Jordan’s generosity

Chapter Forty

Evelina

~~

Susan hollered with spite at the person by the door, asking him what he was doing in their house. “What do you think you're doing here, barging into our home uninvited?!” Annoyance and irritation were evident in her tone.

His lips pursed tight in a sneer. "What audacity!” James added.

Evelina peeked around her mother's shoulder to check who the uninvited guest was. She found Jordan standing sheepishly on the porch. He had a small and hopeful smile playing on his lips as he stammered, "H-Hi Mrs. Avalon, I — I just wanted to –”

Surprise washed over Evelina. Madeline's prediction had indeed come true. She had been insisting that Jordan was going to return. It seemed she was right.

“We don't have time for your excuses, young man!" James boomed, pushing past Susan. "Get off our doorstep before-"

Jordan held up a placating hand. "Mr. Avalon, please, hear me out. I know I messed up before, but I'm back — and this time, I'm here to stay." His gaze flickered to Madeline, a somewhat confident and flirty smirk on his face.

Ew; Evelina thought. Madeline was really dumb dating such a person.

“Back for what?" Madeline spat, stepping forward. "To play me another round of your pathetic lies?"

Jordan’s eyes flared up. “Lies? Come on, Madeline. I never lied to you. You just don't want to understand but then, that's okay. I'm here now for my..." he paused, his gaze flickering to Madeline with the same flirty glint, "...my pretty flower."

He probably thought he was cool making that face; Evelina thought. Hell, it was just morning, and she was already getting irritated.

Madeline, fuming, stormed a little more forward. "Pretty flower? Who are you calling a pretty flower, you douchebag?!”

Before Jordan could utter another word, Madeline slammed the door shut, leaving him speechless on the other side.

Evelina shook her head. There literally was no end to her family’s dramas.

Susan hissed right immediately, "The nerve of that boy! Ruining our moment." She then turned to Evelina, voice softening dramatically, "Oh, my dearest Evelina," she cooed, reaching out to pet her daughter's arm. "Don't let that dolt bother you. Look at this beautiful cheque! We can finally-"

Evelina felt a wave of irritation. Just because of the money, her mother was acting like a different person. She tried to shrug Susan's hand off, muttering, "I need some fresh air, excuse me.” She made but the insistent rapping on the door stopped her.

Jordan didn't seem to have given up.

“Go AWAY!” Madeline screeched. “I don't want to see you!”

Evelina internally scoffed at her sister’s facade watching her. She could tell just how proud this had made Madeline. She would seem herself unable to throw off like thrash after this. Madeline had not been able to believe that Jordan was going to come back for her.

However now, she probably felt like an empress.

James, as the opportunist that he was, leaned in and whispered, "Seems like the boy brought gifts. Maybe we should hear him out."

Argh.

It got worse every day. Didn't they have shame at all?! Jordan dumped Madeline and embarrassed them all in the neighborhood. Even if Evelina was sure that the fault of the cause of their break up lay more on Madeline, she still didn't think her parents would think of accepting Jordan’s gifts. Not after all of their vows to never have anything to do with him again.

Or rather, Madeline who would always swear to throw him off should he ever show his face again.

Madeline, who had been muttering curses under her breath, suddenly straightened. "Gifts? Those are mine!" Her eyes shone with delight as she rushed back to the door. She flung it open, her previous anger forgotten. “You brought those gifts for me, didn't you? You better not be teasing, Jordan Miller!"

Jordan's face lit up at the sight of her. "Madeline! I'm so glad you're back. See, I brought these." He held up two beautifully wrapped packages, tied with shimmering ribbons.

Madeline snatched the box greedily, tearing off the paper. Inside the box, sitting on velvet, was a diamond necklace. Her eyes widened with delight. "Oh, Jordan, it's beautiful!"

“A brand new diamond necklace and a matching pair of earrings," Jordan announced, his voice filled with a confidence that showed that he knew he had just gotten Madeline wrapped around his fingers. "Just like you always wanted."

Susan and James crowded around her, oohing and ahhing over the necklace. "Look at the size of that diamond!" James exclaimed. "He must have spent a fortune!"

Susan's eyes sparkled. "Such a thoughtful young man!"

Evelina’s mouth popped open. Were these not the people who had been raining curses on the man just now? Apparently, even diamond jewelry could buy her parents over. What was she saying?

A few bucks was enough to buy them over as long as it lasted.

Ignoring them, Madeline turned back to Jordan, a smirk playing on her lips. "What else did you bring?"

Jordan, who was definitely aware of her manipulative tone, beamed, ignoring it. "Well, I know you love makeup, so I got you this first edition of your favorite brand…" He held out a makeup kit.

Madeline snatched it without a glance. "Anything else?"

He rummaged in his bag and pulled out a small, carved music box. "And this... I remember you always humming that melody you wrote yourself."

