Chapter 520
Chapter 520
Cameron stared after Xander in bewilderment. She thought, ‘Am I not clear enough? There’s no point in him wasting his time on me!
Before she could say anything more, Xander suddenly turned and ran away, as if fearing hearing another rejection.
Cameron was speechless, thinking, ‘Alright then. Nothing more to say. We’ll barely see each other anyway. Once I get my driver’s license, I’ll move. He’ll never find me.‘
Xander sprinted all the way to Noble Vista’s entrance before stopping. Though Cameron was long out of sight, he still turned to stare down the empty path, his usually bright features shadowed with uncharacteristic melancholy.
Cameron rejected him again. It was the first time in his 18 years of life that someone had ever outrightly turned Xander down.
Xander thought, ‘Am I really that lacking in her eyes? Many girls adore me, yet the one person I like remains indifferent.‘
He lingered until the night grew still, the stream of passing cars thinning to nothing. Eventually, he turned and walked away.
Early the next morning, Cameron headed back to Silvermoss Castle.
Elijah messaged her after waking up, asking about her plans for the day.
Cameron replied that she wasn’t at Noble Vista.
Elijah hesitated. Though curiosity gnawed at him, he resisted pressing further. No one liked being interrogated.
Elijah knew when to hold back. He did wonder why Xander hadn’t harassed Cameron today. He noted with quiet relief. The reason didn’t matter.
The following day, Cameron and Elijah commuted to work together as usual.
Elijah had managed his emotions perfectly. Their interactions held the same easy rhythm as before. And Cameron remained none the wiser about his feelings.
Bradley had been swamped with work lately, leaving early and returning late. He hadn’t even realized Elijah had moved back to Noble Vista.
Not until the day before SAT scores were released, June 23rd, did Bradley finally wrap up at the law firm early. He drove home only to encounter an ostentatious motorcade outside Noble Vista’s entrance.
A fleet of luxury cars stretched down the block, flanked by robust bodyguards. The center Rolls–Royce’s window was down. Bradley barely glanced at it
but didn’t see anyone.
Wealthy displays were common, though rarely this brazen.
He simply drove straight into the neighborhood without a second thought.
Meanwhile, Cameron was packing up at work when Austin’s message arrived.
Austin: [Cam, where are you? I’m back.}
Cameron: [Perfect timing for tomorrow’s scores.]
1/5
Chapter 520
Austin had intended to return as soon as possible, but complications delayed him, Fortunately, he managed to make it back today.
Austin: [I’m outside Noble Vista now. You home?]
Cameron: [Still at the office.]
Austin: [Oh, I forgot you have that summer job. Off soon? Where are you? I’ll pick you up.]
Cameron: [I’m about to leave. Need something?]
Austin: [Cam, there’s actually something I need your help with.]
Cameron: [What is it?]
Austin: [Could you come to Fraser Villa with me?]
Cameron paused. She thought, ‘Same as last time, Is he too scared to go alone?‘
After considering Austin’s difficult family situation, she relented.
Cameron: [Head to your place first and wait for me outside. I’ll take a cab over soon.]
Austin: [I’m waiting for you at Noble Vista. We’ll go together.]
Cameron: [Fine.]
At clock–out, she texted Elijah: [Austin’s back. I need to return to Noble Vista now. Are you coming or eating at the cafeteria first?]
Elijah’s reply was instant: [I’ll wait downstairs.]
When Cameron came downstairs, Elijah was already waiting, his expression as calm as ever.
They rode bikes back to Noble Vista together.
As they pedaled home, Elijah asked casually, “Did Austin invite you for dinner?”
Cameron shook her head. “No, he wants me to walk him home.”
Elijah raised an eyebrow. “He wants you to walk him home? Seriously?”
He wondered, ‘Austin isn’t a kid. What does he want to do?‘
Cameron nodded. “Yeah, things are a bit complicated in his family.”
Elijah’s grip tightened on the handlebars. He thought, ‘How complicated can it be? Cameron shows Austin exceptional patience. Is it a pity? Just because Austin is frail?‘
The questions multiplied, but Elijah voiced none of them..
