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.

did not miss the amusement glittering in his eyes. Flushing, she mumbled through gritted teeth, “Bottom line is that you can’t stay here. It isn’t the most

as soon as the thunder stops,” he

sight of how tightly Jared was clinging onto Elliot, Anastasia nodded and said in resignation, “Fine, then. You

then left him in the living room with Jared and headed back into her bedroom. When she saw the undergarment that he had retrieved earlier, she was seized with the urge to kick herself. Of all the things to drop from the pile of laundry,

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

that we

she didn’t have an extra room to put Elliot in, and

waned in its ferocity, Jared was dragged into the bathroom by his mother so that he could wash up for bed. A while later,

a new message. Jared immediately grabbed her phone and keyed in the pin before reading

concern as it read, ‘Anastasia, are you and Jared alright?

reply to a 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 device, he

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

you to drop by right now,

I stayed over at your place plenty of times while we

stormy as the sky outside as he thought, Which base did they get to? Have they

came from Nigel. ‘Anastasia, all you need to do is say yes and I’d be more than happy to take care of you and Jared for life. I’d stand guard over the both of you, and

both

to die inside. He cringed and tossed the phone