Claimed By The Ruthless Mafia novel Chapter 59

Ryder's POV.

My futile attempts to incite jealousy in Bella by meeting other girls left me feeling disheartened. No matter who I interacted with, she remained composed and collected, as if her emotions were impervious to my antics. Undeterred, I had to switch to plan B.

I smirked as I thought about it because it was foolproof, and Ryder never failed to get what he wanted.

"Bella, I have planned a vacation for us," I called her while she was in school.

I smiled as I could imagine her eyes widened in surprise.

"What? No, Ryder, I can't go on vacation, and, most of all, I have some assignments to complete," she replied, her voice tinged with reluctance.

"Come on, Bella. Mum is persistent about my marriage, so it will be our last vacation together. I am sending my secretary. Give her your passport. We are going to Switzerland for a week. Just me and you. I want to spend some time with you alone," I insisted, hoping she would agree.

"Abroad trip? You will get clicked by the media, and I don't want to come into the Limelight," she worried, her brows furrowing in concern.

"Oh no, that will not be a problem. I will make sure of it. Don't worry about it," I assured her, trying to sound as convincing as possible.

I had to do this because I wanted her to be with me for a lifetime. I couldn't marry a girl other than Bella. I wanted to confess my love to her. She was my everything. When she refused me before, I realized how much I loved her, and I never told her this - that she had a very special place in my heart, which no other girl could ever occupy. I just hoped she would accept my proposal during this romantic trip to Switzerland.

As we walked through the airport, I couldn't resist the urge to hold her hand.

"What are you doing? Ryder, you are holding my hand, and if we get clicked, it will be news," she said, making a face, her hand trying to pull away from mine.

"Come on, Bella. I do want to hold your hand all the time, and nobody can take this right from me. I damn care about anybody but you, and please, for God's sake, stop being scared of the media. My men can handle that," I frowned, feeling a mix of frustration.

Due to her insecurities, I couldn't kiss her in public as much as I yearned to.

Her words brought a frown to my face. "Why? Our families are friends, and we have a strong bond. I don't think they would object to our marriage."

She sighed, trying to compose her thoughts. "You don't understand. The status gap between us will be the reason. My father values self-respect more than anything else. He would never want me to marry a mafia boss. He has led a life of integrity and honor. When I came here for admission, he warned me not to get involved with you beyond friendship. He made it clear that the status gap between our families could strain their friendship. Even though your father insisted on me staying with your family, my father wanted me to stay away from the mafia and your family. That's why he never allowed me to stay with my family or with you, no matter how much your father insisted."

"But that's not the case, my love. You know my family adores you unconditionally. They would be overjoyed to learn about our love, and they will gladly support our marriage. If you're worried about your father, I promise you, I will talk to him and do everything in my power to convince him," I earnestly expressed, trying to alleviate her concerns.

"But, Ryder..." She whined again, her doubts still lingering.

"No, my dear. Just tell me what you truly desire. I want to know your answer from your heart. If you're ready to be with me, then leave all the rest to me," I reassured her, the ring still held up before her, awaiting her response.

"Yes, Ryder. I love you more than anything in this world, and yes, I will marry you," she finally declared, a smile breaking through her emotional barrier. As she accepted the ring, I gently slipped it onto her finger, sealing our commitment.

On my feet once more, I kissed her like there was no tomorrow. I picked her up in my arms and took her to our room and made love all night long to tell her that I loved her in more than one way.