The two arrived at Noble Vista’s entrance by bicycle. As Cameron locked the bike, her gaze flickered over the line of luxury vehicles parked along the
road.
She barely glanced at them before she pulled out her phone and messaged Austin: [I’m back. Where are you?]
Elijah glanced at the cars with mild curiosity, though unimpressed. His family garage housed even more extravagant models. Driving had never appealed to him, so he hadn’t bothered getting a license yet.
A bodyguard opened the rear door of the black Rolls–Royce.
2/5
Chapter 520
An immaculate leather shoe stepped onto the pavement. The tailored black trousers were clearly expensive. The deceptively simple white shirt was no ordinary brand.
Austin emerged, his signature golden hair catching the sunset’s glow. With each step, his well–trained bodyguards followed in perfect sync.
Cameron spotted him immediately. She thought, raising an eyebrow, ‘So this spectacle is Austin’s doing? With an entourage like this, more extravagant than Samuel’s, why would he need my company?‘
Elijah’s typically impassive face betrayed his surprise. He stared at Austin as he thought, ‘Is this some kind of wealth display? Trying to impress Cameron with his wealth? He brought many cars and guards. Humph, it’s excessively flashy!’
“Cam!” Austin beamed, his mixed–race features radiant. However, the moment he saw Elijah, his smile faltered for a split second before he recovered smoothly.
Austin couldn’t help thinking, ‘Has Elijah been with Cam this whole time? Where is Xander?
‘I sent him WhatsApp messages, but he never replied. Worried about causing the opposite effect, I stopped reaching out again. But did he not get involved this time?‘
Though questions swirled, Austin maintained perfect composure as he approached. “Eli, you are here, too.” He greeted Elijah.
Elijah gave a slight nod, then turned his gaze back to Cameron.
Expressionless, Cameron cut to the chase. “With this security team, surely you don’t need me anymore?”
Austin shook his head. “Cam, I still need you to come with me.”
Cameron remained silent.
“You already agreed,” Austin pressed gently.
Cameron hesitated.
Elijah finally interjected, “Why insist on Cameron accompanying you?”
Austin said with a polite smile, “That’s between Cam and me.” Outwardly composed, but inwardly, he sneered.
Austin thought, ‘Why has Elijah been glued to Cam all this time? It can’t possibly be gaming all day. He had had enough of his advantage during his school years. Now that we’ve graduated, why is he still sticking around Cam like this?‘
Elijah glanced at Austin before turning to Cameron. “Do you want to go?”
After a pause, Cameron nodded. “I’ll be back soon, Elijah.” A promise was a promise.
-Austin’s face lit up. “Bye, Eli.”
The brightness of that smile needled Elijah as he turned toward Noble Vista. After a few steps, he suddenly spun back. “Austin,” he said coolly, “your illness cured?”
Austin froze momentarily. “What do you mean, Eli?”
Austin thought, ‘My self–inflicted weakness? Humph, that boy who tolerated the Fraser family’s abuse is gone. The illness died with him.”
“You’ve stopped coughing,” Elijah said flatly. Without waiting for a response, he walked away
A faint, almost imperceptible smile appeared on Austin’s face. He couldn’t wait to let them all meet the new him.
Turning to Cameron, Austin resumed his old demeanor–warm, kind, and almost reverent. “Shall we, Cam?”
3/5
Chapter 520
Cameron nodded and walked up to the car with him.
Vincent moved to open the door, but Austin stepped forward and opened it himself. “After you.”
“Thanks.” Cameron got in the car.
The Rolls–Royce’s back seat was spacious. The luxurious interior radiated elegance and wealth from every corner.
She sat impassively, her expression unreadable.
Austin studied her reaction with barely concealed anticipation. He thought, ‘Shouldn’t Cam be curious or ask questions?”
Yet minutes passed, and Cameron didn’t say a single word.
Finally, Austin broke first. “Nothing you want to ask me, Cam?”
Cameron turned to him. “No.”
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: She's the Campus Prince