hapter


    Cameron stopped in her tracks. Looking closer, she realized Bradley''s car was parked right in front of hers.


    It was barely past six. The sun hadn''t set yet, and most guests hadn''t arrived.


    She wondered, ''Bradley''s here? Is he here for Kate''s birthday party, or is he waiting for me? This is way too early!


    Cameron bent down and peered through the car window. Sure enough, Bradley was sitting in the driver''s seat. She knocked on the ss.


    Bradley turned his head and saw Cameron. A gentle smile immediately spread across his handsome face.


    Bradley quickly unbuckled his seatbelt and stepped out of the car. His eyes locked on Cameron, and amazement flickered across his face, "Cam, you look absolutely stunning tonight."


    Cameron hadn''t gone overboard with her look tonight. She just wore some light makeup out of courtesy and a simple ck dress that kept things understated.


    But her tall, graceful figure made even the most basic ck dress look incredible. Her legs were straight and gorgeous-the kind that made people stop and stare.


    Cameron smiled, "Thanks. Brad, are you here for Mrs. Chapman''s birthday party too?"


    "Me?" Bradley shook his head. "Mrs. Chapman and I aren''t close." If anyone from his family was going, it would be his parents.


    Cameron looked surprised. "So you came here to wait for me?"


    Bradley nodded with a smile. "I told you I''d drive you home."


    Cameron looked at him helplessly. "But it''s only a little after six. The party won''t end for hours."


    "That''s fine. I''m not busy. I''ll wait for you," Bradley said. Of course, saying he wasn''t busy was aplete lie. Bradley just wanted toe early. Even being near Cameron for a little longer felt worth it.


    Cameron could tell he was lying. "Yourw firm just opened. How could you not be swamped?"


    "Work''s never really done anyway. I can handle it tomorrow just as well," Bradley replied.


    Cameron was speechless. "Brad, here''s what we''ll do," she said gently. "Drive somewhere and find a coffee shop to hang out in. I''ll text you when the party''s winding down."


    He couldn''t just sit around waiting for hours. At least grabbing coffee would give him something to do.


    Bradley caught the concern in her eyes and smiled, "Alright, you go ahead inside. I''ll drive off right now."


    "Okay then." Cameron kept ncing back as she walked into Chapman Manor.


    But Bradley didn''t drive away. He settled back into his car instead, deciding to wait for Cameron. This way, he''d be the first person she''d see when she


    came out.


    Cameron clicked across the marble floor of Chapman Manor in her heels and handed her gift to the butler Edwin.


    Matthew and Kate were dressed to the nines, working the room and greeting their guests. When they spotted Cameron, both of them froze for a moment.


    They remembered how cold they''d been to Cameron over the marriage situation with Amelia, and now they felt pretty ashamed about it.


    The fact that Cameron had actually shown up to Kate''s birthday party meant the world to Kate,


    Kate said, "Cam, wee! You''re incredible these days. That leukemia drug you developed is going to save so many lives. You look stunning tonights


    Cameron exchanged a few pleasantries with them, then made her way inside.


    Amelia was probably swamped with hostess duties tonight, so Cameron found herself a quiet corner to settle into.


    At the same time, a ck Maybach slowly pulled up to the gates of Chapman Manor. A bodyguard opened the door, and Xander''s ck leather shoes touched the ground.


    Xander wore a ck shirt and suit; his presence radiated calm professionalism. The icy expression on his handsome face seemed oddly out of ce against the celebration''s festive atmosphere.


    "Xander, you made it. Oh my, you''ve changed so much." Kate rushed over, her voice filled


    Xander''s gaze flicked to his assistant behind him. Xander''s assistant immediately stepped forward. "Mrs. Chapman, this is a birthday gift Mr. Murphy prepared for you. Happy birthday."


    Kate epted the gift graciously. "Thank you so much. Xander, pleasee in." The current Xander had be much moreposed and mature.


    Kate looked at him withplete satisfaction—if the Murphy and Chapman families could unite through marriage, it would be a perfect match to strengthen both sides.


    Matthew looked at Xander with newfound respect. "Xander,e on, let me show you in."


    Xander''s tone remained cool. "Mr. Chapman, I used to y here all the time as a kid. I know my way around. You don''t need to worry about me."


    Matthew let out a heartyugh. "Ha! Right, right! You and Amy were always thick as thieves back then."


    Xander gave a brief nod and headed inside.


    Matthew turned to Kate. "That kid''spletely transformed. The Murphy family had handed everything


    Kate smiled, "I wonder if he and Amy might hit it off."


    "Why wouldn''t they? They were inseparable as kids," Matthew replied.


