Forced to marry my cold CEO

****

In a dimly lit room, two individuals, an eighteen-year-old boy and a fifteen-year-old girl, were seated on the floor. The atmosphere was tense and heavy, filled with sorrow.

"I do not want you to go, Richard. What am I going to do without you around?" Gabriella said.

"Please stay," she pleaded with tears in her eyes. She had thought she would be strong, but she realized that she needed him as the fear of him leaving overwhelmed her.

Richard sighed deeply, feeling the same way about his departure as Gabriella.

Then he said to her, holding her in his arms, "I also do not want to leave, but my mom doesn't want me to stay, and she has convinced my dad to send me to London, and there is no way I can go against his decision. You know how my father is."

Gabriella sniffed, wiping away her tears and nodded in agreement as she realized, Richard was right that his father was the one who had the final say in their family, and once he made a decision, it was difficult to change it.

"She doesn't like me, and that's why she is sending you away," she pointed out.

Richard couldn't deny that fact. Because he was aware that his mother didn't approve of Gabriella and constantly tried to turn him against her.

Simply because Gabriella came from a lower-class background, and his mother believed she wasn't suitable for him. However, Gabriella needed the assurance that Richard would always stand by her, regardless of what his mother or anyone else said.

With that he held her hands and gazed deeply into her eyes as he declared "No matter what my mom does, I will never forget you, my sweet Gabriella,"

Saying that, he leaned in and passionately kissed her, conveying his every emotion in that moment. Breaking the kiss, he rested his head on her shoulder.

"Promise me you'll wait for me," Richard requested. Though, he knew he didn't have to ask Gabriella that. Because he knew she would always wait for him, no matter how long it took for him to return to her.

"Richard! I promise I'll wait for you, no matter how long it takes for you to come back. I'll wait for you," Gabriella promised. Richard smiled, comforted by Gabriella's words.

"I love you, Gabriella."

"I love you, Richard," she replied and kissed him.

****

Gabriella and Richard grew up together as best friends since they were children. Richard was the son of a billionaire, who shared everything with Gabriella.

They played together and did everything together. However, as time went on, romantic feelings began to develop between them.

The way he stared at her and how she responded to his advances made their feelings obvious.

Despite the three-year age difference, Gabriella couldn't help but love him. She cared for him deeply, and he was willing to risk everything for her, even going against his mother's wishes.

Richard's mother, Rosella, detested Gabriella because her mother worked as a helper for Richard's family. And Rosella considered associating with the daughter of a helper to be unacceptable.

She attempted to separate them several times, even going as far as trying to fire Gabriella's mother. However, her husband refused to allow it, which left Rosella frustrated. Every effort to come between them failed, and this made her increasingly agitated.

When Rosella witnessed Richard and Gabriella kissing, her suspicions were confirmed and her anger reached its peak. She stormed into the room filled with rage, and the other helpers quickly fled. Concerned, Roberto, Richard's father, left his bedroom and approached Rosella. He tried to calm her down and find out what had upset her so much. However, Rosella remained silent.

Roberto persisted, asking if she wanted to talk about it. Out of nowhere, Rosella demanded that Richard be sent to London. Confused, Roberto questioned her sudden request and asked if their son had done something wrong. Rosella explained that she had caught him being romantic with Gabriella, whom she viewed as beneath their social status.

Roberto disagreed, believing that one mistake should not result in their only child being sent away. Rosella stubbornly threatened to take matters into her own hands if he didn't comply. With that, she stormed out of the room, leaving Roberto feeling defeated and sighing heavily.

The following morning arrived, Roberto called Richard into the study room, and they both sat down. "Hey dad, do you want to talk?" Richard asked.

"Yes! Can you tell me about your true relationship with your best friend?" Roberto asked, getting straight to the point. "You mean Gabriella?" Richard asked.

"Yes, Gabriella," Roberto responded. "She is my girlfriend," Richard answered honestly. There was no point in hiding it. The truth would come out sooner or later.

Roberto sighed deeply. It seemed like his wife was right all along. Richard was in a romantic relationship with Gabriella. "Your girlfriend! Alright then, get ready to leave for London soon," Roberto said.

"But dad!" Richard exclaimed. "Do not argue, Richard. You are going, and that's final," Roberto said with command laced in his tone, leaving no room for arguments.

"Fine, DAD. I know this is all mom's doing," Richard said as he stormed out in anger leaving his dad on seat.

As the sun rose on the day of his departure, the villa was filled with silence. Then he woke up by the sound of his alarm, which he obviously hated. So he stood up to take his bath as he reluctantly prepared for his forced journey to London.

