Chapter 2194

Elliot’s shoulders hunched as he said quietly, “Jonathan, I still want to sleep next to Mommy.”

“Absolutely not.” Jonathan cut him off, the words sharp and final.

Nathaniel stepped out of his study, immediately siding with the older boy. “Jonathan’s right. Last night was a one-time exception. There won’t be a repeat.”

Elliot answered with a soft “Oh,” the single syllable heavy with disappointment. He shuffled over to the couch and sat beside Jonathan.

He tugged at his brother’s sleeve, eyes still wide with leftover fear. “Jonathan, do you know what kind of nightmare I had last night?”

Jonathan had never cared for dreams. To him, they were like smoke—brief shapes with no real substance.

“No,” he said flatly, not looking up as he scrolled through the morning news on his tablet.