Gabriella’s eyes filled with tears as she walked on the ground she hadn’t seen for a long time. After swallowing hard and taking a quick breath, she turned towards the man who was holding her hand.
“Why did you take me here?”
“To keep my promise,” Max said lightly. The thin smile on his face seemed sincere.
Without asking more questions, Gabriella walked toward her parents’ grave.
As soon as the girl’s hand touched the tombstones, tears automatically formed and fell from her eyelids.
“Mom, Dad …. Forgive me. I have failed to keep our house.”
Max’s breath was suddenly heavy at Gabriella’s words.
“Sorry that I also failed to take care of myself,” the girl said between irregular sighs.
Max’s head could no longer stand up. He was too embarrassed to show his face in front of the grave that belonged to the parents of the girl he had slept with.
For a few minutes, Max just stood watching Gabriella cry hugging a tombstones. The corners of his lips felt heavy, like the air in his lungs.
Only when the girl’s crying subsided could the man move. He came over and touched her shoulder.
“Gabriella, can I speak for a moment?”
The girl turned and showed her red eyes.
“I have something to say,” Max said while nodding his head.
After a blink of eyes, Gabriella finally moved. The man spontaneously held the girl’s hand to make it easier for her to stand up. However, when she was already upright, Max didn’t let go of his grip yet.
“Mr. Tomy and Mrs. Brenda, I am Max Evans, your future son-in-law.”
The girl automatically checked the CEO’s expression. The man looked serious with tense facial muscles.
“I apologized for always making your daughter cry.”
The girl blinked flatly watching the CEO’s speech. Weren’t those words just a formality without sincerity?
“But, you don’t need to worry. From this moment on, I won’t let sadness run down her cheeks. Because of that, I need your blessing to marry Gabriella.”
The girl immediately jerked her hand.
“Why are you asking permission now? We haven’t decided yet.”
The man took a deep breath and then spread a smile. “Are you taking part in the competition tomorrow?”
The girl’s lips suddenly trembled without a word. After looking down at the unstable fingers, she furrowed her brows and sighed.
“No,” she replied without hope.
“Doesn’t that mean, you will be my wife?”
Gabriella was silent for a moment. “Yes.”
“Then, don’t stop me from asking for your parents’ blessing.”
Max turned his gaze back to the grave, while the girl beside him sighed in resignation.
“I don’t love your daughter. However, I promised to treat her as my wife and carry out the responsibilities as a husband. Because of that,” Max suddenly knelt in front of the girl and opened a small box,” Gabriella, please accept my proposal in front of your parents.”
The girl’s eyebrows spontaneously creased. She didn’t expect the CEO to go that far.
“Do we really have to get married?”
“Yes.” Max nodded without hesitation.
Gabriella sighed. She still hoped that a miracle will change the man’s decision.
“You don’t have to marry me. Even if my hand won’t heal, just think of it as my destiny, not yours.”
Max tilted his head for a moment. “Do you think I’m a fickle person? My decision’s inviolable once it’s made.”
“Are you sure you want to marry me?”
“One hundred percent sure. So, hurry up. Accept my proposal. My legs are getting sore.”
With furrowed brows, the girl touched the shiny metal semicircle attached to the chain.
“What is this?”
“Key to my room,” Max answered as he stood up.
Without being awkward, he pulled the key from the box and put it around Gabriella’s neck.
“You proposed to me with your room key?” the girl asked with an eyebrow raised.
“Don’t you understand? It’s a symbol of your freedom. You don’t need to be confined in my room anymore. You have the key now.”
Unconsciously, Gabriella’s lips began to curl with pleasure. “Am I free?”
“Yes, but you are still under my supervision. And, remember, our agreement is still valid.”
The smile that had just appeared on the girl’s face immediately sank back down. “Agreement?”
Max stepped closer and pressed his lips against her ear. “That you will always believe and obey me.”
In an instant, the girl had a flat face and a resigned look. The key was just formality. Basically, Gabriella was still restrained by the CEO, and she couldn’t imagine what the man could do after they got married.
“Hey, smile! You just accepted my proposal. Don’t worry your parents because of your ugly face.”
Gabriella had to raise the corners of her lips. However, no matter how hard she tried, her face refused to indulge in falsehood. Even when they returned home, it still looked cold and flat.
