*seriously, you don''t have to," Cameron said quickly. "I already got what learned. I''m not taking more than what''s mine?


    Xander looked at her like she''d grown a second head. "Why not? You''re broke enough to be working a summer job,"


    Logan and Gwen jumped in, clearly embarrassed. "Cam, please don''t be so polite with us," Gwen said gently. "We''ve heard a little about your fittesten - home. This is really the least we can do."


    Cameron stood up. "Mr. and Mrs. Murphy, thank you for your hospitality. Dinner was lovely. I''ve got something to take care of, so I''ll be heading out non-


    She left without another word. No matter how they tried, Logan and Gwen couldn''t get her to ept the check.


    Gwen stared down at the slip of paper in her hand and then looked toward the door where Cameron had disappeared. "Cam really is a good kid."


    Xander grinned proudly. "Told you."


    Logan turned to his son. "Xan, when you start college, make friends with people like Cam-smart, capable, good character."


    "Got it, Dad," Xander said with a smirk.


    Logan and Gwen sat down again and started discussing how they could still find a way to get the money to Cameron. It wasn''t just gratitude. It was heartfelt.


    And the truth was, Cameron really could use the help.


    A few dayster, Cameron saw a news report about a major power shift in the Fraser family. Austin had officially taken over as the new head.


    She texted him.


    Cameron: [Congrattions, Austin.]


    That kind of victory had to feel satisfying.


    Austin replied a few minutester. Austin: [Thanks, Cam. Just took over. It''s been hectic. I''lle find you once things settle down.]


    After Cameron''s exam results were released, the media started calling nonstop. Everyone wanted an interview.


    She turned them all down.


    Still, to help William with some publicity, she reluctantly agreed to a feature interview, sharing how she''d gone from "hopeless student" to a perfect SAT score in just three months.


    That summer, the name Cameron was everywhere in Viremont.


    She kept working at thepany with Elijah. On weekends, Austin would swing by to


    see her.


    He even offered her a position at Fraser Group-with a massive sry and even the promise of shares.


    Cameron turned him down t.


    Bradley stayed buried in work at thew firm..


    Xander, on the other hand, kept showing up at her door with the excuse of delivering that check.


    But Cameron never took it. She already got what the earned. That was wrought. She wasn''t greedy.


    By mid summer, August had just begun, and the heat was already suffocating, Cameron finally had a break in her schedule time to get her driver? license.


    The sun zed down even in the early morning.


    Inside the DMV''s waiting area, the air buzzed with noise and bodies, but Cameron sat quietly,pletely out of ce in the chaos.


    With those sharply refined features and an androgynous, striking face, people couldn''t help but nce his way again and again.


    Helen walked in, her white sneakers squeaking against the floor. Her eyes scanned the room once, and she immediately spotted Cameron.


    There was no mistaking him, that Lance face. He stood out-just likest time.


    She pushed her sunsses up to her head, a yful grin curling on her lips as she strolled over without hesitation.


    There was an empty seat beside Cameron. She took it.


    "Hey there, handsome. What are the odds we''d run into each other again?" she said cheerfully, giving a small wave.


    Cameron turned and looked at her, taking a second to ce the face.


    Then, with a small nod, she said, "Hi."


    Helen beamed. "You seriously look just like someone in my family."


    Cameron answered calmly, "Simr doesn''t mean rted."


    Last time they met, she''d gone on and on about how much he resembled someone close to her.


    For a moment, Cameron had wondered, ''Could she actually be rted to me?''


    But that was just a passing thought. Nothing more.


    Family? Martin and Heidi had raised her for eighteen years without the faintest warmth. Even if her real rtives were out there somewhere, it wasn''t like they''d ever shared a moment of real connection.


    There was no bond. Nothing to be nostalgic about.


    Her sudden presence wouldn''t be a blessing-it''d probably be a burden.


    Her mother had lost everything after giving birth to a stillborn child and then started a new life and a new family.


    Cameron showing up now would only feel like a mistake.


    She was doing just fine on her own. She didn''t need moreplications.


    "But the resemnce is uncanny," Helen said again, still smiling.


    Cameron stood up without a word and moved to another seat across the room. Helen''s smile faltered.


    ''Wow. Harsh. I''m cute and friendly. That was ice-cold.''


    Still, she didn''t take it personally.


    Instead, she grabbed her phone, angled it just right, and snapped a quick photo of Cameron.


    Then she sent it to Lance.


    Helen: [Look who I ran into again, Lancel Doesn''t he look exactly like you?)


    But the message was delivered with no response.


    Helen nced back at Cameron.


    Cameron''s name had just been called. She got up and headed in to take the test.


    Helen murmured under her breath, “He''s so good-looking. And honestly? He seems way more gentle than Lance,"


    Before the words were even fully out of her mouth, her phone buzzed. It was Lance.


    Startled, Helen fumbled her phone and nearly dropped it.


    She scrambled to pick it up and quickly answered. "Lance! I almost cracked my screen!"


    "Where did you see him?" Lance asked, skipping any pleasantries.


    His voice, usually calm and indifferent, had a faint trace of urgency to it.


    The photo had caught him off guard.


    He''d always assumed Helen was exaggerating.


    But now? This wasn''t just simr. This was too simr.


    ''Is it even possible for twopletely unrted people to look so much alike?''


    Helen answered, "DMV. I''m here for my driving test today. And seriously, could you at least pretend to care about my life for once?"


    "I''ming over," Lance said.


    Helen''s jaw dropped. "You''reing here? You want to see that pretty boy?"


    "Yes."


    He didn''t even know why. The moment he saw the photo, instinct kicked in.


    He needed to see him in person.


    "Alright then," Helen said brightly. "I''ll wait for you here."


    She hung up and quickly sent him the location.


    Then she hummed to herself while waiting for her turn.


    Before she went in, she gave her bodyguards instructions-Once Cameron came


    out, don''t let him leave. Lance was on the way, and they needed them


    stall him.


    So when Cameron finished her test and stepped back into the lobby, four bodyguards surrounded her immediately.


    Cameron''s brow furrowed slightly. "Something you need?"


    The lead bodyguard stepped forward. "Sorry to bother you, sir. Ms. Yates asked


    us to wait for you. She just wants a quick word. She''s stilt inside Exkur her test,


    but she''ll be out shortly."


    Cameron immediately knew it was Helen''s doing. “Not interested," she said,


    already turning to leave.


    But the four didn''t move. "Sir, we mean no harm. Ms. Yates just wants to have a conversation, that''s all."


    "Move," Cameron said tly, her patience gone.