Is this destiny?

Now that Chloe was in his apartment, Noah thought that other than toiletries, Chloe will need clothes as well. He wanted them to go out in the next three days, and she can't do that while wearing his clothes.

He got his phone and instructed his subordinates to get necessities, food items included. He requested that a female soldier picks clothes in Chloe's size (with Eve-lens, it was easy to determine her measurements).

Noah could ask them to get Chloe's things from her place, because the building manager has the master key for all apartments. However, if Chloe has her personal belongings, that would only make her escape easier, and Noah would do anything for Chloe other than make her exit easier. He wanted her to stay.

Considering that Chloe retreated for the night, after finishing the phone call, Noah went to shower and get ready for sleep, because he had no intention of leaving Chloe on her own in the apartment.

…

Chloe enjoyed the shower, it helped her relax.

After toweling off, Chloe put a t-shirt and sweatpants on and curled on the bed while hugging a pillow.

She was emotionally drained. The whole day was super-stressful.

Her morning started with Noah waking her up with breakfast and the day in the office was nice, however, the afternoon seemed empty without Noah and the lunch with Matilda was full of teasing and ambiguous remarks, but Chloe knew that Matilda means well.

The evening was another crazy ride with Chloe's seniors showing up at her apartment, and Noah coming to her rescue with a flower in his mouth. She remembered standing behind his back which appeared strong and unmovable, and it made her feel safe. And then she cried and ruined Noah's shirt while they missed their dinner reservation, but he said that it's not a big deal.

Chloe enjoyed dinner with Noah, all to the point of Daphne showing up. It's not that Chloe was jealous… she was aware that a man like Noah must have many women willing to please him, and probably more than a few in his past. However, Daphne reminded Chloe that Noah is not a regular guy. With their chat over delicious steak and shrimps, Chloe forgot that Noah has an impressive identity and that she can't hope to match him.

Chloe was readying herself to leave all this behind and then Noah showed up, held her hand, and told her that she is important.

Noah was nice and helpful, but it only made her situation worse. She knew that it would be better if she just left, but from a practical point, coming to this apartment was a good solution. Also, she was selfish in wishing to spend a little bit more time with him, even though she knew that she was only getting deeper and that it will hurt more later.

Noah wanted to find out details about her situation, but she didn't want to talk about it. They were not familiar with each other, and she didn't want anyone to know about her predicament. What would that accomplish? Noah will see her as a weak person and maybe feel sorry for her, but she didn't want his pity. She didn't want anyone's pity.

Chloe was aware that Noah wanted to help her, but there was nothing he could do. Will he go against the Long family? Considering Noah's position, even if he does something reckless, that will implicate not only him, but Whites as well. Sure, Sarah seems nice, but she will not risk going against Longs for one small Chloe.

The word is that Steve is a good guy and that since he became patriarch, Steve is sorting out the Long family members when needed, but this is not only one or two seniors. There are seven of them who are directly benefiting from Chloe obeying them (and probably more).

The overall situation is much worse than just Chloe's case because the Long family is structured to conform to the rules of the ones above them, either by position or by age, and in both of those ladders Chloe comes at the bottom. There is a reason why youngsters are forced to do things 'for the benefit of the family' and no one dares to disagree.

Chloe was confident that her parents love her very much and they wish for her happiness, but when faced with seniors, her parents helplessly lower their heads in submission. That told Chloe that she was on her own. No one will help her.

She hated it. She hated this feeling of being cornered, with two choices, one worse than the other. She didn't want to marry a stranger, and she didn't want to live her life in hiding either. Why can't they leave her alone?

Chloe felt her eyes burning and a sob escaped her lips. She buried her face in the pillow, to muffle the sound of her cries because she didn't want Noah to hear her.

…

After his evening routine, Noah went to the front door and found all kinds of bags and boxes arranged on the floor in the hallway. Those were things that his subordinates brought. He instructed them to leave everything there since he didn't want Chloe to freak out if she ends up walking out of her room and seeing strangers. Noah wanted her to feel safe and he knew that he needed to work for it.

Noah kept things in their place, filling the fridge and the pantry, and he was left with a number of bags that had toiletries and clothes for Chloe. He was eager to give her these things, confident that she will be happy.

Eve-lens showed him Chloe's outline through the wall, and he saw her lying on the bed. Was she sleeping?

Noah approached the door and leaned his ear on the wooden surface, listening carefully. He frowned when he heard faint sobs. She was definitely not sleeping, and it sounded like she was in distress.

"Chloe?", he called and knocked on the door. She didn't answer, so he knocked again.

After the third time, Noah opened the door. "Chloe? Are you OK?"

"I'm fine…", she responded in a shaky voice, startled that he came inside and saw her like that. The good thing was that it was dark, so he couldn't see that she was a mess… or at least that is what she thought.

Noah's chest tightened when he realized that she was crying. She was doing it silently, in the darkness, where no one can see her. He wondered, how many times she cried herself to sleep only to wake up in the morning like nothing is bothering her?

Without thinking, Noah climbed onto her bed and hugged her.

Noah felt her stiffening for a moment before she started pushing against his chest, and he tightened his hold.

"Shh… It's OK… let it out, Chloe… I'm here…", he spoke softly close to her ear.

Chloe's arms relaxed before moving around Noah. She balled her hands into fists, crumpling his t-shirt in the process and she buried her face in his chest.

Her shoulders were shaking, and she would sniffle occasionally. He held her without a word spoken until she ran out of tears and her breathing became steady as she slept off in his embrace.

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