Meanwhile, Rosella was in the sitting room, getting everything ready for Richard's departure.

A few minutes later, Richard was fully prepared and he descended the stairs to find everything ready. This made him sad, as he had to leave behind everything he loved and go to a place where he knew no one.

But above all, he had no choice than to obey his parents. He gathered his bags and took one last look at the villa, reminiscing on the memories he had there. Thoughts of Gabriella flashed through his mind.

Taking a deep breath, he hugged his parents tightly, as he wiped his tears, and got into the car. Knowing that one day he would return and make Gabriella his wife, but for now, he had to fulfill his parents' wishes.

****

Ten years later....

Gabriella woke up that morning in her bed, filled with excitement. She was so thrilled that she could feel her heart racing. And moments later, she went to assist her mom, Elena, in the kitchen.

As she smiled to herself, her mother became curious so she asked what had brought such a radiant smile to her face. "Darling, can you please share with me what is making you so joyful?" Elena inquired.

Gabriella chuckled as she responded . "Mom, do you really want to know?"

"I do Gabriella, please tell me," Elena responded.

" Okay, I will tell you," Gabriella finally agreed.

"Mom," She began. "Richard is returning from London today," Gabriella continued, as she cheek reddened.

However, Elena did not share in her daughter's happiness upon hearing this news as her smile vanished.

"Are you sure he will remember you?" she asked cautiously. Elena knew that this topic was a sensitive one, so she approached it with caution.

"Why would he not remember me, mom?" she asked irritably. Her mother had tried to discourage her from holding onto the promise she made to Richard multiple times, but she refused to give up.

"We made a promise to each other to stay together forever, and I have waited for him this long. I am sure he would do the same. We share an undying love," Gabriella responded.

Elena's bitter explanation followed. "My darling, I want your heart to be safe and unharmed. That is why I asked, and you must understand the reality of our situation compared to theirs. They are billionaires, and we are just servants. That is the honest truth," Elena explained with a hint of bitterness filled in her voice .

As she had witnessed many love stories end because of differences in social status. She was simply concerned for Gabriella, not wanting her to get hurt.

Gabriella gasped. "I know Richard loves me, Mom. He told me so. He doesn't care about our social status differences. He loves me for who I am and he's willing to fight the world for us," she voiced out as tears filled her eyes without her realizing.

And so, with frustrated in her demeanor, she stormed off to her room, as she locked herself inside.

"Oh my God," muttered Elena. She was in pain seeing her daughter so vulnerable, but she had to be honest so Gabriella could be prepared for whatever might happen. "I'm just a mother trying to look out for her only child," Elena mumbled to herself.

Meanwhile, in her room, Gabriella was lost in thoughts about her mother's words. She had her doubts, but she still held onto to her hope that it would be a great night for her because Richard would keep the promise he made to her. He just had to keep his promise!

At the villa, there were numerous lights, which were decorated with the most exquisite colors and designs. Happiness permeated every corners, as laughter echoed everywhere.

Rosella and Roberto were extremely thrilled to hear that their only son was returning home after a decade, so they organized a grand welcome party for him. The party had gained much attention prior to Richard's arrival, as Rosella spared no effort in ensuring the finest quality of everything, from the wine to the cuisine. She hired the best bands and planners, and paid meticulous attention to every detail to make her son's arrival the best possible. She did a double-check on everything for any faults and once she notice even the smallest of flaws, she flares up.

Apart from welcoming their son, Rosella had additional reasons for her painstaking preparations. She had a fondness for being surrounded by elegance and high-quality things, so she dedicated extra time to make the party an unforgettable experience, in order to elevate her social status among her wealthy friends and be unbeatable.

While Rosella was preoccupied with the party, Roberto eagerly anticipated seeing his son after such a long time. He was anxious to learn about the events that had transpired in his son's life, as their communication had been limited since he departed for London with a heart full of pain and anger.

"It's been ten years; that should be in the past," Roberto muttered.

Then he sighed, as he began with a bright smile on his face "I miss our son, Rosella. I can't wait to see him after all these years. I wonder how he looks now,"

"Oh, Roberto, he must look so handsome. After all, he is your son," Rosella replied.

Listening to the words of his wife, Roberto wore a smile on is face and he said "Come here, my beautiful wife," as he embraced her tightly.

Still in his embrace, Rosella continued with her reassuring words "Don't worry, my love. He will be fine,"

Two hours later, Gabriella and her mother arrived at the villa. Immediately Rosella noticed them, she walked towards them with a hateful expression.

"Why are you arriving late, Elena?" Rosella asked in a cold tone.

