12: The Calm Before the Storm

Dan and Angel sat in the classroom, chatting about their individual lives. Dan was more relaxed and open with Angel, and she appreciated the change.

"Hey, how's life been treating you?" Dan asked, his eyes sparkling with interest.

Angel smiled. "It's been good. I've been keeping busy with school and other stuff. How about you?"

Dan shrugged. "Same here. Just trying to stay on top of things."

As they chatted, Dan suddenly asked about the upcoming competition in a week. "Hey, have you been preparing for the competition?" he asked, his eyes locked on hers.

Angel's face lit up. "Yes, I've been reading and preparing for it," she said, her eyes shining with enthusiasm. "I really want to do well."

Dan smiled, admiring her spirit. "That's great, Angel. You're going to do amazing. What makes you so determined to do well?"

Angel thought for a moment. "I guess I just want to prove to myself that I can do it. And I want to make my parents proud."

Dan nodded, his expression softening. "I think you'll do great. You have a lot of potential, Angel."

Angel beamed with pride. "Thanks, Dan."

Dan leaned in, his voice taking on a more serious tone. "I'm serious, Angel. You're capable of achieving anything you set your mind to. Just believe in yourself and you'll be fine."

Angel smiled, feeling a sense of confidence wash over her. "Thanks, Dan. I'll try my best."

. . .

Meanwhile, Gabriel and Christina were having a heart-to-heart conversation about their issues. Gabriel had been upset with Christina because he knew only her could have revealed Angel's adoption secret, and Christina knew she had to make things right.

"Christina, I need to talk to you about something," Gabriel said, his voice firm but calm.

Christina looked up, her eyes filled with regret. "I know, Gabriel. I'm sorry about what I did. I was jealous of how much you love Angel, and I lashed out."

Gabriel's expression softened. "I love you both, but I understand why you're feeling insecure. I've been so focused on Angel's needs lately, and I haven't been paying enough attention to you."

Christina's eyes welled up with tears. "I feel like you'll always prioritize Angel over me," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Gabriel pulled her into a hug. "That's not true, my love. I love you both, but in different ways. I promise to do better, to listen to you and make time for you."

Christina smiled, feeling a weight lift off her shoulders. "I promise to apologize to Angel and talk to you about my insecurities instead of acting on them."

Isabel, on the other hand, was plotting her revenge against Angel. She had come up with a plan to lace Angel's drink with a drug that would give her a running stomach throughout the day, making it impossible for her to concentrate on the competition.

"Ha! That'll teach her, she thinks she's so much better than me," Isabel cackled to herself.

The day of the competition finally arrived, and Angel was bursting with excitement. She ran into her parents' room, jumping onto their bed.

"Happy 3 month anniversary, Mom and Dad!" she exclaimed, hugging them both tightly.

Gabriel smiled, hugging his daughter back. "Thank you, sweetheart. We're so proud of you, and we know you'll do great today."

Christina smiled, feeling a pang of guilt for her past behavior. "Yes, sweetie, we're rooting for you. And I'm sorry again for what I did. I promise to make it up to you."

Angel's face lit up with a smile. "It's okay, Mom. I know you didn't mean to hurt me. Let's just focus on the competition today, okay?" Angel said as walked out of the room.

Gabriel dropped her off at school, and she boarded the bus with Mr. Matthew and the other teachers. As they arrived at the competition venue, Angel was given a drink by Sam, who was a volunteer.

"Here you go, Angel," Sam said with a smile. "It's just a refreshing drink to help you relax before the competition."

Angel took a sip, feeling a sense of calm wash over her. But little did she know, her day was about to take a drastic turn