From Villain to Virtual Sweetheart: The Fake Heir's Grand Scheme(BL)-Chapter 655: Family Love Language

Micah sat beside Darcy on the row of cold metal chairs outside the CCU wing, one leg stretched out carefully, the other bent, his fingers loosely wrapped around a half-finished fruit smoothie. The plastic cup was beaded with condensation, dampening his palm, but he didn’t seem to notice. His gaze drifted toward Darcy, expression softening.

The hospital corridor smelled faintly of disinfectant. Nurses in soft blue scrubs passed by now and then, their rubber soles squeaking lightly against the polished floor. Somewhere farther down the hall, a heart monitor beeped in a steady rhythm, mechanical and indifferent. A vending machine hummed in the corner, the only constant sound besides the low murmur of families waiting.

Darcy sat beside Micah, elbows on his knees, fingers laced loosely, staring at the floor tiles. But the persistent looks coming their way broke his moment of peace.

He shifted his eyes to the side without moving his head and caught them immediately: the Ramsy family, gathered a few seats away, all pretending not to stare while very obviously staring.

Aria whispered something behind her hand. Willow’s eyes were sharp with curiosity. Jacob was trying to look serious and failing miserably. Elina looked emotional... but also ready to scold someone.

Darcy tilted his head slightly and gave them a questioning look, eyebrows lifting. What now?

Aria immediately waved at him with urgent little flicks of her fingers, summoning him.

Darcy blinked once. He slowly turned his head toward Micah, pretending he hadn’t noticed.

Micah had already seen. Of course, he had. He let out a quiet, long sigh through his nose, the kind that carried deep, tired understanding. He raised the smoothie and took another slow sip, then leaned a little closer and muttered under his breath, voice low and dry. "Just go. They’ve been like this for a while."

Darcy’s shoulders slumped instantly. Betrayal. This was absolute betrayal.

He dragged his hands down his face once, then pushed himself up from the chair like a man heading toward his execution. His sneakers squeaked softly as he walked over, every step heavier than the last.

He stopped in front of them. "What’s up?"

Aria didn’t even answer properly. She grabbed his sleeve and tugged him down into the empty seat beside her.

"Sit, sit," she said, eyes sparkling with curiosity. "We just want to ask you something."

Darcy dropped into the chair, already regretting his decision. He looked around at their faces... all leaning in, all too alert.

It felt like a gossip formation. "Shoot," he said flatly.

Willow leaned forward first, her voice lowering like she was about to share state secrets. "Did you know about him?"

Darcy blinked. "Know what?"

Jacob leaned closer too, whispering dramatically, "That he had a tendency to...you know," he paused, "cross-dressing."

Darcy stared at them. "...Who told you that?"

"No one," Willow said, shrugging. "It wasn’t hard to figure out."

Darcy let out a slow breath. "It’s not a ’tendency.’ He did it for fun."

Elina made a disbelieving sound in her throat. "Fun? FUN? What if someone had recognised him? He would’ve become the laughingstock of high society! Is he out of his mind?"

"Mum, relax," Willow said, rubbing her temple. "This is not the time to start lecturing."

Aria nodded quickly. "Exactly. He was already hurt from what you said earlier. He’s been sitting there quietly ever since he came back from seeing Grandma."

Elina straightened. "How was I supposed to know that the girl with that man was Micah? I was standing up for my son! Do you expect me to welcome someone who cheated?"

"That wasn’t true," Aria argued.

"I didn’t know that at the time!" Elina defended, her voice rising.

Jacob shook his head. "He should’ve just told us the truth. Why hide?"

Darcy’s lips twitched. Oh. So that was why Micah shoved him over here like a sacrificial offering. That traitor knew they’d roast him alive.

Darcy leaned back and gestured at all of them. "I don’t know. Maybe because of this?"

Aria crossed her arms. "Little brother, this is how we show love. Get used to it."

"No, thanks. I prefer a quiet family," Darcy replied.

Aria glared. "You!"

"Stop it," Elina cut in, rubbing her forehead. "I’m already exhausted dealing with Micah arguing all the time, now there’s another one..." 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Darcy stood. "In that case, I’ll go sit over there and let you all enjoy your... loving atmosphere."

"Sit down!" Willow grabbed his sleeve this time. "That’s not why we called you over. The important question is Clyde Du Pont. You seem close to him."

Darcy clicked his tongue. "Tsk. Says who?"

Jacob pointed at his own eyes. "We have eyes, son."

Elina leaned forward eagerly. "How is he with Micah? When did they meet? He was the one chasing Micah, right? That boy doesn’t have a single romantic cell in his body! I refuse to believe he pursued someone!"

"You should ask Micah," Darcy said. "It’s between them."

"Oh come on!" Aria said. "Just a little!"

"That’s enough!"

Micah’s voice cut cleanly through the low buzz of conversation, firm without being loud, but sharp enough that it landed over everyone’s heads like a sudden clap of thunder. His grip tightened slightly around the smoothie cup in his hand, knuckles paling, jaw set as he looked at them one by one.

