Chapter 6. Very Unpleasant Memory

Rayshawn's forehead creased as he noticed Garret's desperation in his gaze, and his fingers trembled slightly when he grabbed his hand. There was noticeable pressure in the air, and the Crown Prince could feel the burden of the circumstances pushing on him.

Garett is almost the same psycho like the woman in the modern world, a woman who's supposed to be Rayvenne's fiance. Someone Rayvenne really despise because she's too much for Rayvenne. Which make him remembering the life he have in modern world as Rayvenne Kaufman, and the last conversation he have with his siblings.

"Are you certain you want to marry the daughter of a British businessman? What's her name? Gertrude?" Sarah couldn't contain her amusement any longer and burst out laughing.

"Oi! It's Sophia!" Rayvenne laughed while correcting her sister's words. When they first laid eyes on the woman, Gertrude was the name that came to them; the name fit her well. Rayvenne warned her sister, "Don't be rude to her," before breaking into giggles.

When their parents are aware of Rayvenne's sexual orientation, they agree to continue to support her and let her be whoever she is. As long as she is willing to marry a lady of their choosing, and Rayvenne can't say anything else back at that time.

Sarah is still in the closet because she has less influence in the household and less power to bargain than her two older siblings, so Rayvenne's agreement is necessary to prevent their parents from shifting toward the younger sister and destroying everything. Since Sarah isn't particularly skilled in business, politics, or martial arts, Matthias and Rayvenne have taken extra precautions to ensure her safety.

They know that their youngest sister, Sarah, was raised to be the best bride for the husband their parents are choosing in the future. She's good at cooking but not as skilled as Rayvenne. She's bright, but not at the same rate as her siblings. For their parents, she's the average one, even when she's already one of the best in her peer group.

"Damn, okay, but seriously?" Sarah asked again, sipping her wine while indulging herself with the perfect balance of the wine and the beef inside her mouth.

"I never said yes, but she's crazy; she stalks me everywhere, she bothers me about everything, and she drives me insane in a bad way," Rayvenne replied as she stood in Sarah's kitchen, proud of what she had cooked since noon.

The aroma of spices filled the air as Rayvenne meticulously prepared the day's final recipe. The anticipation was palpable, and her sister couldn't help but wonder what culinary masterpiece awaited her taste buds. Even though it would just be her and Matthias's wives, Rayvenne went ahead and made a full-fledged lavish meal for them.

"You should open your own fine dining business, sister," said Sarah to Rayvenne.

"Oh, like your parents are going to agree with it," Rayvenne replied, rolling her eyes and admiring her work.

Rayvenne had always possessed a deep passion for cooking, but unfortunately, her parents never supported her dreams of pursuing a career in the culinary arts. Despite this setback, Rayvenne's determination remained unwavering. In her pursuit to fulfill her culinary cravings, Rayvenne devised a clever plan.

She often resorted to her dear sister Sarah, seeking her assistance in collecting the necessary ingredients for her culinary creations. Rayvenne would eagerly instruct Sarah to purchase the finest and freshest ingredients, promising that she would work her magic in the kitchen later on. Sarah, being a loyal and supportive sister, gladly accepted Rayvenne's requests.

Sarah gladly explored the busy market, carefully selecting the ingredients that Rayvenne desired. From fresh vegetables to exclusive meats, Sarah would gather everything needed to bring Rayvenne's list to her apartment.

As the youngest, she's very close to her sister and brother; they have a bond with one another that none of their other wealthy siblings share, and Sarah would give her life for them just as they did for her. Furthermore, whenever Rayvenne cooked, it was always in her favor; she loves the taste; she's a great cook and baker, and her desire is now to go to France and study to be a patisserie.

When they sat at the table, their eyes were fixed on the delectable spread that had been carefully arranged before them. The tantalizing aroma wafted through the air, teasing their senses and making their mouths water. Their gaze lingered on each dish, taking in the vibrant colors, the presentation, and the promise of an exciting meal. As the clock ticked away, signaling the nearing of dinner time.

The seafood stew's savory aroma wafted through the kitchen, promising a delectable feast. But that was not all; a saffron zabaglione, a delicate and flavorful entree, awaited their taste buds. With just twenty minutes left, the excitement grew, and taste buds tingled in anticipation of the culinary delight that awaited them.

The stew was a masterpiece, a brothy concoction that delighted the senses and warmed the soul. It was a harmonious blend of flavors and textures, carefully crafted to perfection. At the heart of this were the stars of the sea: wonderfully moist snapper, tender squid, and plump mussels and clams.

The next course is a risotto flavored with peas and bacon. The air was filled with the tantalizing aroma of a savory risotto, its velvety texture promising a delightful culinary experience. As the rice cooked to perfection, Rayvenne carefully added peas and crispy bacon, knowing that these ingredients would create a harmonious symphony of flavors. The peas, vibrant and tender, danced gracefully with the smoky, salty bacon; their union was a match made in gastronomic heaven. With each bite, the taste buds were treated to a delightful balance of creamy richness and bursts of savory goodness.

For the main dish, she prepared a Forentine steak marinated in balsamic vinegar and rosemary. She had already started preparing it for tonight's dinner yesterday; it is a porterhouse steak that has been marinated in olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and a lot of fresh chopped rosemary for the past 24 hours.

After a day, she cooked it on charcoal grills and then roasted it in the oven. To complete cooking, she prepared a grissini with black sesame and salt for the dessert, and she placed beef carpaccio on top of it. A grissini is a form of bread stick that is normally the size of a pencil, and it is a type of dry, crisp bread that originated in the Italian area of Piedmont.