    Kate''s expression warmed with hope. "If Amy and Xander got together, that would be wonderful."


    Matthew nodded in agreement. "They''d make a perfect match."


    over to him now. He''s going ces."


    As Xander stepped into Chapman Manor''s garden, people immediately swarmed him with business cards.


    But his sharp-eyed assistant blocked them all. "Sorry, this is Mr. Murphy''s private time. Please understand."


    Theworking hopefuls slunk away, embarrassed.


    They''d been dying to meet Xander. They usually wouldn''t even qualify for a meeting with him. But they knew better than to push their luck and risk ticking him off, so they reluctantly backed down.


    Xander slipped one hand into his pocket, his eyes scanning the crowd for Cameron from the moment he''d walked in.


    He''d been back for over a month now, but he hadn''t made any move to contact Cameron. He couldn''t think of a good ezruse to ask her out.


    Kate''s birthday invitation had been sitting on his desk for weeks. Originally, Xander hadn''t nned oning, but he rushed over when he identally found out Cameron would be here..


    They hadn''t seen each other in seven whole years. Xander wondered, ''Will she still think I''m immature, shallow, and hot-tempered when we meet again?


    After searching for a while, he spotted Cameron behind a pine tree, ying with a cat. It was a ragdoll cat that belonged to Amelia.


    Cameron was teasing it yfully; surprisingly, the cat didn''t seem shy around her.


    Xander walked over slowly, his breathing bing lighter with each step. Finally, he stopped about three feet away from Cameron.


    Seven years apart, and Cameron looked wonderful tonight. She was so beautiful that his heart raced just like it had seven years ago.


    Whenever Cameron dressed up, she could effortlessly stir his calm waters- whether it was seven years ago or now.


    But Xander''s face revealed nothing. He''d learned to keep his emotionspletely


    in check.


    Cameron sensed someone watching her. She turned around and saw Xander standing nearby.


    "Xander." The name slipped out before she could stop herself. She straightened up, and the ragdoll cat immediately scampered away.


    Xander''s eyes met Cameron''s. "It''s me. Long time no see."


    By now, darkness had settled over the evening, but the garden lights zed bright


    as daylight. Cameron studied the cool expression on Xander''s face and couldn''t help thinking he''d definitely matured a lot-his whole frame had filled out considerably, too.


    Back in high school, he''d worked out religiously and already had that strong, lean build, but now, seven yearster, it was even more pronounced.


    Even through his ck shirt, she could make out the defined lines of his chest muscles. Those broad shoulders tapering to a narrow waist gave him that protective, reassuring presence.


    "Long time no see," Cameron replied casually, like she was chatting with any old ssmate. "You here for Mrs. Chapman''s birthday party too?"


    Xander nodded. "Yeah, our families go way back."


    Cameron gave a slight nod in acknowledgment.


    Xander slipped one hand into his pocket and studied Cameron quietly, his gaze


    sweeping the area behind her. "Where''s Brad?"


    Seven years ago, Cameron and Bradley had been together. Xander figured that after all this time, they should be married with kids by now.


    After returning the country, Xander had considered looking into Cameron''s current situation. Still, in the end, he''d decided against it.


    "Xander!" Amelia called out.


    Cameron was about to speak when Amelia clicked over in her heels. Amelia looked at Xander with surprise. "My mom said you''d matured a lot, but! didn''t expect it to be true. You look so much more handsome now."


    Xander nodded slightly. "Thanks."


    Amelia turned to Cameron. "Cam, you look gorgeous tonight, too. Wait, you''re


    both wearing ck. Are those couple outfits?"


    Xander frowned. "Amelia, don''t talk nonsense."


    Amelia looked at him with surprise. "What, do you have a girlfriend now?"


    Xander shook his head. "I''m single." As he spoke, his eyes lingered on Cameron''s face for several seconds.


    Cameron was the one who wasn''t avable. So they shouldn''t be making jokes


    like that.


    Ameliaughed, "What a coincidence. I''m single, Cam''s single too. Looks like we''ve all be warriors in the single lits hatte


    Xander''s gaze snapped to Cameron, intensity shing in his eyes. "You''re single?


    You and Brad broke up?"


    Cameron stayed silent.


    Amelia immediately jumped in. "What are you talking about? Cam was never with Bradley in the first ce. How could you break up if you were never together?" Xander looked stunned. ''Cameron was never with Bradley? Then what was that Instagram post Austin made seven years ago all about?"


    Whatever happened seven years ago didn''t matter. What mattered was right now. ''Cameron''s still single. Do I still have a chance?'' he thought to himself.


