Evangeline sat in the corner of their large living room, her knees drawn to her chest as she hastily scribbled on her Ipad. Her fingers danced hurriedly as her mind tried to block out a sugary voice
Andrea
"...Oh you flatter me Mrs. Moreci"
Andrea giggled, tossing a golden curl behind her shoulder
"I do try my best, everyday. I've always believed in poise and grace. That's the true essence of a Victorian model"
Their mother Clara looked like she was ready to combust with pride
"Yes Mrs. Moreci, my Andrea is such a talented young woman. She would be a great addition if you'd consider her. You wouldn't regret her not even for a second. Truly once in a generation kindly of girl" She chimed in
Evangeline didn't look up. She had learned years ago that moments like this weren't meant for her. Her emerald eyes were fixated on her screen as she completed the final editing of her manuscript.
The time struck 10:30 am
She was supposed to be submitting her manuscript by noon. But her parents had insisted she stayed for Andrea's interview not because she was needed, but because Andrea wanted her to "witness history".
"I doubt I will," the interviewer, Mrs Moreci said, sealing the resume with a gentle click. She stood up with a smile, handing her business card to Andrea.
"Reach out tomorrow evening, we've business to chat about. You have so much potential and it will be a pity to let it all waste." A chorus of thank yous followed, laughter, then silence
By the time she left, Andrea was already jumping for joy. Finally her dreams were coming true.
"We're so proud of you Andrea," quipped Desmond, her father.
"But are you sure you can handle this and the company all at once?"
Clara frowned. "Oh hush now, our Andrea is not as incapable as you think. She's still young and doesn't need to worry about the weight of being a CEO. Let her live her life, Desmond, and stop troubling her."
Desmond chuckled and wanted to say something when a gentle voice interrupted them.
"Can I go now?" the voice was as soft as silk.
Evangeline was already arranging her iPad and draft book in her tote bag.
"The interview is over, I have no reason to be here, right?"
"Why are you in such a rush Evie?" Andrea said in her usual proud, pretentious tone.
"I'm just a step in signing a contract with Nova Axis and you just want to leave?"
Nova Axis was one of the top modelling agencies in the globe, and being offered a position as a model was a big deal for her.
Evangeline was already zipping her bag "Well pardon me for not throwing rose petals at your feet. Some of us have places to be"
Andrea's face twitched. Her usual smug expression vanished
"Excuse me..."
Desmond eyes narrowed "There's no need to be so bitter, Evangeline"
Clara scoffed "Why wouldn't she be so bitter when she have always proven to be so useless"
"Look at Andrea. Beautiful, filled with much potential, even as the heiress of Eclisse Holdings she still chooses to be her independent self."
Her tone turned cold
"But you just decide to be a sickly nuisance"
Silence. A beat of silence.
The room grew quieter than it should have. Even the ticking clock on the far wall seemed louder than before.
Evie didn't lift her head. Didn't speak. But her knuckles turned white around the strap of her bag.
A smirk widened on Andrea's face. She loved it when Evangeline feels humiliated and mocked at for her illness. She suddenly became hyper aware of her nasal cannula: the thin pipe resting gently in her dusty freckled cheeks. Ever since she had that ghastly car accident when she was nine, it had caused a tear in her lungs and had forced her to depend on the pipe.
"You don't have to mention it every single time" Evie gripped her bag tighter
"Mum's not wrong," Andrea quipped "I mean what kind of a sane person would want to hire a dying girl with malfunctioning lungs,"
Evangeline's grip on her bag tightened even further. She didn't cry. She couldn't because she knows that her tears only fed Andrea's grin.
So she straightened
"Maybe no one wants to hire a "dying girl "" she said quietly, "But at least I don't have to dim someone else's light to feel bright"
Andrea's face went rigid.
She wasn't really family, just a PR rescued to fill a hole. A fostered daughter with a severe asthma, Evie had always been in the shadows. She could never compete with the golden child who was perfect at anything she does. She was only brought into the family just to seem good to the media and throwing her away now would ruin that reputation. Their parents practically worshipped her. Every one around her seemed to always prefer the blonde hair and blue eyes beauty over the red hair and greed eyed.
Andrea was the heir to Eclisse Holdings, she was a young woman with ambitions. Evie... Evie spends most of her time in her room, scribbling through paper. Crumpled papers around her desk and the floor. She was either reading or... writing. Something her parents saw as a waste of time