Filed to story: That Campus Prince Is a Girl
He turned to leave.
But then-“Brad,” she called.
He stopped. “Yeah?”
Cameron hesitated a second and then said, “I found my biological parents… Well, they found me.”
Bradley turned back toward her, a warm smile spreading across his face. “Already? That’s incredible. Congrats. What are they like?”
Cameron lowered her gaze. “I don’t know much yet. I’ve only met my second brother. My parents wrote me letters. They want me to come home….but I turned them down.”
Bradley’s expression shifted, the surprise clear in his eyes. He sat back down beside her.
“You turned them down?” he asked. “You don’t want to meet your biological family?”
Cameron said quietly, “Brad… if the people who raised me and lived with me every day could treat me like that, then what are strangers to me-even if they’re blood? I don’t want to become a burden to anyone. Or let them become one to me.”
Bradley let out a soft sigh. “Cameron, you’re being too hard on yourself. Too cynical. How do you know they’d be a burden? What if they’re good people- what if they really love you?”
She didn’t answer.
But she didn’t have to. It wasn’t optimism that shaped her view of family-it was experience.
Bradley’s gaze softened. “You’re telling me this because you want my opinion, aren’t you?”
Cameron looked up at him, not saying a word.
GD
Bradley asked, “Have you met them?”
“I’ve only met my second brother,” she said. “My parents sent letters. Here, I’ll show you”
She got up and returned with two envelopes, handing them to him.
Bradley looked at her. “Can I read them?”
Cameron nodded. “Go ahead.”
He adjusted his glasses and read them both carefully, silently.
Once he finished, he looked back at her. “They care about you a lot, Cameron. That much is obvious. My advice? At least meet them. Just once. See how it feels. If you don’t like them, if something feels wrong, you can still walk away.”
Bradley had grown up in a healthy, supportive family. To him, having a home-real, unconditional love-was a source of strength.
He understood Cameron’s hesitation. The damage done by Martin and Heidi had left scars.
But these letters… Levi and Jacqueline clearly adored their child. Maybe, just maybe, it would be worth a try.
And honestly, wouldn’t it be a good thing? To have one more person who truly cared about her?
“Just meet them?” Cameron murmured.
‘And then what? What should I even say?’
Bradley nodded. “Yeah. That’s what I think. A warm family can give you a kind of strength that’s hard to find anywhere else. I can feel it in their words, Cameron. Their home seems like one filled with love.”
She didn’t answer.
Bradley didn’t want to push her, so he added gently, “You don’t have to decide now. Just take your time, think it through. Do what feels right to you. What matters most is that you’re okay. That you feel at peace.”
Cameron nodded. “I will.”
Bradley stood again. “Get some rest, then. And hey-if you ever feel like you need someone to talk to, I can send Eddie over. He’s a little morally questionable, sure, but when it comes to his work, he’s actually pretty damn good.”
Cameron couldn’t help but laugh. “If Eddie heard how you described him, I doubt he’d be flattered.”
Bradley adjusted his glasses without missing a beat. “I’m just stating facts.”
Cameron raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
Bradley stood, grabbing his jacket. “Get some rest. Let me know if you need anything.”
She nodded, watching him leave.
As Bradley stepped out of the building and descended in the elevator, the moment he reached the courtyard, he saw Austin.
Sitting alone on a bench directly in his path, Austin looked calm, collected-backed by Vincent and four bodyguards standing respectfully behind him. The whole setup screamed control and power.
Bradley came to a stop right in front of him, his tone level and unreadable. “Waiting for me?”
Austin didn’t answer. Instead, he looked to Vincent and said, “Have them back off about 300 feet.”
Vincent hesitated. “Sir…”
Austin’s voice dropped cold and sharp. “Did I stutter?”
Vincent immediately obeyed, gesturing for the bodyguards to follow him. Still, they lingered just far enough to monitor the situation.
Though it was late, the neighborhood lights kept everything bright and clear. The two stood face to face under a lamp post.
Bradley glanced up, lips curling slightly. “Feels good, doesn’t it? Being the guy in charge.”
Austin ignored the jab. “You finished talking with Cam?”
Bradley nodded. “As you can see.”
Austin’s voice hardened. “You feeling pretty proud of yourself, huh?”,
Bradley didn’t flinch. “Is that what it looks like to you?”
Austin scoffed, “Bradley, you and Cam are just roommates. I’ve been through life-and-death with him. You really think you can compare to that?”
Bradley’s smile didn’t fade. “Is that how you’re comforting yourself?”
Austin’s expression darkened. Bradley, as always, stayed perfectly composed.
“I’m not comforting myself,” Austin said coldly. “I’m telling you the truth.”
Bradley gave a calm nod. “Noted. You and Cameron have a life-and-death bond. Anything else you’d like to say?”
Austin blinked.
‘That’s it?’
He expected Bradley to get defensive. To pry. to challenge the claim.
Instead, the guy barely reacted.
He stared at Bradley, trying to provoke something. “Bradley, I’m Cameron’s best friend. And I’d like to think I’m his best friend too.” th??l
Bradley offered a mild smile. “Hope it works out for you,”
Then he turned and walked away without another word.
Austin’s jaw tightened.
Bradley’s indifference was infuriating. It was like throwing a punch and hitting air.
Austin already hadn’t been in a great mood, but now his face was stone cold.
‘Bradley thinks he can take Cam from me? Not a chance.’
Vincent and the others returned quickly once Bradley was gone.
“Sir, are you alright?” Vincent asked cautiously.
Austin snapped, “Do I look like I’m not?” Vincent frowned at Bradley’s retreating figure. “Was it him? Want me to handle it?”
Austin paused and then looked at Vincent. His voice dropped to a near-whisper.
“Handle it?”
‘Bradley? If I wanted him gone, he’d be gone. Simple as that.’
A bitter smirk tugged at his mouth. “No need.”
He pulled out his phone and sent a message to Xander.
