Is this destiny?

While Chloe was inspecting Noah's apartment for anything that she might need as she is moving in, Noah thought that he should get a present for Sarah. If not for Sarah's encouragement, he would probably miss seeing how wonderful Chloe is.

Noah felt a pang of guilt in his heart. Before meeting Sarah, Noah made one mistake after another, and despite being a jerk, Sarah saw a man he could become.

Thanks to Sarah, Noah built his reputation, career, and now love life. What did he do in return? He couldn't think of anything.

Actually, whoever was good to him, Noah ended up messing up. Starting from his family and everyone else who got close. Noah even messed up with Sarah, but she gave him chances, one after another. When others gave up on Noah, but Sarah still believed in him.

Noah was not sure if he got tired of wronging Sarah or if she managed to steer him in the right direction, but he hoped that he will be wise enough not to mess up with Chloe.

Without Noah realizing the change in him until it happened, Chloe became the center of his world. 

The initial attraction was there, but he didn't notice it. Noah started paying attention only after Sarah told him to give Chloe company in the Chaos nightclub with a warning that he should not treat Chloe as a hookup.

Aiden advised Noah to stay close to Chloe, and Noah came up with a plan to spend a few days in the office with Chloe without realizing the effect that will have on him. What started as playful curiosity turned into a craving for Chloe's proximity that can be described as an addiction.

Noah was restless without Chloe in visual range, and when her seniors showed up in her apartment, Noah snapped. The only thing he could think of was to keep Chloe safe and to make her his.

One thing led to another, and they were engaged and she was moving in with him, and his world was at peace. 

Since becoming the sergeant in the Army of Chaos, Noah didn't care if he stayed in a bunk bed, sharing living quarters with hundreds of soldiers, or if he stayed in a luxurious villa, but now that Chloe was with him, he wondered what she would like. Maybe they should get a house, and he will let her pick...

In the master bedroom…

Chloe finished checking the bathroom and the closet. She took the liberty to open the drawers and the cabinets and inspect the contents.

The riskiest thing she saw so far was Noah's underwear, but since she saw him naked, she was confident that he wouldn't mind. Besides, if there was anything secretive, he wouldn't allow her to snoop around the place without restrictions or supervision.

While visually inspecting the master bedroom, Chloe's sight fell on the night tables.

She sat on the edge of the king-sized bed and pulled open the drawer of the night table. It was empty.

Chloe went to the other side where the second night table was, and she opened the drawer.

Her brows furrowed for a moment when she saw a handful of condoms and her eyes widened when she realized that one wrapper was ripped open, and its rubbery content was missing.

As if struck by lightning, she stood frozen and stared at the torn wrapper that whispered things she didn't want to hear because her heart turned heavy as her insecurities swelled.

Chloe repeated to herself that it doesn't matter. She knew that Noah had women before her. But the knowledge that he had sex with a woman in this bedroom, on this bed where he wanted Chloe to sleep with him was suffocating.

She couldn't stop her mind from drifting toward the image of a server-lady from the restaurant who placed her hand on Noah's shoulder. Was it Daphne? Was she in this apartment? In this bed? Did Daphne use the bathroom? Shower? Did she put her clothes next to Noah's in the closet? Did Noah do to Daphne all the things he did to Chloe? Or is there still something in his repertoire that Daphne experienced, and Chloe didn't?

Chloe's mind swirled with questions. Would she feel the same if Noah was not her first? Would she feel the same if Noah was not the only one? Does she have the right to feel dirty and betrayed? Is this soul-piercing ache in her heart caused by real reasons, or is it just a product of her overthinking things?

After an unknown measure of time, Chloe was able to move.

She wanted to leave the bedroom and her steps halted. Where would she go? She needed air. She needed time to think. But Noah was right there. What would she say to him? Can she even look at him? Can she kiss him? She felt bile rising.

The thought of his touch which caused her insides to flutter in anticipation now made her nauseated because in her mind she saw Noah and Daphne right on that bed… they were naked, their bodies intertwined, touching and kissing, and… Chloe couldn't take it.

Chloe did her best to compose herself before walking out.

Noah heard light footsteps and he turned in time to see Chloe taking her purse in silence, almost sneakily.

He observed her keenly as she took a step back.

"Are you OK?"

"I'm fine.", she said without looking at him.

Noah's eyebrows shoot up in confusion. Why did that 'fine' sound like the one Chloe used when she was not fine?

Chloe was out of the apartment before he could react. Noah saw her walking backward and heading toward the door, but he didn't think that she will actually leave without a word spoken. What happened?

Noah's mind froze. Should he go after her? Absolutely! But before that, he moved his fingers and turned on Eve-lens. He watched through the live feed Chloe dashing out of the elevator to the street and running away as fast as her legs carried her.

Noah knew that he will be able to find his little rabbit, so he decided to figure out what made her run.

He went to the master bedroom and into the bathroom where Chloe said that she will go. Everything looked in order. Next, he moved to the closet and nothing seemed out of place there.

'What triggered Chloe to leave like that?', he wondered while walking into the bedroom.

His sight fell on the night table whose drawer was open. Why was it open? Did Chloe look inside?

He moved closer and saw the condoms.

"Shit!", he cursed loudly when he realized what made Chloe run.

He was not upset because she saw it, but because she left without talking to him. Why didn't she ask for an explanation? If she confronted him about this, what would he say? Noah was not sure, but he would not let her leave.

Noah thought that they made progress, but it seemed that with every bump, Chloe retreats back into her shell. Now what?

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