Night of Destiny Novel by Vanessa K

The child who addressed him as mister was in actuality his son, and to have gotten to know him as a stranger at first must feel terribly upsetting and regrettable.

Words could not describe the love he felt for his son. Elliot sensed that Anastasia was behind him, so he adjusted Jared’s covers lightly and got up to leave.

Anastasia had been standing there for quite some time. She was dressed quite thinly so she was starting to feel a little cold. Elliot’s large hands warmed up her chilly ones as he pulled her back to bed.

The next day, Anastasia received a call from Francis. He called to inform her that Naomi’s court proceedings would begin on Tuesday and asked if she had time to attend. Naturally, Anastasia would make the time for it. She wanted to

witness Naomi’s downfall in person and see if Naomi truly regretted what she did.

Tuesday morning, after dropping Jared off at school, Anastasia and Elliot went over to the courthouse.

Francis was already there when they arrived, and he seemed to have worked through his emotions as he was a lot calmer this time.

were cuffed, and her hair had turned gray in many areas. She looked as if she had aged ten years. When she saw the people sitting in the stands, she looked over at Francis with pleading eyes and her

no concern at all. Naomi glanced at Anastasia, but she knew

her. Elliot was also sitting beside Anastasia, and compared to them, Naomi

an explicit account of what happened. Despite the cold and matter-of-fact tone he used to describe the sequence of events, it was still enough to shock and strike fury in

culprits behind the entire scheme were Erica,

what she had done. She saw Francis sitting there with his head lowered, and tears of anger and regret

would always provide her a princely sum to spend every month. She was

everything turn out

only did she ruin her own

her daughter’s

future.

outside, but on the inside, she was hoping that her father would not

to bear the consequences, but please… please forgive Erica. I’m the one who taught her to do everything. She’s not a bad person.” Francis said nothing. Naomi had received an eighteen-year sentence. If she managed to stay alive until

a reply from Francis, she screamed in tears, “Erica has treated you like a father for 22