“What are you thinking?” Max was curious about the girl’s silence.
“Nothing,” Gabriella said lazily.
“I have given you freedom. Shouldn’t you be happy?”
The girl who was walking towards the door stopped and turned to look at the man.
“I am forced to marry a man I don’t love. Can I be happy?”
Before Max could reply, Sebastian suddenly appeared from the house and caught his attention.
“Where have you been, Mr. CEO? I have waited for you almost all day. There are important things that I must convey directly.”
Max’s eyebrows spontaneously creased in surprise. “Didn’t I say that I would meet you this afternoon? Why are you here?”
“This is critical. Julian suddenly came to the company for taking over the CEO’s authority. He has got approval from the board of directors, whereas you are having fun with Gaby.”
Gabriella’s eyes widened. She didn’t expect Sebastian to mention that name.
Meanwhile, the CEO sighed at the tension on his future wife’s face.
“We’ll talk in my workroom, Bas. Not here. And, you … do whatever you want as long as you don’t get out of this house.”
Then, Max hurried inside and up the stairs with the secretary.
“What do they want to talk about? Why do they avoid from me?”
A few seconds later, the girl went in and followed the men.
Swallowing hard and holding the breath, Gabriella put her ear to the door.
“It’s not like you, Max. Since when did you put work aside because of a woman?” Sebastian rebuked, successfully making the eavesdropper furrow her brows.
“Why are you bringing up Gabriella’s problem again? That girl is my responsibility, Bas. She has suffered a lot because of me.”
“But, you aren’t the one who destroyed her house nor the one who deliberately took stimulants. She’s not your responsibility.”
There was a moment of silence, giving Gabriella a chance to digest the truth.
“So, the man is innocent?” the girl muttered with a faint sigh.
“Come on, Max! You’re the first person who suspected her. But now, are you willing to bear the burden and jeopardize your own career? Have you fallen in love with her?”
“What do you mean? I don’t sacrifice my position.”
“But, that’s the reality. Your careless decision made Amber change direction. Now, what are you going to do to stop Julian?”
“About that, I still haven’t found a way out.”
The girl’s hands behind the door spontaneously clenched in front of her chest. Her heart was throbbing strangely knowing the difficulties her future husband had.
“Look for it as soon as possible! Even if Gabriella is not a messenger woman, don’t let her distract you. You’re not usually this slow.”
“Hey, don’t underestimate me! I’m just being careful considering there are unseen enemies within my own company.”
“Okay! Prove it, Max!”
Before Sebastian could open the door, Gabriella had rushed into the bedroom. Leaning against the door, the girl pondered what she had just heard.
“As it turns out, that man is on the edge? But, why does he take so much time to take care of me?” the bowed woman thought.
After heaving a sigh of regret, she raised her trembling hand before her eyes.
“It’s not that man’s fault either,” Gabriella muttered before clenching her fists. A strange feeling was suddenly well up in her heart.
“It seems, I already hate the wrong person.”
Suddenly, someone knocked on the door. The girl gasped and hurriedly opened it.
“Good afternoon, Miss. Forgive me for only now can I introduce myself. I’m Minnie. Mister Max used to call me Auntie.”
The butler greeted with a warm smile, but Gabriella replied with stiff curved lips. The contemplation in her head had just been shattered by astonishment.
“I was sent by Mr. Max to show you around. Mrs. Evans must not get lost in her own home.”
Gabriella’s eyebrows shot up questioningly. “Mrs. Evans?”
“Aren’t you going to get married tomorrow? This afternoon, Enchanted Bridal will come here. Before that, we still have time to get to know this house.”
Confusion filled the girl’s head even more. “What is Enchanted Bridal here for?” she asked like a fool.
“Of course for fitting of the wedding dress, Miss.”
“What kind of wedding is Max planning? Is it a fancy reception?”
Minnie laughed at the funny look on Gabriella’s face.
“I don’t know either, Miss. I only accept and execute orders. Now, come with me! We’ll start from this floor.”
Furrowing an eyebrow, Gabriella followed the butler’s steps.
“Why is Max in such a hurry to get married and bother with everything set up? Aren’t the company affairs much more urgent?”
“Come on, Miss!” Minnie’s call made Gabriella blink. After nodding, she sped up her pace and started listening to the butler’s explanation.
The girl didn’t even have time to wonder how her life changed so much.