Night of Destiny (Anastasia Tillman)

Maybe I'm just reading too much into this, Naomi told herself. Meanwhile, Alex arrived at Hayley’s little apartment and found her waiting for him. After a round of passionate tussling, she started asking him about Francis. All he divulged was that Francis had suddenly collapsed and was sent to the hospital for an emergency life-saving procedure.

Hearing about Francis’ situation, Hayley nodded. She was not angry when she sensed how wary and secretive Alex was (toward her, seeing as the end she sought to achieve was for Anastasia and Elliot to call off their engagement.

With Francis still in a coma, Hayley doubted that Anastasia would continue with the engagement; it was not proper in light of the grim situation at present, and besides, the cheerful ty of her upcoming nuptials would have already worn off by now.

Meanwhile, in the hotel, Anastasia could not sleep. She stood in front of the floor 10-ceiling window and stared out at the hospital across the road. Worry was evident in her eyes, and for each day that Francis stayed unconscious, she grew even more anxious. Elliot sighed softly and wrapped his arms around her from behind.

“Let's get srest, shall we?” She leaned into his arms. At this moment, his embrace was the only thing. that kept her grounded when everything else in her life was tossed up in the air. Faith cwith the sense of calm that suddenly washed over her; she was sure that Francis would wake up soon.

She somehow drifted into sleep as Elliot held her through the night, but it was not a restful slumber. Elliot, on the other hand, hardly slept a wink, for he woke up as soon as he felt the slightest movement from her.

Anastasia woke up the next morning and heard Elliot speaking on the phone with Benedict, who had called to tell him that Francis’ condition had not changed much. since last night, though there were several tests that the hospital had scheduled for him.

“Anastasia, the facilities in the hospital are limited. We're going to need you to sign the consent form if we want to bring your father back to the hospital my family runs.” I'll do it,” she said firmly. “I don't care if Naomi objects to it. You can bring Dad over to your hospital for a thorough check-up and all other necessary procedures.” Elliot nodded and immediately gave instructions over the phone. “Bring him. over to the hospital and run all the necessary tests.” Having taken her breakfast, Anastasia headed over to the hospital to sign the patient transfer paperwork. It wasn't until she saw her father being wheeled into an idling ambulance that she felt hope course through her. She prayed furtively that Francis would receive better treatment over at the Presgraves hospital.

The ambulance had only just left when Anastasia’s phone rang. She glanced at the caller ID, and upon seeing Naomi’s nflashing on the screen, she knew that her stepmother had already found. out about Francis transfer to the Presgraves hospital.

“What is it?” Anastasia demanded fearlessly, sparing no niceties as she picked up the phone.

“Don't think | don’t know what you're up to. Anastasia! Who gave you the right to have your father transferred to another hospital? Your father is in no condition to be moved around willy-nilly! You better pray that he wakes up, because if he doesn't, then you'll have hell to pay!” Naomi snapped belligerently on the other line.

“I'll take full responsibility for anything.

that might happen,” Anastasia replied. curtly. “He’s my father, and | want him to wake up more than anyone else, especially you.” “Save your false sentiments for the fool who will believe it, Anastasia. You just want your father to die so that you can take over his company. That's it, isn’t it? 1 know exactly how that mind of yours works, you wench! You've been eyeing his company all along! Naomi accused, twisting the situation: to make it sound like Anastasia was the one with ill intentions.

Anastasia was so enraged by this that she trembled. She knew Naomi was only razzing her up, but her blood still boiled all the same. “| don't care what you say. All | want is for Dad to get the best treatment there is.” She decided to ignore the wretched woman after this.

‘I refuse to let my husband be treated at Presgrave Hospital. | don't feel good about it, and | demand that you have him. sent back to the General Hospital at once! You hear me?!” Naomi roared.

Without another word, Anastasia ended the call and turned to address Elliot, who had been standing at the side all this while, ‘Let's go.” Presently, Naomi gritted her teeth as she sped over to the hospital. “That useless wench hung up on me!” “Mom, what do we do? Presgrave Hospital has state-of-the-art facilities and sof the best doctors in the world. If Dad regains consciousness after receiving treatment there, then all our efforts will be for nothing!” Erica wailed.

“We're going to Presgrave Hospital right away. I'm going to bring my husband back to General Hospital no matter what!” Naomi seethed, making up her mind to use the wife-card to her advantage.

Over in Francis’ most trusted law firm, Alex was in the middle of a conversation with a middle-aged man. On the table was an agreement with a bank card laid on top of it. “I heard that you've racked up quite a lot of gambling debts, Mr. Smithers, but I'm sure that the money in there is enough to help you tide things over,” Alex pointed out matter-of-factly.

“Looks like you cprepared, Mr. Hunter. How is President Tillman doing?”