From Villain to Virtual Sweetheart: The Fake Heir's Grand Scheme(BL)-Chapter 569: What Makes a Son (part two)

Inside the bedroom, Micah was on the phone with his mother, tension tightening his throat. His hand trembled around the device. He had laid everything bare, admitting the guilt he carried toward Darcy.

Elina sighed loudly, her voice trembling. "I can’t understand... You are as important as him. Why are you doing this? Please, Micah.... I put up with everything you’ve done recently because I wanted to ease your mind. But I can’t anymore... this is too much. Don’t you care about me? About your family?"

Micah’s knees weakened, and he slowly slid down the wall until he was sitting on the floor, back curved, phone pressed against his ear. His eyes turned red, and tears gathered in them as the accusation stung his chest. "I’m doing it because I care. I don’t want to lose you. But a big happy family... it needs sacrifice, doesn’t it? Haven’t you done this too, Mum? Dad had told me about it..."

"That was different!" Elina cried. "I did it because I loved your father. I wanted to be with him."

"Mum..." Micah squeezed his eyes shut, head hanging low. "You gave up your freedom, your spirit, just to fit into the Ramsy family. Dad told me he regretted that he let you do that after you broke down, but even now you still think you did the right thing."

His breath shook as he continued.

"I am your son. Of course, how could I not be like you? I won’t regret it. And I’ll think I’m doing the right thing."

He pressed a hand over his trembling mouth, forcing himself to steady before speaking again.

"Because I love you guys," he said. "I want you to reconcile with Darcy. I want to protect everyone from the malice of others. You know what will happen once the truth gets out on national TV. How will people react? How will the Ramsys’ enemies use that chance to tear us apart? Isn’t that why you cut ties with your family? With your past? Changing yourself to a graceful uptight lady, befitting the name of the Ramsy family? I’m doing the same thing."

His voice softened to a breaking point. "I get it from you, Mum."

On the other end, a choked sob escaped Elina.

Micah closed his eyes, tears slipping down his cheeks. He didn’t wipe them away. He let them fall, warm and heavy, dripping from his jaw to his shirt. His breathing came in uneven, shuddering pulls, his entire body curling inward like he was trying to shrink away from the pain in his chest.

Outside the door, Darcy pressed a hand over his own mouth, eyes wide and stinging. His heart hammered so hard he worried Micah might hear it through the wood. He had come to listen because he’d been suspicious, Micah had acted strange, cagey, dismissive.

But he hadn’t expected this. Not this raw ache. Not this self-blame. Not this... love.

This desperate, painful love that Micah carried alone like a secret burden.

Inside, Micah stayed silent as his mother quietly sobbed. It was a sound he’d feared hearing for days. He had avoided this conversation because the thought of being the reason she cried made him feel sick.

He bit the inside of his cheek hard, grounding himself against the pain.

This talk was long overdue. Micah knew he should have talked to his mother, explaining the reason for his behaviour. But he could never speak about the truth, about the novel, about how all of them would fall into misery, how everyone would break because of the baby switched matter.

Yes. The universe had shown him the book. It had revealed everything: the future, the downfall, the tragedy. It had placed the weight squarely on his shoulders.

Micah lifted his head slightly, blinking through the blur of tears.

It chose him. Whether he liked it or not.

And if he had to be the shield, the distraction, the target, then he would. People could mock him, misunderstand him, throw rotten eggs, and slander him endlessly. He could take it.

His family couldn’t.

Darcy definitely couldn’t.

He curled his fingers against his chest, pulling his knees closer.

There was no way around it. No alternate path. He had already decided. He would bear it all if it meant Darcy, and the family he loved, could have peace. Happiness. The future they deserved.

Nothing would break his resolve. He was ready to face the world if he could help his family and Darcy.

Outside the door, Darcy silently leaned his forehead against the wood, eyes shutting tight.

He finally understood. Micah wasn’t hiding everything from the Ramsys out of a lack of trust. He wasn’t choosing showbiz for glory. He wasn’t ignoring Clyde or refusing to make their relationship official because of the Ramsy family.

He was protecting them. Protect Clyde. Protect Darcy. Protect everyone. At the cost of himself. And Darcy’s heart... hurt. Hurt in a way he didn’t know how to swallow.

Darcy stepped away from the door, slipping back toward the kitchen before Micah ended the call, leaving no trace of the fact that he had just heard the truth Micah had never once said to his face.

But now he understood. Micah was subconsciously trying to avoid the tragedy that had destroyed him, and destroyed the Ramsy business, in the timeline Darcy remembered.

But the path he had chosen was the path of destruction. He was ready to sacrifice everything, from love to reputation, for that reason.

Darcy didn’t know whether he should be feeling delighted or sad.

He was not in need of the fake heir’s sacrifice to protect himself and his family. He wasn’t foolish enough to fall into the same trap twice.

Yet, his heart swelled, knowing Micah cared about him enough to go all in.

Was this the universe’s repayment for his past life’s misery? Then why... why would he still rather be the one suffering, instead of Micah?

Why couldn’t he stand the thought of Micah being miserable?