From Villain to Virtual Sweetheart: The Fake Heir's Grand Scheme(BL)-Chapter 629: When Predators Pretend

Micah walked back toward the auction hall, the faint click of his heels blending into the low hum of conversation around him. His gaze moved calmly across the room, but beneath that composed surface, his mind was alert and calculating.

As Darcy had texted earlier, he spotted Noas almost immediately.

The man stood near the edge of the hall, half-hidden beside a decorative column, his posture casual but his eyes sharp. He was speaking to someone, head slightly tilted, one hand tucked into his pocket as if he had nothing better to do than socialise. Micah narrowed his eyes just a fraction. That young man had the unmistakable air of someone pretending not to watch while watching very carefully.

Micah adjusted his expression and started toward him, steps light and unhurried, when someone suddenly stepped into his path.

Micah stopped short, lifting his gaze. Dean stood there stiffly, hands clasped together as if he had been rehearsing this moment for a while. His expression was polite, but there was tension in his shoulders, an unease that hadn’t been there earlier.

Micah inclined his head slightly in greeting, already preparing to sidestep him. He had no time for this.

But Dean spoke before he could move.

"Miss," he said, voice hesitant but firm enough to stop him. "Can I talk to you for a second?"

Micah’s eyes flicked past him, instinctively checking Noas’s position again. The man was still there, still talking.

Micah answered absently, his attention split. "Is it about your uncle?" he said in his soft, feminine tone. "He’ll be back shortly. He went to change."

Dean shook his head quickly. "No. It’s... something else." He hesitated, then added, "Could we go somewhere quieter?"

Micah closed his eyes for half a second and sighed inwardly.

Of course. Dean was Clyde’s nephew. He could humour him. Besides, curiosity flickered faintly through Micah’s mind. What could possibly be so important?

"Fine," Micah said at last, offering a small, graceful nod. "Lead the way."

Dean visibly relaxed and turned, guiding him toward a less crowded corner of the hall. As they walked, Micah kept his pace slow and deliberate, his head slightly lowered in a demure manner. At the same time, his peripheral vision never left Noas.

Still there. Good.

They stopped near a tall window overlooking the street, the glass reflecting their figures faintly. The noise of the auction hall softened here, conversations fading into background murmurs.

Dean turned to face him, fingers fidgeting at his side. For a moment, he looked like he wanted to ask something else, something personal, but then he seemed to think better of it. Whatever relationship she had with his uncle, she could easily lie. There was no point pushing that angle.

"So," Micah said lightly, tilting his head. "What is it?"

Dean took a breath, then asked bluntly, "Do you know someone named Micah Ramsy?"

Micah’s expression shifted instantly. His lips pressed together slightly.

What was this? Did Dean try to tell him Clyde was cheating or something?

Really? Oh... that could be something.

Micah’s eyes flashed with something unreadable before he schooled his face. "Yes," he said slowly. "What about him?"

Dean watched him closely now, gaze fixed on his face as if searching for cracks. "Have you met him? He’s... my cousin’s friend. And my uncle’s lover."

Micah sucked in a sharp breath, pretending to be shock. "What?" he gasped.

He clutched his chest dramatically, fingers curling over the fabric of his dress. His eyes shimmered instantly, moisture gathering at the corners as his expression twisted into perfect heartbreak. "How... how could he do this to me?"

Dean stiffened, clearly taken aback by her reaction.

Micah pressed a hand to his mouth, shoulders trembling. "I trusted him... I thought.." His voice broke convincingly. "I thought I meant something to him."

Dean’s stern expression softened, guilt creeping into his eyes. "I... I guessed you might not really know," he said quietly. "I was worried you’d misunderstand my uncle’s actions."

Micah wiped at his eyes with delicate fingers, a single tear finally slipping free after pinching his thigh hard enough. "I thought Micah was just... just like a younger brother to Clyde," he said weakly. "Are you sure? You’re not mistaken?"

Dean hesitated. Then he gritted his teeth and lied without blinking. "I’m sure. The families know too. They’re... engaged. I was worried my uncle had not the heart to turn you down..."

Micah nearly bit his tongue to stop himself from laughing. This nephew... lying without batting an eye.

Engaged? When did that happen? He would’ve liked an invitation, at least.

Still, inward amusement aside, Micah felt a spark of genuine appreciation. This nephew wasn’t trying to drive a wedge between them. He was trying...clumsily...to protect Micah and Asena. Well, at least he was on his side and did not wish to separate him from Clyde.

As expected from Aria’s future fiancé. Good taste ran in the family.

Micah straightened slightly, fury flaring back into his act. "Your uncle is despicable!" he snapped, voice trembling with righteous anger. "How could he toy with my feelings like this?"

