and smirked, “Oh? Are you afraid I would steal her away?”

“You likely aren’t capable of doing that.” Jared shot him a warning glare.

However, Lambert was a man who loved challenges and causing trouble. So, he quipped, “I might not be as good as you in making money, but that might not be the case when it comes to women.”

“You can try.” Soon, Jared’s lips were tilted upward in a confident smile.

Meanwhile, Ellen was watching them in exasperation. What’s the matter with these two men? Do they see me as a prize worth fighting for? Do they not care how I feel? In addition, Lambert’s words come off as disrespectful.

So, she raised her head and gave him a cold stare that caused his heart to skip a beat but only increased his interest in her.

At that moment, a server walked up to them and started bringing plates of grilled meat and assorted desserts. Then, Jared offered Ellen a bite of his dessert, and the latter’s lips pursed in a grin at the gesture. As soon as Ryan sat down, he began to introduce everyone present and their vehicle. When he introduced Jared to the group, everyone was shocked to learn who Jared was. They immediately realized that his vehicle was the most expensive limited-edition sports car explicitly made for him.

Later, when Ryan introduced Lambert’s car, it elicited the same envious looks from everyone in attendance.

Meanwhile, Selena’s admiring eyes were trained on Lambert. She knew she could not get together with Jared, so she decided to change targets. Lambert is equally handsome as Jared, so he will be my new target.

Nonetheless, she was not alone in having that thought. Every woman present had their sights set on the two men who were seated at the head of the table. In their eyes, the two men were the cream of the crop in terms of wealth and appearance.

On the other hand, Dorothy kept throwing enticing glances at Jared to catch his attention. Unfortunately for her, he had not even bothered to glance in her direction.

“Mr. Presgrave, I’ve heard your car packs quite a punch. How about a competition?” Lambert was the first to break the silence.

“How so?” Jared raised his eyebrows.

Afterward, Lambert swiftly replied with a risky gamble, “The winner gets to keep the loser’s car.”

Ellen was taken aback by the suggestion and quickly turned to Jared, hoping he would not accept the bet.

Lambert smirked, seemingly to provoke Jared. “Of course, if you can’t bear to part with your car, it’s fine. Just give me Miss Reiss.”

When Ellen heard that, she was filled with disgust. “Mr. Orey, can you please have some respect?” she asked, shooting to her feet.

Lambert was startled by her response. Then, he abruptly stood up and apologized, “I’m sorry. I went overboard with my joke. I meant no disrespect.”

Jared, on the other hand, grabbed her hand and narrowed his eyes as he declared, “I accept the bet.” He was determined to make Lambert suffer a humiliating defeat.

The other women turned to look at them. What was so great about Ellen that these two amazing men would fight over her hand?

Selena was seething on the inside. In her mind, Ellen must have seduced Lambert on purpose. How could she? How could she seduce Lambert when she already had Jared?

Dorothy was similarly jealous of Ellen. After all, Jared mainly agreed to compete because he wanted to protect her honor.

The other men excitedly clapped and cheered. They were eager to watch the two supercars race. It would be an exciting match of adrenaline and speed.

Ryan tried to calm them down. “Sirs, could we hold off on the race for my sake? How about you compete another day in private…”

Both Jared and Lambert simultaneously interrupted him. “No way.”

That seemed to have set them off. Two men stared at each other; one of them was throwing taunting looks while the other was calm and composed.

Ellen was worried. It was a race, so that meant they would be speeding, right? That was dangerous!

Ellen pleadingly looked at Jared, even grabbing his arm while shaking her head. She did not want him to race.

He patted the back of her hand. “Don’t worry.’

Taking advantage of the last rays of sunlight, everyone moved over to the parking lot outside. Jared took Ellen by her hand and led her out. After a brief hug, he walked over to his car as Lambert walked over to him.

The two cars were soon waiting by the starting line. As someone spoke to them about the rules of the race, everyone else’s ears were filled with the thunderous rumble of the cars’ engines. It felt as though they were two wild beasts roaring to be let out of their cages.

When the signal was given, the two cars immediately sped away at over 60 mph.

Ellen’s heart clenched hard. She walked over to Ryan and asked, “Is this track quite long?”

“Judging by their speed, they should be back in about fifteen minutes,” he honestly replied. He could tell she was nervous; he was, too. He could not afford to bear the consequences if anything happened to either one of them.

