She's the Campus Prince

Cameron took a small sip of red wine. "You're that confident in yourself?"

Bradley also elegantly sipped his wine, looking at Cameron with serious eyes. "Cameron, you're the girl I've waited years to meet. I won't give up easily."

"Waited years?" Cameron looked back at him, her grip tightening slightly around her wine glass. "You haven't dated anyone all this time?"

Bradley shook his head honestly. "No."

When he was nineteen, he'd been hypnotized and lost all memories of Cameron.noveldrama

Over the years, Bradley had met many women. Some were exceptional, perfectly matched to him in every way. But he felt absolutely nothing,

He never told anyone about the hollow ache in his chest, like something vital had been torn away.

It wasn't until Cameron appeared and he learned about the hypnosis that Bradley finally understood what he'd lost. Seven years later, his heart skipped without warning when he saw Cameron again.

He couldn't help himself. When you love someone, even after years apart, those feelings don't just disappear. So seeing Cameron again still made his pulse race.

That was why he answered all her questions in the hotel restaurant, even though he usually kept his private life locked away.

"Oh." Cameron nodded casually, leaning back in her chair with lazy indifference. Bradley smiled as he watched her. "Cameron, can I ask you out?"

Cameron studied him quietly.

Seven years had sharpened Bradley's features, making him more striking than before. Behind those wire-rimmed glasses, his narrow eyes held intelligence and a fox-like cunning. He'd grown up.

Once, being with Bradley had felt so easy and natural to Cameron. He had always made her feel safe and secure. She hadn't understood why back then, but now she did.

Cameron didn't answer right away. After silence, she said, "What if I/said no?"

She thought, 'Would he lock her up again, just like before?'

Bradley hadn't expected her to refuse so quickly. He adjusted his wire-rimmed glasses. "Am I really that far off from what you're looking for in a partner?"

Cameron stayed quiet.

"Tell me what your standards are," Bradley continued. "I can work on it. I should be able to meet them."

"This time, when reject you, this is how you react?" Cameron asked.

Bradley caught the keyword. "You've rejected me before?"

"Yes."

Bradley's curiosity sparked. "How did I react then?"

Cameron just gave a slight, bitter smile and said nothing.

Bradley's brow furrowed. 'What else had happened between us?'

11:02 Sat 26 JOI

Eddie and Eric had told him the same thing he and Cameron used to be close. They were roommates at school, lived together at Hoble vale during breaks, and even raised a white tiger.

Bradley couldn't figure it out. 'What went wrong between us? Why does Cameron hate me now?'

When Cameron stayed quiet, Bradley tried again, his voice sincere. "Cameron, I'm really sorry I can't remember anything from before Coutof you give the

another chance?"

Cameron's eyes swept across the restaurant's carefully arranged decorations. Someone had put real thought into this the roses were beautiful.

Her gaze finally settled on Bradley's face. She stood up. "Brad, thanks for dinner tonight. It's getting late, and I should head home"

"What did you just call me?" Bradley's eyes widened in surprise. She'd called him Brad. That meant they'd been close before, close enough for

nicknames.

'Just how far did we get?' he wondered.

A small smile tugged at Cameron's lips. "Brad-isn't that what I've always called you?"

Bradley laughed, relieved. "Is it? Sorry, I really don't remember." He loved hearing her say his name like that.

In that moment, the distance between them seemed to shrink.

Cameron didn't say anything else. She picked up her purse and left her seat.

It really was getting late. Time to go home.

Bradley quickly caught up, maintaining a polite distance between them.

"Cameron, let me drive you home."

Cameron strolled toward the exit. "My place is pretty far." Her refusal was gentle but precise.

"How far?" Bradley asked, curious.

"I live on an island," Cameron said.

"An island?" Bradley's eyebrows lifted in surprise.

He'd heard about that island not far from Steerfall. The word was that it used to be completely private, closed to outsiders for years. Now it had become some kind of tourist destination.

