The rainy season had arrived, and the rain poured endlessly.
The wind swept the clouds away, allowing the rain to fall freely. Inside the dance studio, a group of children in ballet attire practiced under the careful guidance of their instructor.
"Let your hands hang naturally, arms forming an oval shape. Pay close attention to the teacher's movements..."
Angela was focused on her teaching.
Meanwhile, parents who had come to pick up their children gathered in small groups, whispering about the hottest topic in San Francisco:
[The Moore family has finally found their long-lost daughter after twenty years.]
"So, Teacher Moore isn't actually related to the Moore family by blood? No wonder she doesn't look like them at all."
"I heard she was adopted from an orphanage, but now that they've found their real daughter, her position has become quite awkward."
"Even her fiancé, Alex, doesn't seem to want her anymore."
"They only adopted her because they couldn't find their real daughter. She was nothing more than a stand-in, a form of psychological comfort for the Moore family."
Their gazes fell upon Angela, filled with sympathy.
She was tall and fair-skinned-a classic beauty with striking bone structure.
Her almond-shaped eyes were particularly stunning, brimming with autumn-like softness and the elegance of distant mountains. Her long, slender legs appeared even more delicate in her black-and-white dance attire. Even without trying, she exuded an effortless charm.
She was composed and knew how to maintain proper boundaries.
Not only did the children adore her, but the parents also spoke highly of her.
When her class ended and she sent the students and parents off, a colleague approached her with concern.
"How's your foot?"
"It's alright."
"I kept signaling for you to rest. Why didn't you take a break?"
"The children and parents come here for me. If I sit down the entire time, I'm sure complaints will start rolling in." Angela smiled as she bent down to massage her right ankle.
Her right leg had been injured long ago and never fully healed. Rainy days brought unbearable pain, cutting her professional dancing career short. Now, she worked as a dance instructor at a training institute.
"It's raining... Is Mr. Rogers coming to pick you up?" her colleague asked while tidying up the equipment, eyeing Angela carefully.
Angela kept her head down, rubbing her ankle, making it hard to read her expression. Her voice was quiet. "He's been busy lately. Probably doesn't have time."
The colleague fell silent.
Busy?
Most likely busy keeping the Moore family's real daughter company.
Alex had pursued Angela for a long time, and he knew that her leg ached on rainy days. Every time it rained, he would personally pick her up and drop her off at work. Many colleagues had envied her for having such a wealthy yet attentive fiancé.
But ever since the Moore family announced the return of their biological daughter, Alex had rarely been around.
Instead, he was always out having fun with the real heiress.
Her colleagues couldn't help but feel sorry for Angela.
"Teacher Moore, if the pain is too much, take a couple of days off. I'll explain to the students and parents." The institute's director observed her carefully. "You can barely walk. It's still raining outside-do you want me to take you to the hospital?"
"No need, thank you. I have other things to do. I'll just take a cab." Angela changed out of her dancewear and left the institute. By then, most colleagues and parents had already gone.
A misty sky loomed overhead, the rain falling in a hazy drizzle. The institute was located outside the city center, making it hard to hail a cab in this weather.
Holding her umbrella, Angela decided to walk to the nearby bus stop, hoping to find shelter from the rain while waiting for a ride.
A cold wind, laced with fine raindrops, seeped into her bones, making her shiver. She had underestimated the weather and dressed too lightly.
Before she reached the bus stop, the roar of an engine sounded behind her.
The car was speeding, its tires splashing rainwater as it approached. Angela's breath hitched-something felt off. The vehicle was heading straight for her.
She stepped back hurriedly, her heel catching on the curb. She nearly stumbled into the damp grass of the landscaping area.
The screech of brakes pierced the air.
The car stopped just two or three meters away from her.
Her face went pale, breath unsteady.
"I'm terribly sorry! Are you alright?" The driver quickly opened the door and rushed over. Upon seeing her, he gasped in surprise. "Miss Moore?"