From Villain to Virtual Sweetheart: The Fake Heir's Grand Scheme(BL)-Chapter 628: The Majestic Lion and the Unyielding Leopard

Chapter 628: The Majestic Lion and the Unyielding Leopard

The auction hall buzzed with low conversation and restrained excitement, the kind that hummed beneath polished smiles and measured gestures. Chandeliers cast warm light over the crowd, reflecting off glass and jewellery, turning the room into a glittering sea of wealth and influence.

Leo stood among them, but his attention was elsewhere.

His eyes flickered restlessly across the room, scanning faces, silhouettes, and flashes of movement. He was searching for someone and the longer he failed to find them, the more restless he became.

White hair.

The moment the suspicion had taken root earlier, Leo’s entire body had felt like it had been set ablaze. His pulse hadn’t slowed since. His chest felt tight, his thoughts racing faster than he could rein them in.

He had to see Micah. He had to talk to him. Why was he doing this?

The question echoed in his mind, unanswered and relentless. His fingers curled slightly at his side, nails pressing into his palm.

Was it because of that man? Clyde Du Pont. The name alone made Leo’s jaw tighten.

Possibilities spiralled endlessly in his head, most of them dark, ugly, and steeped in coercion. Manipulation. Blackmail. Threats made behind closed doors.

Why would someone like Micah....so dazzling, so lively, so unapologetically bright, ever feel the need to cross-dress like this?

Even if it was a personal interest, a harmless hobby, wouldn’t he do it somewhere safe? Somewhere anonymous? A cosplay event, maybe. A place where no one knew him, where there were no stakes.

So why here? Why tonight? What if someone recognised him?

The thought sent a jolt of fear through Leo’s chest. His head thudded painfully as anxiety surged, a cold sweat threatening at his temples. This would be catastrophic.

And yet...buried beneath the worry and fear, there was something else. Something quieter, more selfish.

A small, traitorous delight. He was the only one who had recognised Micah. The only one who knew.

The realisation made his chest ache in a way he didn’t fully understand.

The room suddenly erupted into a ripple of excitement, whispers spreading like wildfire. Heads turned. Conversations shifted.

Clyde Du Pont, the President of La Riviere, was here.

Leo stiffened. Wherever Clyde moved, gossip followed in his wake like a shadow. Leo caught fragments of it as he stood there, his ears picking up hushed voices and speculative murmurs.

The more he heard, the worse it became.

They spoke of murder...how Clyde had killed his own father as a teenager. They whispered about his mother and uncle, about suspicious circumstances and unanswered questions. About how cold and ruthless he was.

How even his siblings hadn’t been spared, banished from the country without mercy.

Leo’s hand trembled. His expression darkened, lips pressing into a thin line as a storm of emotion churned beneath his carefully crafted exterior. Years of acting had taught him how to maintain a flawless mask, but cracks formed anyway, subtle and fleeting.

Liana noticed. She stood close, her posture elegant as ever, but her sharp eyes caught the slight stiffness in Leo’s shoulders, the distant glaze creeping into his gaze. She finished greeting an heir from a well-known family, her smile never wavering, then leaned toward Leo.

"Focus," she whispered, her voice low and firm. "You can’t afford to be sloppy right now."

Leo blinked, dragged back to the present. He swallowed and nodded faintly. "Sorry," he murmured, forcing a polite smile. "I... I need some fresh air."

Before she could respond, he turned and made his way out of the hall, his movements controlled but hurried. The moment he stepped outside, the cool air hit his face, damp with the scent of rain.

He exhaled shakily. Rain streaked down the glass panels, blurring the city lights beyond. Leo stared at it for a moment, trying to steady himself, then his gaze caught on a familiar figure.

Clyde. The man stood a short distance away, his posture relaxed, his presence commanding even in stillness. He had changed his clothes since earlier, the cut and colour unmistakably refined.

But...There was no sign of Micah. Leo’s heart sank.

Before he could stop himself, his legs moved. Each step felt heavy and light at the same time, driven by a force he couldn’t suppress. He stopped directly in front of Clyde.

Clyde frowned, eyes sharpening as he looked at Leo. "Can I help you?"

Leo studied him closely, his gaze intense, searching for answers in the man’s expression. Why was Micah with him? His jaw tightened, and he bit the inside of his cheek before speaking. "What do you have on him?"

Clyde’s brow creased slightly, his face unreadable. "I’m not sure what you mean."

"Let him go," Leo said, his voice roughening as anger surged. "Whatever you demand, I’ll comply. Just don’t hurt him."

The words spilled out before he could temper them.

Clyde tilted his head, studying Leo with cool curiosity. "Is this some new way to get my attention?" he asked dryly. "Celebrities are certainly creative these days when it comes to finding a patron." A faint edge of mockery crept into his tone.

Leo’s hand clenched into a fist, veins bulging visibly. His restraint snapped. "So you look down on him too?" he snapped. "Is that why you made him dress as a woman and parade him around like this?"

By now, even Leo knew about the switched babies incident. The scandal had been impossible to avoid in the buzzing crowd. And everything clicked into place in his mind with brutal clarity.

Micah must have been forced. Cast aside by the Ramsy family. Stripped of his footing in high society. That was why. That was why Micah was here, cross-dressing, playing the role of his girlfriend for this man.

The thought made Leo’s chest burn.

Something precious...something he believed was special between him and Micah, had been stolen. Before, Micah had probably done this to see him more easily. To support him freely. To admire him without pressure, without expectation.

Like Jacklin, hiding her true identity from the world. High society despised such things. And now everything made sense.

Micah had opened an entertainment company. He had lost everything else. So he searched for another way to survive, to shine, to stay visible in the Ramsy family’s eyes.

And this man...This man had used that desperation. Blackmailed him. Forced him to play the part of a lover. A sick bastard.

Clyde inhaled slowly, composing himself, then straightened. "I don’t think this conversation is going anywhere," he said calmly. "You have the wrong person. If you’ll excuse me, my lover is waiting."

He stepped forward to leave, but Leo reacted instinctively, reaching out and grabbing Clyde’s wrist.

Clyde’s eyes hardened instantly. "Are you trying to go to jail?" he said coldly. "Or do you want another scandal splashed across the media?"

Leo’s grip tightened, his teeth grinding. "Deny it all you want," he growled. "But I know the truth. Listen carefully. I will get him free of you. You’d better not lay a hand on him...or I’ll make you pay for it."

With a sharp movement, Clyde yanked his arm free. "I’ll consider this drunk talk," Clyde said, his voice low and dangerous. "Watch yourself."

Without another glance, he turned and strode back inside.

Leo remained where he stood, his chest heaving slightly, his expression twisted with fury and despair.

Rain continued to fall. He felt helpless. Utterly Powerless. He couldn’t even protect the person who had once saved him. And that realisation hurt more than anything else.