From Villain to Virtual Sweetheart: The Fake Heir's Grand Scheme(BL)-Chapter 609: The Guest List (part four/ Leo)

Inside the McKays’ home, Leo stood beside his brother Luca, deep in thought. In front of them stood Liana Shannon and a lawyer.

Leo had no idea how the situation had come to this.

The contradictions crashed into each other until his head hurt. He looked at them with pure confusion and suspicion.

He had already made up his mind to reject their offers when he caught his brother, Luca, mumbling something.

"Thank god they came on time. I was this close to tying his hands and feet."

Leo had turned his head to his brother, eyes narrowing. "What did you just say?"

Luca froze.

Then Leo said politely to Liana. "Excuse me, I need a moment."

Liana nodded, sitting down without question.

Leo dragged Luca to his room. The moment the door closed, Leo grabbed Luca by the collar and demanded.

"Spill it. Who are they?"

Luca had averted his eyes, lips pressed tightly together, not saying anything.

"Who is it?" Leo pressed. "Is this one of the older brother connections? Are they related to the military? Or is it entirely something else?"

Luca shook his head. "No, Seth is still on a mission."

"Then who?" Leo snapped. "What did you do? You knew exactly that they were coming today."

Silence. Leo’s chest tightened. He shook Luca. "If you don’t tell me, I won’t sign with them."

Luca got frustrated, rushed to make him accept the contract. "No! Are you nuts? You would throw away a chance like this?"

Leo had hardened his expression, showing his stand. He stepped back, releasing Luca’s collar.

Leo continued, rambling as the frustration took over. And then in a hurry, he had spilled the beans. "Damn it. I even got beaten because of you. Fuck, if he hears you rejected it, he will kill me!"

Leo caught it. That person was a man, who knew Leo and Luca, had decided to help them. But he had a fiery temper, beating people...

The description made him pause. His eyes widened. "Don’t tell me..." His voice dropped. "Fool! You went to him?"

Luca flinched at being caught. His guilty demeanour made Leo sure. "Fuck! Why?" he burst out. "Why would you go to him? I have already caused him enough trouble! I can take care of my own mess! There was no need to involve him again..."

"Really?" Luca interrupted him. "So your way of handling things was to sacrifice your career and destroy yourself?"

Leo shut up instantly.

"Do you know what he said when he heard about this?" Luca said, stepping closer.

Leo swallowed. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

"He cursed you for being stupid," Luca continued. "Said he had gone through to such lengths to save your sorry ass for you to step willingly to that terrible company again?"

Leo rubbed his face, feeling both delight and shame. Delight, knowing Micah had remembered him, cared enough to step in. Shame as he had let down his expectation.

"You listen to me," Luca said, pointing toward the door. "You will go out there. You’ll sign that damn contract and make money for him. We are so indebted to him. Stop being foolish and act like a mature person."

Leo opened his mouth, hesitated. "Did he say anything else?"

"No. Just don’t blubber his name outside. He didn’t want anything to do with us." Luca said. "And honestly...I get why." he looked at the pictures on the walls. "Get rid of them. This would disgrace him. This isn’t something you’d want to show him."

Luca left him after shaking his head.

Leo’s face turned pink from shame. He knew it was wrong of him to collect Micah’s pictures... but he couldn’t help it. He wanted to see him, to get close to him. But there was no way...

Yeah. There was now. If he rose high enough, he might have a chance to stand beside Micah.

Had Micah gone out of his way to open a company just for him... didn’t that mean Micah had cared about him? Favour him even?

So what was he debating? Delaying?

Leo had stepped out and signed the contract.

Not long after that all the rumours had been cleared and his manager was sentenced, Twilight stock had hit rock bottom.

Leo felt his heart flutter. Micah had done so much for him.

Even if it wasn’t love, Leo was content. It meant there was room for him to advance.

With time and sincerity, Leo was sure he could seize Micah’s heart in no time.

Leo’s reflection in the van window blinked. He straightened slightly. Tonight was an important day. The company had arranged for him to start his comeback with this explosive event.

This wasn’t an event just anyone could attend. Micah had surely pulled some strings behind the scenes.

He swore he wouldn’t mess it up, and rise to the occasion.

"Ready?" Liana asked.

Leo bobbed his head, firm and confidant.

The door slid open with a soft mechanical sound, and cool night air immediately rushed inside. Leo reached up to smooth the front of his jacket, fingers lingering for a brief second longer than necessary, grounding himself. There was no longer the confused, cornered man from weeks ago.

He stepped down from the van, polished shoes touching the pavement. Camera flashes erupted instantly, sharp white bursts cutting through the dark like lightning. The noise followed a split second later, shutters clicking rapidly, overlapping voices calling his name.

"Leo! Over hear!"

"Look this way!"

"Mr Leo, a comment please!"

His manager stepped out behind him, calm and composed. The moment she came into view, the shouts got louder and more excited.

Leo’s eyes flickered. The greater the hype, the easier it would be for him to dominate the headlines. He wasn’t one bit displeased by her appearance. She wasn’t stealing his thunder, it was the opposite. She was amplifying it.

Liana Shannon was the symbol of how much Micah cared about him. He wanted to shout, Look, everyone! This is a sign of affection from the person he loved.

Even though Micah was still not realising it himself.