Martin, Heidi, and Milena stood there, jaws dropped in shock. They wondered, ''What the hell is going on? Samuel just stormed here to smash up our house-for no reason whatsoever?''


    He took in the sight of the three, disheveled and shaken, then surveyed the wreckage around him. He gave a satisfied nod, turned on his heel, and swaggered out the door.


    Heidi copsed to the floor, clutching Milena in her arms. Sobs racked her body. "My poor Millie. Martin, we have to call the cops."


    "Are you crazy?" Martin barked, his voice cracking with desperation. "Do you have any idea who the Frasers are? We can''t mess with them!"


    The Wace family was already on the brink. They couldn''t afford to cross the Young family, let alone the powerful Fraser family.


    Heidi pointed at Milena''s bruised face, tears streaming down her own. "Look at what they''ve done! We''re just going to let them get away with this?"


    Martin''s shoulders slumped. Milena''s bruised face also distressed him. He wanted to fight back, but what could he do? In this cutthroat world, the weak got crushed.


    Everything had been fine once. When did it all start falling apart?


    Ever since Cameron refused to marry Amelia. If she''d just agreed to the surgery and had gone through with the engagement, the Wace family would be on top by now.


    Martin thought, ''It''s all that ungrateful girl''s fault!''


    "Mom, Dad," Milena finally let out a wail now that Samuel was gone. "I can''t take this anymore!"


    Heidi pulled her closer, rocking her gently. "Shh, baby. It''s over now. Don''t say such things."


    Milena seethed inside, ''Why wasn''t Cameron here? If she had been, she''d be the one lying beaten on the floor right now.''


    Cameron, Austin, and Bradley headed back to Langford Academy together. They grabbed dinner at the cafeteria and made it to ss just in time. The three split up in front of the school building.


    Austin locked eyes with Cameron and said, sounding a little sad, "Cam, I wish we were in the same ss."


    Austin was also in the STEM program, but while he was in ss 13, Senior Year, which did regr-level courses, Cameron was in ss 15 with Elijah, taking AP sses.


    Speechless, Cameron thought, ''Yeah, no thanks.''


    Bradley just stared, looking confused.


    Bradley peered at Austin''s exotic face through his gold-rimmed sses. “Since when are you so clingy to Cameron?" he asked.


    Austinughed it off. "Just kidding, Brad."


    Bradley gave him a look like he knew something, then turned to look at Cameron.


    "I''m gonna head to ss," Cameron said. She turned and walked


    away.


    Bradley and Austin watched her leave.


    Then Bradley asked, "Hey, Austin, are you feeling better these days?"


    00


    Lately, Austin had been showing up at school way more often. Usually, he''d skip half the month, but now he seemed to be around all the ame


    Bradley wondered, ''Is it because of Cameron?'' The thought made him frown a little.


    Austin grinned. "Thanks, Brad. I''m doing way better. If you''re good, I''ll head to ss."


    Bradley gave a quick nod. As Austin walked away, Bradley''s eyes stayed fixed on his back, lost in thought.


    When Cameron reached the ssroom door, someone practically tackled her.


    "Cameron, it took you long enough!" It was Xander, who''d stormed off earlier that morning. His usually ruggedly handsome face was now pale with


    worry.


    Cameron frowned. "What''s wrong?"


    Xander yanked her to the side. "Your family''s in trouble."


    She shook his hand off. "Keep your hands to yourself, okay? Just spit it out."


    Xander was almost hopping with urgency. "Are you kidding? This is serious! Samuel trashed your ce, and Milena, your parents-they''re all hurt!"


    AD


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