Filed to story: That Campus Prince Is a Girl
“Thank you.” Cameron rested her head against Jacqueline’s shoulder, warmth flooding her chest.
This unconditional love was the balrn for every wound. All the unfair treatment she had suffered in the Wallace family and all the quiet envy she had felt toward Milena faded to nothing at that moment.
As for Austin? She couldn’t care less.
Helen walked Austin out in silence. Once beyond Yates Manor’s gate, she stopped. “Leave, Austin.” Her tone was cold.
Austin turned, seeing her icy expression. He smiled bitterly, “You hate me now too, Helen?”
“Do I have a reason not to?” Helen snorted.
Austin froze. Moonlight carved shadows across his striking features, emotions warring beneath the surface. His lips parted slightly, but in the end, he didn’t say anything.
Helen’s words echoed in his mind. He thought, ‘Do I even deserve love? Back in the Fraser family, everyone hated me. At school, girls only cared about my looks.’
He strode forward blindly. After several steps, he turned around. “Helen, I’m sorry.”
Helen didn’t respond to Austin’s apology.
Seeing her silence, Austin turned and walked away.
She watched his back as he left and let out a deep, weary sigh.
Then she returned to Yates Manor.
In the living room, Cameron and the others were chatting and laughing as if nothing had happened. The mood was light and easy, completely at odds with the earlier tension. But Helen couldn’t pretend it hadn’t happened. She walked straight over to Cameron.
The conversation stopped the moment Helen approached. The four of them quieted in unspoken agreement.
Cameron looked up first and said, “Helen?”
“I’m sorry, Cam,” Helen said, locking eyes with her. “I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.”
Cameron shook her head. “Helen, it’s not your fault. Austin used you.”
Jacqueline chimed in, “You’re just too pure-hearted, Helen.”
Gavin added, “You’ve been sheltered your whole life.”
Before now, Helen had been the only girl in the family, doted on by everyone. She was kind, innocent, and unguarded, an easy target for someone like Austin.
Levi spoke next, “You can’t be that na?ve anymore. People outside the island aren’t like us.”
Before college, Helen had never even left the island. She had no idea how harsh the world could be.
Her gaze dropped. “I was stupid,” she murmured.
‘Let’s be honest. Austin’s face was too damn convincing. That’s what tripped me up.’
Cameron shook her head. “No, Helen. You weren’t stupid. Austin was just incredibly manipulative.”
She had once trusted Austin completely too. She saw something in him, his situation with the Fraser family reminded her of her own growing up in the Wallace family. That sense of familiarity made her open her heart without question.
And in return, he stabbed her in the back.
Austin had always been good at pretending.
Helen said softly, “Still, I caused all this. I’m sorry, Cam, I never meant to bring trouble to you.”
Cameron knew Helen felt terrible. She stood up and gave her shoulder a gentle pat. “I accept your apology, Helen.”
Helen pressed her lips together and nodded. “Thank you, Cam.”
Cameron stood and patted Helen’s shoulder.
Then Helen quietly walked out.
Jacqueline took Cameron’s hand, a little emotional. “You’re such a good kid.”
After all, it would’ve been understandable if Cameron had held a grudge. No one would’ve blamed her. But she hadn’t. Not even a little.
Cameron smiled. “You think I’m perfect, Mom.”
Jacqueline chuckled. “You kind of are.”
Levi added with a grin, “Of course she is. She’s my daughter.”
Gavin echoed without hesitation, “Cam, you’re flawless.”
Cameron laughed. “You guys are too much.”
It was getting late. After chatting a little longer, everyone went back to their rooms.
Cameron had just finished washing up when she saw a message from Bradley.
She sat down, still toweling her damp hair, and opened his text.
Bradley: [Are you asleep? I just got back from the lawyer’s. The house feels so empty. What are you up to? What’s Pearl doing?]
He’d also sent a photo of Pearl’s room.
It looked exactly the same as before, but without Pearl in it, it felt strangely hollow.
Cameron set the towel down and started typing.
Cameron: [Just got out of the shower. I’m about to go to bed. Brad, why’d you go back there? Isn’t it pretty far from your firm? Pearl’s probably asleep already.]
Bradley replied almost instantly.
Bradley: [I just wanted to see him. I didn’t even realize he wasn’t here until I pulled into the driveway. Then it hit me… that you took him with you. How’s he settling in at the new place?]
Right then, he was lying on the bed in the same room Cameron had once stayed in at the castle.
She’d been gone for a while now.
But as Bradley lay there, it felt like he could still catch faint traces of the “boy” who used to sleep here… like Cameron had never fully left.
#
Of course, Bradley hadn’t actually forgotten that Pearl was already staying with Cameron. That was just the excuse he used to strike up a conversation.
After sending the message, he didn’t get a response for quite a while.
‘Maybe he fell asleep already.’
Just as he was about to put his phone down, a new message came in.
It was a photo from Cameron.
In the dim lighting, Pearl was curled up fast asleep in his new room.
Cameron: [Pearl really likes his new home.]
A faint smile tugged at the corner of Bradley’s lips.
He’d only casually mentioned Pearl, but Cameron had gone out of his way to take a photo and send it. That had to mean something. He mattered to him, at least a little, right?
They chatted a bit more about Pearl before he shifted the topic.
Bradley: [I’ve had a bit of free time lately. Started reading some fiction and came across a novel that’s actually pretty good. Do you read much?]
He sent her the link.
Cameron clicked it out of curiosity, only to freeze a second later.
She remembered that the kinds of books Bradley usually read were either law-related or computer science texts. She’d genuinely been curious about what kind of fiction he was into.
What she didn’t expect… was a boys’ love novel.
BL?
Bradley was into this genre?
Cameron had read a little bit of everything over the years, BL included, but she never thought Bradley would recommend something like this to her.
She stared at the screen for a long moment before finally replying. Cameron: [It looks interesting. I’ll check it out when I have time.]
Bradley: [Do you usually read this kind of thing?]
