Chapter 202 The Gatekeeper


    “I''ming.” Nigel’s voice came from the video inte.


    Anastasia quickly moved to block the camera and crossed her arms as she began to think about how she was going to exin


    herself to Nigel. It was frustrating that Elliot consistently put her in such sticky situations.


    There was a beeping sound that came from the door as it unlocked, and Elliot put his hand on the doorknob. He was just about


    to go in when he nced at the woman who had her back turned to him. With a raised brow, he then asked, “Aren’t youing


    in?”


    “You go ahead. | need to make a phone call,” said Anastasia as she took out her phone to dial a number, but he saw through her


    act and reached out to snatch her phone away.


    “Come in with me,” he said in amanding tone.


    “Give me back my phone, Elliot,” she demanded incredulously.


    However, he walked into the house with her phone in hand. She tried to make it look as if they had arrived separately by


    dawdling on the front step, but seeing as her phone was with him, there was little to no point in putting up pretenses.


    As such, she stormed after him and made her way into the exquisite ss-walled vi.


    Nigel had only just put on his clothes, and he was making his way downstairs when he saw the man and woman in his living


    room. Astonished, he thought, Elliot? Anastasia? Why are they both here at the same time?


    He recalled only seeing Elliot’s figure in the video inte just now, though he did see the silhouette of a woman whose back


    had been turned to the camera. Nigel had believed her to be Elliot’s assistant or something, but as it turned out, it was Anastasia


    all along. Confusion dawned upon him as he blinked and asked hesitantly, “D-Did you bothe here together?”


    “Uh... No, we came in separate cars and ran into each other at your front doorstep, so we decided toe in together. This is all


    pretty coincidental,” Anastasia exined anxiously.


    “Is that it?” Nigel bought it.


    “Actually, | went to Miss Tillman''s father’s banquetst night and ended up getting drunk, so | slept over at her ce. I’m just


    tagging along while she picks up Jared.” All it took was one sentence for Elliot to reveal the truth, and Anastasia turned a bright


    shade of red as she quickly shot the man a deadly re. He didn’t even think how this might affect me!


    Nigel, on the other hand, was stunned for a few seconds. Then, he gaped at Anastasia incredulously. “Why didn’t you tell me


    about your father’s banquet? | should have gone and celebrated, too, shouldn''t I?”


    “Well, it was only a small celebration,” she exined as she averted his gaze guiltily.


    “Jared is still sleeping, so it might be a while before he wakes up,” Nigel said. Then, he met Elliot''s eyes, and the both of them


    were suddenly locked in a wordless battle.


    Elliot''s gaze was steady as he said, “Thank you for taking care of Jaredst night, Nigel.”


    “Don''t sweat it,” Nigel said through gritted teeth. He couldn’t believe that Elliot had dropped Jared offst night and secretly


    attended Francis’ celebration. He even got drunk and slept over at Anastasia’s ce. He was starting to look at this cousin of his


    differently, for only men could understand what other men were thinking. Elliot set this whole thing up right from the beginning!


    “Anastasia, why don’t you go upstairs?” Having said that, Nigel gave Elliot a dark look and said as he turned to walk toward the


    balcony, “Elliot, there’s something | need to talk to you about.”


    Elliot fell in step behind him. Anastasia didn’t think too much of this, believing that they really had something important to discuss.


    Over on the balcony, there was a confrontational gleam in Nigel''s eyes as he looked at Elliot. He had never questioned Elliot


    quite so seriously as he did at that moment. “Are you serious about Anastasia, or is she just a new notch in your belt?” he asked.


    Elliot''s expression grew somber as he looked at the younger man darkly and said, “Of course, I’m dead serious about her.”


    “Is that so? All of this isn’t just stemming from the gratitude you have toward her mother after she sacrificed her life to save


    yours?”


    There had been a time when Elliot thought whatever affection and fondness he had for Anastasia was born out of his gratitude,


    but after spending all this time with her, he realized that he had a special ce for her in his heart that had nothing to do with her


    mother’s sacrifice.


    “Nigel, | really like her. You have to believe me,” Elliot said softly, but there was no mistaking the steely edge to his voice.Original content from N?velDrama.Org.


    “In that case, would you be able to ept Jared even though he isn’t your kid? Will you treat him as your own?” Nigel pressed


    further as his gaze burned into Elliot’s. He knew he didn’t stand a chance with Anastasia, but that wouldn’t stop him from being


    her gatekeeper and evaluating the man who would eventually spend forever with her.