From Villain to Virtual Sweetheart: The Fake Heir's Grand Scheme(BL)-Chapter 620: Public Displays of Misunderstanding

Micah clenched his jaw so hard his teeth ached. From the outside, he knew he probably still looked graceful, delicate even, standing in an ebony dress beside Clyde, posture relaxed, chin slightly lifted, but inside, he was seconds away from exploding. His fingers curled into the fabric at his side as he leaned closer to Clyde, lowering his voice until it was nothing more than breath against breath.

"What are you playing at?" Micah hissed, his lips barely moving. His eyes flicked toward Willow, who was laughing politely with another woman a short distance away. "Why are you deliberately getting on her nerves? Are you out of your mind?"

Clyde didn’t look the least bit guilty. If anything, he seemed amused. He tilted his head down, closing the distance further, and Micah felt the warm brush of Clyde’s breath against his ear.

"I was just making sure," Clyde murmured, voice low and steady, "that she understands you’re the only thing occupying my thoughts."

Micah stiffened. He forced his expression to remain pleasant, schooling his features with years of practised control. Slowly, he tilted his head and pretended to watch Willow instead, as if Clyde’s words hadn’t rattled him at all.

"Bullshit," Micah whispered back. "You were itching to brag. You wanted to tell her you followed me all the way to the south, met my grandmother, and inserted yourself into my family drama as if you belonged there."

Clyde’s lips curved into a faint smile. Without asking, he reached up and gently tucked a loose strand of Micah’s white hair behind his ear. The motion was slow, intimate, and far too natural. His fingertips brushed Micah’s skin just slightly longer than necessary.

"She should know I’m serious," Clyde replied calmly. "About you."

Micah’s composure cracked for half a second. He widened his eyes and turned sharply to glare at Clyde, lowering his voice even more.

"Hello?" Micah snapped. "I’m wearing a girl’s dress right now. What exactly do you think she’s going to conclude from this?"

Clyde’s gaze lingered on him, unbothered. "You can’t hide forever," he said quietly. "Not from her. Not from my family either. If you keep this farce going, they’ll think I was cheating. I don’t intend to give them that excuse."

His hand remained near Micah’s ear, thumb brushing lightly against the curve before he finally withdrew. The contact left Micah uncomfortably aware of his own heartbeat.

To anyone watching, they looked inseparable. Clyde’s body angled protectively toward Micah, his attention fully fixed on him. Micah, despite his irritation, remained close enough that their shoulders almost touched. Their voices were low, private, the kind of closeness that made it seem like the rest of the room had faded away.

Dean noticed. He had been watching them for a while now, though he hadn’t realised it at first. At some point, his attention had stopped drifting and settled fully on his uncle and the woman beside him. The way Clyde looked at Asena made Dean’s stomach twist.

That expression, Dean had never seen before.

Clyde had always been distant. Polite, composed, and detached. Even with them, his own nephews and nieces, there had always been a line, an invisible barrier. They were family, but not close. At best, acquaintances were bound by blood.

But now Clyde’s gaze softened every time it landed on Asena. His posture unconsciously angled toward her. His hand hovered near her, as if instinctively wanting to touch, to reassure. It was the look of someone deeply invested, deeply attached. Deeply in love.

Dean felt something ugly rise in his chest. Betrayal. Confusion. Anger. He remembered Aria’s crying eyes, how much she cared about Micah, her little brother. How could Uncle do something like that to him?

Wasn’t Clyde the one who had lectured them before? Hadn’t he firmly shut down every attempt to push him toward Asena, saying he was serious about Micah? Then what was this? Why did he look at Asena like she was the centre of his world?

Unable to hold back, Dean stepped forward.

"Uncle," Dean said, pitching his voice casual but deliberate, "I heard there’ll be antique cufflinks from a famous Italian designer up for auction tonight. I was thinking... they’d make a great gift for Micah. You know, considering everything that happened with his family." As he spoke, Dean’s eyes flicked to Asena’s face, studying her reaction carefully.

Micah’s heart skipped. Oh. So they knew. The fake and real young master scandal had spread wider than he’d thought. For a brief moment, anxiety flared, but it was quickly replaced by warmth. Dean hadn’t changed. He hadn’t distanced himself or spoken of Micah with pity or disdain. If anything, he was openly taking Micah’s side. Going against Clyde.

Clyde turned his head and looked at Micah, expression unreadable. "What do you think, dear?" he asked smoothly. "Do you think he’d like it?"

Dean, Jacklin, and Emile froze.

