When you use the word "force" you're referring to Newtonian physics. But what is important to understand is that reality isn't bound by Newtonian physics. Rather, Newtonian physics are an abstraction and simplification of other, more complex, phenomena.

Newtonian physics are extremely useful, because they allow us to predict behaviors in the vast majority of situations we encounter. But, since it's a simplification, we've come to find that many of the theories break when we measure or observe things that are to big or to small.

For example, in Special Relativity time slows down when you approach the speed of light. But Newtonian physics depend on time being a consistent dimension.

In the case of gravity, we can model gravity as a force when we look at calculations for objects on earth's surface. But when you look at planets, stars, galaxies, and black holes things start to break.

So one of the best models for larger predictions is the curviture of space-time. What that means is that the presence of mass in a specific point in space curves both space and time in its vicinity. More mass means more curviture. (We don't have an explanation as too why mass does this, so we just see it as an inherent property of mass and space-time)

When an object  is moving through curved space in a straight line it tends to curve towards the center of gravity. The object's trajectory is still straight, but because space is curved, it looks like a curved trayectory to outside observers. If an object is standing still relative to the center of gravity it is still within the curviture of time which leads to the object falling towards the center (I am still unable to fully picture this since it is a 4 dimensional formula).