Skyler''s eyes lit up. "Dad, you mean


    Mark''s face remained cold, "This whole mess started because of that kid


    Cameron. I''m going to make him pay."


    Skyler grinned instantly. "It had to be Cameron who got Elijah to turn on us! He totally set this up."


    She''d been dying to teach Cameron a lesson for ages.


    Now that Mark was stepping in? She believed Cameron was


    finished.


    After dinner, Cameron and Elijah waited by the curb to


    catch


    ride.


    62


    秘


    The night was calm and breezy, city lights flickering across the water.


    Cameron''s bangs danced in the early summer wind, casting a soft shadow over


    her eyes.


    Elijah looked over and said, "It''s still early. Want to jog home? It''ll be a good workout."


    Cameron considered for a second and then nodded. "Sure."


    A faint smile tugged at Elijah''s lips.


    They ran along the riverside path, heading toward Noble Vista.


    Cameron matched her pace to Elijah''s, running steadily and quietly alongside him.


    Elijah nced at the glimmering water. "The city looks nice at night."


    "Yeah," Cameron said softly, "it''s beautiful.”


    He turned to her. "Have a dream school yet?"


    "Not really," she said.


    "What about a major?"


    Cameron thought for a moment. "Medicine."


    4


    She figured if she was going to start a pharmaceuticalpany, she should at least look like she knew what she was doing.


    And she did know-technically-but she needed credentials to back it up.


    Elijah raised a brow. "Didn''t peg you for the medical type."


    Cameron just gave him a nomittal smile.


    "What about you?" she asked casually.


    "I''ll probably double major. Medicine and business,” Elijah replied.


    Cameron shot him a curious nce. “You''re good at math. Ever think of doing something in that direction?"


    He shook his head. "I''ll need to take over thepany eventually."


    She nodded in understanding.


    Not everyone born into power got to choose freely.


    Elijah added, “Who knows? We might end up at the same university.”


    Maybe even the same program. Same dorm.


    Cameronughed. "Maybe."


    She didn''t really care either way.


    They kept running, stride for stride, in perfect sync along the quiet waterfront.


    As they neared Noble Vista, Elijah slowed a little, falling behind so he could watch Cameron ahead of him.


    By the time they reached the entrance, both of them came to a stop, catching their breath.


    Elijah lived in a neighboring vi now-he''d moved in that week.


    He turned to Cameron and asked, "Can Ie by tomorrow to study again?"


    "Sure," she said with a smile.


    He gave azy wave. "See you then."


    Back home, Cameron showered and stepped out of the bathroom, drying her damp hair when her phone lit up.


    Austin: [Cam, sorry to bother you, but...would it be okay if I crash at your ce tonight?]


    Cameron blinked.


    ''Why would Austine to my ce?''


    She sent a message back while drying her hair one-handed. Cameron: [Why do you need to stay over? What happened?]


    Out of everyone in the dorm, she''d spent the least amount of time with Austin.


    If something had happened, wouldn''t he go to Bradley or someone he knew better?


    She didn''t hear back right away. Just when she thought he might''ve changed his mind, her phone buzzed again.


    Austin: [Got kicked out.]


    Cameron froze, eyes narrowing at the screen.


    Her mind immediately shed back to the bruise on Austin''s facest weekend-


    the red mark that looked suspiciously like a p.


    She frowned. Cameron: [Where are you now?]