Cameron nodded and stopped walking. "I have to drive to the dock, then take a ferry home."

"I'll take you," Bradley said.

"That's too much trouble."

Bradley insisted, "Cameron, it's late. A girl driving alone and then taking a boat home? I'd worry about you. Let me drive you."

Cameron thought for a moment. "Just to the dock?"

Bradley smiled. "Deal."

Any extra time he could spend with her was worth it.

Cameron and Bradley walked to the parking garage together and got into Bradley's car.

Bradley was still driving a Mercedes, but it wasn't the same. He opened the passenger door for her like a gentleman.

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"Thanks." Cameron slid into the seat.

Her eyes wandered around the car's interior. Everything was simple, and almost

no personal items were anywhere. People couldn't even tell what the owner

liked.

The familiar lemon scent still Ilingered in the air.

Cameron casually compared this car to the old one when something suddenly blocked her view. She looked up to find Bradley's sharp jawline night in

front of her.

Half his body was leaning over her. Cameron instinctively pressed her back

against the seat, feeling her heart speed up slightly.

Bradley quickly pulled the seatbelt across and buckled it for her.

Cameron had forgotten.

Bradley settled into his seat, but his eyes stayed on Cameron's face. His Adam's apple bobbed as he said quietly, "Cameron, you smell so good."

Cameron remained silent.

He'd said those exact words before. More than once. Seven years later, and he was still saying the same thing. But Cameron wasn't wearing any perfume. Bradley adjusted his wire-rimmed glasses. "Sorry, that might have been a bit sudden,!"

Cameron's hand grabbed the seatbelt. "Just drive. It's late."

Bradley started the car.

Cameron leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes. The familiar scent of lemon filled her breath-a smell she knew, one that calmed her.

While driving, Bradley glanced at her. "Need me to adjust the seat? The

passenger side can recline all the way."

"No." Cameron kept her eyes closed.

Bradley asked again, "What about the air conditioning? Are you cold?"

Cameron finally opened her eyes to look at him. Bradley had just turned his head toward her.

Their eyes met in the air between them.

Cameron's gaze was unreadable, while Bradley's held concern and questions.

But Bradley quickly looked away. He was driving. His attention needed to stay on the road.

Cameron said, "The temperature's fine. I want to sleep for a bit. Don't bother me." "Okay." Bradley turned off the soft background music.

The black sedan glided smoothly down the street. Bradley kept glancing at Cameron, who seemed to have fallen asleep. Every time he looked at her, his lips couldn't help but curve upward.

For seven years, his heart had felt empty.

Right now, he felt complete. His heart was filled with the girl beside him. Just driving her home brought him pure joy. He hadn't felt this happy in seven years-a happiness he couldn't contain.

Bradley drove while Cameron sat with her eyes closed, face turned toward the window. The car was so quiet that they could hear each other breathing. Over the past seven years, Cameron had spent most of her time in the lab, maybe seeing Elijah and Amelia a few times a year. All her energy went into

research.

Right now, she has actually been relaxed for once. Cameron thought she wouldn't

fall asleep, but she did.

Bradley pulled the car to a stop at the dock. He called out tentatively, "Cameron?"

There was no response.

Bradley stared at the car window, where Cameron's sleeping face was reflected in

the glass.

Her features were delicate and beautiful-when she'd been a boy, there had been something soft about her looks, and now as a girl, there was a hint of something strong and spirited. It was a flawless face.

Just watching her reflection in the window made his heart race. This was the girl he'd been searching for all along.

He'd met so many people, but never had a girl made his heart skip a beat after just a few encounters.

Bradley almost wished time would freeze, letting him watch Cameron sleep-even

that would be enough to make him feel complete.

But it was already nine at night, and Cameron still had to take the boat back to the

island.

By the time she got home, it would be really late.

So Bradley called out again. Cameron still didn't respond. She was sleeping

deeply. "Cameron, wake up." Bradley leaned closer to her. He raised his hand, hesitated momentarily, then gently placed his palm on Cameron's shoulder and gave her a light shake. "Cameron, we're here."

