From Villain to Virtual Sweetheart: The Fake Heir's Grand Scheme(BL)-Chapter 703: When He Said No (part one)

Darcy watched as Clyde said something to Albert Ramsy, then he turned toward Jacob and Elina. The exchange was quiet, almost careful, as if each word needed to be measured before being released into the air. Clyde’s posture was straight, respectful, yet there was a tension in the set of his shoulders that Darcy did not miss. Albert listened without interruption, his weathered face unreadable, while Jacob leaned slightly forward, brows faintly drawn, and Elina’s fingers tightened around the edge of her shawl. The atmosphere in the living room had shifted without anyone announcing it. Conversations in the background softened, and even the ticking of the clock seemed louder.

After a brief talk, Albert Ramsy rose to his feet and moved toward the study. His son and daughter-in-law followed. The scrape of Albert’s chair against the polished floor sounded unusually sharp. Jacob placed a steadying hand at the small of Elina’s back as they walked, a silent gesture of support.

Darcy looked away, thinking about the reason Clyde talked to them. His thoughts tumbled over each other, unorganised and restless. It could be business. It could be about Micah’s treatment. It could be something far worse. He tried to calm himself, telling his racing heart that if something had truly gone wrong, they would not be this composed. Yet the seriousness on Clyde’s face replayed again and again in his mind. That expression had not been casual.

Clyde moved at the end. He paused for the briefest second, glancing over his shoulder as if searching for something, or someone. His pale blue eyes flickered across the room until they found Darcy. There was a softness there, but also resolve.

Then Clyde walked toward him and said, "Hey, have you got a minute?" His voice was steady, but softer than usual. Not commanding at all.

Darcy gave a small nod. He swallowed before he realised he was doing it. His throat felt dry, and he wiped his damp palms against the sides of his trousers.

"Let’s talk in the study," Clyde said and gestured toward the room. His hand motion was simple, but it carried weight. It was no longer a request; it felt like stepping into a moment that would change something fundamental.

Darcy followed, worry flooding his mind. He couldn’t imagine it was anything good. He studied Clyde’s sombre expression and his unease grew. Had something happened? To Micah? Had his condition worsened?

The questions formed too quickly, each darker than the last. His heartbeat quickened with every step down the corridor. The walls seemed narrower, the air heavier. He tried to read Clyde’s back, the stiff line of his shoulders, the tension in his neck. It was impossible to tell whether this was grief, anger, or determination.

By the time Darcy stepped into the study, his mind had conjured up the worst-case scenarios. He imagined doctors shaking their heads, imagined whispered conversations about complications, imagined Micah pale and fragile behind hospital sheets. His chest tightened painfully at the thought. He had grown used to bracing himself for bad news; life had trained him well in that regard. Still, hope stubbornly flickered somewhere deep inside him, refusing to be extinguished.

He closed the door and stood frozen, watching Clyde. Elina and Jacob were seated on a couch, while Albert sat behind the desk. The study smelled faintly of old paper and sandalwood. Shelves lined the walls from floor to ceiling, filled with books and framed photographs. A desk lamp cast a warm but focused glow over Albert’s figure, carving deeper lines into his face. Elina’s hands were clasped tightly in her lap, knuckles pale. Jacob’s jaw was tense, though he tried to appear composed. The room felt smaller than it actually was, as if the walls had leaned inward to hear what would be said.

"What was the important thing you wanted to discuss with us?" Albert asked. His deep authoritative voice had lost its edge after the loss of his wife. The question was direct, but not harsh. There was weariness beneath it, a subtle tremor that only those who paid close attention would notice. His jade ring tapped once against the wooden surface of the desk before his hand stilled.

Clyde took a deep breath as if he were about to announce something terrible. His chest rose slowly, and for a second, his gaze flickered toward Darcy before returning to Albert. It was the look of someone who understood the gravity of his words. The kind of breath one takes before stepping off a cliff, trusting the ground will appear beneath their feet.

The expression of others in the room turned grim, worry gripping their hearts. Elina’s lips parted slightly as if she were preparing herself to hear devastating news. Jacob leaned forward, elbows on his knees. Even Albert’s fingers tightened subtly against the desk. The silence stretched thin and taut, ready to snap.

Then Clyde’s words echoed in the quiet room. His voice did not waver, but it carried emotion that could not be mistaken for anything trivial.

"Over the past few months, I think you’ve gotten to know me. I’m sure you have realised that my feelings are not superficial. And this isn’t something fleeting. I do care for Micah a great deal. It may seem like we haven’t known each other long, but to me, it doesn’t feel that way. In fact, it feels like I’ve known Micah all my life." As he spoke, his gaze softened. There was no performance in his tone, no calculation. Only sincerity. The air shifted again, not with dread this time, but with realisation.

Albert tapped on his desk with a jade ring on his finger. "You are saying all of these for a reason, right?" His eyes narrowed slightly, not in suspicion, but in careful assessment. He had lived long enough to recognise when a man was leading up to something significant.

Clyde steeled his resolve and said, "Yes, I’m formally asking his hand in marriage. Before proposing to Micah, I want to get your blessing. This isn’t a business deal. I’m not doing this for profit or advantage. This is based on my true feelings. I’ve already drafted a contract to transfer ten percent of La Riviere’s shares to him. That would give him a deciding vote in major shareholder matters. Real power. No one would dare look down on him." His words fell clearly, deliberately. There was no hesitation. He stood tall, shoulders squared, like a man making a vow rather than presenting an offer.

The declaration hung in the room like a struck bell.

The expressions in the room shifted in different ways. Elina was delighted. As she had long approved of Clyde after seeing firsthand how he had treated Micah. Her eyes glistened instantly, relief and joy washing over her features. She pressed a hand to her chest as if steadying her heart. Jacob was in the middle, half happy half sad as he thought it was early for Micah to get married. His brows furrowed with protective instinct, but there was also understanding there. He knew how rare genuine devotion was. Albert stared at Clyde’s pale blue eyes, noticing pure sincerity and affection for Micah. He looked at his son and daughter-in-law. Seeing that they didn’t object, he nodded and opened his mouth. "Alright..." The single word carried weight: acceptance, trust, and perhaps the beginning of something new.

"No, I’m against it." Darcy interrupted.

The air turned tense. Everyone turned toward Darcy in surprise. His voice had come out sharper than he intended, slicing cleanly through the fragile warmth that had begun to bloom in the room. Even he looked startled by the force of his own words, but he did not take them back. His hands were clenched at his sides, nails digging into his palms. His chest rose and fell unevenly.

Clyde’s eyes widened slightly, not in anger, but in confusion. Elina’s expression faltered, joy replaced with concern. Jacob straightened fully, gaze fixed on Darcy as if trying to understand what had prompted such a reaction. Albert’s brows drew together, the jade ring catching the lamplight as his hand stilled mid-motion.