Chapter 73 Didn't She Hook up with a Rich Guy?
It was winter break, and the school was dead quiet 'cause most of the students were off on vacation.
The security guard spotted her hanging around the gate and gave her the once-over. "You here to see a teacher or something? The university's on break, you know."
Seniors still had some extra classes, so there were a few folks around.
Before Camilla could say anything, he waved her in and cleared his throat. "Go on, but keep it down. Don't wanna bug the seniors."
Camilla thought, 'Yeah, silence is golden.'
She wasn't there to see any teacher, so she just wandered around the playground a bit. As she was about to bounce, she passed by the school's honor display case.
And there it was—her own photo.
Underneath it, the text read: [Camilla, Admitted to the Biology Department of Harmony College.]
The wind made her eyes water, so she turned her head away.
Leaves were swirling around in a little whirlwind. It had been sunny, but suddenly, the sky got all gloomy.
Camilla raised her arm to block the wind and was about to leave when she heard someone shout, "Alistair."
She looked up and, sure enough, it was Alistair!
She remembered he mentioned yesterday he'd be at the school today to drop off test papers for the seniors.
And there he was.
"Alistair, you're here early! Aren't you busy?"
The one greeting him was a female teacher around Alistair's age, Isla Hill.
Camilla kinda remembered her; she lived in the faculty housing too, just not in the same building.
She taught physics and was in the same teaching group as Alistair. Back then, Alistair taught the top class, and she taught the regular class.
So, Camilla never had her as a teacher, but her daughter, Sarah Hill, was Camilla's classmate.
"Hey," Alistair greeted with a smile. "Not too busy at home."
"What?Camilla isn't coming back this year either?"
"She came back," Alistair started to say, but Isla cut him off, "You know, it's really something. She went to Imperial City for college and changed completely. She doesn't even care about her family anymore."
Alistair tried to explain, "Actually, Camilla..."
"No need to explain, I get it. It's a shame, such a good girl, and now she's taking shortcuts like those frivolous girls."
Alistair's smile faded a bit. "Who said Camilla isn't on the right path?"
Isla's smile got a bit awkward. She didn't think and just blurted it out in front of Alistair.
But she thought, 'What's with Alistair's look?
'I'm not making this up! Camilla going to Imperial City and not coming back is a fact!
'She didn't even fake her dropout from grad school!
'And there are rumors that Camilla hooked up with a rich guy and became his mistress, with plenty of evidence to back it up!
'There has to be some truth to it; otherwise, why would people say it? Were they slandering Camilla?'
"Alistair, I get how you feel, and I feel for you. Such an excellent daughter, and she turned bad just like that. Honestly, you shouldn't have let her go to Harmony College. If she had stayed local, it would've been easier to keep an eye on her. Why'd she have to go so far away? Now look, the bird's flown the coop, and you and your wife are left holding the bag."
Alistair's face was like a storm cloud. "Isla, Camilla's a good kid. Whatever you've heard, just zip it! Because it's all crap! It's slander! Not cool for a teacher to spread that junk."
With that, Alistair stormed off, his back practically sizzling with anger.
Isla rolled her eyes. "Yeah, right. A good kid? Give me a break! She's a disgrace to the school."
She thought, 'Back then, Alistair was so smug.
'He had a daughter who aced every subject and won competitions left and right, famous all over the place.
'He'd always brag about Camilla at every meeting, grinning like a fool.
'And now what?
'So what if she got into Harmony College?
'In the end, she became some rich guy's plaything!'
Camilla had ducked behind the display case halfway through the convo. She couldn't even imagine what Alistair's face looked like hearing all that trash. He was such a straight-laced, reputation-conscious guy!
She didn't even wanna think about how crushed Alistair would be if he knew she was there and heard everything.
So, Camilla just hid.
Alistair handed the materials to the senior teachers and then left.
Just as he reached the school gate.
"Dad!"
"Camilla? What are you doing here?"
Camilla said, "Just wandering around and ended up here."
"I see. Looks like the weather's turning, might rain soon. Don't listen to your mom; let's get home."
"Okay." Camilla hopped on the back seat of his bike.
"One, two, three!" Alistair pedaled hard, and the bike took off.
"Dad, I'm sorry."
"Hmm? Why the sudden apology?"
"I haven't come back to see you and Mom for years."
She wanted to say, 'I've made you endure so much crap and rumors.'
Alistair replied, "What are you talking about? You're back now, and that's what counts."
"You should've gone in to take a look earlier; your photo's still in the display case!"
"Really?"
"And your competition certificates are there too. Remember your first physics competition? I asked if you were nervous, and what did you say?"
"What did I say? I forgot."
"You said, 'I feel nothing.'"
"Really? Was I that cocky?"
"You were so cocky in high school! You were unstoppable with those grades!"
"Oh, you're making me blush."
They both laughed.
On the way back, it started to rain.
The rain mixed with snow, soaking their clothes and chilling them to the bone.
When they reached the door, Camilla wasn't too wet 'cause she had a coat on.
But Alistair's arm was half-soaked, and he sneezed twice.
Worried he'd catch a cold, Camilla jumped off the bike, quickly opened the door, and rushed inside.
Just as she grabbed a towel, she heard a voice talking to Alistair, and it wasn't quiet.
"Is that really Camilla?! Isn't she in Imperial City with some rich guy!"
At that moment, Camilla was genuinely pissed.
She thought they'd never stop gossiping!
Camilla took a deep breath, put on a big smile, and walked over. "Anouk, what are you talking about?"
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