Is this destiny?

Noah returned to the classroom a few seconds before the siren announced lunchtime.

To Chloe's surprise, they didn't go to the cafeteria.

"I made other arrangements.", Noah said mysteriously.

Chloe didn't object. She didn't care where they eat, as long as she was with Noah. 

Noah took Chloe for lunch to an Asian restaurant that provided private rooms.

The food was delicious and so was the company.

Noah asked about Chloe's time in the classroom, and he enjoyed listening. From the beginning, he didn't let go of Chloe's hand, and they used their free hand to eat.

Over dessert, Noah's phone buzzed, and after checking it, his expression turned serious.

"Chloe, I need to ask you to do something."

Chloe gulped softly and looked at him without blinking. She did her best not to think negatively of what is coming, but she sensed that the light, playful mood was gone.

"What is this about?", Chloe asked when she saw that Noah was silent.

"I don't have time to explain everything, but I need you to trust me, Chloe."

"Alright.", Chloe said reluctantly and waited for Noah to speak up. The situation seemed graver with every second of silence that passed between them.

Noah took a deep breath and steeled himself before saying, "I need you to return home, to the Long property."

Chloe frowned, unsure if she heard him right. "What?"

"I am about to do something, and it will be best if you are home so that they don't suspect you are part of this."

Chloe's eyes were full of panic. "What are you going to do?"

"You said that you will trust me, at least for this weekend.", Noah reminded her.

"Yes!", Chloe exclaimed. "That was for us being together. You sending me back home was not part of the deal."

"I'm sorry, but there is no time to explain."

"Make some time!" Chloe was getting angry. "I don't give a damn about your plans, but you should know what waits for me if I go back. Is that what you want? Maybe you don't care what happens to me, but I do, and I'm not going there without a bloody good reason!"

"I know I don't have the right to ask you this but… can you trust me, just for today?"

Chloe paused. She could see the sincerity in his eyes, and she guessed that he is not asking her to go home blindly, however, she was running away from there and he is expecting her not only to stop running but to return to that place where everyone wants to control her.

"Let's say I will trust you today. What will happen tomorrow?", Chloe asked.

"Let's leave that worry for tomorrow."

Chloe looked at Noah and her heart cracked. What kind of an answer was that? Can she trust him? She really wanted to trust him and to believe that he has a magic wand to make her problems disappear, but it was hard to believe that he has such power, and she started doubting if he wants to help her at all.

Chloe told herself that this is nothing to fuss about because nothing changed. No matter what Noah wants to do, she is still stuck between going with what her family wants and running away.

These two days she spent with Noah don't make a difference, and it seemed that her leaving the Long family and getting a job at Blanc didn't make a difference either.

What is the worst that can happen?, Chloe asked herself. Even without Noah, she can meet that man from Montana, and it will not be too late to run away at that time. She can pretend to play along so that her seniors drop their guard and when they are not looking, she will run away. She still has her savings, and she will manage.

So far, she was relying on herself, and the last few days shouldn't change that.

Noah noticed that Chloe's vitals went back to normal, and he assumed that she decided to trust him and to follow what he said. That should be a good thing, right?

It's not that Noah didn't want to tell her, but there was no time for sharing details. Sure, he could give her a short version, but if he tells her what he is up to, she will call him crazy and ask him not to do it, and he didn't have the time to convince her otherwise. He was hoping that she will trust him, and within the next few hours, everything will be cleared up.

"When should I go back?", Chloe asked in a monotone.

"Now. There is a car waiting for you."

Chloe stood up slowly and looked at Noah with an expression devoid of emotions. "Thank you for everything. It was fun."

Noah felt a pang in his chest. "Please, Chloe…"

"It's fine.", she cut him off and walked outside of the room.

Noah knew that it was not fine because that was the 'fine' she used when things were NOT fine.

He followed Chloe to the car and opened the door for her.

Chloe got into the back seat and didn't look at him.

"I'm not giving up on us, Chloe.", Noah said. "Wait for me and don't do anything we will both regret. OK? I promise that by tonight, you will understand everything."

Chloe pressed her lips into a line and didn't respond.

Noah closed the door and the car moved down the street, leaving Noah behind.

He cursed under his breath and dashed to his car. The time was running out and there was so much to do.

…

At the Long family's property…

"You are home?", Chloe's mother asked in surprise when she saw Chloe enter the main door of their villa.

"As you can see…", Chloe said dryly and walked upstairs toward her room.

Her mom was two steps behind her. "Are you here for a visit, or…?"

"I don't know, mom.", Chloe responded curtly.

She halted her steps and turned to look at her mother.

"Aunt Wendy, Uncle Kevin, and Uncle Leo visited me at my apartment. How did they find out where I was?"

Chloe's mom pressed her lips into a line. "We didn't tell them where you were."

"But you told them something.", Chloe guessed.

"We told them that you've got a job at Blanc."

Chloe could guess that if they knew where she was working, it would be easy to find someone who can retrieve Chloe's employee's information which contains her address. After all, Longs are everywhere.

Chloe's mom could see the disappointment on Chloe's face.

"I'm sorry, we…"

"It's fine, mom.", Chloe said and continued walking to her room.

Chloe was relieved that her mother stopped following her. Chloe didn't want to hear excuses. She was used to her parents succumbing to whatever seniors wanted, but this time, Chloe's patience was thin, and she didn't want to argue with her mother because it will not achieve anything.

Chloe closed the door behind her and observed her room. Everything was exactly how she left it, including the situation in the Long family. Nothing changed. Nothing ever changes in this family.

---

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