Page 2 of The Rancher's Jilted Bride

And crazy, for giving up a job that most people only dream of.

But if I stay...

I'm also taking a job that should belong to someone who has been dreaming of a job like mine.

And that someone hasn't been me for a long time already.

GIRLS WERE ALREADYbustling to and fro when Heaven entered the changing room, but no one bothered to meet her gaze or say hello.

This, however, was nothing new. Grace was the oldest dance academy in Florida and theonlyone whose history and accomplishments more than matched its European counterparts.

Admission to Grace was extremely competitive, and its tuition unapologetically prohibitive. The majority of its students came from America's most prestigious families,and that was probably why, Heaven thought ruefully,she had been labeled an outcast from day one.

Heaven was the only student in Grace who hadn't the right connections and bloodlines. Even worse, she had a "past" that other students (and their parents) considered a horrible insult to Grace's legacy.

Girls of Grace were supposed to have picture-perfect childhoods, and the fact that she did not automatically made her adisgrace in everyone's eyes.

Heaven changed into her training gear, and after a few moments, everyone around her started talking again.

"I just can't believe this is happening!"

Heaven mentally nodded in agreement.Me, too.While over five hundred students were currently enrolled in Académie de Danse Fleur de Grâce, only twenty of them had been selected to participate in what was dubbed as this year'smostimportant event.

How incredible it was that Heaven was one of those twenty...even when ballet no longer had her heart.

"It's insane, right? This is the first-ever collaboration that Bellegard has offered. Aren't we the luckiest that their fall collection is inspired by ballet?"

"But don't you think it's odd? I mean, why ballet, of all themes?"

"Well, why not?"

"Maybe it's because of her..."

All eyes swung in Heaven's direction at the words, but she pretended not to notice.

Here we go again, same old, same old.

There was just no convincing people who didn'twantto like her. And the other girls had made this clear from the start, with the way they continuously made up the wildest and craziest rumors about her.

Last she heard, she was supposed to have this wealthy benefactor who wasthriceher age and was thus the "real" reason behind her acceptance to Grace.

"Isn't the oldest Bellegard divorced? And there's been whispers about an affair..."

Heaven mentally shook her head. It really was the same thing over and over again. Couldn't they be more creative with their lies at least?

Oh, whatever.

It was time to tune everyone out and get to work.

Heaven turned her focus to her clothes.

Tights. Wrap skirt. Leg warmers.

All of it was rather worn and tired-looking, which shouldn't be the case at all...if the rumors were true about Heaven being a rich old man's mistress.

Stop it, Heaven. Just let it go.

Heaven turned around in front of the mirror.

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