THE ARRANGED BRIDE

"You are called in the matron's office,” Jane, one of the new intakes at the orphanage said to me."Do you know the reason why you were called?

I shrugged in response

“Are you not curious??" she asked again.

Smiling at the short but lovely girl in front of me I asked her, “Why should I be curious?”

Rolling her eyes, she said, “You are the least curious person I have ever known,”

Glancing and smiling at the girl as she dangles on the chair. My phone buzzed again with a text, it was a request to come to the matron's office as well.

Packing my books together, I waved to Mr Bars, our library attendant.

The stroll across the orphanage library to the matron's office only took me a few minutes. When I arrived, the secretary had told me to wait a moment.

I looked at some of the art paintings the children had made on the orphanage walls while waiting and smiled; they were talented. ‘pft..unlike you, right?’ my subconscious said to me.

The door to the matron's office opened, and the cool and always collected Victoria Wyatt presented herself. A beautiful yet bold woman, at the age of fifty-something years, she still had a lovely figure and warm eyes.

She remains unchanged just like she had been when I was brought to the orphanage fifteen years ago.

"Livia, how are you today?" she asked me.

“I'm good, Mrs Vicky,” I replied to her with the same energy.

She had always preferred the nickname.

Adjusting her eyeglasses she continued, "I want you to meet Mr John Brooke and Mrs Eva Brooke. They own the famous Queens construction company."

I stopped in my tracks noticing for the first time that there had been more than two people in the office. I looked over at two people sitting across the matron in shock.

Queens Construction is one of the largest construction companies in London, and they only work on high-end projects from construction to designing buildings.

They had branches in New York, Washington DC, Los Angeles as well as African countries.

Indeed it was John!!.

Skipping the woman emitting warm and motherly vibes I lunged for the man, clinging unto him and damping his clothes with my tears.

Oh God! it's too hard to control my emotions… The tears were coming in waves. I noticed the woman had also joined the hug. the matron must have noticed the look of surprise on my face.

"Well, I think this is an emotional moment,” Mrs Vicky flustered, adjusting her glasses once again, she continued, “Livia, Mr Brooke here has been sponsoring your education for the past three years.”

The Brooke's are very generous. They are the main reason we can keep our doors open for more children. They have been the orphanage's biggest sponsor and supporters.

“He wanted to keep it anonymous from you which is why we didn't tell you about him before now.”

Shocked and blanked is what can describe my feelings at the moment.

"The Brookes became our sponsor ten years ago, but now it is a family affair; their son also helps with raising our annual fundraiser.”

I couldn't make out all that Mrs Vicky was saying, and all I could mutter was, “Huh...yes...oh.”

“The Brooke's are here to adopt you legally now that you are of legal age.”

Then, at that moment, I knew I did not want to live in the past anymore..what more hurt would it do?

Everyone at the orphanage knows it is very uncommon to be adopted at eighteen; yes, at legal age, it's indeed not.

Most of us get to attend college through scholarships or sponsorship.

Looking at the signed legal papers in front of me with bold letters of my new name, OLIVIA BROOKE, I knew it was either the warm woman looking at me with glassy yet exciting eyes or John, whom I had never felt safe with, even if it was for a short moment that made me did it.

I looked across the table at my new parents, and I felt unexplainable emotions overwhelming me.

Not knowing how to start any conversation with the woman yet. Would it be ok to call her my mother now?

I cleared my throat..and coughed. “Hmm, Mrs Brooke?”

She replied, "Don't you think Mrs Brooke sounds too old for me darling? I don't want my mother-in-law's name.” She chuckled. “Call me mom okay?” She held my hand. giving it a gentle and loving squeeze.

She looked like a mother hen.. lifting my eyes back at her I smiled.

“Hmm...do you want to adopt me?” I asked again, rubbing my ears, a habit of mine when I'm nervous.

Silence descended after asking her the question without saying anything; she stood up and rounded the seat to where I was and sat beside me.

“Olivia, I would do anything to have a smart girl like you as my daughter...and now you are not only a Brooke by name, you have an amazing father too as well as an elder brother who would always protect you,” she started.

“John had told me to keep things simple so as not to overwhelm you, and I can say I am very proud of you, and of course, you are a beauty just like me, your mother.”

That was the confirmation I needed before I signed my name on the papers and left with them.

I stepped out of the car with my new parents at the restaurant I was told we would be dining at. Looking at the exterior design of the restaurant there is no doubt it is one of the Queens' investments.

Dressed in a sky blue free gown that had a cowl neck revealing one shoulder and pink peep toe heels that accented my legs and my hair had been done in soft waves that fell on my shoulders. The look created an image of youth and innocence, making me look soft, classic, and pampered.

I knew I needed all the confidence I could get, dining in a restaurant filled with billionaires and first-class citizens of the country, and dining with one as a family.

“Your mother has pictures of you throughout the house," John said, looking at Eva as she settled down beside him in the booth.

"Oh stop it John..are you exposing me now?" she replied teasingly

"Livia, I can tell you that none of these pictures did Justice to your beauty. Your Grandmother also said we look alike.” She grinned from ear to ear.

“Really?” I said, amazed at the piece of information. Is that even possible? I muttered slowly.

“Livia, I think we should go shopping tomorrow, do you have anything in mind? Just tell me whatever you want, mommy will get it for you.”

“Huh..i...hmmm,” I stuttered not knowing what to say

“Eva, take it easy with the girl,” John replied, taking a sip of the champagne in the glass cup. I didn't even remember when the waitress had come back with our orders.

Taking a sip of the cold chilled drink, I know not its name myself ...I looked around the restaurant and noticed for the first time that we were in one of the private booths of the restaurant.

Sitting here together with people to call my parents still feels surreal.

But then, nothing could go wrong this time right??