Night of Destiny Novel by Vanessa K

Elijah dropped by as soon as they had finished their meal. Ruka looked torn; she wanted to stay, but she missed her parents as well. In the end, by 1.30PM, she got into Elijah’s car.

Ren had personally seen her to the car door, but with Elijah there, he did not say much to her. “Remember to take good care of yourself.”

“You too,” Ruka replied, her solemn gaze locking with his.

He closed the car door for her once she had settled in the backseat. Elijah then started the car, but he did not step on the gas pedal immediately, worried that there might be other things Ren would like to say to Ruka.

However, Elijah was surprised when he turned around and saw that the both of them were not speaking at all but merely watched one another with reluctance with eyes that were filled with the pain of separation.

“Drive safe,” Ren said to Elijah, then jerked his chin to indicate that he could pull out of the driveway now. In the backseat, Ruka looked down to hide the tears glistening in her eyes. She did not want Ren to see her so vulnerable..

Elijah drove away from the house, and before long, they were cruising down the main road. Ruka sighed. She knew that she could no longer see Ren from this distance, but something compelled her to look backward anyway.

“Don’t worry, Miss Singed,” Elijah comforted. “Mr. Husson will not hesitate to see you if you asked him to.”

Ruka flashed him a grateful smile, and her heart warmed at the sight of his quiet concern for her. Returning the favor, she asked, “I hope he wasn’t too harsh with you after what happened last night.”

always been a gentle

to keep her laughter from bursting out. She thought about how

the Singed family home was. The neighborhood was a considerably old one nestled in the

It was already straightened up by the time Ruka arrived, and her parents had put up fairy lights that ran along the edge of the roof to spice things up for the festivities. “Mom, Dad, I’m home, she called out as she dragged her suitcase out of the

father to help you!”

some last-minute New Year’s shopping later. Some of

Ruka nodded. “Okay.”

later, Ruka was like a child. She was more coquettish than she had ever been in a while, which made it harder for Claire

place for dinner. In the midst of the celebration, the grown-ups were more concerned about when the young ones would settle down. Ruka’s aunt, Vanya, in particular, had four children three daughters

with two other daughters catching up to their mid-twenties, Vanya was anxious to see them married off. Her efforts continued tonight at the dinner table, only this time, Ruka was roped

someone at the moment, Ruka? If

waved her hand frantically. “Oh, no, Aunt Vanya, I don’t feel like putting

rush?” Claire interjected. She did not like the idea of having her daughter see anyone unless it was a truly nice

pretty, and I’m sure she’ll blossom in the years to come.