"Did you come here for sightseeing and gossiping?" he continued, his brows drawn together, disappointment slipping into his tone despite his effort to stay calm. "What if Grandpa walks out and sees you like this? His son and his family are sitting here chatting away while his wife is in a critical condition?"

The words hit.

The Ramsy family stiffened almost at once, as if someone had poured cold water over them. Jacob’s mouth closed mid-breath. Willow’s shoulders pulled in. Even Aria, who was usually quick with a comeback, blinked and straightened in her seat.

Aria was the first to recover. She tilted her head slightly, her voice softer now, no longer playful. "You don’t have to be so harsh," she said gently. "It’s not just you. We’re all worried. We’re all sad for Grandma."

Her fingers twisted together in her lap as she spoke, betraying the anxiety she’d been covering with chatter.

"But besides sitting here and waiting, what can we actually do?" she added quietly. "And I’m sure Grandma wouldn’t want us to break down and cry the whole time either."

Willow nodded beside her. "And honestly, we were just curious," she admitted, glancing at Darcy briefly before looking back at Micah. "You said he’s like family to you. Of course, we’d want to know more about him."

Micah’s tense shoulders slowly dropped. The tightness in his expression loosened. He let out a long breath and walked over before lowering himself into the seat among them.

"I’ll tell you myself," he said, voice quieter now, tired instead of sharp. "Just stop surrounding Darcy like he’s under interrogation."

Darcy, still sitting there, gave him a look that clearly said thank you for remembering I exist.

"But not now," Micah added, rubbing the back of his neck. "Later."

The Ramsys’ faces fell in near-perfect unison, like children told dessert was cancelled. Still, they nodded.

Jacob leaned forward cautiously. "So... you’re not mad at us anymore?"

Micah blinked at him, surprised. "When was I mad?" he asked. "I was just feeling down."

That answer softened something in all of them.

Elina didn’t hesitate. She reached out and wrapped both hands around Micah’s, holding them tightly. Her eyes searched his face carefully.

"Sweetheart," she said, voice low and worried, "tell me honestly. Why did you dress like that? It’s not like what your father said, right? It’s not because the baby-switch situation stressed you out?"

Micah shook his head, a small smile tugging at his lips, trying to ease her fears. "Mum, you know me. I like fashion. I like dressing up. I wanted to play a prank." He shrugged lightly. "Don’t take it seriously. I won’t do it again. It was just once."

Elina studied him a moment longer, then nodded slowly. "Okay, dear. I wasn’t trying to criticise you. We were just worried."

"Mmm," Micah hummed in acknowledgment.

Then suddenly Elina gasped, eyes widening. "Right! That jerk!"

Before Micah could react, she cupped his face in both hands, squishing his cheeks together.

"Are you okay? Are you really okay, sweetie?"

She turned his head left and right like she was inspecting produce at the market, then began patting his shoulders, arms, and sides, as if injuries might pop out under her touch.

"So many things happened I forgot! Your ankle! Is it serious? You were hurt last night, weren’t you? Who was that guy? Did you know him? What was wrong with him? Was he mentally unstable? How could his brother let him attend the auction?!"

Micah blinked through the face-squishing. "Mentally unstable?"

"Yes!" Elina said. "Didn’t you see the news?"

Micah shook his head.

"They said he went crazy at the police station," she explained.

Micah fell silent. His gaze lowered. Crazy... again? Like in the first life? Noas losing his mind because he couldn’t escape this world? But the story hadn’t even begun properly yet... Would he really fall apart this early?

A faint unease curled in Micah’s chest.

Jacob broke the silence. "I heard their company’s stock dropped."

"Overnight?" Elina gasped.

Darcy leaned back in his seat. "That’s Du Pont power."

Jacob clicked his tongue. "We can do that too. I’ll have my assistant go after their collaborations."

"Dad," Willow said dryly, "do you want the whole world to know about Micah cross-dressing?"

Jacob froze. "...Right." He adjusted his glasses awkwardly.

Darcy added calmly, "The Lobarts and Ramsys are in the same industry. No one would think it’s strange if something happened."

Jacob brightened again. "Exactly! I should go ahead..."

"Dad," Micah interrupted, sighing. "Just let Clyde handle it."

Jacob looked personally offended. "What? You think your father isn’t capable?"

"No," Micah said quickly, rubbing his forehead, exhausted. "We’re already under enough attention. Let this news bury the fake and true heir situation instead."

That made them pause.

"...Alright," Jacob muttered.

Elina’s expression softened again. She pulled Micah into her arms without warning. "Ah... my little boy really has grown up."

Micah stiffened for a brief second, then slowly relaxed. He let himself lean into her, his cheek resting lightly against her shoulder as he glanced at Darcy.

Across from them, Darcy watched quietly, not seeming to be bothered by it.

Micah’s eyes slid closed. He had missed this warmth.

Even though this version of his family had never abandoned him, the memories from other lives still clung to him like shadows. Part of him had stayed distant because he didn’t know how to step forward without expecting rejection.

That old fear of being ignored, replaced, forgotten... still pulsed somewhere deep inside.

But now...

With his mother holding him, with his family fussing over him and arguing loudly and worrying too much... Maybe he really had been overthinking.

They loved him. And they had already accepted Darcy too.