Is this destiny?

"Miss Long?"

A voice from the distance broke the spell and Chloe looked away from Noah with difficulty.

"What is your name?", Chloe asked the boy who smiled at her expectantly.

He was eighteen, maybe nineteen years old and he didn't notice that he ruined a Noah-Chloe moment.

"Draco."

"That's a nice name."

The boy made a face. "Yeah. If you think that it's nice to be named by a villain from one of the most popular stories in the century."

Chloe knew that he was talking about the Harry Potter series. "Draco Malfoy was not a villain."

Draco looked at Chloe in confusion and she clarified, "Draco Malfoy was born in a family of purebloods, who taught him that they are better than anyone else. He was proud and egoistic, and he bullied others who were different from him, but he acted like that because that was the only thing he knew. When he got a mission to kill Dumbledore, he couldn't do it, because his heart told him that it was wrong and that made him a non-villain. No one can choose where we are born, Draco, but we have the power to decide what we will do with our life."

A smile slowly bloomed on Draco's face, and Chloe understood that her explanation hit the mark. Draco was born in a troublesome family and had difficulty shaking it off, stuck wondering if he will end up like his parents.

Chloe completely missed the enamored look he gave her.

"Miss Long…", Draco called dreamily.

"Yes, Draco?"

"Do you have a boyfriend?"

Chloe's eyes flashed in shock when she realized that the boy who called her over for a math question is hitting on her. Fine, Draco is not a little boy, he is only a few years younger than Chloe, but still… She cleared her throat awkwardly.

"What does that have to do with math? Why did you call me here? Quickly, ask your questions because others are waiting to talk to me…"

For some inexplicable reason, as she spoke rapidly, Chloe's eyes darted toward Noah and she was glad that he was focused on talking to the kids in the area with computers.

Chloe had no idea that Noah was looking at her from the beginning; even with his back turned toward her, he used Eve-lens and cameras within the room.

He watched Chloe working through math problems with kids and how her face lit up every time kids acknowledged that they understood her explanations. She was moving from one kid to another and helping each of them earnestly, and Noah couldn't stop himself from falling for her more.

Noah's goal was to keep Chloe in Los Angeles, and his plan was set. Since Chloe was putting up a wall against him, he decided to attack from different directions. It's the perfect strategy to confuse her to the point of not seeing the main attack (aka Noah) coming close until it's too late.

Noah will continue his personal pursuit for Chloe, and at the same time, he will make her fall in love with this neighborhood. With every positive experience, another attachment will be created which will prevent Chloe from leaving, and Noah will ensure that the conditions Chloe wanted are met, which are freedom and safety from the Long family.

If the years of strategizing for the Army of Chaos ever needed to come in handy, it would be right now, because Noah wanted for Chloe to stay by his side without realizing what is going on.

Noah heard loud and clear when Draco asked Chloe if she has a boyfriend and Noah thought that Chloe's reaction was adorable. Especially the part where she looked at him.

Chloe finished her talk with a sixteen years-old Joel, and she wanted to see who was next when she felt a presence behind her.

"Miss Long and I are leaving for today.", Noah said.

Noah was too close to Chloe, and she was stuck between him and the desk, and other than turning partially, she didn't dare to move.

"Aww…", several kids complained in unison.

Noah lifted his hand, to get them to quiet down. "If you are lucky, Miss Long will return."

"Can you come tomorrow?", one girl asked Chloe.

"Uhm…", Chloe looked at Noah helplessly, and his poker face hid his anxiety as he waited to hear her answer.

"I'm not sure. Maybe.", Chloe said after a slight hesitation.

Noah smiled a little. A 'maybe' is better than a 'no'. Definitely better.

He took Chloe's hand in his and led the way outside and she followed after him obediently.

"The kids are great.", Chloe said when they stepped out.

"They are.", Noah confirmed. "Do you want to see the rest?"

"There is more?"

Noah hummed and continued walking.

He showed her another massive room with sofas and chairs that were grouped to define several sitting areas.

"This is the common room where kids socialize and have fun.", Noah explained. "Some come here with an intention to read or study, but it's usually too noisy for that. Now, most of the kids are in class, if not for that, you would see this place is buzzing."

"How many kids you have here?"

"We have 152 kids staying full-time currently. The youngest one is seven years old, but a vast majority are teens from fourteen to eighteen years old."

Chloe was surprised. More than a hundred and fifty kids. That was a lot.

She asked a few more questions while observing the common room.

In the far corner were three pinball machines and two arcade games. There was a dartboard, a pool table, a table hockey, a ping-pong table, and several flat-screen TVs were attached to the walls.

A number of long bookshelves were filled with books and magazines, and on the left was a kitchenette with a bar that had fruits and some other snacks available.

Five kids were occupying one seating area with controllers in their hands and VR equipment on their heads. Based on their shouts, they were playing a multiplayer game.

Next, Chloe and Noah walked up to the second level where they found a room filled with artwork and several teens talking enthusiastically to Xiaohui and Hande. Further in the room, about a dozen teenagers were focused on canvases in front of them and Merve, Harini, and Panya were giving tips on the artwork teens created.

Chloe recognized Sarah's girls. They were not close, but whoever attends parties with Whites, has a chance to see the kids from the Cliffside Villa. They are always well dressed and doing their own thing like they belong in a different universe and Chloe was always a bit envious of that. Now, however, the five girls looked serious, yet approachable. It was an eye-opening experience to see them in this unique setting.

"Merve, Harini, and Panya are art instructors.", Noah spoke to Chloe while gesturing toward the girls. "There is an art gallery that Blanc manages. Xiaohui and Hande are deciding what will be displayed. Kids have a chance to put their artwork for sale, and they get to keep the profits after the gallery takes their sale's commission."

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