apter 263


    (+20)


    Right before Austin left for school that afternoon, he just casually asked if he could get an apartment at Noble Vista. All he wanted was to be Cameron''s neighbor.


    He only had such a tiny, almostughably small wish. But for that, he got pped hard across the face.


    Ever since Austin was a kid, that person had treated him like a thorn in their side. He never dared to hope for anything


    more.


    Even with millions of followers on TikTok, he didn''t dare take a single ad to make money for himself.


    Because the moment that person found out he could stand on his own, they''d crush him without hesitation.


    For eighteen years, he''d kept his head down, always making himself seem insignificant. He was always on edge, walking on eggshells, swallowing his pride and always giving in.


    And today, just for voicing the tiniest hope he had, he got pped and screamed at for over ten minutes.


    Austin clenched his fists, swearing that one day, he''d make them pay for every bit of what they did to him.


    *****


    Meanwhile, Cameron was walking downstairs, slipping her phone into her pocket. She''d caught a glimpse of Austin''s face earlier, and it looked like whoever pped him didn''t hold back.


    She could tell he''d tried to cover it up, but it was still red and swollen. That seemed like a pretty serious injury.


    Cameron had sensed from the start that Austin was hiding many secrets. But she''d always stuck to her rule of not getting involved in other people''s business, so she looked the other way.


    Still, seeing Austin hurt like that hit a nerve. In her previous life, she''d been beaten up by her father in Wace Manor too.


    Every time it happened, Cameron was terrified someone would notice what had happened to her.


    Maybe it was just that feeling of shared pain, Cameron could understand exactly how Austin felt.


    But this was his own battle, and no one could fight it for him. No one could save him if he couldn''t find the strength to stand up for himself.


    Just like no one had saved her, all that had been left was a tragic ending.


    When Cameron returned to the ssroom, Elijah had already arrived a few minutes earlier. He greeted her, "You''re here."


    Cameron nodded. "Yeah."


    *****


    That night, Cameron headed straight back to Room 316. While she was washing up, the school forumpletely blew up.


    Someone started a thread: [Breaking news! Amelia''s ex-fiancé, Cameron Wace, is actually not straight!]


    Three photos were attached to the post, and all three showed Cameron being supported by a guy with his face blurred out. The two of them looked super intimate with each another.


    The photos were captured in the hotel lobby, in the elevator, and right outside the hotel room door, respectively.


    Honestly, the evidence looked pretty solid. The post didn''t just have photos. There was a whole story to it too.


    16:46 Wed, 21 May MO


    Chap