Evelina frowned. She thought Jordan was broke. Where did he get the money to do all of these for Madeline? It was so obvious that he was done with her before.

Why would any man go to this length to impress her useless sister?

Susan and James were already cooing the two lovers, clapping and chuckling at Jordan’s gifts.

Madeline held the music box gingerly, a flicker of surprise in her eyes. But before Jordan could say anything else, she cut him off, her voice cold. "Thanks for the gifts, Jordan. But if you don't have anything more, that will be all I need from you right now. Try harder next time.”

With a deft smile, she slammed the door shut, leaving Jordan standing alone on the porch.

Susan sighed dramatically. "What a waste! He seemed like a good boy."

What the?!

Jordan was suddenly a good boy now?

Evelina felt a pang of unease. Jordan may have been flawed, but his remorse seemed genuine. Or maybe it was all in her head. Either way, it wasn't cool at all to take gifts from someone and send them off right after.

She hated to always be the one to clean the mess after her parents but she couldn't help having a good heart.

She pushed past her parents and opened the door a crack. "Jordan, wait!"

He remained on the porch, his face lighting up at the sight of her. “Evelina? Oh, pretty Evelina. Why don't you help me talk to your sister, eh?”

"I don't know what your deal is but if you really want her, it shouldn't take you too much to get Madeline. Just… don't give up on her," she whispered, before her mother's shrill voice called out, "Evelina! What are you doing? Come back inside!"

Evelina closed the door, anger at her family's greed welling up inside of her.

She clenched her jaw and forced herself to go forward.

The sight awaiting her only made her all the more nauseous. Susan was reaching for Madeline’s packages with a proud grin. But Madeline swatted her hand away possessively. "These are mine!" she declared, clutching them close.

“I’m taking that makeup kit, Madeline!” Susan let out a shriek. shriek, "Hey! Those gifts are for everyone, not just for you!"

“Says who?" Madeline retorted, glaring at her mother. "Jordan brought them for me, specifically." She clutched the packages tighter, possessively stroking the velvet box containing the diamond necklace.

James intervened by placing a hand on Susan's shoulder. "Now, now, Susan. Let's not fight over gifts. Evelina got a cheque too, remember?" He gave Evelina a pointed look, hoping she'd join the chorus of appreciation.

Evelina remained silent and ignored him, her gaze flickering between the glittering presents and her family's greedy expressions. This whole display was making her stomach churn. Jordan might have been a jerk, but they were no better, fawning over him just because he brought expensive gifts.

They could do better.

“Besides," James continued, his voice dripping with insinuation, "Jordan seems to be quite smitten with Madeline. Maybe we should encourage this reconciliation."

Madeline's smirk widened. "Reconciliation?" she echoed, a proud glint in her eyes. "Maybe he needs a little more convincing first."

Ignoring Evelina's disapproving frown and acting as if she wasn't present in the living room, Madeline sashayed back to the door, pulling it open with pride.

Jordan stood on the porch and seemed happy to find that Madeline had come back. However, his hopeful smile faltered slightly as he met her gaze.

“You know," Madeline began, her voice laced with bossiness, "those gifts were nice, but not quite enough to win back my heart."

Jordan's face fell. "Madeline, please. Give me another chance. I can assure you-"

“Another chance?" Madeline interrupted him before he could, feigning a thoughtful pout. "Hmm, let me think. Maybe if you brought something even more — dazzling, I might consider it."

Jordan's eyes darted hopefully around. "Dazzling, you say? Like what?"

Madeline's eyes gleamed cunningly. "Let's just say," she leaned closer, her voice barely a whisper, "a car wouldn't hurt."

Evelina’s jaw dropped. A car? She was sure that he could barely afford these gifts, let alone a car. But maybe it was desperation that clouded his judgment, or he perhaps couldn't bear to lose Madeline again.

“A car, huh?" he stammered, "I — I'll see what I can do but before then, why not let me come with more goodies?”

Madeline smiled triumphantly, slamming the door shut without giving him an answer. She flipped her hair proudly, happy that she was becoming the main character again.

“What is he thinking? That I'm so cheap?” She scoffed.

Susan and James rushed to her. “You've made a good decision, my love.”

“Let's milk more gifts from him!”

Evelina watched the entire exchange, disgust churning in her stomach. Her sister's manipulative behavior was sickening, and her parents' shameless greed was no better.

Feeling isolated and appalled, Evelina retreated to her room. Her walls shutted out the sounds of her family's excited discussions about Jordan's "generosity."

As she stared out the window, a single tear rolled down her cheek. This wasn't the kind of life she had envisioned for herself. It was a twisted one full of lies, manipulations, and shallow desires. And she, Evelina, was trapped in the center of it all, yearning for something genuine and true.

Would she ever get her wish?