hapter 335


    Cameron stroked Pearl''s head. "Don''t worry, I can take care of you for now." Pearl let out a contented growl before settling back onto the sun-warmed grass. "It''s Pearl''s fortunate to have you," Bradley smiled.


    If Pearl had stayed with Samuel, it would have been reduced to a mere tool for violence. And once Samuel got into trouble, Pearl''s fate would have been sealed. But with Cameron, that wasn''t going to happen.


    But with Cameron, that wasn''t going to happen.


    Cameron was straightforward. Her connections were the roommates from Room 316.


    Cameron shrugged slightly. "It''s just fate."


    That fateful day, she could have chosen to put Pearl down. But Pearl was no more responsible for Samuel''s crimes than a sword would be for its wielder''s murders. Life, in all its forms, deserved preservation.


    They were halfway through barbecue when Bradley''s phone buzzed.


    It was a WhatsApp message from Elijah: [Hey Brad, where are you? You''re not home?]


    Elijah had bought a house in Noble Vista partly because Cameron and Bradley lived there. But now, Cameron didn''te back.


    A familiar loneliness crept over Elijah. His parents had always been busy since his childhood. He and his sister were basically raised by the butter.


    His sister had gone abroad for high school. Most of the time, it was just Elijah at home. Even with servants everywhere, he still felt alone.


    There were days when the only way to see his parents was to go to the hospital. And even then, they barely had time to chat before rushing off again.


    The past two weeks since moving to Noble Vista had actually been pretty good for Elijah. Being around Cameron made him feel rxed. Even when Xander was being annoying, it was somehow nice. But that happiness vanished so quickly.


    Elijah had spent the entire day reading in the vi, feeling bored and lonely. He should have been used to this kind of life, but Cameron''s sudden absence hit harder than expected. It was so weird.


    Bradley put down his fork and replied: [Yeah. What''s up, Eli?]


    Elijah replied almost immediately: [Just bored. You and Cameron aren''t around anymore.]


    Bradley was surprised, thinking, ''What? Elijah felt bored? Wasn''t he always buried in textbooks?''


    Bradley chuckled, ncing at Cameron, “It seems that everyone gets bored without you at Noble Vista."


    Bradley had been busyst week, but both Elijah and Xander were too


    preupied to bother him. Cameron was gone, and suddenly, they remembered Bradley''s existence.


    Cameron nced at Bradley''s screen. "It''s Elijah?"/


    She thought, ''We haven''t known each other for yery long. How did they usually spend their weekends before this?''


    Bradley nodded, smiling, "I bet Austin is bored too."


    Austin is


    Cameron shook her head. "Austin isn''t just bored. He''s having a rough time at Fraser Vi."


    Bradley nodded, not pressing further.


    14


    Cameron didn''t offer more details either,


    Bradley replied to Elijah: [You can go out and explore if you''re bored. The night view outside Noble Vista is actually nice. I''m tied up right now do yo tomorrow at school.]


    Elijah: [So you haven''t seen Cameron either?]


    Bradley stared at the message. Then he burst outughing and said to Cameron,


    "Eli is just using me to get info on you. Shall I tell him?”


    He didn''t mind Elijah, who always kept boundaries. It wasn''t a problem if he came


    over.


    Cameron shrugged. "If you''re fine with it, I don''t mind."