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.

glittering in his eyes. Flushing, she mumbled through gritted teeth, “Bottom

go as soon as the

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

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

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

for the whole night? If everyone finds out that we spent the night together at my place, the rumor

most accommodating of abodes. With the apartment’s limited space, she didn’t have an extra room to put Elliot in, and the only beds here

the thunder finally waned in its ferocity, 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 better part of her clothes splattered by bathwater. . Having settled Jared in the living room, she decided to hop into

a new message. Jared immediately grabbed her phone and keyed in the pin before reading the text. “It’s a message from Mr. Nigel!” he declared

bent to read Nigel’s message, which was clearly penned out of concern as it read, ‘Anastasia, are you and Jared

he set the phone down and busied himself with his Legos once more. Elliot reached for the

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

you can’t. It isn’t suitable for you to drop by right

at your place plenty

he thought, Which base

‘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 my embrace

both

inside. He cringed and tossed the