Dean never thought she would have such a fiery temper. He assumed she would leave the auction after knowing the truth. But making a scene here...

Dean regretted his rash decision to confront Asena. Clyde would kill him if he knew he had messed up.

"I...I’m sure there’s a reason," Dean said quickly, alarm flashing across his face.

"A reason?" Micah scoffed. "Like what? Sowing his seeds everywhere before hanging his scythe on the wall?"

Dean was rendered speechless. "Huh?"

"No...he’s not..." Panic crept into his voice.

Micah turned sharply, skirts swishing as he spun toward the crowd. "I’m going to find him. I deserve an explanation."

"Wait!" Dean exclaimed, breaking into a sweat. "Miss Asena...please!"

This wasn’t how it was supposed to go.

Micah stormed forward, weaving into the crowd with surprising speed. Dean chased after him, heart pounding.

Micah smiled inwardly. He loved this part. His acting was so top-notch that Dean had fallen for it.

As he moved, he scanned the hall again and quickly found Noas. The man was still talking but the person beside Noas was familiar this time. Archie.

So impatient already?

Micah slowed his pace deliberately as he neared them, making sure Dean stayed close behind. When they were just within earshot, Dean called out again.

"Miss Asena! Please, wait!"

Micah turned back, eyes red-rimmed, expression a perfect mix of hurt and betrayal.

"Let’s calm down," Dean said urgently. "There might be a reason."

Micah sniffed. "Like what?"

Dean blurted out the first thing that came to mind. "Maybe... maybe my uncle wanted to stand against the Ramsy family."

"Huh?" Micah blinked.

At the same moment, the familiar voices echoed in his head.

"Did he say Ramsy family?" the transmigrator asked sharply. "Who are they?"

"Not important characters," the system answered flatly. "No revelant data."

"No shit!" the transmigrator snapped.

Dean continued desperately. "You know about the switched babies scandal, right? There is a possibility that the Ramsy family forced him to marry the true young master."

Micah nearly applauded. Ah... thank you, nephew.

He had been wondering how to steer this conversation toward Darcy naturally.

"The true... You mean brother Darcy?" Micah asked, eyes widening.

"Oh, the girl knows the supposed protagonist?" the transmigrator said excitedly. "We searched for an hour without any luck!"

Dean was taken aback by the address. "You know him?"

"Yes," Micah said softly. "We’re going to the same university." He hesitated. "Are you sure, though?"

Dean nodded blankly, too deep into the lie to stop now.

"But brother Darcy can’t stand your uncle," Micah added.

"Huh?" Dean was completely lost now. He was not familiar with how the three of them interact. Darcy, Micah and Clyde. He had never seen them alongside each other before.

"They argue all the time," Micah continued innocently. "Did they really force them into an engagement?"

The transmigrator was losing patience. "What the hell are they talking about? Did the protagonist have a fiancé?"

"Not mentioned in the book," the system replied.

Dean seized the opportunity. "Y-Yeah! I saw Darcy arrive with his older sister tonight. Maybe it’s because my uncle refused..."

Dean was implying that Clyde had used Asena to block escorting Darcy tonight. It was a risky move. But he felt he should stand up for Micah. He had already passed the point of no return.

"Oh!" the transmigrator nearly screamed. "He’s here? Where is he?! Come on, say it!"

Micah smiled inwardly listening to the system and transmigrator. Wonderful. They are hooked.

"Really?" he said aloud. "Brother Darcy is here?"

He pulled out his phone. As he did, his eyes flicked subtly toward Noas, who was now openly watching them from behind a pillar. Perfect.

"Let me call him," Micah said.

"Hell yeah. Quick! protagonist, answer the phone!" !" the transmigrator shouted.

Dean panicked. "No, no, that’s not necessary! It’s better to wait until after the auction! You can confront my uncle in the car without him having a way to flee."

Micah paused, then ended the call. "Fine," he said reluctantly.

"Nooooo—!" the transmigrator wailed.

Dean nearly collapsed in relief. His lie was turning into an international conflict. At least this way, little Uncle could not get his hands on him.

Micah excused himself politely. "I’m going to freshen up."

Dean looked at the perfect makeup on her face but didn’t say anything. He was also ready to bolt.

As Micah walked away, he felt the unmistakable presence following him.

Noas.

"Let’s ask her about Darcy," the transmigrator said eagerly. "She’s unimportant. She’ll fall under hypnosis easily."

"It costs 560 points," the system replied.

"Fine," the transmigrator snapped. "Activate it when I say."

Micah raised his brows slightly. So they even had cheating items like that. No wonder, in his first life, everything had fallen apart so easily.