Night of Destiny Novel by Vanessa K

Chapter 66

The downpour didn’t look like it would stop anytime soon. Looking over at the man on the couch, Anastasia offered, “I’ll get you an umbrella right away.”

However, Elliot eyed her in mild amusement as he said matter-of-fačtly, “I’m staying here for the night.”

Stunned, she blinked at him for a moment and asked, “Why?”

“Because Jared needs me.” As if to make a point, Elliot stroked Jared’s head with his large palm like he was some kind of guardian deity, and the little one looked up at him with an imploring expression and begged, “Mr. Presgrave, Mommy and I are terrified of lightning and thunder, so can you please stay with us and keep us safe for the night?”

Anastasia immediately interjected, “Absolutely not, Jared. I’m more than capable of keeping you safe during the storm.”

“But you’re terrified of thunder too, Mommy!” Jared argued, mercilessly calling her bluff.

“I am not. I’m just—” She was about to make her case when the universe, determined to prove her wrong, called upon yet another bout of lightning that slithered past the sky and tore through the night. As always, this was followed by another violent clap of thunder.

She shuddered, flinching as she clasped her hands to her ears quickly.

Flushing, she mumbled through gritted teeth, “Bottom line is that you can’t stay here. It isn’t the most convenient for any

soon as the

of how tightly Jared was clinging onto Elliot, Anastasia nodded and said in resignation, “Fine, then. You can’t go back to

Jared and headed back into her bedroom. When she saw the undergarment that he had retrieved earlier, she

a weather alert that urged everyone to stay safe because it was

finds out that we spent the night together at my place,

space, she didn’t have an extra room to put Elliot in, and the only beds

into the bathroom by his mother so that he could wash up for bed. A while later, Anastasia emerged from the room with a better part of her clothes splattered by bathwater. . Having settled Jared in the living room,

her phone and keyed in the pin before reading the text. “It’s a message from

out of concern as it read, ‘Anastasia, are you and Jared alright? Do you need me to

himself with his Legos once more. Elliot reached for the pink phone, and

from his enthusiastic efforts. ‘You know I’m just

suitable for you to drop by right now, came Elliot’s reply as

over at your place plenty of times while we

thought, Which base did they get to? Have they hit

to take

both

inside. He cringed and tossed the phone to the empty space next to him on the couch, refusing to read