Filed to story: That Campus Prince Is a Girl
Milena instantly choked on her next word.
Martin’s face darkened. “Cameron, what the hell’s gotten into you? You think you’re hot stuff now? Don’t forget, if it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have even made it this far!”
“Funny-why didn’t you?” Cameron asked flatly.
Martin’s jaw clenched.
When it came to throwing words like knives, none of the three were a match for Cameron.
One sentence from her and they were already seething.
Heidi quickly jumped in to smooth things over. “Cam, sweetheart, I know we’ve made some mistakes in the past-“
“Oh?” Cameron interrupted, grabbing her phone casually. “Like what?”
Heidi, oblivious, answered without thinking, “Like…trying to force you into that surgery and marry Amelia. That wasn’t right. We realize that now.”
“And?” Cameron asked, eyes narrowing.
Martin snapped, “That’s enough! Don’t push your luck.”
‘Parents don’t owe their kids apologies, he thought.
Cameron’s voice was razor-sharp. “So, it was right to raise me as a boy just so you could arrange a marriage?”
Heidi winced. “Cam, please don’t get upset. We know we were wrong, okay? But you’ve called off the engagement now. Can’ t we just…let it go?”
Cameron let out a soft, derisive laugh.
‘Let it go? If only it were that easy!’
No one knew how much fear had haunted her growing up-how terrified she’d been of being exposed, of the Chapman family pulling out of the engagement.
She’d wake up from nightmares, too shaken to sleep again, clinging to the edge of her secret.
And in her past life, she had been exposed. She had been forced onto that operating table, had her chest cut open, reshaped into something not male, not female-just…something else. A mistake she wanted to throw off a rooftop. ‘Let it go? Sure. It was in the past, and it won’t happen again. But forgiveness is never part of the deal’
She wouldn’t take revenge. That wasn’t her style.
She owed them for raising her all these years.
But if they wanted to stir the pot again, she wouldn’t play nice.
“Alright, Cam, now can we go to the caf? and talk properly?” Heidi asked, still smiling like everything was fine.
“No time,” Cameron said curtly, turning around.
“Cameron! Stop right there!” Martin’s voice rang out. “I want to know-where did you get the money to buy that place in Noble Vista?”
He didn’t care who heard him anymore.
Cameron let out a cold laugh. “Wow. You moved fast, huh?”
Martin repeated, “Where did the money come from?”
Heidi gave Martin a quick look, silently blaming him for pushing too hard. She knew they had to be patient now.
Cameron was already on edge-there was no way she’d open up if he came at her like this.
Better to lead with emotion and then talk about money.
Heidi softened her tone and smiled. “Cam, your dad just has a bit of a temper. He really does care about you, though.”
“Oh, I know,” Cameron said, nodding. “He cares a lot about my house. Probably hoping to get his hands on it.”
Heidi flinched.
Milena snapped, “Do you have to make everything sound so ugly? Everything you have comes from the Wallace family, okay?”
Cameron blew at the bangs falling across her forehead. “You deaf? Or simply stupid? I’m not your family.”
Milena was speechless.
“For the record,” Cameron said coolly, “I’ve already severed ties with the Wallace family. What’s mine is mine. Get it?”
Martin scoffed, “Severed ties? That childish piece of paper? You really think that means anything?”
“Oh? Then how about this?” Cameron pulled out her phone and hit play on a recording.
“Like…trying to force you into that surgery and marry Amelia. That wasn’t right. We realize that now.”
Martin’s face turned a shade of crimson.
He whipped his head around to glare at Heidi.
‘Useless. Absolutely useless.’
Heidi stood frozen, stunned that Cameron had baited her like that.
”She used to be so na?ve… she thought. ‘When did he become so calculating?’
Milena shouted, “You’re such a snake, Cameron! You were recording us?!”
Cameron’s expression didn’t budge. “Yes, I am, so I guess…thanks for the compliment.”
And with that, she turned and walked away.
“Cameron!” Milena shouted, unwilling to let it end like that.
But Martin quickly grabbed her arm, his expression dark.
They’d just handed Cameron a weapon-proof they tried to force her into surgery, proof they’d lied to the Chapman family. Either one could ruin them. if they tried to sue her under filial responsibility laws, the most they’d get would be a court order requiring Cameron to pay them a token pension once they hit retirement age-maybe a few thousand dollars a year. Hardly worth the trouble.
The last thing they could afford was to provoke her now.
If they wanted anything from him, they’d have to switch tactics. Play nice. Make it personal.
Martin’s face twisted in frustration. “Let’s go. We need to rethink this.”
“But-” Milena gritted her teeth, still unwilling to let it go.
That house in Noble Vista-it was hers in her mind.
The Wallace family’s place was a decade old. Most things in it were worn-out by now.
Milena wanted Cameron out so she could move in.
“Millie,” Heidi said, forcing a calm tone, “go back to class. We’ll take care of it, alright?”
“Fine.” Milena sighed and then headed back toward school.
*****
Xander came charging across the school grounds, only to spot Cameron walking calmly back through the gate.
His face lit up. “Cameron! Where’s your sister?”
Cameron said nothing, walking right past him without even slowing down.
“Hey, are you mute now?” Xander called, grabbing her shoulder. “Say something!”
Cameron swatted his hand off with a glare. “Touch me again and see what happens.”
Xander blinked.
‘The hell’s his problem?’
He rolled his eyes and glanced past her.
‘If Cameron’s here, then Milena must be nearby.’
He turned on his heel and headed straight for the school gates.
Sure enough, just a few steps later, he ran into Milena.
Milena’s eyes went wide with panic. She froze in place, completely caught off guard
As she scrambled to come up with something to say, Xander walked right past her, without even a glance.
