Filed to story: That Campus Prince Is a Girl
His face remained unreadable, but inside, a storm was raging.
He had to see Cameron.
He had to get that DNA test now.
He reached for his phone to call-but realized Edwin was still on the line.
“Sir? Are you alright? You’re scaring me a little…”
“I’m fine. Hanging up now,” Lance said and then ended the call without waiting for a reply.
He pulled up Cameron’s contact.
Before he could dial, a new message popped up.
Gavin: [Photo.]
Lance sent it over and then immediately called Gavin.
“Wow,” Gavin said after a moment. “Looks just like you. Maybe even better-looking.”
Lance shot him a look. ‘Is this really the time for that?’
“I asked Mr. Harlow. Cameron’s birthday is the same day Mom gave birth. Everything lines up. I’m going to see him. Want to come?”
After a pause, Gavin sounded just as shaken. “You’re going now? You’ve already got everything confirmed about him?”
“Yeah,” Lance said. “If you’re tied up, I can go alone.”
Gavin went quiet for a moment and then said, “I’ve got a meeting I can’t reschedule. Go first. I’ll catch up later.”
“Alright.”
Lance hung up and dialed Cameron immediately.
“Hello?” Cameron’s voice came through quickly.
“It’s Lance. We met an hour ago.”
His voice wasn’t nearly as cold as before.
“You need something? Finished digging through my life already?” Cameron asked dryly.
“I’m sorry, Cameron. I did look into you-“
“And now you’re sorry? How convenient,” Cameron cut in.
‘That sharp tongue. That iron will. He really is family.’
Thinking Cameron might actually be his little brother, Lance let out a quiet laugh.
“Let’s meet. In person.”
“No thanks,” Cameron said flatly.
“You’re not even curious why I want to talk to you?”
“Not in the slightest.”
Lance went quiet for a beat and then snapped, “Cameron, I need to see you. Right now. Immediately.”
“No thanks,” Cameron said flatly.
She hung up.
Lance stared at his phone in disbelief.
Cameron was back at Noble Vista by then.
She’d passed her driving test. Once the photo was taken, she’d finally have her license.
When Lance called, she brushed him off without much thought.
Her phone sat on the coffee table as she curled into the sofa.
‘Lance Yates. So that’s my real name, huh? Was that what the call was about-trying to take me back?’
But Cameron hadn’t made up her mind yet. She didn’t know if she even wanted to be a Yates.
She was fine on her own.
Going to Yates Manor, joining a family she’d never known-it didn’t sound comforting. It sounded alien.
For now, she’d rather leave things as they were.
An hour later, someone rang the doorbell.
Cameron assumed it was Elijah or the others. All of them-Elijah, Xander, Bradley, Austin-lived in Noble Vista now. They met up often.
Not much had changed since their days in Room 316.
But when she opened the door, it wasn’t one of them
It was him, the man who looked almost exactly like her.
Lance.
Cameron’s hand tightened on the doorknob. “How did you even get in here? I thought Noble Vista had security.”
Lance said calmly, “I own a unit here.”
‘Just never moved in.’
Cameron blinked. ‘Of course he does.’
Everyone around her seemed to own luxury homes. Meanwhile, she’d bought hers on a mountain of debt.
Lance stood at the door, posture formal. “May I come in?”
Cameron blinked. ‘Of course he does.’
If he really was her family… she supposed she owed him a few minutes.
“Come in.”
“Sorry for dropping by empty-handed,” Lance said as he stepped inside.
Cameron gave him a quick glance.
This morning he’d seemed cold, aloof, untouchable. Now, at least, he was polite.
She pointed to the couch, went to the kitchen to pour him a glass of water, and then sat down across from him. “Alright,” she said, voice steady. “Let’s get to the point.”
Lance’s eyes stayed locked on Cameron. “Do you know why I came to see you?”
Roughly,” Cameron replied.
“Then why don’t you tell me,” Lance sald.
“I’d rather not,” Cameron answered.
Lance paused, watching her. Then his lips curled faintly. “You’ve got quite the personality.”
Cameron didn’t respond.
“If you’d grown up in the Yates Manor,” La
“Noted,” Cameron said flatly. went on, “with that attitude, you would’ve gotten smacked around a lot.”
Lance tilted his head, trying to read her. “Are you always this quiet?”.
“I just don’t have anything to say to you.”
Lance was speechless.
“Lance,” Cameron said, her voice calm but firm, “you’ve come all this way. Let’s stop dancing around it. What do you actually want?”
“You already know, don’t you?” he said.