What? Why was he asking Asena? All three of them stared openly now, their expressions mirroring one another in stunned disbelief.

Did Asena know Micah? With the way Willow treated her, it was obvious Asena wasn’t part of the Ramsy family. That meant all their previous assumptions were wrong. Completely wrong.

And their thoughts took a sharp, horrifying turn. No. No way. They weren’t... right?

Micah felt his scalp prickle. He stepped hard on Clyde’s foot without warning.

Clyde didn’t react outwardly, but Micah felt the subtle shift in his balance.

This man was going to ruin everything. Micah had only wanted to mess with them a little, to let them stew in confusion, maybe enjoy himself at their expense. Not drag everyone’s reputation straight into disgrace.

He forced a laugh, high and light, deliberately girlish.

"Ah, you’re so bad," Micah said, batting his lashes and laughing theatrically. "Always trying to make me jealous."

He reached out and slapped Clyde’s arm playfully, the sound sharp enough to sell the act. Then he turned to Dean, smile bright and harmless.

"Can I see the catalogue?" Micah asked. "Maybe I’ll buy them."

Dean blinked. "For Micah?"

Micah laughed again. "Oh honey," he said, turning back to Clyde and patting his arm affectionately. "Your nephew is so funny."

Then, smoothly, he looked back at Dean. "I mean, for your uncle."

Dean stared at him, completely lost. Beside him, Jacklin let out a quiet sigh.

Dean was too impatient. Dragging Micah into the conversation like that, right in front of Asena. Their uncle clearly hadn’t intended to hide Micah’s existence from her at all. Otherwise, why would he talk about Micah so openly with Willow?

Jacklin decided it was time to intervene. The easiest solution was to change the subject. She turned toward Micah. "Asena," Jacklin said, voice gentle but firm, "have you left the group?"

Micah blinked, momentarily thrown off. "What group?"

Jacklin glanced past him toward Leo, who was chatting animatedly with a woman behind Emile.

Micah followed her gaze. Oh. That group. Majestic King. Leo’s fan WeChat group.

"No," Micah replied carefully. "I’ve just been busy. Did something happen?"

"Yes," Jacklin said. "We’re planning a gathering to celebrate Leo’s comeback. Everyone’s been asking where SugerPlumFairy went. They’re wondering why she hasn’t been online lately."

She smiled teasingly. "Don’t tell me you quit supporting him? He’d be heartbroken."

Clyde covered his mouth, hiding his chuckle with a cough. He had totally forgotten about Micah’s WeChat side account. SugerPlumFairyIsLeoWife. How could Micah name his account like that? It was too cringey!

Micah stiffened hearing the WeChat name, his face flushed and the secondhand embarrassment hit him. He opened his mouth, ready to say he was done, that he had other priorities now....

"Excuse me."

A familiar voice cut in.

Micah stiffened as Leo approached them, his expression curious, eyes fixed squarely on Micah’s face.

"Have we met before?" Leo asked slowly. "You look... familiar. It’s been bothering me all evening."

Emile sucked in a sharp breath and leaned toward Dean. "Damn," he whispered. "Is he brave or stupid? Is he seriously hitting on Asena in front of Uncle?"

Dean didn’t answer. He was too busy staring.

There was something unsettling about the way Leo looked at Asena, too focused, too intent.

Micah’s lips twitched. Before he could respond, Jacklin stepped in smoothly.

"You don’t remember?" she asked. "We visited you once after the scandal."

Leo frowned, thinking hard. "Oh... right. You’re one of my fans?"

His expression softened with guilt. "I’m sorry. I wasn’t in a good place back then."

Micah shook his head quickly. "It’s fine."

Under the cover of the conversation, he elbowed Clyde lightly and shot him a look.

Get me out of here.

Clyde didn’t like this either. The moment Leo stepped closer, Clyde’s posture shifted subtly, placing himself half a step in front of Micah.

"If you’ll excuse us," Clyde said curtly, his tone leaving no room for argument. "We need to go."

Without waiting for a response, he reached back, took Micah’s wrist, and guided him away.

Micah grumbled. "Shit. You turned the whole thing upside down. I missed my chance to tease Emile."

"Teasing Emile?" Clyde asked, puzzled.

"Oh... I think he had a thing for Asena." Micah grinned smugly.

Clyde pulled him closer toward himself and whispered. "You’ve used up your privilege. So behave."

Micah stuck his tongue out at him behind his hand.

Meanwhile, Leo remained where he was, eyes locked on Asena’s retreating figure, hands trembling slightly at his sides.