Cameron jolted awake and grabbed Bradley's hand, her fingers tightening instinctively with surprising strength.

"Ugh." Bradley winced and let out a muffled grunt, his brow furrowing from the

pain.

Cameron fully snapped back to reality when she saw who it was and quickly released his hand. "Sorry, Brad. Are you okay?"

Bradley shook his hand out, his face showing helpless resignation. "I'm fine."

"Sorry, I didn't know it was you," Cameron said.

Bradley shook his head slightly. "Didn't realize you were that strong."

The pain had been sharp, almost piercing.

"I only used about thirty percent of my strength," Cameron said.

Bradley fell silent. 'Am I really that weak?'

Cameron glanced out the window. "We're at the dock already."

Bradley nodded. "Yeah, we've been here for a bit.”

Cameron unbuckled her seatbelt. "Thanks for driving me back, Brad."

"My pleasure," Bradley replied.

Cameron gave a slight nod and pushed open the car door to leave, but Bradley

called out to her. "Cameron."

She turned back. "Yeah?"

"You're calling me Brad now, so if I keep using your full name, wouldn't that be too formal? How about I call you Cam?"

Cameron considered this and nodded. "Sure."

A smile spread across Bradley's face. "Cam, can I take you out tomorrow night?”

Cameron shook her head. "Toihorrow won't work."

"Already have plans or-

"I have plans." Cameron cut him off. "I'm going to my friend's mom's birthday

dinner."

Bradley grinned, "Then can I book the night after?"

"Brad, your law firm is in Steerfall. All this back-and-forth driving must be exhausting." Bradley's smile grew wider. "Cam, so you're worried about me, aren't you?"

Cameron gave him a noncommittal answer. "If that's how you want to see it." "Then I'll take it as you caring about me."

Cameron just smiled without saying anything.

Bradley watched the beautiful smile on her face and said, "Cam, I can tell you're not against me pursuing you, right?"

Cameron gripped the car door handle. "Brad, it's late. I need to go home." "Okay." Bradley nodded, then added, "Oh, Cam, I forgot to mention. I opened a

law firm in Viremont too, so you don't have to worry about me running

back and forth between cities."

Cameron looked surprised. "When?"

"I decided a few days after meeting you. After a month of preparation, it's almost

ready. The office is right across from your company in that building."

Cameron fell silent. She initially chose that location for her company because it was in the suburbs and had cheap rent.

Seven years later, the area had developed into a bustling district with heavy foot

traffic. For Bradley to get a law firm up and running there in just a month must have taken considerable effort.

Bradley waved. "Cam, can we exchange contact information?"

"Sure." Cameron gave him her phone number, picked up her bag, and walked

away.

Bradley watched Cameron board the ferry. Just as the ferry was about to depart, Bradley jumped on board. He bought a ticket from the conductor. Cameron stood on the second-floor deck, watching every move Bradley made below. 'What's he doing? Is his problem acting up again?'

She remained perfectly still on the deck, just watching. She could let the last time

slide. But if there was a next time, she and Bradley would be finished.

That was precisely why she hadn't told him how she felt yet-she needed to see if

he was still as obsessive as before..

The sea breeze lifted Cameron's shoulder-length hair, revealing her cold

expression.

But after Bradley boarded, he simply found a seat and sat down. He ordered a

drink and just sat there quietly.

With his striking looks and natural charm, young women didn't take long to approach him, but Bradley turned them all away with polite distance. Bradley pulled out his phone and sent Cameron a WhatsApp message. From her spot on the second floor, Cameron had found the perfect vantage point.

She could see everything Bradley did, but he couldn't see her. She

THUZ

fixed her eyes on him, ignoring her phone when it buzzed.

Bradley sent her another message. Cameron didn't respond to that

Bradley just sat there, gripping his phone, waiting for Cameron to reply.

AD