Filed to story: That Campus Prince Is a Girl
Martin also asked, “Mr. Fraser, what exactly did we do to offend you?”
Samuel flicked the ash off his cigarette and said disdainfully, “Do I need a reason to beat you?”
Martin, Heidi, and Milena stood there, jaws dropped in shock. They wondered, ‘What the hell is going on? Samuel just stormed here to smash up our house-for no reason whatsoever?’
He took in the sight of the three, disheveled and shaken, then surveyed the wreckage around him. He gave a satisfied nod, turned on his heel, and swaggered out the door.
Heidi collapsed to the floor, clutching Milena in her arms. Sobs racked her body. “My poor Millie. Martin, we have to call the cops.”
“Are you crazy?” Martin barked, his voice cracking with desperation. “Do you have any idea who the Frasers are? We can’t mess with them!”
The Wallace family was already on the brink. They couldn’t afford to cross the Young family, let alone the powerful Fraser family.
Heidi pointed at Milena’s bruised face, tears streaming down her own. “Look at what they’ve done! We’re just going to let them get away with this?”
Martin’s shoulders slumped. Milena’s bruised face also distressed him. He wanted to fight back, but what could he do? In this cutthroat world, the weak got crushed.
Everything had been fine once. When did it all start falling apart?
Ever since Cameron refused to marry Amelia. If she’d just agreed to the surgery and had gone through with the engagement, the Wallace family would be on top by now.
Martin thought, ‘It’s all that ungrateful girl’s fault!’
“Mom, Dad,” Milena finally let out a wail now that Samuel was gone. “I can’t take this anymore!”
Heidi pulled her closer, rocking her gently. “Shh, baby. It’s over now. Don’t say such things.”
Milena seethed inside, ‘Why wasn’t Cameron here? If she had been, she’d be the one lying beaten on the floor right now.’
Cameron, Austin, and Bradley headed back to Langford Academy together. They grabbed dinner at the cafeteria and made it to class just in time. The three split up in front of the school building.
Austin locked eyes with Cameron and said, sounding a little sad, “Cam, I wish we were in the same class.”
Austin was also in the STEM program, but while he was in Class 13, Senior Year, which did regular-level courses, Cameron was in Class 15 with Elijah, taking AP classes.
Speechless, Cameron thought, ‘Yeah, no thanks.’
Bradley just stared, looking confused.
Bradley peered at Austin’s exotic face through his gold-rimmed glasses. “Since when are you so clingy to Cameron?” he asked.
Austin laughed it off. “Just kidding, Brad.”
Bradley gave him a look like he knew something, then turned to look at Cameron.
“I’m gonna head to class,” Cameron said. She turned and walked away.
Bradley and Austin watched her leave.
Then Bradley asked, “Hey, Austin, are you feeling better these days?”
Lately, Austin had been showing up at school way more often. Usually, he’d skip half the month, but now he seemed to be around all the ame
Bradley wondered, ‘Is it because of Cameron?’ The thought made him frown a little.
Austin grinned. “Thanks, Brad. I’m doing way better. If you’re good, I’ll head to class.”
Bradley gave a quick nod. As Austin walked away, Bradley’s eyes stayed fixed on his back, lost in thought.
When Cameron reached the classroom door, someone practically tackled her.
“Cameron, it took you long enough!” It was Xander, who’d stormed off earlier that morning. His usually ruggedly handsome face was now pale with worry.
Cameron frowned. “What’s wrong?”
Xander yanked her to the side. “Your family’s in trouble.”
She shook his hand off. “Keep your hands to yourself, okay? Just spit it out.”
Xander was almost hopping with urgency. “Are you kidding? This is serious! Samuel trashed your place, and Milena, your parents-they’re all hurt!”
“Really?” Cameron arched an eyebrow. The news caught her off guard, but it somehow made sense.
Austin wasn’t kidding when he said Samuel held grudges. The guy clearly didn’t mess around.
Cameron showed a faint smirk. Samuel didn’t waste any time, that was for sure. She hadn’t expected him to track down Wallace Villa this fast.
She guessed this was his payback and was glad to see it.
“Is that all you have to say?” Xander sputtered, his face turning red. “Aren’t you worried? Go home and check on your family-now!”
The smile faded from Cameron’s face. She locked eyes with him. “Be honest. Are you here for me, or for Miler?a? If it’s Milena you’re worried about, why don’t you go to comfort her yourself?”
Xander went silent. He’d found out about the attack
Not come
Panicked, he’d immediately messaged her, offering to
Frustration boiled over. In his rush, he’d forgotten all post on Milena’s Instagram-one that she’d set to be visible only to him. over.
But once again, she’d shot him down. but their argument and raced to the classroom to break the news.
Cameron’s face was a blank slate. “You may go,” she said flatly, then strode into the classroom.
Xander stood there, slack-jawed.
He thought, ‘Seriously? Cameron isn’t dashing home right away? How could someone be so cold-blooded? Those are his family! And why isn’t he panicking? I’m more worked up than him whose family is in trouble.’
Cameron plopped into her seat, grinning ear to ear.
Elijah caught the smile and raised an eyebrow. “Xander brought you good news?”
“Great news,” Cameron said, still beaming.
Elijah cracked a smile. “Congrats.”
“Thanks.”
Elijah could tell Cameron was over the moon. He thought, ‘For once, Xander has done something useful.
Just then, the bell rang, and Xander had no choice but to trudge back to the classroom and texted Milena again.
Xander: [Ms. Wallace, I filled Cameron in. He’s stuck in class right now, so he can’t swing by.]
Milena: [Thanks, Mr. Murphy.]
Xander: [Hey, after school-mind if I tag along with Cameron to Wallace Villa? I’d like to check on you.]
Milena’s eyes widened. She was sprawled in bed, icing her swollen face, when the message popped up. Startled, she shot upright.
“Easy, Millie. Hold still,” Heidi scolded, gently pushing her back down and holding the ice pack on her face. “Keep that ice on, or your face will still be puffy tomorrow.”
Taking a deep breath, Milena typed a reply: [I appreciate it, but I’m good. I just freaked Samuel might come back. I’m terrified.]
Xander: [Why not move to Cameron’s place? That mansion in Noble Vista has tons of room.]
Milena went silent. It wasn’t like they hadn’t tried. Cameron had blacklisted them. They couldn’t even set foot within 0.6 miles of the gated community.
Milena: [Thanks, but I’ll pass.)
Confused, Xander replied: [This doesn’t add up. Yeah, Samuel’s arrogant, but he usually has a reason. Did something go down between you guysri
Milena: [He didn’t say a word. We seriously have no clue what we did to piss him off. Maybe he just can’t stand the sight of us.)
Xander: [That doesn’t make sense.]
Milena: [Mr. Murphy, my face really hurts. I need some rest. Thanks for your concern.]
Xander: [Sure thing. I’ve got a class starting soon. Take it easy.]
Milena was speechless, thinking, ‘Really? That’s it? Did Xander actually not get it, or was he playing dumb? I’m clearly hurting, and he didn’t intend to give me any gifts to comfort me?’
‘When a girl’s upset, most guys will at least offer a gift-like a bag, some jewelry, or makeup. If not, a care package with tonics will do the trick. Even if said not to come, he could’ve sent someone else with the stuff.
Milena sighed, thinking, ‘All this time pretending to be Cameron, and I’ve gotten nothing in return. There’s no way I’d beg Xander for anything. That will be so embarrassing.’
After evening study hall ended, Cameron and Elijah walked back to the dorm together. The moment they stepped inside, Austin rushed off to Room 316.
