From Villain to Virtual Sweetheart: The Fake Heir's Grand Scheme(BL)-Chapter 566: How to Survive Mum: Step One, Willow

The car moved steadily along the quiet autumn roads, the hum of the engine blending with the soft rustle of wind brushing fallen leaves across the asphalt. Outside the window, golden and burnt-orange leaves twirled under the streetlights, scattering like sparks each time the car passed. The night sky hung low, deep navy and cool, as if the cold was slowly gathering at its edges.

Inside the warm cabin, Willow sneaked sideways glances at Micah, hesitating. Her younger brother sat slouched slightly, chin tucked down as he scrolled his phone. The dim glow of the screen showcased his expression softening as he read a message.

Willow chewed her lip as worry consumed her chest. Should she tell him? Should she nudge him, warn him, stop him before he gets too involved in this acting thing? She wanted to persuade him to let her delete his footage and just use Ilyas for the ad instead. But she knew her little brother best. This stubborn boy....telling him ’no’ never stopped him once he made up his mind. It only made him hide things better. She needed to show him the danger.

Her constant peeking finally caught Micah’s attention. He turned his head, brows raised. "Something the matter?"

Willow straightened in her seat and softly shook her head. "No, no. I was just thinking...." 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Micah tilted his head, curious. "Thinking about what?"

Willow didn’t notice the hopeful glint in Micah’s eyes, as if he expected a completely different answer.

"Nothing important." Willow waved a hand. "I just remembered something. Anyway...Why was your friend so shocked that you live with Darcy? He looked like he was struck by lightning."

Micah sighed and leaned back. "Well, I think he got the wrong idea."

"What do you mean?"

Micah lifted a shoulder lazily. "He saw Mum bring breakfast for him. and then you gave me a takeaway meal for him tonight ....He probably let his imagination run wild."

Willow’s brows knitted together. "This is going to ruin your chances of getting a girlfriend, you know."

Micah let out a small snort. "It’s fine. I’ll just have to bear with it for a little while. When the truth comes out, the misunderstanding will clear up,".

"But...won’t your reputation take a hit first?"

Micah offered an assuring smile. "It is something that will happen whether I want it to or not. He is the real son of the Ramsy family. I can’t hide it forever."

Willow found it unpleasant. Why was Micah this resigned in all of this mess? Shouldn’t he get angry, cursing everyone? It wasn’t his fault that they had been switched in the hospital. So why should he take everything as if it were meant to be?

"You are a victim too.... Why are you so calm about it? Why are you so set on repaying Darcy? Why don’t you think about yourself?" Willow’s voice softened, trembling a little. "This whole mess affects you just as much as it affects him."

Micah rested his elbow on the window and set his chin against his palm, gazing out at the passing city lights. The glow from shop signs and street lamps flickered across his features. In the reflection, he looked older than his age. Too quiet. Too contemplative.

Willow stared at her little brother, her heart aching.

Micah puffed his cheeks, then exhaled with a loud sigh. "You know sis, I’ve always felt that I disappointed you. I wasn’t the brother you could’ve been proud of. I was always lacking, making trouble, embarrassing you."

Willow reached out and grabbed Micah’s hand. "What nonsense is that? When have I ever said that you embarrassed me?"

Micah’s lips stretched slightly. "You didn’t need to say it. I know I am the black sheep of the family. All of you are elite, standing tall in society and I am just..." He gave a humourless chuckle. "At the bottom of the ladder. Even though you never said it to my face, I could see it. The way you acted around me, the tiny gestures you probably didn’t notice. You all preferred I stay out of the spotlight..."

"Wait, wait! This doesn’t make sense. Why are you..." Willow’s voice trailed off the moment she looked at Micah’s eyes.

Right. There was a time when Micah expressed his desire to enter the entertainment industry and they all refused to let him. It was right after their father confronted their grandfather, Albert Ramsy, insisting he stop pressuring Micah to become the heir. The boy had been suffocating under expectations, drowning in business lessons he couldn’t grasp.

Micah had been miserable. She remembered that clearly now. He tried to meet Albert’s standards, but no matter how hard he pushed himself, he fell short. His strategies were too simple, too idealistic. His grades were terrible. And when the shareholders compared him to other potential successors... he didn’t stand a chance.

