"Paternity test? What paternity test?" Elijah''s forehead creased with confusion.


    Heidi froze, suddenly realizing she''d said too much.


    Martin, however, didn''t seem concerned. The fact that Cameron wasn''t his daughter wasn''t exactly a state secret.


    "Cameron isn''t our biological child," Martin stated tly


    The revtion hit like a bomb. Bradley, Elijah, Austin, and Xander all stared inplete shock.


    Xander lunged forward, getting right in Martin''s face. "What? Cameron isn''t your biological child? Then Milena isn''t yours either, right?"


    It made sense. Cameron and Milena looked practically identical. They had to be biological siblings.


    "Who said Millie isn''t mine?" Heidi''s o


    eyes narrowed.


    Martin tugged at her arm. "Stop wasting time with them. Let''s go


    As they tried to leave, Bradley blocked their path again. "What did you do to Cameron?


    "We''re the victims here," Martin shot back. "You should be asking what Cameron did to us."


    “But Cameron''s missing.” Elijah pointed out, "while you two are standing right here, totally fine."


    Heidi rolled her eyes. "She ran off on her own. How is that our problem?"


    "She probably hid herself away after finding out she wasn''t your biological child, Austin said. "The shock must have been too much. Why would you drop this bomb on her right before SATs? Did you even think about how she''d feel?"


    "She''s the one who insisted on the paternity test," Heidi fired back. "How is that our bout?"


    "Enough of this." Martin grunted. "We''re leaving"


    This time, Bradley didn''t stop them


    Austin was right. Cameron must have hidden herself away. Finding out she was adopted hit Cameron hard. It was the kind of news that would break anyone. So she did what most people would do-she disappeared for a while.


    There was no point in pressing Martin and Heidi further. They wouldn''t be any help.


    In a weird way, Bradley felt relieved. Martin and Heidi were absolute nightmares. Cameron was better off without parents like them.


    But Cameron probably needed a lot of time to process all his negative emotions.


    "Cameron must be wrecked right now, Bradley thought.


    "Brad, we''re just letting them go!" Elijah frowned.


    Bradley nodded. "Let''s stop searching Cameron feeds some space."


    Elijah reluctantly agreed.


    Austin still looked worried. "Where do you think Cam went?"


    "Where else?" Xander said. "Back to Noble VistaTM


    "I want to go check on him," Austin insisted.


    Xander rolled his eyes. "Didn''t you hear Brad? The little punk needs space."


    And space was exactly what Cameron needed. If Xander had found out he wasn''t


    his parents'' biological child, he would''ve lost his mind.


    Xander headed back to Tiana''s staff quarters while Bradley and the others returned to their dorm.


    Without Cameron, the room felt weirdly empty and quiet, even though it was just one person missing. The three of them got ready for bed in silence.


    Bradley grabbed his phone and texted Eddie.


    Bradley: [Eddie, how''s your psychology ss going?


    Eddie: I''m at the top of the ss, obviously. Why the random question?


    Bradley: Just wanted to ask you something.]


    Eddie: [Shoot.]


    Bradley: [What happens when someone suddenly finds out they''re not their parents'' biological child?!


    Eddie: (Who isn''t biological? You? Brad, are you saying you''re adopted?] Bradley was speechless.


    Bradley: [Can you just give me a serious answer?]


    Eddie: Chill, I''m just messing with you. Finding out you''re not biological? Obviously they''d be shocked, hurt, sad, and probably really desperate to find their real parents.]


    Bradley: [So as his friend, what''s the most effective way tofort him?I