Is this destiny?

"How did you get in? Who are you?", Chloe's Aunt Wendy questioned Noah. She told her bodyguards that no one should disturb them.

Aunt Wendy peered behind Noah to see where her men are, but Noah closed the door.

Noah had no intention to answer. He observed that two seniors (Uncle Kevin and Aunt Wendy) were close to Chloe, while the third one (Uncle Leo) was further away.

Noah focused on Chloe and he saw on Eve-lens that her bio-readings were all over the place, indicating that she was in great distress.

He was angry. He left an important meeting early so that he can get ready and buy flowers before he picks up Chloe, and his plan was ruined by these three old geezers. This was supposed to be his date-Friday where he takes Chloe to a fancy dinner and he charms her and they have fun, and how was he supposed to have fun if Chloe is on the verge of a mental breakdown?

Noah grabbed the flower from his mouth while walking toward Chloe and standing in front of her, shielding her with his body from the three seniors present in the room.

"I don't think you are welcome here.", Noah said while glaring at three elderly people. "You should leave."

With everything going on, Chloe forgot that Noah was supposed to come, and he was now standing in front of her, protecting her and making her feel all kinds of feelings she shouldn't.

Aunt Wendy's eyes flashed in realization and she craned her neck to look at Chloe who was standing stiffly behind Noah.

"We thought that our Chloe got a job and an apartment and decided to stand on her own two feet. Now we see that you found yourself a man to latch onto. He is not much if the most he can afford is this small apartment. And look at him… with only one flower. What a joke."

Chloe's brows furrowed when she heard Aunt Wendy's words.

"Who are you?", Uncle Kevin asked while scrutinizing Noah.

Uncle Leo remembered. "He is the security guy from the party at the Smith family."

"Ah!", Aunt Wendy cried when she remembered. At first, seeing Noah's imposing presence, Aunt Wendy was cautious, judging him only based on the fact that he was unable to provide a luxurious place for Chloe. But now that Aunt Wendy found out Noah is just a bodyguard, she was confident that he will not dare act against them. After all, they are Longs, and they can talk to his employer and make sure he loses his job. She didn't even want to acknowledge Noah's presence, and she spoke to Chloe.

"You can't be serious, Chloe! He is so below you! You said that you didn't do anything to disrespect the family, yet you are warming the bed for a measly bodyguard who is with you in the hope to score some benefits. Come with us and we will pretend that this didn't happen. You are a young Miss of the Long family, and there is no need for you to embarrass yourself with him. We know that you are young, and he tricked you… come on…"

Aunt Wendy extended her hand to grab Chloe, but Noah got Aunt Wendy's wrist first and she opened her mouth in a soundless cry.

"You are not welcome here.", Noah said icily while glaring at the woman whose wrist he was clenching. "If you don't back off, I don't mind breaking a few bones. You being a woman does not mean anything to me."

"Let her go, you brute!", Uncle Leo shouted but he didn't dare to get close. If he remembered correctly, Noah was part of the security team associated with the White family, and they are not easy to handle.

Neither of the three seniors from the Long family was used to this treatment. Everyone respects them and Noah's behavior was unacceptable.

Steve is the patriarch of the Long family, and he got that title based on the power obtained in the Long Industries which is the core of wealth for the Long family. However, Steve does not interfere with the dealings and lifestyle of the Long family members, unless they stir trouble.

Chloe is not the only one from the younger generation who is getting such treatment from the seniors, but unless someone complains, Steve will not make a move.

Steve has his hands full with managing the company and he has no time to watch over everyone and act proactively. Since Chloe (or someone in her name) didn't speak up that she was forced to do things against her will, Steve assumed that whatever was happening was consensual.

Why is no one reporting the greedy and meddling seniors? Generations of Longs were raised with the doctrine that elders need to be obeyed, and that is why no one is raising complaints when seniors do such things as forcing youngsters to make specific choices. Unfortunately, people like Chloe's Uncle Kevin, Uncle Leo, and Aunt Wendy are taking advantage of those circumstances and Chloe rebelling to the point of leaving the family is something new for all of them.

Back to the present…

Uncle Kevin was at the door. He opened it with an intention to call the bodyguards in, but he froze when he saw two men on the floor.

"We will leave… we will leave…", Aunt Wendy said weakly.

Noah harshly pushed her hand away, making her stumble backward.

"You have three seconds."

"This is not over!", Uncle Kevin shouted from the door.

Noah's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Two… One…"

Seeing that Noah was not joking, the three seniors from the Long family scrambled out.

Noah walked after them and stopped at the door, looking at two bodyguards who are sprawled on the floor. He touched his earpiece. "Residential building number seven. The hallway on the third floor. There are two men that need to be taken out."

Noah closed the door and turned to Chloe.

She was staring into space and not moving, but Noah could see that she was extremely anxious.

Chloe's mind was in so much panic, that everything seemed like a blur. Her stomach was full of knots and she feared that if she moves, she will vomit. Her seniors insulted not only her, but Noah as well. They called him a measly bodyguard who is with her for benefits, and they said that she is warming his bed. How is she supposed to look at him after this?

Chloe's Uncle Kevin said how this is not over… and she believed him. Will she ever going to escape her family? What is the point of living if she needs to run and hide? Or does she really need to marry that man from Montana?

Noah walked to Chloe and pulled her to sit on the sofa, next to him. He put the red coronation on the coffee table and wrapped his arms around Chloe's shivering body. She was so stiff that he forced her head to rest on his chest and he hugged her tightly.

"It's OK. Let it out…", Noah said softly while patting her head.

He felt that her shoulders shook, and she fisted his shirt. She didn't make a sound, but he knew that she was crying.

"That's it… let it out…"

And then he heard her sobbing weakly as his shirt got soaked by her tears.

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