While sipping a glass of negroni premix with oven-dried orange slices, she thinks to herself, "Damn, I don't want to pay for an overpriced dinner at an Italian restaurant again." Sarah stood in awe, and she smiled happily.

"You said that many times, and still." Rayvenne rolled her eyes and said, "You just bought the ingredients; your sexy older sister will prepare them for you." Sarah bursts out laughing and gives her sister a big hug when she hears how proud she sounds.

"Oh, they just love me sitting beautifully in their restaurant." Sarah answered, putting another beef in her mouth. A small dish her sister prepared to comfort them while waiting for dinner.

Not long after their brother with his wife, Beth, come to the apartment. The four of them already deep in conversation about the news of their life. Then the topic of discussion shifted back to Rayvenne, specifically the question of whether or not she would wed the strange lady who had been stalking her for the sake of her parents.

"Eh, if they force me to marry her, I'll get them to agree to let me open my own restaurant and bakery; otherwise, I'll find someone else. I'm not going to marry a stalker." Rayvenne sat at the elegant dining table, a glass of rich red wine in hand.

Everyone loved the steak, lovingly prepared with a balsamic and rosemary marinade, which exuded a tantalizing aroma that filled the air. The tender meat, cooked to perfection, boasted a mouthwatering sear on the outside while remaining juicy and succulent on the on the inside. "I'm so tipsy from all this wine and negroni that I think I'll take a cab home."

"Let me take you downstairs; I need to get aspirin from the pharmacy downstairs; we're out of aspirin; I'll get you one as well, Ray." When Beth made the offer to assist Rayvenne in getting into a taxi, both Beth's husband and her sister-in-law were already in the same state as Rayvenne, which is to say that they were both intoxicated at the time. The Kaufman siblings are heavy drinkers. "Oh my Lord, I'll get the two of you later, okay?"

"Okay, sis." Sarah, with a gentle smile on her face, couldn't help but let her gaze wander.

"Yes, baby, we agree." Matthias just said whatever he wanted.

Beth, known for her level-headedness, made an alert decision to refrain from indulging in her usual amount of drinks before meeting up with the Kaufman siblings for dinner or a night out. Deep down, she understood that she couldn't escape what was bound to happen.

Those three may come off as cocky and cold, but she has never encountered a more caring group of people than Matthias, Rayvenne, and Sarah. "Come Ray."

"Okay." As they walked side by side, she gently draped her arm around Beth's shoulder, falling into step behind her.

Since the drugstore was located just next to the building, she could easily run in there to get something to eat or drink while the concierge called a cab for Rayvenne.

While she was gone, she made Rayvenne sit on the lobby sofa and told her to "stay, don't do anything, speak to no one, and answer to no one except me, okay? Rayvenne Kaufman!"

"Yes, sister Beth, I approved." Her words are slurred.

"Wait for me for your aspirin; I've already requested a taxi from the concierge."

"OK, so that's why Matt is madly in love with you. You're a blessing to us." Rayvenne says it quietly and grins.

"I love your brother as well," Beth says while smiling.

"Excellent." Rayvenne approved.

Rayvenne is currently sitting there with her eyes closed while a few different women attempt to talk to him. After waiting for ten minutes, Beth finally returned with aspirin in her pocket. She removes Rayvenne from them in a courteous manner, as the concierge has already informed her that the taxi for Rayvenne is waiting in the lobby of the hotel.

Beth put Rayvenne on the sofa in the high-rise condo's lobby while waiting for her to go to the pharmacy in the next building to buy aspirin. She is completely unaware that someone is observing them from a distance.

Rayvenne despises it whenever a driver from Kaufman's comes to pick her up because they always drive her to the residence of her parents and then irritate her the following day.

Therefore, she prefers to call a taxi or an Uber driver anytime she is too drunk to drive safely, asking, "Your taxi, will you be okay?"

"Okay, just too much Negroni doesn't matter." Rayvenne chuckles as she takes Beth's medicine bottle, hugs her, and gives her a courteous cheek kiss.

"Okay." Just as Rayvenne is about to get into the cab, a woman yells at Beth.

"She's my fiance; how dare you touch her!" Rayvenne hears a scream and sees Beth being pulled forcibly; the shock pulls her into full awareness, and she knows that the person who is pulling Beth is Sophia Bauer, the mad daughter whom she is not willing to marry.

She grabs Beth by the hair, yells in her face, and shoves her out onto the busy New York street. As Rayvenne glanced ahead, their hearts skipped a beat. The traffic light had shifted to a vibrant shade of green, signaling the start of traffic.

However, what caught their attention was not the change in color but the sight of a massive truck speeding towards them from the opposite direction. It seemed to be gaining speed rapidly, inching closer to the point of collision with Beth, who stood frozen in its path.

"Fuck!" She runs, snatches Sophia, and pushes her away from Beth as soon as she can, then drags Beth closer to him before flinging her back into the street and saying, "Please take care of my brother and sister." She laughs, knowing she won't have time to avoid it, and just accepts her religion; after all, it's better than marrying a madman.

"RAYVENNEEEEEE!!!!" As the truck crashed towards her, the sound of screeching tires filled the air. In that split second before impact, her senses heightened, and amidst the chaos, she could still hear Beth's voice piercing through the fear, desperately screaming her name. As she stood there, everything around her began to crumble and fall apart.