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.

at Elliot, and she did not miss the amusement glittering in his eyes. Flushing, she mumbled through gritted

as soon as the thunder

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

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

relentless, and the storm outside the window raged on. There was even a weather alert that urged everyone to stay safe because it was likely that the thunderstorm

thought grimly, Surely I can’t let the man stay here for the whole night? If everyone finds out that we spent the night

she didn’t have an

Jared was dragged into the bathroom by his mother so that he could wash up for bed. A while later, Anastasia emerged from the room with a

beeped with a new message. Jared immediately grabbed her phone and keyed in the pin

out of concern as it read, ‘Anastasia, are you

text, so he set the phone down and busied himself with his Legos once more. Elliot reached for the pink phone, and with his long fingers clutching the

from his enthusiastic efforts. ‘You know I’m just worried about you and Jared, Anastasia. I’ll come over right

you can’t. It isn’t suitable for you to drop by right now, came Elliot’s reply as his

your place plenty of times while we were abroad,

as the sky outside as he thought, Which base

could reply, yet another text came from Nigel. ‘Anastasia, all you need to do is say yes and I’d be more than happy to take

both

and tossed the phone to the empty