ENGAGED TO ONE IN LOVE WITH ANOTHER

Chapter 3

*Meeting the Roosevelt*

Raynette’s point of view

There is a particular annoying face that keeps coming to my mind every time I saw the mirror.

Although it's been two days since I had that crazy encounter, the face and burning eyes of that young man is undoubtedly engraved in my skull and memories.

And for their reason, I found myself shamefully replaying the image in my mind.

Over and over again to an upsetting amount.

Why does the memory pop up at the most random times?

It is more frustrating that I can not tell Elizabeth nor Theo because there is a high chance they will assume that I, Raynette had finally gone mad and frankly, I am not 100 percent sure that I am in the right state of mind.

I know what I was was not real and I am determined to pretend it never happened.

Yes! My mind was suffering from serious jet lag and my heart from loneliness as I had never dated anyone before

Embarrassing for an 18 year old in this day and time, I know but it doesn't matter. I don't have the luxury of dating anyone, anyways

I finally found the courage to stand in front of the mirror after several failed attempts.

“There is no need to hide from something that doesn't exist” I say out loud to myself or maybe to the mirror - in this case I'm not sure.

My hands swept across the white linen dress Elizabeth had given me as she and her husband announced that a welcome party was being thrown by Theodore’s family, ‘The Roosevelt’ and we were all invited.

All, including me

How devastating

The Roosevelt hates me and I mean HATE ME

They don't bother to hide their displeasure

and always remind me every chance they get that I am not family. Even here in this mansion that was passed down to Theo and in this room that belonged to the late Aunt Perry there are pictures of everyone from the blood line

The real Roosevelt family are all connected by blood, not an adoptee like me. There's a picture of Aunt Perry,(a younger version) her mother, a younger version of my adoptive father Theodore, Theodore's older brother Klaus and his younger sister Tristine and their children.

The room is filled with pictures of a generation of Roosevelt dating back to at least a hundred year, the founder of the Roosevelt family business and even the new generation, Willy is here too. I know I'm not an actual Roosevelt and I know to never aim for my picture to be placed on the wall with all of them but still do I have to sleep in a room filled with this pictures?

I push back the disturbing voice that keeps asking if my birth parents had such a line? if they even valued family which they obviously do not, they wouldn’t have abandoned me in the first place. I shake off the thoughts “

I needed to ask Theo to take down the pictures on the wall and the mirror too” I turn my attention back to the mirror “I can’t sleep with neither” I whisper

The dress I wore had a smoked back bodice with a high slit to give my legs some room to breathe and I feel it's perfect for the occasion. It doesn't look too unique enough for me to stand out amid the family or too casual for me to look odd, it is perfectly complemented with the cross strap chain rhinestone heels, if I’m going to spend hours being uncomfortable around the Roosevelt I at least should be comfortable in my clothing

My natural hair is styled into a flat twist flowing down my shoulder. I don't remember ever getting a haircut and it's amazing how much my hair has grown in length and texture since I started taking care of it.

I swung over the crocodile patterned baguette bag over my shoulder, grabbed my phone, and a white faux fur teddy coat size long jacket in case it got chilly.

Theo and Elizabeth are also dressed nicely and I meet them in the living room. Theo informs me that his mother had offered to treat us to breakfast, lunch, and dinner which I find disturbing, because I remember Elizabeth clearly said we'll be out of there in no time.

Elizabeth smiles apologetically and I sigh. We got into Theo's car and I sit at the back while both of them discuss putting in a new school again without my permission, they do this a lot. Discuss and make decisions about me without involving me. The semester was almost over back in my old school and I wonder if it's the same thing here. I let them bicker about what secondary school they thought was best for me, not that I knew of any school they mentioned.

I pulled out an earpiece to block the noise away, scrolled down the playlist and picked

'For my hand ' by Burna Boy and Ed sheeran

I drown myself in the words and try hard not to think of the Roosevelt family who I will end up meeting sooner than I'll ever want.

I was 13 the first time I met the family, My adoptive parents and I traveled all the way for thanksgiving. I tried to be as nice as I could and involve myself with my new ‘family’ but they were cold to me not to mention the stares they would give me

I mean it kind of made sense after a while, they are Willy’s family which made them think I came to take her place. I told them I wasn’t here to take her place that didn’t stop the mean stares and backhanded insults.

I didn’t kill the girl, I don’t get why they hate me so much

****

I felt the car come to a stop as I opened my eyes to see an enormous gate being open for Theo to drive in, I forgot how massive the family house is, it was three-times the size of our new home and it looked like an actual castle.

Theodore packed the car besides ten or more expensive cars belonging to his family, and my chest started to tighten.

‘Sweet old anxiety, here we go again’

I take long breathes, the last thing I want to have a panic attack in front of them and give them reasons to bully me.

With my jacket in my left hand and my bag and phone in one, I came out of the car. "Honey" Eliza turns to me "They might appear a little rude, but you know that we are all family right"

She gives me the same talk as she does every time we come here. I nod my head but I don't say a word "just try to be nice to them and they'll come around” she said “soon enough" she whisper the last words.

Yeah right, like that would ever happen

"You're our daughter no matter what they say" Theo joins in. He smiled at me before we began to walk into the Roosevelt Estate,

The estate was bold in the blue beyond. It stood there as if conjured from the storybook of a child. It was perfect. I used to imagine unicorns in the courtyard, because if this sort of infrastructure could exist, why not unicorns?

Every stone was even and square, as if those who built them were set on perfection, as if they loved what they made. There were walls made to protect a family, to echo with laughter, and be the shelter for the Roosevelt family and I can only image that they think I dare mix my blood with theirs

Theodore pressed down the button and in a second the door was pushed open by Esther (Theodore's mother) and behind her stood a butler and a maid

"Theodore! Elizabeth! " she called, her voice high with joy.