"I apologize, madam. Gabriella wasn't feeling well," Elena lied. Rosella rolled her eyes at Elena's excuse, still glaring at them both with hatred.

Then she said "Had my husband support my decision towards you, I would have fired you a long time ago,"

"What are you waiting for, Elena? There's plenty to do," she said scornfully.

"Of course, madam," Elena replied with a smile. She was unaffected by Rosella's look, as she had grown accustomed to it after working with them for over twenty-five years.

Elena went off to do her tasks, and as always, Gabriella followed her mother to help. After a few minutes, Rosella approached Gabriella and Elena while they were working as she noticed how evident their happiness was about something.

"What's so funny?" Rosella asked in a scornful manner.

"Why do you want to know?" Gabriella responded in the same tone.

"I see you speak rudely now. Is this the way your mother raised you?" Rosella scolded. She wondered why she hadn't ordered her men to kill Elena yet.

"She apologizes, madam," Elena replied respectfully.

Seeing Elena's apology, Rosella decided to let the matter go.

Then she began looking at Gabriella's dress which made her said, "I see you're all dressed up. Is there an event?"

"My best friend is coming back today, and I dressed up for him," Gabriella replied with excitement.

This made Rosella gave a hysterical laughter as she said, "Oh, your best friend? The same best friend who hasn't bothered to contact you in ten years?"

Gabriella felt hurt by Rosella's statement but consoled herself with thoughts of Richard. She pondered the reason why Rosella hated her so much. It was true that Richard hadn't contacted her throughout the past decade, but she didn't blame him.

He had been incredibly busy with his father's empire abroad, and Gabriella admired his accomplishments. Rosella continued to laugh uncontrollably before saying, "I hope you don't get too broken tonight, sweetheart," she gave a smirk before leaving.

However, little did Gabriella know that she had many challenges ahead.

Despite Rosella's words, Gabriella held onto hope and happiness. Her words caused Gabriella to lose herself in thought, asking, "What does she mean by me getting shattered?"

Elena reassured her, saying, "You don't have to take Rosella's words seriously. You know she will say anything to hurt you because she doesn't want you around."

Filled with anger, Gabriella exclaimed, "I can't understand why she despises me so much."

Elena praised her, as she said, "It's because you are a rare gem, Gabriella."

Hearing her mother words lifted Gabriella's mood once again. As she said with a determination not to let Rosella's words affect her. "Let's get back to our chores,"

She held a strong belief that Richard would rectify everything, and she was prepared to face any ridicule Rosella might throw her way.

Lost in the memories of her love, Gabriella chuckled with excitement. "Oh mum! I can't wait to see him. It's as if my heart is about to burst out of my chest," she daydreamed. Although Elena smiled at her daughter, she felt worried inside, desperately hoping the evening would turn out well for Gabriella. "My love, you will certainly do great tonight," she said, providing her daughter with hope and courage to overcome any obstacles.

Elena was scared for Gabriella due to their social status and the wealth of the Maxwell's family. She believed they would never reach their status even in a thousand decades.

However, she refrained from voicing her thoughts aloud to avoid jinxing her daughter's happiness. It had been a long time since she had seen Gabriella this happy.

So they continued the chores and, amidst the ongoing conversation, they made progress in handling the preparations for the party and cleaning the exquisite antiques around the villa.

Elena smiled silently, anticipating the relaxation she would feel with Rosella's presence, knowing she would no longer be subjected to her constant teasing. However, Gabriella remained unaffected by this and continued to immerse herself in thoughts of her beloved Richard. Suddenly, she remembered she needed to freshen up.

"Mom! I'll be back soon," she exclaimed and ran off happily.

"But Gabby!" Elena smiled, resigning herself to the situation. "That girl can be quite overwhelming at times," she muttered softly. "I will just finish up the remaining chores,"

As Gabriella cleaned up, she was reminded of another tender moment with Richard which was their last kiss before he left. This stirred up her emotions once more.

"I really can't wait to see Richard again," she murmured to herself.

"Or perhaps I'm expressing my feelings too strongly," she pondered, questioning herself. After she finished her clean ups, then she returned to assist her mother with the remaining chores.

**

In the evening, Richard finally arrived at his family's villa where everyone was dressed up for the elaborate party. His parents, Rosella and Roberto, heard the car horn and were certain it belonged to Richard.

They hurried outside to see and to their joy, it was indeed Richard! Excitement overwhelmed them, as if their hearts wanted to burst out of their bodies. They ran towards him with overflowing love and happiness.

