-Cameron was about to rest when the received a text hom beste.
Austin (Cameren, guess where
Holding her phone, she realized they hadn''t spoken since the SAT
Cameron: Are you at Noble Vists? Did you go looking for me?)
It was past 11 PM. Surely Austin wouldn''t show up there without informing her.
Austin: (No.]
Cameron: Then where 7)
Austin: At my ce.
Cameron: At Fraser Vi? it''s sote. Aren''t you going to bed?
Austin [Sorry, Cameron. I forgot about the 8-hour time difference. It''s almost
midnight where you are.)
Cameron: Are you abroad?
Austin: [Yes]
Cameron: It''s good to travel after the SAT.]
She knew Austin''s situation in the Fraser family was tough.
Austin:Cameron, I''ll be away for a while. Let''s meet at the graduation ceremony.]
Austin nned to keep his secret for now, wanting to surprise herter.
Cameron: Okay. Have a good time.]
Austin: It''ste. Good night, Cameron.]
Cameron: [Alright. See you soon.
She put down her phone, turned off the light, and fell asleep.
While Cameron slept, someone else tossed and turned in bed, unable to drift off.
Xander irritably climbed out of bed and flopped back down, staring at the ornate crystal chandelier above. He took several deep breaths
It had been days-Cameron hadn''t sent a si
He wondered whether she was mad at him. He regretted being impulsive with the dress. Maybe it had made her ufortable
Xander was so regretful and med Tyrell endlessly, convinced his friend''s terrible idea had driven her away. Now, Tyrell wouldn''t even answer his calls.
He wished he''d never given her that dress. Now, Cameron ignored him, and he had no excuse to reach out.
In the dead of night, Xander buried his fage in his pillow and groaned, finally waking Logan and Gwen.
Gwen pulled him out from under the pi?ow "Ramiler, what''s wrong! Are you hurt?"
Xander pointed to his chest. "Here"
Owen panicked. "Logan, call the family doctort
"Mom Xander stopped her "it''s a bestache What can a doctor do
Only Cameron could heal this pain
Logan asked, "How did this start
Given knew ander better. After staring at her son, she asked, "xander, are you in love? Did you breaki
Xander said, "Ne
He hadn''t even started dating yel. Cameren''s Indifference proved that it was Xander''s one sided loom for her
Logan and Gwen exchanged a look and were sure that Xander was hiding a romance,
Gwen said gently. "Kander, we know something''s going on. Talk to us, maybe we can help?
"Really?" Xander perked up.
Logan said, "We''ve been around the block more than you."
Just thinking about Cameron''s rejection made Xander''s chest ache
Gwen said gently, "Tell us."
Xander stared at the floor. "I like a girl. I took her to dinner and gave her a dress
the other day. She refused it, so I threw it in the trash"
Logan and Gwen froze.
Gwen swatted Xander. "You have your father''s stubborn pride."
Xander looked up. "What do you mean?"
Gwen said, "Your ego is too big. How can you chase someone like that?"
Logan interjected, "Girls don''t need "chasing"
Gwen shot him a look. "Not everyone was
like
ΠΕ
Logan rolled his eyes. They''d fallen for each other naturally, unlike guys who pursue uninterested girls.
Xander grabbed Gwen''s arm. "Mom, tell me how to win her over."
Gwen said,
"You need boldness and sensitivity."
Xander frowned. "What does that mean?"
Gwen said, "When she rejected you, did she just not like you, or the ph, or was
she just being shy?"
Kander suddenly lit up, leaping out of bed. "Mom, I get it!"
Cameron definitely didn''t hate him. She must have refused the dress out of shyness or because it was too much.
Someone as stubborn as Cameron wouldn''t ept gifts easily.
His meed instedly lined. Xander ushered his parents nut. "Thanks, Mom, Dad, I
get it now Go back to bed. Goodnight-
Gwen protested at the door, "I haven''t linidari
xander said, "Tunderstand your print, Mom"
Logan pulled Gwen away. "Leave him be. He''s an adult let him figure it out. No need for us to meddle"
Gwen sighed. "You''re right"
Once the door closed, Xander grabbed his phone to text Cameron, then checked the time.