It was then that Selena walked over to them with crossed arms. “You really are sticking to Mr. Presgrave like glue. You follow him everywhere.”

“I don’t want to argue with you today,” Ellen shot back, glancing at the track that led back to them. Oh, how she wished the race would end soon.

Selena unexpectedly leaned closer and whispered to her, “Be happy that you have Mr. Presgrave. Stop flirting with Mr. Orey. He’s mine.”

Ellen seemed to have not heard her though since her entire being was tensed up. Just then, they heard one of the men call out, “Let’s start with the bets!”

Everyone began to crowd around that man to place their bets. “I bet Mr. Orey will win,” someone said. “He has raced on this track before while Mr. Presgrave is always overseas. There’s no way Mr.

Presgrave would win.”

“When you put it that way, Mr. Orey stands a higher chance of winning!” another man exclaimed.

“Of course.”

“Okay. I’ll bet my money on Mr. Orey.”

In just a few minutes, the last man who spoke pulled out 1.5 million dollars and betted it with a one-to- two ratio.

Ellen’s heart was in her throat as she listened to them discuss. To her, Jared did not need to win. She just wanted him to end the race safely.

“I’ll bet on Mr. Presgrave winning,” Dorothy said, walking over to them.

“Are you not afraid of losing, Miss Joypur?”

“Win or lose, it doesn’t matter. What’s important is that I like Mr. Presgrave.” Dorothy was staring straight at Ellen when she said that.

“Miss Reiss, are you not going to place a bet? It’s a great opportunity for you to win some money. If you place the right bet, you might get rich overnight!” Dorothy exclaimed.

Everyone who heard her turned to stare at Ellen in shock. Those who did not know her at all thought she was a daughter of a rich family as well.

“You guys don’t know, right? She’s only Mr. Presgrave’s personal assistant. She’s not like us. To her, 150 thousand is a huge sum.” Dorothy chuckled.

The crowd immediately began to whisper and mock Ellen. “Ah, so she is just an assistant. I thought she was the daughter of some powerful family.”

“I see. She’s just using Mr. Presgrave’s wealth to sneak her way into our circles.”

Ellen heard them, but she did not care about their jeering at all. Her gaze was trained on the racetrack. With the setting sun shining down on her and her hair dancing in the wind, her eyes appeared as beautiful and clear as amber. The sight of her enthralled many of the men around her.

Some were even planning on having some fun with her once Elliot grew tired of her.

Across the hill, the two sports cars chased after each other. They were neck and neck, racing along at incredible speeds. Their smooth bodies flashed in an array of colorful lights when the setting sun struck them. Sparks could be seen when they speed around the bends, caused by the great friction between the tires and the tar road. Furthermore, ear-piercing shrieks echoed through the air, like the shrill cries of a trapped beast.

The gray car belonged to Jared while the blue car was Lambert’s. The gray car had been stuck in second place when it suddenly screeched around a bend in a perfect drift that allowed it to overtake the other car. Jared’s car seemed so strong, so resolute, so indomitable when he overtook Lambert. It felt like he was overtaking light and speed at the same time. At that moment, he looked like a rampaging lion.

Lambert’s eyes widened as he watched the gray car speed away. He could not help but smile. In the end, he still lost.

“They’re back!”

“Mr. Presgrave is leading.”

“Goodness, he won!”

Grateful tears streamed down Ellen’s cheeks as she watched the gray car charge back to them. She could not stop them at all as all the worries in her mind finally vanished.

Jared slowed down when he drove closer to the crowd, eventually stopping before Ellen. There was a moment of silence.

After opening the car door, he had just stepped out of the car when a petite figure flung herself at him and wrapped her arms tightly around him.

He hugged Ellen back and burst out in a happy chuckle. “Were you that worried for me?”

By now, she was ignoring any embarrassment she felt as she continued embracing him. Nothing made her happier than seeing him return to her safe and sound.

“Shameless,” Selena spat out.

Dorothy angrily stomped her feet.

Just then, the blue car sped over. Lambert hopped out of the car and tossed his keys to Jared, who caught it without hesitation.

“The car is yours.” Lambert graciously accepted his defeat.

Jared glanced at the flamboyant blue sports car before asking Ellen, “Do you like the car? It’s yours.”