Coincidentally, Gabriella also heard the horn, and her face turned red as she blushed uncontrollably. She was filled with immense happiness because the love of her life had finally arrived. She started heading towards him, only for her to receive a call from her boss at the office which made her feel compelled to answer it.

Rosella and Roberto warmly embraced their only child and showered him with unconditional love. "Come, let's go inside," Rosella said.

"Mom, Dad!" Richard exclaimed happily. "I have missed you both so much. It's good to see you again, guys," he said excitedly as he hugged his parents.

"It's really great to see you too, my son," Roberto responded. He had just been worried for no reason. His son didn't seem to have any grudge against him.

"How was your journey?" Roberto asked. "I trust it was not stressful?"

"It was not, Dad. Mom made sure it was the best," he answered and laughed.

"You look so lean, my darling," Rosella commented as she assessed her son from head to toe.

"Mom, it's just stress," Richard responded and shook his mother off of him.

"Come, let's return back to the party. The guests must be waiting already," Roberto urged.

With that, Richard nodded and so they walked their way there.

Reaching where the celebration was happening, the guests welcomed Richard home with a toast and immediately bombarded him with different questions, "Oh, are you ready to fully take over the company?"

"Are you ready for marriage now?" The guest continued to ask questions repeatedly, which irritated Richard. However, he felt obligated to stay and didn't want to appear rude.

He sighed in resignation, muttering to himself, "This is going to be a long night." He had opposed his mother's decision to throw a party, but she insisted, and now he found himself trapped in a location he didn't want to be.

Gabriella continued to assist her mother in the kitchen as her phone rang once again, checking her phone screen she saw it was still her boss calling, this time she refused to pick up the call.

Elena noticed how frustrated her daughter looked but refused to say anything to her.

Some moments later the call still persisted so she walked outside to responded to it the time,

At the same time, Richard received a message on his own phone, causing his initial smile to vanish and be replaced by a frown. He excused himself and departed from the party as he headed to his room.

Back outside, Gabriella became increasingly annoyed while speaking on the phone. Despite repeatedly informing him that she wasn't available for a shift that night, he was stubbornly persistent in asking her to make a delivery. If it weren't for his advanced age, she would have hung up on him long ago and wouldn't mind the cost of her job.

"Sir, I have informed you numerous times that I am not a..." Gabriella was suddenly interrupted as someone swiftly covered her mouth and nose with a white handkerchief.

"Hmmm," she managed to murmur before her voice became muffled, causing her to drop her phone.

She desperately tried to break free from her assailant's grasp, but her efforts grew weaker as she gradually lost consciousness. But within seconds, she slipped into unconsciousness. The thug proceeded to drag her away from the party and out of the villa.

**

Gabriella remained unconscious, still lying with the kidnappers in the vehicle as they transported her from the villa.

One of the kidnappers grabbed his phone and dialed the person who had organized the abduction. "We already have the girl and we're en route to the hotel," he informed them.

"You can send the room number to the hotel where we're supposed to deliver her. Make sure to use the back entrance and avoid being seen," the person instructed before ending the call. Within moments, the goon's phone vibrated, indicating a new message.

He retrieved his phone and discovered the room number where they were supposed to leave Gabriella. The group arrived at the back of the hotel, where a staff member was already waiting for them.

Hastily, he guided them into the hotel and to the designated room where Gabriella was to be left. The kidnappers quickly placed her on the bed and proceeded to undress her.

"Boss, how about we have some fun with the girl?" someone asked the leader. "I had the same idea, but not now. We'll do it later, once everything settles down," the leader of the goons replied.

With that, they exited the room. Then shortly after, they texted the person who hired them to inform them that the job was completed. They also sent a message to Richard on his phone: "Your childhood lover is now promiscuous and available for anything. Come to room 4012 at the Empire Hotel and see it for yourself."

Meanwhile, Richard had just finished delivering his speech after his parents had officially announced to the whole world that he was taking over the company.

While everyone was busy congratulating him for the big news, his phone suddenly beeped. Thinking it was the previous caller, he decided to ignore it. But however, his mother approached him as she saw him from a distance when he began ignoring the call and she said, "Answer your phone, dear. It might be something important."

With a slight smile of reluctance in his expression he decided to respond to the call not wanting to refuse or disrespect his mother, and so he brought his phone out of his pocket and he proceeded to open the message only for him to see an unbelievable revelation.

Disappointment flushed through his expression and resulted in a change in his countenance as he was not expecting to see what he had just read.

As Rosella saw the change in Richard's expression she gave a smirk of satisfaction, knowing that her plan had worked. And there was no way Gabriella would ever be able to put Richard under her control now.