It was toote. She''d be asleep.
Even if he tested her now, she probably wouldn''t see it. He''d wait until morning.
In a VIP ward of a private hospital in Fiora; Beth sat by the hospital bed, gating at Eric with maternal affection. "Eric, are you really okay? if you are, f Lake Simon back home"
Simon sat quietly by the side, focused on drawing with a sketchpad
Eric still had white gauze wrapped around his head and a cast on his right leg. Lying in bed, his face was ruddy yet his voice remained weak. "Mom, I''m really fine. Given Simon''s special situation, you should go back. Brad is enough," said Eric.
Bradley sat nearby, silently ncing at him. He''d noticed that Eric had been subtly introducing his female friends to him these past few days, even tryin to matchmake him with some of them.
Bradley thought Eric had misunderstood. If these beauties were introduced to Eddie, his brother would surely wee them, but Bradley had r
interest in them.
He''d just turned adult and genuinely had no mind for dating
Beth said, "Brad has his own life too. He just finished the SAT and hasn''t even rested for two days."
Beth was kind-hearted, always considering others. That was why Eric dared not tell her the truth or involve her in his charade
Bradley shook his head. "Mom, I''m okay. Taking care of Eric isn''t tifing it''s like a break, You and Simon go back. handle things here."
Beth asked, "But isn''t thew firm busy?"
Bradley replied, "There are other colleagues at the firm. Eric is more important"
Eric smiled. "Mom, I''m truly not seriously injured. I just need to rest and recover slowly"
Beth suggested, "Then why not go home to recover!!
Hearing this, Eric immediately shook his head. "No, I don''t want to go back"
if he returned to their home country, Bradley would follow, and all his efforts would
be in vain.
Eric added, "I have final exams soon. I can''t miss them, or this whole semester will be wasted."
Beth sighed. “Exams mean nothingpared to your health."
Eric found himself at a loss for words.
Bradley said, "Mom, don''t persuade him anymore. I''ll stay here with Eric. You go back."
21:50 Wed, 4 Jun
Eventually, Beth left with Simon
After Bradley say them off at the airport, Eric let out a faint sigh of relief.
When Bradley returned, he found a new person in Ele''s ward. That was a young wont with short golden hair, tall and tender, moding a coni au mere nodded at Bradley when they met.
"Brad, you''re back. Did Mom and Simon board the Eric observed Bradley''s reaction sulitly
This girl''s style was very close to Cameron''s-simr height, hairstyle, and even personality. Eric was stire Bradley wouldn''t be indifferent this time
Bradley nodded politely at the short haired girl and said, "They''re on the ne
Eric smiled. "Brad, let me introduce her to you. This is my friend. She has a cool personality-really great
Bradley nodded again and looked at Eric. "Eric, you have so many friends, and they''re all female."
Eric was momentarily speechless.
Bradley adjusted his gold rimmed sses. "Eric, you''ve introduced me to no less
than ten fernale friends. What''s your intention?"
Eric froze. Smart as he was, Bradley had guessed his n.
Since the cat was out of the bag, Eric decided to be straightforward.
After exchanging a few words with the girl, she turned and left.
The spacious ward was now left with only Eric and Bradley
Eric sat up straight in bed and stared at Bradley. "Brad, what do you think my
intentionis?"
Bradley said, "How would I know?"
Eric said, "You''ve guessed it, haven''t you? I''ll tell you. I want to set you up with a
girlfriend."
Bradley frowned. "Eric, I didn''t expect you to idle that much
For Bradley, introducing a girlfriend to him was pointless.
Eric shook his head seriously. "No, I''m busy."
Bradley said, "If you''re busy, why do you have time to set me
he up?
Eric said, “Brad, I need to ask you something, and you must answer truthfully."
Bradley rarely saw Eric so serious. He nodded earnestly. "Okay, go ahead."
Eric asked, "Brad....
Do you lik
like Cameron?"