    Xander''s expression grewplicated as he nced at Cameron, but his face returned to its usual neutral mask within moments. He''d long since mastered the art of keeping his emotions hidden.


    Amelia looked between Cameron and Xander. "You''re both single-why don''t you two give it a shot?"


    Xander slowly turned toward Cameron, a hint of amusement creeping into his


    eyes.


    Cameron finally spoke up, "Thanks a lot, Amelia. Are you really that bored? Since


    when did you be a matchmaker?"


    Amelia grinned, "Starting right now."


    Cameron rolled her eyes.


    "Well, I''ll let you two catch up. Don''t want to interrupt anything." Amelia read the


    room perfectly and made her exit.


    She wanted to give Cameron and Xander some alone time. Xander was a decent


    guy, and Amelia thought they''d make a good match if Cameron gave him


    a chance.


    Xander stared at Cameron quietly, his heart beating a little faster. "Are you single?"


    Cameron shook her head. "Not for much longer."


    Xander looked at her with confusion written all over his face.


    "Someone''s been pursuing me, and I''m nning to say yes," Cameron exined.


    Xander''s expression fell. ''So I came back toote?''


    Cameron gave him a slight nod, then turned and walked away, her heels clicking against the floor.


    Xander watched her retreating figure but stayed rooted to the spot. He didn''t


    follow.


    Once again, he''d been rejected without even getting a real chance.


    Xander let out a quiet sigh. "Cameron, I hope you''ll be happy."


    He wasn''t that naive young man anymore. If Cameron didn''t like him, she didn''t


    want him—no amount of persistence would change that. He would watch her from afar and wish her well.


    Kate''s birthday party tonight was buzzing with energy. Many young, sessful


    men were drawn to Amelia''s beauty and elegance. Matthew and Kate had their


    hearts set on Xander as a match for her.


    -60


    But Xander didn''t spare Amelia so much as a nce. That was when Matthew


    and Kate realized they''d been wishful thinking. With so many promising young


    men at the party, they still had many options. Amelia kept busy mingling with guests while Cameron deliberately kept her


    distance from Xander. Xander maintained his boundaries, too, making no move to approach her.


    Cameron said goodbye to the Chapman family when the party ended and left the


    manor.


    Xander followed her out anyway. "Cameron." He called her name at the Chapman


    Manor gates.


    His face was unreadable, his eyes fixed on her with an expression she couldn''t


    quite decipher.


    "Let me drive you home. It''s gettingte," he offered. Cameron shook her head. "Thanks, but someone''s waiting for me."


    Disappointment flickered across Xander''s features. He just wanted to end his


    youth properly, nothing more than that.


    As they walked toward the street together, Xander spotted Bradley standing beside a Mercedes.


    Xander narrowed his eyes. ''Bradley. It''s been seven years.''


    Bradley wasn''t the inexperienced kid from Xander''s memories anymore. He wore


    a crisp white shirt, gold-rimmed sses perched on his nose, and an expensive watch gleamed on his wrist-every inch the sessful professional.


    It looked like he''d be awyer after all. It must feel incredible to achieve his dreams.


    Xavier''s thoughts raced. ''Bradley''s here he must be waiting for Cameron. So


    Bradley is the guy Cameron mentioned who''s been pursuing her. After all this time, it''s still him.''


    Xander couldn''t help but smile to himself.


    Cameron had always treated Bradley differently from the rest of them. She''d shower Bradley with praise and was closest to him.


    Looking back now, her behavior around Bradley was affectionate. But Xavier''s younger self had been too oblivious and self-absorbed to notice.


    Yearster, reflecting on it all, he had to admit defeat gracefully.


    "Cam." Bradley''s face lit up as he called out to her.


    The next second, he noticed Xander standing behind Cameron. Bradley looked


    genuinely surprised to see Xander there too. Xander seemed much more


    "Xander." Bradley walked over to both of them.


    "Brad." Xander gave a slight nod.


    "You here for the birthday party too?" Bradley asked. Despite not seeing each


    other for years, they chatted like old friends.


    Xander nodded. "Yeah. Brad, why aren''t you going in?"


    "I''m not here for the birthday party," Bradley replied. "I''m waiting to drive Cam


    home."


    A faint smile touched Xander''s lips as he nodded slightly. "Alright, you two take


    care."


    With that, Xander turned and walked toward his Maybach.


    1408 Sun,


    As the car pulled away, Xander sat in the back seat and nced through the


    rearview mirror. He watched Bradley open the passenger door, gently protecting


    Cameron''s head as she settled into the


    "Bradley and Cameron looked perfect together. Xander


    slowly looked away and closed his eyes. All he could do now was wish them well.


    His youth had finallye to an end.