Star again

When she arrived home, she met Madeline outside, gazing intently at the mansion. Evelina shook her head at the pathetic view of her sister being shameless.

“Find something other than waiting aimlessly around here for my man to do.” She blurted, genuinely wanting to get on Madeline’s nerves

Madeline merely shot her a devilish glare before returning her attention back to the mansion.

“He’s mine.” Evelina taunted one more time before she walked past Madeline with a triumphant smirk and entered the house, leaving her sister fuming outside.

The door slammed shut behind Evelina just for her to find Susan and James scurrying to her. “Well?" Susan practically squealed, bouncing on the balls of her feet. "How was the fitting? Did you get the endorsement deal? Did they like you?”

“How much will your wages be?” James chimed in.

Evelina’s eyes went round, forcing herself to accommodate James and Susan’s shamelessness as always. “The fitting went fine.” She smugly replied and headed to her room before they bombarded her with more questions.

“How about the pay? You didn't mention what it is!” Susan called out loudly as though Evelina hadn't heard James earlier.

“Go bug someone else, Mum.” Evelina sighed as she shut the door of her room. “They just won't stop.” She blew out air and dropped her handbag on the bed.

She snuck behind her window and flung it open. Watching the mansion for any sign of Davis Montgomery had become a chore now.

“Who are you, Davis Montgomery?" She whispered into the air, hoping the wind would whisper back. “I don't know why I keep having a weird feeling about everything happening lately when I should be happy that someone is finally taking care of me.” She further nagged.

.

After her usual night routine, she dropped on the bed and slept.

.

Sunlight speared through Evelina's curtains, rousing her from sleep. The cooking was peaceful until Susan showed her face.

“Good morning, Mum.” Evelina smiled, forcing cheerfulness.

Susan glanced over her shoulder. “Need any help?”

Help from Susan? Hell nah.

“No, Mum.” Evelina shook her head. “Will be done here in a few. You go relax.”

Unlike the day before when Susan wouldn’t let her do a thing in expectation of another gift, her mother cat walked to the other side and took a sit on one of the dining chairs.

“Is the toast burning?” Susan would sniff dramatically, complaining about everything and letting Evelina work over and over.

When she was done with the meals, she was dishing them out on the table when Madeline sauntered down as usual. "Hurry up with the food, everyone. I have important matters to attend to."

That brat!

“Like what?" Evelina shot back, eyeing her the same way she was eyed by Madeline the night before.

Madeline smirked cynically. "None of your concern, dumped potato.”

That led Susan to laugh hard. “Be nice to your little sister, Madeline. She wasn't dumped. The billionaire just realized that he had been sending the gift to the wrong person and is making corrections.”

“Well, he better do!” Madeline hissed, head hung high like a peacock.

James came out with a towel over his neck. “Morning, family!” He chanted.

“Morning, Dad.” Evelina and Madeline chorused.

James went ahead to give Madeline a kiss on the cheek and patted Evelina’s shoulder. Somehow, that made melancholy weigh on Evelina’s heart.

Perhaps, she had taken a little bit of the attention she had been getting from both of her parents seriously despite knowing that it wasn't real.

It was so disgusting that her parents could return to treating her like a second option just because the gifts didn't come in for one day.

“Mum, Dad, I think it's high time we renovate the house. My room already has a leaking ceiling.” Madeline grumbled.

Susan reached for Madeline’s hand over the table. “Why don't you try going back to the bungalow behind the house where you used to stay with that good-for-nothing Davis?”

“Oh, mum! Did you have to mention that dummy now?” Madeline rolled her eyes, belching.

Evelina shook her head. “Belching over a dining table. Who is the dummy now?” She interjected at Madeline, not able to hold herself back.

Madeline’s face went red. “Mum, Dad, did you hear her?!”

“Evelina, where are your manners when you speak to your sister?!” James hollered at Evelina. “Calling Davis a dummy is a compliment, if you ask me.”