"Mother," They said in unison

"It's good to see you" Esther hugged and kissed them both on the cheeks as if they hadn't seen in years. This family is so strange, a month apart is like a year to them and maybe that's what family should feel like and I'm the strange one "You have no idea how delighted I was when Lewis confirmed that you two were back in the country," Esther said as Theo and Eliza went inside the castle with her

You two?

She deliberately excluding me, didn’t she?

This woman did not even acknowledge my presence, but then again no one did as I entered the house, no one but the butler who asked for my jacket and I handed it over to him with a smile.

I stood inside the house, watching every single Roosevelt welcome Theo and Eliza, I see how their eyes lit with delight to see them and how they exchanged hugs and pleasantries.

This is family and I am not a part of it

"I should have known they wouldn't put the Orphan back in the Orphanage home" a voice laced with hatred and a thick English accent spoke from a distance “Uncle Theo and his wife are too kind. That is their only sin”

I took a short deep breathe, preparing myself for what was coming next, I tried to remind myself that they will find fault in me no matter what, and I just needed to let it slide, for my sake, but Jasmine, Theo’s niece, knew how to make my blood run cold.

Jasmine stood in front of me, crossing her hands and staring at me with disgust, she wore a black crop top, black skirt that barely covered her thighs and black boots. I noticed the spoil brat had cut her hair and dyed it black. She even had on a dark emo makeup on and a new tattoo on her arm

The words on my tongue were 'You look like you're preparing to marry the devil ' but "I like the new look, Jasmine" came out instead

Lies

She knew they were lies

"Thank you, I have a good taste" she smirked, then eyed my dress "Unlike the orphan." she scoffs "Did you steal this dress? I'm sure it would be easy for you to do so since stealing is your specialty."

Oh!

This b***h drives me crazy sometimes

"Stealing?" I laughed "At least I'm not dressed like a w***e at the family meeting " I rolled my eyes

“A w***e?” she yells, getting the attention of the family . “That’s rich coming from you, a thief.” she walks closer and pulls me by the hair

“Let go!”

This is why I did not want to be here. They could have had their welcome party without me and I would have loved to sleep in or catch up on new episodes of ‘Under the Queen’s umbrella’ but instead I’m here having my hair pulled out by this spoilt brat

“What is this hairpin you're using?”

“What?”

“It belongs to Willy doesn't it?” She screams ”You stole her parents and now you're stealing her things too?”

“I did no such thing” What is she talking about? She shoves the hairpin in my face. I did not wear a hairpin. Here what is she talking about?

Was she trying to frame me?

Jasmine raised her hands up to slap me, but just before I could feel the sting on my face her older brother Jasper stops her. He grabs her hands with a frown written all over his face. He's the last person to get involved in any of our feuds, so it's surprising to see him stop Jasmine from smacking me on the face

“What do you think you're doing?” Theo asked angrily as he walked over to my side

“Uncle I think you should stop bringing the girl here” Jasper spoke, his voice low yet so stern.

“What?”

Ooh

“Jasmine only gets like this when she's around”

“I think Jasmine should learn to behave herself when her cousin is over”, Theo replies as he helps me up, I didn't even know I was on the floor, I must have lost a footing from struggling to get her hands off my hair

“Cousin? She’s no cousin of mine!” Jasmine cursed.

Same here! I don’t want to identify myself as her cousin either.

“I think Jasper is right” Uncle Klaus chipped in, he is Theo’s older brother “You shouldn't bring the girl to our family gatherings”

I knew they didn't like me but this was the first time they had been so open about it.

“Her name is Raynette, not the girl ” Elizabeth corrected as she walked towards me and Theo

“That’s the problem, she’s Raynette” Theo’s younger sister, Tristine spoke

“Raynettte is our daughter”

“She’s not” Klaus scoff

“Klaus” Theo called with a warning tone.

“Do you know why we have remained one of the top 10 richest conglomerate families on all of the continent little brother?” Klaus took a step forward “It is because we kept the family secret, the family fortune and the family wealth within family” Klaus said “The rich should mix with the rich, the poor with the poor. Don’t forget the first rule.”

“The first rule does not apply to me adopting my daughter”

“It does goddammit!” Klaus exclaimed “Adopting her is like a stain on the family, don't think because you have your little business that means you do not have obligations to the family. We need to expand the family but who would want to marry her?”

Theo growls but before he could say a word, his mother cuts in “What you brother my love, Is you should come back to work with your family. The little business you have has risen and fallen. It’s time to take your place as the second son of this house”

“Mother “

“ Your niece Renee is getting married into the Amato family. They signed a contract with us to help boost the company’s electronics industry sales” she holds his hands. “Everyone is living, breathing and getting married for the good of the family’s company. This girl is incapable of that. No one in their right mind would marry …”

“No you are wrong!” Theo cuts in angrily. I’ve never seen him angry before but more than that I've never seen him stood up for me before. I thought they just wanted me as a fill in, but I never thought they genuinely cared about me

“Raynette is a Roosevelt and she will marry into a family you can all dream of” Theo promise “The Carmichael”

What is he talking about?

Why are they talking about me getting married? I’m only 18, not to mention I’ve never had a boyfriend

Klaus scoffs “You should give up. If you think you can get her married to a Carmichael who wants nothing to do with us then you’ve lost your mind.”

“Oh wait and see”

Klaus bends over to whisper into Theo’s ears, his voice so low that if I wasn't close I might have missed it “if you’re to doing all this because you want to inherit the company, then forget about it. The one person that could guarantee your position in the company is dead” he slowly lifts his eyes and stared at me “I made sure of it”