I Kissed A CEO And He Liked It!
Chapter 18: The Necklace

On a gloomy Friday afternoon, Gabrielle was standing in front of her home, the same one that was taken away by her aunt.

It was a three-story house with four bedrooms, standing in a three-hundred square-feet lot. It had a mini garden, and the entire property was surrounded by grilled fences. Gabrielle sighed, seeing how her aunt had not maintained the house well. The paints have already faded and the beautiful tiled roof had a few cracks on one side.

It hurt her seeing how the same house her father worked so hard to build was clearly unpreserved.

"Well, I would not have the money to keep it renovated," she convinced herself that nothing would have changed if she still lived in the same place.

That day, after her morning schedule at school, Gabrielle went to the cemetery and visited her father and mother's grave. That day was her father's death anniversary.

While Gabrielle was happy to share with her parents; the good luck she had been getting these past few days, she could not help but stop by her home, especially since that was where all of her parent's memories were.

The entire time, Hank drove her to wherever she wanted to go.

Gabrielle found herself staring at the west wing of the house, recalling how it was her mother's room. Looking down the basement windows, she reminisced about her father's artworks.

Her father, Oliver Taylor, had a habit of making sculptures during his free time. At a young age, she would often observe her father create beautiful hews made of wood.

When her aunt kicked her out of the house, Gabrielle could only take her clothes and a few of her mother's memorabilia. She wasn't even able to take anything that belonged to her father at all. Just as she was looking back, a sedan arrived, parking right in front of Kyle's luxury vehicle. Gabrielle shook her head, realizing it was her aunt, Cassandra Taylor.

"Gaby, what are you doing here?" Her aunt asked, walking in her direction, her face showed complete displeasure.

"Umm... Aunt, I just wanted - I just wanted to see the house. You know. It brings back memories," Gabrielle explained. "Remember? It's Dad's death anniversary."

Seeing how her defense was completely ignored, she decided to just let it be and head for Kyle's car.

As she made her way, her cousin of nearly the same age, Karen Taylor, came out, following her aunt, and Gabrielle immediately noticed the familiar necklace that was dangling on her neck.

It was a simple white gold chain with a one-inch Swarovski egg-shaped pendant. sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ Findɴovel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Gabrielle retreated two steps back, blocking the path of her cousin, and said, "Hey! That's my mother's!"

"Well, it's mine now, Gaby. You lost it and I." Securing the pendant in her hand, a smirk became painted on Karen's face before she resumed, "I found it!"

"But - but, Karen... Please... That's my mother's necklace," Gabrielle tried to reason with her cousin. She turned to her aunt with pleading eyes and said, "Aunt, please... I would have taken it with me if I had found it back then when you made me leave! You did not even give me a chance to pack all my parents' things; Dad's sculptures -

"I sold them!" Her aunt Cassandra responded. "I had to sell those ugly things to make space. Besides, I spent so much on you, during your high school days, that was not even enough to cover all my losses!" Gabrielle felt a knife stabbed through her chests. For years, she had been trying to get inside the house and get her parent's belongings but her aunt would not allow her and now, her aunt sold her father's handiwork!

"How could you?! You know those were memories of Dad?!" At that point, Gabrielle could not help but be furious. Her voice rose as she suggested, "You could have at least sold them to me?!"

"Sell it to you? You could barely make it on your own without your boyfriend helping you - oh, no, wait... I heard your boyfriend left you for your best friend!" Her cousin, Karen, interrupted, laughing at Gabrielle's circumstance.

Gabrielle's lips were trembling in anger. Her hands clenched into fists, staring at her aunt and cousin.

Even as the skies began to roar, she stood there, blocking their way. She just felt anger fill her heart completely, ready to put up a fight!

"Give me that! That's my mother's necklace!" Gabrielle tried to take the necklace away from Karen's neck. "You can't just take everything away from me!"

"Stop this!" Cassandra held on to Gabrielle's wrist and she warned, "Leave now or I will call the police! I already told you before, your mother and I had an agreement that all her properties, including the house, will be considered a payment for raising you!"

Her aunt pointed to the necklace with her eyes and declared, "Thus, everything belongs to us now... including that poorly priced necklace!"

Cassandra pushed Gabrielle aside and shouted, "Leave!"

"How much do you want for that necklace, ma'am?" Everyone turned to Hank, standing three meters from them. "A thousand dollars? Or maybe two?"

Hank was quick to take out his wallet. He said, "I'd like to buy it."

"Who are you?" Cassandra asked, raising a brow at Hank.

"Hank, you don't have to." Gabrielle walked in his direction. "I'll - I'll just buy it back when I have my first salary-

"Oh, my gosh! Gaby! Are you dating an old man now? Haha! That will be the news!" Karen suggested, laughing her heart out.

While Gabrielle tried to explain her relationship with Hank, her cousin and aunt were quick to judge.

Still, they were fancied by the cash offer that Cassandra said, "How about three thousand dollars? Can you handle it?"

"Sure." Hank pulled out the cash and handed it to Cassandra.

As he did, he kept assuring Gabrielle, "It's okay. This is for the best. It's just money, Gaby. What's important is we get this back for you and for your mother."

Gabrielle could not help but cry at the offer of Hank and seeing Karen take it, tears streamed down her face. She stuttered as she expressed gratitude, "Thank you... thank you, Hank. I'll pay you back."

Rain poured down the second she held her mother's necklace, and it left her drenched. It was already in the car when Gabrielle studied the necklace.

She sniffed her sadness away and looked at Hank in the rearview mirror. She said, "Thanks, Hank. I'll pay you back."

"Ah, that was Mister Wright's money. He left about ten thousand dollars in case you needed any cash. He said you could use it anyway you needed to. I figured, base on what I saw, it was necessary. Just talk to him about it tonight when he arrives," revealed Hank.

***

Heartbeats later.

Gabrielle entered the penthouse, surprised to see that Kyle was already waiting for her. She did not have to wait that long to discuss the necklace.

Standing by the doorway, Kyle was still in suit on, looking more handsome than the last. Seeing Gabrielle soaked, he worriedly asked, "Why are you wet? What happened?"

Gabrielle did not know what came over her. She just felt like, she could let it all out in font of Kyle. She broke down, crying in tears, and embraced Kyle outright.

While still carrying her mother's necklace, she tightened her hold around his neck and softly said, "Kyle... thank you."

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