“He is an unfortunate man who doesn't deserve to be with our Madeline in the first place!” Susan seconded, sipping her juice.

Evelina was about to fire back at them when the doorbell jingled.

Everyone at the table froze, Evelina included.

“Do you think he would know why we came the last time?” James’s eyes widened.

Susan shot up immediately. “I think he did! Our package spree has returned!” She began to hurry to the door.

Madeline stood and ran after her as the both of them scampered to get the door while Evelina and James watched.

She could see that it indeed was the mansion’s maid. This made Evelina’s hold on the chair to tighten as she anticipated what trick Davis Montgomery had under his sleeve this time.

“I was instructed to deliver this only to Ms. Evelina.” Evelina could hear the maid arguing with Susan and Madeline by the door.

James ushered her up. “Go, Evelina, go. It's for you, it seems.”

Joy had engulfed Evelina upon hearing that the package was for her. The disappointment and shame that would bring upon Madeline would be boundless.

She stood up and strode to the door, Susan already calling on her. “Dearest, Evelina! Come here, come, come!”

Evelina decided that she wouldn't tolerate the fake affection Susan and James would shower on her after because of the benefits.

“Hi, I'm Evelina.” She smiled at the maid in front of the door. She wasn't holding any package whatsoever which left Evelina confused.

That didn't mean Madeline wasn't already shooting her spiteful and envious glares.

The maid’s eyes gleamed as she reached for something in her apron. “Hello, Ms. Evelina.” She brought out what looked like a sheet of paper. “My boss wanted me to give this to you.”

“M—Me?” Evelina stammered as she collected the paper.

The maid nodded. “Yes, Ma’am. He wanted it delivered to you solely and sent words that it is exclusively for your use.”

“Oh… Urh — I mean, yes. Thank you.” She tried to smile at the maid, ignoring her own perplexity.

“I will take my leave now.”

“Bye and send my thanks.”

Susan waved jovially at the maid. “Thank you!”

Madeline had already stormed back to the table while James had taken her place in front of Evelina.

“What's that? What’s in it?”

“Open it, Evelina. Open it!”

Just as Susan was about to snatch the paper from her, brimming with excitement, Evelina firmed her grip on it, closing her hand on the paper. “I’ll open it myself.” She sternly stated.

“Well then, get to it!” Susan shamelessly retorted.

Rolling her eyes, Evelina opened the paper to find that it was a cheque. When she saw the figures on it, it dropped right on the floor.

“What's wrong with you?” Susan hissed.

James bent to take it from the floor. “Watch out!”

“Oh, my God!” He thundered right after opening the cheque and reading the amount himself.

Susan began to jump with joy, her fairly chubby body bouncing up and down. “What's in it?!”

“Ten thousand bucks!” James announced, gasping as his hands flew to his mouth and Madeline shot to her feet, hurrying to them.

“Let me see!” She snapped, snatching the cheque from James and almost tearing it.

Trust Susan to scold her for that. “Easy with it, you!”

When Madeline read the contents of the cheque, she threw it right on the floor. “NOT FAIR!” She screamed, stomping her feet on the floor and sulking.

Evelina knew he had given her gifts worth more than that but receiving the cash was another level of surprise. Davis Montgomery, whoever he was, he must have a mission with her.

This was way beyond trying to impress a town girl like her.

“Our Evelina is the star of the house after all!” Susan shrieked and was hurrying toward Evelina.

Evelina had it in mind to shove her mother away should she try to envelop her in one of her cynical embraces but the door came to the rescue.

The bell dinged once more, leaving every one of them perplexed.

“Don't tell me they came in with another package!” Susan jumped with joy.

Madeline scurried to barricade the door with her body. “Don't open it!”

“Get your ass off my door, Madeline!” Susan snarled tossing Madeline aside and opening the door.

Evelina’s cheque dropped from James’s hands at the sight of who was by the door. While she had snapped out of the reverie caused upon her by the amount of money on the cheque, she bent to pick up her gift.

“What are you doing here?!” Susan hollered at their new guest.