Comfort_Opeyemi_8142

Angel, a bright and cheerful 15-year-old, with a sparkle in her eye and a heart full of love. Adopted by Gabriel James, a devoted and kind-hearted mechanical engineer, when she was just four years old, Angel had grown into a kind and curious teenager, always eager to learn and explore the world around her. With a quick wit and infectious smile, Angel lit up the lives of those around her, especially her doting father, Gabriel.

Gabriel, now in his late 30s, had found a sense of completeness with Angel by his side. As a single father, he was fiercely protective and loving, often going out of his way to make Angel happy.
 Little did Angel know, her life was about to take a significant turn from sweet to sour in a blink of an eye with her father's new relationship and high school. Dive into Angel's life and follow her story to see how her struggle leads her to love and the development of new relationships.

Angel's heart: secret and doubts

While Angel tried to hold herself together at home, Dan went to work. With the help of a local tech expert, he accessed the school's security footage and began reviewing hours of recordings.

He didn't have to search for long.

There, on a grainy but clear recording from the weekend before the exams, was Sam—Isabel's known accomplice—sneaking into the school. She slipped something into Angel's locker, looked around cautiously, and left.

Dan's jaw tightened. He dug deeper, tracing the school's computer logs. With help, he discovered that someone had hacked into the teacher's system and copied the exam questions days before they were printed. The digital fingerprints pointed to a group of students—and all signs led back to Isabel.

The next morning, Dan presented everything to the school board. The footage. The logs. The digital trail. It was undeniable.

Worse, his evidence revealed a larger ring of students who had been leaking exam questions for years without being caught.

When they were questioned, several broke down under pressure—and they all pointed to Isabel as the one who funded and directed their actions. She had been paying Sam and others to do her dirty work while she maintained a clean image.

The board's decision was swift: all involved students were expelled. Isabel, at the center of it all, was also banned from Ridgewood Academy permanently.

Her father, humiliated and enraged, withdrew her immediately and sent her abroad to a strict boarding school in Switzerland.

Angel was officially cleared of all accusations. Her name was restored. The teachers publicly apologized, and she was praised for her resilience and strength.

Angel and Dan sat quietly on the school steps, the afternoon sun casting soft shadows around them. For a moment, neither of them spoke.

"Dan..." she said softly. "Thank you. For everything. If it wasn't for you... I don't even know what would've happened."

Dan looked at her and gave a small smile. "You don't have to thank me. I only did what any real friend would do."

"But you didn't have to go that far," Angel said. "You stood by me when no one else did. You found the truth when I almost gave up."

Dan shrugged gently, his voice calm. "Angel, you're my friend. It hurt seeing you blamed for something you didn't do. Helping you… it wasn't a chore. It was a privilege."

Angel smiled faintly, her eyes lowering for a second. "Still… It means a lot to me."

He looked at her, his voice more serious now. "And you mean a lot to me. So anytime you need help, no matter what it is… I'll be there. Always."

Their eyes met for a brief moment. Angel gave a small nod, her voice barely above a whisper.

Angel sits on the couch, wrapped in a blanket. Mr. Gabriel walks in with two mugs of hot chocolate and hands her one.

"You holding up okay?" Mr Gabriel said as he handed her the mug.

Angel sighs looking at her dad. "Better now. It still feels surreal, but at least the truth's out."

"All thanks to Dan." Mr Gabriel replied as he watched his daughter.

Smiling, nodded, "Yeah… he didn't stop until he found the proof."

"That says a lot about him. He stood by you when it counted." Mr Gabriel smiled as he spoke

"He did. I don't think I would have been cleared without his help."

Mr. Gabriel studies her for a moment, a thoughtful smile on his face. "It might not be the best time to say this… but when the time comes, he might just make a good partner."

Angel was blushing from ear-to-ear as she looked at her dad. "Dad…."

With a knowing grinning Mr Gabriel answered. "Just saying. You've got good instincts—so does he. Proud of you, kid."

Angel smiles, eyes misty but at peace

18: The truth uncovered