009

ROSE

I could already hear chatters and giggles as I defended the status slowly. I bit the inside of my lips and my hands trembled slightly.

I'm not ready to meet them. I don't think I'd ever be ready to meet them.

The Rivera’s? Save me lord.

I stopped on my tracks when I saw Derek. He looked at me with a smile on his face and I badly wanted to punch it off.

He looked back and I knew instantly that he wanted to announce my presence.

“Please don't.” I mouthed but he looked away like I hadn't said anything.

“Okay everyone,” he cleared his throat and stretched out his arms for me to hold.

I shut my eyes close, hoping the ground would swallow me whole.

“Meet my wife and new bride. Rose Rivera.” He announced and I took his hand and descended the stairs.

I made sure he saw the disgust on my face.

No one said anything when I came down. Everyone was seated at the dining table and looking at me like I was shit.

Or probably someone they don't want to see.

“Hi,” my voice was shaky as I looked at them.

There were two women present. They both looked so young like they were in their thirties. But I could tell they were in their late forties or early fifties.

Another lady was seated too, she looked a little bit younger than I am, if not my age. And a man was present too. He looks like… Derek.

Oh, I get it now.

“How long would you keep staring at us?” The lady who was seated in the same row and the man and woman asked and I swallowed the bile rising in my throat.

“Come…” Derek urged with a calm voice making me wonder if he's the same cold man I met a few days ago.

“Good day everyone.” I greeted them when I got to the dining room but no one responded to me. They all looked away.

I stared at Derek helplessly wondering what I might be doing wrong.

After a few seconds of silence, the other older lady who was seated in the same row as me and Derek spoke up.

“You're welcome Rose.” She cleared her throat and looked up at me.

I looked away immediately, regretting why I even raised my head in the first place.

“Thanks.” My reply was almost a whisper.

“I'm Derek's mom.” She added and my eyes shot up immediately and widened.

No wonder the sternness. He sure got it from her.

I didn't reply, I just nodded.

I managed to look up and across the table, the young lady was staring daggers at me while the guy, Derek's brother obviously was on his phone and was paying attention to everything.

The woman beside Derek's brother. She looked poised, distant and stunning.

His mother maybe?

It hit me. Two different mothers but the same father. That explained a lot more than I wanted to admit.

"Why is everyone acting weird?" Derek asked, breaking the silence.

His voice wasn’t loud, but it felt heavy. Strong enough to make the air in the room thicker.

No one answered. No one even looked at him. His mom just kept eating like nothing was happening.

Then Derek turned to the guy with the phone. The one that looked like him.

"Oscar," Derek called. "Do the needful."

That’s when I noticed it. The way they looked at each other. It wasn’t just a regular stare. It was cold. Sharp. Like there was something deep between them. Something not good.

Damn! These people don't like each other. Not at all.

This might sound rude but this family is hella weird.

You see? Not all rich families have it all.

In fact, wealth isn't all that.

Oscar stood up slowly. A small, fake smile appeared on his face as he turned to me.

"Well," he said, dragging the word. "Welcome to the Rivera family. I’m Oscar, Derek’s younger brother."

He stretched his hand out and I shook it, but it felt like he didn’t want me to touch him for long. He pulled away quickly.

"And this," he pointed at the woman beside him, "is my mom, Lauren."

She didn’t even bother to look up. Just gave a small nod like I wasn’t worth her time.

"And this is Jennifer," Oscar added, waving toward the girl next to him.

Jennifer. Her name sounded soft, but her face was not. Her eyes were sharp. Cold.

She looked at me like I didn’t belong here. Like I was dirt on her shoes.

"So," she said, tilting her head at me, "what’s your family like? Are you people rich?"

I blinked. My mouth opened, but no words came out.

Before I could answer, she added with a shrug, "It’s not easy to be part of the Rivera family, you know."

My chest tightened. My stomach felt weird. I was about to say something, anything, when Derek spoke.

"Oscar," he said, not even looking at Jennifer. "Tell your wife to behave."

Oscar gave a small laugh, but didn’t say anything.

Jennifer smiled and looked away like she didn’t just throw a knife at me with her words.

Then Lauren finally dropped her fork, wiped her lips, and looked up.

"Relax, Derek," she said like she was bored. "We just want to know more about your wife."

That word again. Wife.

It still felt strange. Heavy. Like it didn’t belong to me yet.

Derek’s hand reached under the table and found mine. He gave it a small squeeze. It made me feel safe for a second.

I swallowed and spoke softly.

"I’m not from a rich family," I said. "But we’re doing okay."

Jennifer raised an eyebrow like I had said something disgusting.

Oscar gave a small smile. One of those fake ones.

Derek sat up straight. His tone was firm.

"That’s enough."

And just like that, the table went quiet again.

No one said a word.

And I kept wondering if coming here was a big mistake.