Noah stared intently at Chloe, not uttering a word. His eyes dissected her, trying to assess the truth of her words. After what felt like an eternity, he leaned toward her with an unreadable expression on his face. "Coco, how about you tell me the truth?”
Putting in so much effort to remain composed, Chloe did not notice the cold sweat seeping down her back. She met his intense gaze, attempting to hold her ground as she retorted, "This is the truth. Don't you trust me?"
"You're not the kind of person to backtrack unless you encounter an unexpected issue while executing your plans."
"Isn't fear of marriage an issue?" Chloe looked at him with a hurt expression, keeping her voice soft and delicate, evoking his urge to protect her. "If Grandfather can't understand me, at least you should..."
Noah’s heart ached as he embraced her. His tone had visibly softened as he asked, "Then why did you go to Fairlight this morning?"
"I went to see Joseph about arranging a time to visit Harold before getting married. Harold has always been good to me and treats me like family. It's only right to let him know about the marriage." Chloe leaned stiffly against his chest, feeling utterly uncomfortable. She had no choice but to use Harold as a cover, even though it sounded far-fetched.
"Why didn’t you just call Harold directly?" Noah's eyes darkened slightly.
"He doesn't have a phone, and I've long deleted the landline number for the mansion." Chloe then changed the subject. She pretended to be curious and asked, "I heard from Jasper that he came to Exotic Star to visit me?"
"Yes.” Noah did not deny it. "A little child couldn't possibly have come on his own. I presumed it was Joseph's doing, so I refused on your behalf to avoid trouble." His words were rational, considerate, and thoughtful.
"Will you please have the helper continue preparing medicine for Vanya?” Chloe's eyes sparkled. "Saving a life brings good karma. Though she has committed grave sins, she has paid the price. If we help her, it’ll serve as an opportunity for us to accumulate good karma."
Noah pondered for a few seconds before a mischievous smile crept onto his lips. "Before I do that, give me a kiss."
Stunned, Chloe's fair cheeks flushed a deep crimson. She froze, unsure of how to react.
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