With those few words, Ellen had suddenly transformed into the luckiest woman that evening. The other women covered their mouths in disbelief; they just couldn’t believe that Elliot would actually give Lambert’s car to Ellen.

However, they then heard Ellen say, “I don’t want it.”

Lambert could not help but facepalm. “Miss Reiss, do I need to tell you how expensive the car is? Take it. You will not regret it.”

“I don’t even have a driving license,” she shot back. “Why do I want your car?”

Jared burst out laughing and pressed her head back to his chest. She leaned into him, confused at his reaction, as the other women’s eyes boggled at her. Was Ellen actually foolish or was she stupid? Why would she not seize the chance to have the sports car?

By now, Selena was overwhelmed with jealousy. If that were her, she would have immediately accepted the gift.

Ellen’s reaction made Lambert look at her in a new light. She is truly unique. Then, he shot Jared an envious look. Where does Jared find a woman who cares only about her man and not money? If only I could find a woman like that!

Later, when the other car owners wanted to compete against each other, the group remained at the racetrack. Meanwhile, Jared led Ellen to a tent in the garden so they could sit and eat.

“Were you worried about me earlier?” he asked.

She had certainly been beside herself with worry, but now that he was safe, her worry had disappeared. Then, she turned to him and asked, “In the future, can you not participate in something so dangerous again?”

Jared was taken aback by Ellen’s forthright response, but then he solemnly nodded when he saw how serious she was. “Okay. I promise you that I will not do it again.” Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

His assurance made her face light up with a smile, and it appeared to have rubbed off on him because he was also beaming.

Suddenly, his phone rang, and he glanced at it to see it was a work call. “I have to take this,” he said, rising to his feet.

She nodded as she watched him walk over to an adjacent patch of grass to answer the call. While she sipped her juice, a man with a glass of wine walked over and sat next to her. So, she turned and noticed it was Lambert.

His beautiful eyes stared at Ellen with blatant admiration and curiosity.

However, she resented Lambert for asking Jared to race against him earlier. Although she rarely avoided conversation, she did not feel like talking to him at the time.

When he noticed her expression, he could not help but grin. “Miss Reiss, have I offended you somehow?”

“Not at all,” she answered.

“Then, do I look annoying to you?” he asked.

“I simply do not wish to talk.” Even though Ellen did not wish to offend Lambert, she did not want to converse with him.

Meanwhile, Selena was making her way through the crowd with a glass of wine. She had looked high and low for Lambert so she could finally have a conversation with him. When she finally located him, she saw that he was sitting next to Ellen under the tent. Then, she quickly lowered the collar of her top to flash more of her assets before confidently striding over to him.

“There you are, Ellie!” Selena exclaimed in a friendly manner as she sat down beside Ellen.

After glancing at Selena, Ellen immediately understood the purpose of her presence.

However, Selena ignored her and swiftly turned to passionately greet Lambert. “Hello, Mr. Orey. I am Selena Aguirre, Ellen’s cousin.”

“You’re cousins?” The shocked Lambert asked.

“Yes, we look alike, don’t we?” Selena quickly responded to keep the conversation going while resting her chin on a hand and shooting him subtle looks of flirtation.

“I don’t think you do,” he bluntly answered.

While his reaction made Selena feel a little awkward, she at least had his attention. Then, she turned to Ellen and said, “Ellie, this weekend is my dad’s birthday. You have to come and celebrate with us.”

However, Ellen was taken aback by the sudden mention of her uncle’s birthday. “Where are we celebrating?”

“Most likely in a restaurant somewhere,” Selena absentmindedly replied before turning back to Lambert. “Mr. Orey, what time is it? I don’t have my phone with me right now.”

He glanced at his watch and replied, “It’s almost seven.”

“I wonder if we will be doing anything fun this evening,” she mused. “Do you know anything, Mr. Orey?”

“There should be some dancing and games. I’m not too sure either,” Lambert replied.

“I came with my friends, and I don’t know anyone else here. Mr. Orey, could I stay by your side tonight?” she asked. Her words made it clear that she hoped to spend the evening with him as his partner.

Nevertheless, he immediately waved his hand in a gesture of refusal. “I’m sorry, but I have something to do. I will be leaving early.”

Lambert then turned to Ellen and said in a deep voice, “Miss Reiss, it has been a pleasure to meet you today. If luck is on our side, we might meet again someday.”

