Chapter 30

Few names carriedas much weight in the dance world as Isabella's, making Elissa's choice of victim the worst mistake she could have made.

"That routine Elissa put on? Nothing more than average. Trying to use Isabella's fame to boost herself is just laughable."

"The Griridge Troupe needs to be far more selective about its members!"

"In school, Elissa is a decent dancer. But let's be honest, she has a real problem with jealousy.Anyone who outshines her becomes a target."

"Why hasn't Griridge University expelled her already? Do they care about their reputation?"

A new notification appeared as Kaitlyn sent a

message. "Kenzie got beat up."

A series of photos followed, revealing Kenzie's bruised face and a noticeable limp.

None of this shocked Arabella. She responded,"Thanks. But what's your reason for sending me this?"

Kaitlyn replied almost immediately, "I figured you'd want to know what happened."

Narrowing her eyes, Arabella tried to piece together Kaitlyn's motives. Whatever connected Kaitlyn and Daisy was still a mystery,but Arabella didn't sense any malice from her.

Leaving the theater, Arabella barely took two steps before someone's hand clamped around her arm. "I knew you had something to do with this,Arabella!"

Eyes wide with disbelief, Meagan confronted her,suspicion written all over her face.

Next to her, Elissa's eyes were puffy and red

from hours of tears, her carefully built reputation having crumbled in an instant. The moment she caught Arabella's name and laid eyes on her, bitterness twisted across Elissa's face. "So, you're Arabella."

Out of nowhere, a sense of dread crept in and made her stomach clench.

Arabella and Daisy could not have been more different when they were little girls.

Everyone remembered Daisy's bright, bubbly spirit, a complete contrast to Arabella's cold,almost unapproachable presence. That chilling aura always left others uneasy. Only after Arabella left did their bullying of Daisy begin.

Arabella's disappearance came right after grade school,and she claimed to work. They assumed that she might have started a family far away.

Who could have guessed she would turn up again like this?

Reminded of Arabella's rough past, Elissa felt

her contempt deepen. "You've got guts,Arabella. Dropping out after elementary school and faking your way into Griridge University?That's against the law!"

One step closer, Arabella fixed Elissa with an indifferent glare. "The way you and your family treated Daisy is enough to put you away for life.You got away once, but I'm here to make sure you finally pay for it."

A thunderclap split the sky, and the clouds unleashed a sudden downpour, rain hammering the pavement.

Goosebumps pricked Meagan's and her daughters' arms as the temperature dropped,and Elissa instinctively edged away. "Y-you..."

Jaw clenched, Meagan interjected, "Stop making things up, Arabella. Daisy had this coming, and you know it! Go straight to the troupe and confess. Tell everyone you set up Elissa and that she didn't plagiarize!"

Khloe's anger flared as well. "That's right! How dare you accuse Elissa of such things? You're nothing but trouble!"

She lifted her hand to strike, fury written all over her face.

But Arabella was nothing like Daisy. The cold,defiant look in her eyes made Khloe falter.Images of Arabella's legendary temper flashed through Khloe's mind, and fear sent her scurrying behind Meagan for safety.

With a deep breath, Elissa, older and more composed, switched tactics. Her voice turned gentle, almost pleading. "Arabella, let's not fight about this. We're family, aren't we? Let's go home and work things out together."

A gentle smile crossed her face as she added,"You only made it through elementary school,and you don't have any kind of certification. Life out there must be pretty rough for someone like you."

Arabella responded, her words cold and sharp."If people like you are surviving just fine, then why would you think I'd have a hard time? And I already warned you. Get out of my house,now.I don't want to see you there any longer."

Without wasting another second, Arabella flagged down a cab and climbed in.

Frustration boiled over, and Khloe snapped,"That woman is absolutely insufferable!"

A heavy frown appeared on Elissa's face. The thought that Arabella posed as Daisy was something she never would have believed.

The rain came down in sheets, forcing them to rush back to their house.

Back at home, irritation lingered in Elissa's voice. "You could have told me sooner that Arabella was back."

Khloe let out a grumble. "Mom said it was better not to bother you since you're busy with the dance group. Tell me the truth. Did you copy

someone else's work because of Arabella?"

Elissa clenched her fists as she thought about Kenzie, bitterness rising inside her. "It's got nothing to do with Arabella."

A sigh escaped Khloe. "Well, that's that.Arabella clearly isn't all that impressive. Who does she think she is, talking to us like that?The days when her parents mattered are over.Our family holds the most power in Griridge now."

Suddenly, an idea flashed in Khloe's mind. She gave Elissa's arm a quick tug. "Go tell your . .. ...