I can't wait to see him again

****

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 not too long, she went to assist her mom, Elena, in the kitchen.

As she smiled to herself, her mother became curious and asked her 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 giggled and continued to smile. "Mom, do you really want to know?" she teased. "I am Gabriella, please do tell me," Elena responded.

"Mom, Richard is returning from London today," Gabriella replied, her cheeks blushing.

However, Elena did not share in her daughter's happiness upon hearing this news. As soon as she remembered something, 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.

Even if Richard's parents had asked him to contact Gabriella, it had been a very long time since they had seen or heard from him. Plus, Richard's obligation to his parents had ended when he graduated from college, so why hadn't he contacted Gabriella if he truly loved her, as her daughter believed? Gabriella let out a sigh, her joyful mood instantly dampened.

"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 bitterness.

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 said bitterly, tears falling from her eyes without her realizing.

Frustrated, she stormed off to her room, locking herself inside. "Oh my God," muttered Elena. It pained her to see 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 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!

Meanwhile at the villa, there were numerous lights, which were decorated with the most exquisite colors and designs. Happiness permeated every corner, and laughter echoed throughout.

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 meticulously double-checked everything for any faults and became upset even when the smallest of flaws were noticed.

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," he muttered to himself. Roberto sighed, "I miss our son, Rosella. I can't wait to see him after all these years. I wonder how he looks now," he said with a smile while talking to Rosella.

"Oh, Roberto, he must look so handsome. After all, he is your son," Rosella replied. Roberto smiled upon hearing his wife's compliment. "Come here, my beautiful wife," Rosella approached him, and he took a deep breath before tightly embracing her. "Don't worry, my love. He will be fine," she reassured him.

****

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

"Why are you late, Elena?" Rosella asked coldly. If her husband didn't support her decision, she would have fired Elena a long time ago. "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.

"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 for 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 and noticed them laughing and appearing happy about something.

"What's so funny?" Rosella asked scornfully. "Why do you want to know?" Gabriella responded in the same scornful tone. "I see you're speaking rudely now. Is this the way Elena raised you?" Rosella scolded. She wondered why she hadn't ordered her men to kill Elena yet. "She apologized, madam," Elena replied respectfully.

Seeing Elena's apology, Rosella decided to let the matter go. She then smiled and asked, "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.

Rosella laughed hysterically, saying, "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," smirking at her before leaving Gabriella and Elena alone. 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, saying, "It's because you are a rare gem, Gabriella."

Hearing her mother praise her lifted Gabriella's mood once again. "Let's get back to our chores," she decided, determined not to let Rosella's words affect her. 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 Gray 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 so happy or excited.

They continued to complete 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 to herself, 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 that 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 to herself.

"I will just finish up the remaining chores," she murmured once again. As Gabriella cleaned up, she was reminded of another tender moment with Richard - 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 finishing the cleaning, she returned to assist her mother with the remaining chores.