He had lost his spark back then.

He ate and studied like a puppet. Silent. Obedient. Empty.

And then he said he wanted to act.

Back then, they had panicked. Acting was full of scheming, hidden dangers, and vicious competition. How could someone as emotionally fragile as Micah survive in such a place? So they all shut him down. Vetoed it instantly.

It was their grandmother, Zhou Ruyan, who rescued him, suggesting he pursue fashion instead. And when he did, Micah came back to life. The light returned to his eyes.

Willow had assumed he’d forgotten about acting. Assumed it was just a childish dream.

But now it seemed they were really wrong. Their straightforward refusal had made Micah think he was the source of embarrassment for the Ramsy family.

Willow swallowed thickly. "I’m sorry," she whispered after a long moment. "I’m really sorry that our decision made you feel that way. There was a reason we...."

"I know." Micah smiled gently. "I’m not blaming anyone."

He sat up straight, stretching his legs slightly as the car turned onto a quieter street lined with maple trees. Their leaves glowed deep red under the lamps, rustling like whispers.

"After Darcy showed up," Micah continued, "I realised something. Even though he’s brilliant, a top scorer, with so many awards, you all still treated him coldly. You didn’t suddenly adore him. You didn’t shove me aside for him."

Willow blinked. "Of course not."

Micah lifted a hand, stopping her.

"Let me finish... Before, I thought you were disappointed in me," he admitted. "But now I understand you didn’t care about how perfect Darcy is. You care about me. I misunderstood all of you."

He looked down at his hands. "So... I decided I should start living for myself. Isn’t that what you all wanted? After Grandpa let me off the hook from being heir?"

His voice was quiet, but steady.

Willow lifted her hand and pinched his cheek. "Idiot," she muttered, eyes softening. "You finally get it?"

Micah’s expression melted into a shy smile. "I know I’m slow."

"We tried to protect you," Willow said. "Back then, you were too hot-headed. Too blunt. If we let you into showbiz, you would’ve been eaten alive."

Micah nodded. "I know. But I’m different now."

He straightened his shoulders, eyes clear with confidence. "I can stand firm. I won’t be swayed so easily anymore. I won’t fall for someone’s schemes. I’m not alone. I have the Ramsy family behind me. My friends and my biological family too." He looked at her with a soft grin. "So you don’t need to worry."

Willow’s eyes softened despite the ache in her chest.

Micah continued, "And when the truth comes out, when people call me fake, when they say I’m an impostor... I can take it. I’ll show them that the Ramsy family didn’t raise a greedy fake chasing an inheritance. I’ll prove that they raised a fine young man with a spine. I won’t bring shame to our family name."

Willow’s breath hitched slightly. Her once childish little brother, who threw tantrums, who pouted over dessert, who complained about studying, was suddenly speaking like an adult. Too quickly. Too suddenly.

This disaster had forced him to grow up overnight.

She smiled, though her heart squeezed painfully. "I see. So you want my help?"

Micah brightened instantly and grabbed her hand with both of his. "You really get me! My beautiful sister, please help this poor soul! I will be dead meat if Mum gets her hands on me!"

Willow snorted. "And here I thought you were opening up to me. I was actually touched."

"I was speaking from the heart!" Micah said earnestly. Then, just as quickly, his shoulders slumped. "But you know how I lose my temper around Mum when she nags..." He blinked at Willow rapidly, like an abandoned puppy. "Older sister... please?"

She let out a long sigh. "Fine. I’ll try. But promise me you’ll stay out of trouble from now on."

"Don’t worry!" Micah puffed up his chest proudly. "I even got Darcy to promise he’ll come to the Ramsy mansion this weekend."

Willow raised a brow. "Impressive."

Micah giggled when she reached over and patted his head. Warmth lit up his eyes, shining brighter than the passing streetlamps.

Mission accomplished. Micah thought.

With Willow on his side, he thought smugly, he might actually escape their mother’s wrath.

Inside, he rubbed his hands together in silent, wicked glee. Playing the emotional card really was the best strategy.