Soon, he stood up and left. With her chance to seduce him gone, Selena turned to scowl at Ellen. “So, what tricks did you pull to bewitch him?”

Ellen was taken aback, wondering when Selena had witnessed her seducing Lambert.

“I came here to accompany President Presgrave. I’m not interested in getting to know other men,” Ellen replied.

When Selena saw Lambert chatting with others, she shot Ellen a glare before joining them. She was determined not to miss another opportunity to get closer to him. When Lambert saw her walking toward him with a glass of wine, he quickly ended the conversation and hurriedly left. Since Jared had taken his sports car, he had no choice but to borrow a car from the club to return to the city center.

Meanwhile, when Jared got off the phone and returned, he saw Ellen swatting a mosquito off her leg. He was drawn to her leg’s delicate, smooth skin and quickly realized she must be a mosquito magnet. She was scratching when he approached, but as soon as she saw him, she immediately stopped what she was doing out of embarrassment and looked at him instead. Nonetheless, he saw the small, raised bumps from the mosquito bite on her leg and expressed sympathy by saying, “Let’s go! I’ll take you back to the city center.”

At that moment, he saw a mosquito land on her slender neck. “Don’t move.”

She froze, and he swiftly raised his large hand and swatted the pesky mosquito off her neck. Then, she lamented, “Ugh! I’ve always been a mosquito magnet since I was a child.”

While she was reaching for her neck to relieve the itching, he hastily grabbed her hand because he noticed another mosquito bite bump forming. “Let’s go back.”

So, Ellen picked up her bag and followed Jared to find Ryan. Then, he said to Ryan, “We’ll be leaving first.”

“Why don’t you stay a little longer?” Ryan persuaded.

“We have urgent matters to attend to,” Jared answered.

As Dorothy walked in, she saw Jared leaving. Boldly, she came over and said to him, “Mr. Presgrave, are you leaving already? Won’t you hang around for a while longer?”

Jared cast an eye in her direction and instantly was reminded of her horrible nature and what she had done to Ellen during the last banquet. So, he remarked coldly, “No.”

Nonetheless, Dorothy was disappointed as she watched their figure fade from view. She believed that evening would be ideal for meeting and conversing with him, but it seemed she was overthinking it.

Meanwhile, Ellen hopped into her car and promptly closed the door. Jared closed his vehicle door almost simultaneously with her because he worried the mosquitoes would follow them and bite her again. So, no matter how luxurious the sports car, it would be an annoyance if a mosquito found its way inside. Despite that, he knew he would not get bitten by the mosquito because he was dressed appropriately with long sleeves and pants, whereas she was not.

Soon, she scratched her neck again because she could not stand the itching, which broke his heart. He had no idea that her presence at the gathering would make her a mosquito’s meal.

As the car headed back, three black off-road vehicles quickly followed, afraid of being left behind by the sports car.

When they returned to Ellen’s residential community, she counted the mosquito bites on her body. There were at least seven or eight bumps, and the ones on her legs looked horrible because they were

so swollen and red from the mosquito bites. The bites from Aedes mosquitoes were potent, which caused a much redder and itchy bump on her tender skin.

At that moment, Jared said to her, “Wait for me in the car.”

Following that, he quickly exited the vehicle and walked into a store to purchase an anti-itch spray, which he then applied to her itchy spot upon his return.

Later, she took the spray and applied it on herself in the passenger seat. Under the light, his eyes were drawn to her long, slender legs, which caused him to drool internally.

As soon as she had finished applying the treatment, she began to feel significantly better, and the itching on her skin subsided. So, she stepped out of the car and stated, “President Presgrave, please drive carefully on the way home.”

“Could you give me a drink in your house? I’m a little thirsty,” Jared suddenly asked Ellen.

Then, she turned her head and looked toward the store. “Wait for me here!”

After that, she quickly went to the store and bought a bottle of water to give to him. “Here, gulp it down! Don’t get too thirsty.”

He accepted the bottle and was taken aback by her reaction. Doesn’t this girl understand what I mean? I wanted to be invited to her house to have a drink.

“Get some rest early.” Consequently, he had no choice but to leave without revealing his true intention. Soon, he entered the vehicle and drove away.

Meanwhile, Ellen was a little tired because the mosquitoes had been giving her a hard time.

After driving for a while, Jared called his assistant, Stanley, and ordered, “Find me a good driving school.”