Noah and Chloe enjoyed their ti in the garden. They held each other and kissed, forgetting where they are as the world turned into nothing, and the ti trickled away.
Lizzie's voice in Noah's earpiece reminded him that the fifteen minutes are up.
"They agreed to your proposal.", Lizzie said.
Noah touched his earpiece and humd in acknowledgnt. He had no doubts that they will agree.
Noah released Chloe from his embrace with difficulty. "It's ti for us to return inside."
"I assu you have a plan.", Chloe said, hoping that he will say sothing.
"Do you rember what I asked you?"
Chloe nodded. He asked her to trust him with a promise that he will not give up on them. "I trust you."
"Hmm…", Noah loved her answer. It ca naturally and he knew that she spoke the truth. "Follow my lead."
Noah was glad that Chloe didn't have Eve-lens because then she would see he was a nervous wreck. He knew that he was doing the right thing, but he was concerned about Chloe's reaction. What if she doubts his motives? He forced those thoughts away. He is already beyond the point of backing out and it's too late to co up with a different strategy.
In the hallway, Chloe noticed Lizzie and Scarlet. They had their aloof expressions on, like usually. Chloe wondered if they were there from the beginning and she didn't see them because she was dazed by Noah's presence.
Chloe and Noah returned to the living room and the discussion between Steve and other seniors from the Long family stopped abruptly.
Chloe's parents were silent participants, as always.
Almost all the Longs looked at Chloe and Noah, or to be more precise, they all looked at the point where their hands connected.
Chloe feared that Noah will let go of her hand and she held him tightly.
He gave her a gentle squeeze, silently assuring her that he is not going anywhere and that his cold and unapproachable deanor is not directed at her.
"I believe that you decided.", Noah said while his eyes moved over the faces of the seniors from the Long family before settling on Steve.
Steve gestured toward Chloe's Aunt Wendy who broke into a big smile. She always loved to be in the spotlight.
"We did.", Aunt Wendy said and made a dramatic pause before continuing, "We would be foolish to reject your goodwill. With that, we want to wholeheartedly welco…"
She stopped talking when Noah lifted his hand.
"I assu that you approve.", Noah said to what Aunt Wendy nodded stiffly and her frown told Noah that she didn't like how he interrupted her.
Noah gave a tight smile to the now grumpy Aunt Wendy. "I apologize, but before we continue, I need to ask if Chloe agrees to this. After all, your approval won't an much if the woman in question is against it."
Aunt Wendy's eyes flashed in anger but then she narrowed her eyes at Chloe, silently warning her not to ss up.
Chloe looked at Noah questionably and the way he bit his lower lip, made her nervous.
She rembered words Noah left behind before they went to the garden. Noah said how he gave them sothing and they were supposed to decide within fifteen minutes.
What could make her seniors so amiable toward Noah, other than money? What did Noah do? Did he suffer a big loss because of her?
Her heart trembled in anxiousness.
At that mont, Chloe regretted that they spent their ti in the garden hugging and kissing instead of discussing what he was up to. But Chloe said that she will trust him, so she gave him an encouraging smile, with the hope that he will understand that she will follow his lead.
Regardless of what her seniors decided, Chloe decided to follow Noah. He already made his move, and she will support him.
Chloe watched Noah as he turned to stand in front of her, blocking her view of all other Longs who were in the room.
His eyes stirred with emotions and Chloe forgot to breathe.
Chloe's eyebrows shoot up in surprise when Noah went down on his knee and extended his free hand toward her. There was a small black jewelry box resting on his palm, and a big sparkly diamond in it.
Chloe was sure that the whole room was spinning.
"Chloe Long…", Noah said while looking up at Chloe pleadingly. "We don't know each other for a long ti, but you captured my heart, monopolized my mind, and I can't think of a tomorrow without you in it. I promise to treat you well and to take care of you. Will you agree to spend your life with ?"
Chloe blinked rapidly and her mouth hung open.
What the…? What? Wh…? ...? Chloe's mind stuttered before blanking out completely.
Chloe glanced around the room and saw that everyone was looking at her expectantly.
Chloe's mind was in a tizzy. How did Noah manage to convince her money-hungry relatives to give up on pushing her into a marriage with Mr. Baldeo? And how did he turn the tables so that they are supporting this?
She told herself to think about that later.
What mattered was that Noah was kneeling in front of her and offering her a ring and… was he serious? Probably not. This was probably all part of the plan and she will go with it and demand an explanation when it's just the two of them.
"Yes.", Chloe responded with a big smile on her face that reflected in her eyes as Noah slipped the ring on her left ring finger.
Noah stood up, cupped Chloe's cheeks, and gave her a quick kiss on the lips.
"We are engaged…", he murmured, more for himself than for anyone else as if to make sure it really happened, and then he kissed Chloe again.
Chloe told herself not to get carried away. After all, this is all acting. But Noah's smile was genuine, and she couldn't stop her insides from trembling as his words, 'we are engaged', echoed in her mind.
Noah pulled Chloe into his embrace and spoke only for her to hear, "Just a few more things to tidy up, and I will take you away from here."
Before Chloe could respond, Noah took Chloe's hand in his and led her to sit on the sofa chair where he sat when she ca to the living room the first ti.
He stood behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders while looking at Chloe's Aunt Wendy. "Will you ensure that everyone in your family knows that Chloe and I are engaged?"
Aunt Wendy nodded in agreent happily. Her previous grumpiness lted away the mont Chloe said, 'yes'.
"I believe that you will deal with Mr. Baldeo.", Noah said.
Aunt Wendy confird. "There was no written contract, so I will let him know verbally that the deal of him marrying our Chloe is off."
Chloe's Uncle Leo frowned at this. With the deal with Mr. Baldeo falling through, he will suffer losses. However, with Steve here, he didn't dare to voice his complaints. As much as the seniors lead things from the background, no one will dare to oppose Steve openly because Steve holds real power as the patriarch of the Long family.
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