From Villain to Virtual Sweetheart: The Fake Heir's Grand Scheme(BL)-Chapter 571: Something’s Off (part one)

Darcy was the first to step out of the car when they arrived at the Ramsy mansion. The second his feet touched the ground, he inhaled deeply, grateful to be out of the enclosed space where Micah had spent the last ten minutes falling apart in panic. Micah had started losing his mind the moment Darcy mentioned that the entire Ramsy family would be waiting inside. His reaction was immediate, eyes widening and pupils shrinking.

By the time they pulled up to the mansion’s gate, he had been muttering to himself, shaking his knees so much the car trembled with him.

Darcy closed the car door with a soft click, rubbing his temples. "Finally...quiet," he mumbled under his breath.

Micah got out after him, though ’get out’ was generous. He moved like a robot, every joint creaking. Once he stood upright outside the car, he stiffly walked toward the entrance.

Reaching the door, he inhaled and exhaled several times. "Okay, okay, you got this," he whispered, brushing his sweaty palms on his jeans, trying to steady his nerves. He rubbed so hard it looked like he was trying to scrub away an entire layer of his skin.

Darcy watched from the side, arms crossed, patience thinning by the second. He glanced at Micah again, his eyelid jumping from the irritation.

He was one step away from walking in alone and leaving this idiot behind. But he had to remember he couldn’t appear familiar with the mansion. Even though he had walked through this door many times in his previous life, today he needed to act like someone hesitant, new, unsure. Someone who wasn’t part of this house. Someone who wasn’t, back then, betrayed by them.

He adjusted his expression, forcing a neutral, wary look.

Micah sucked in a breath. "Fuck it," he muttered, shoved the door open and stepped inside before he changed his mind. The entrance lights were warm, the marble reflecting it softly. Only one maid was stationed there. She straightened immediately.

"Welcome home, young master Micah," she said with a gentle bow. Her eyes briefly flicked to Darcy, calm but curious. "And guest. Please allow me."

Micah halted in his tracks. He opened his mouth to correct her but Darcy whispered to him. "Save it. It’s not the time for this. Thanks to someone we’re already late."

Micah closed his mouth, swallowing his words.

The maid looked at them, unsure. Darcy took off his overcoat and handed it to her with a casual elegance.

She took it immediately and placed the slippers at their feet.

Micah mumbled a quiet ’thanks’ as he changed his shoes, not happy at all with the way Ramsy’s family handled the baby switch matter. Why had they still not clarified the matter regarding who the real young master of this household was? First Driver Dan, now the maids and housekeepers. Everyone was still in the dark.

Micah bit his bottom lip, his already jittery mood worsening. He walked toward the living room where everyone had gathered as Darcy followed him silently. The moment he appeared side by side with Darcy, the room fell into a deadly hush.

Everyone turned their heads toward them, dozens of eyes fixated on the two boys, filled with curiosity and cautiousness.

Micah stood there in his casual hoodie and jeans, hair slightly messy from panicking. Darcy beside him looked calm and neat in black slim-fit trousers and a soft grey cashmere polo, the kind of clean elegance that made him naturally stand out. Their contrast was too noticeable. It was as if Micah had come to a casual hangout and Darcy to a formal meeting. In the eyes of the Ramsy family, there was no question who looked more like the heir.

Jacob was the first to break the silence. He rose from the sofa, clearing his throat. "My sons! You’re finally here," he said. His voice carried a strange awkward warmth. "Welcome home."

Micah bowed slightly. "Hello, aunts, uncles, cousins and dad," he greeted, forcing his voice to sound natural. In the car, he had made up his mind, he couldn’t suddenly start calling people differently. That would be too disrespectful. Better to stick to how he used to greet them until they asked him otherwise.

Jacob stepped forward, placing a hand on Darcy’s back, giving a pat that was probably meant to be reassuring, then gently urged him forward.

"Come, Darcy," Jacob said with a polite smile. "Let me introduce you properly."

He gestured toward his sisters and their families, calling them one by one.

Aunt Mabel shifted nervously beside her husband, Graham Sanford, her voice shaking. "Hello, Micah and my new nephew." Her eyes moved toward the dark-haired boy standing beside Micah.

Graham, towering and shy as always, only offered a small nod. He kept his hands clasped in front of him, shoulders hunched like he didn’t want to take up space.

Darcy returned the nod politely. "Good evening."

Aunt Felicity seemed unsure what expression to wear. She glanced at her husband, Lieutenant General Owen Booker, as if silently asking him to handle it.

Owen glanced at Darcy for a second before speaking. "Evening," he said. His tone was curt, but not hostile.

Micah had followed them, silently watching the awkward scene.

He coughed lightly, tugging at Darcy’s sleeve. "Let me get you a drink," he said, dragging him away from the scene to the corner where a table full of refreshments was set up.

Suddenly, Vivian appeared beside them, blocking Darcy’s path. Her smirk was fixed in place. "Hi," she said, twirling a strand of hair around her finger. "I’m Vivian...your first cousin."

Darcy’s expression shifted the faintest bit. In his past life, this girl was a nightmare. While others ignored him, Vivian openly mocked him, sabotaged him, and stirred trouble every chance she got. And she had always done it with a grin...just like now.

Before, Darcy thought all her cruelty was under Micah’s orders.

But this time was different. Vivian didn’t even glance at Micah. It was like Micah wasn’t even standing there.

"Darcy Edwood," he introduced himself coolly.

Vivian clicked her tongue. "Cousin, that won’t do. You should introduce yourself with your real family name. The Ramsy family name." She leaned in slightly. "Well. If someone else hadn’t been shamelessly using your name for so long, you wouldn’t have this problem now."

Darcy’s expression darkened instantly. What was this girl doing? Picking a fight? And with Micah? Wasn’t she supposed to be his loyal lapdog in his last life?

Had he even gotten that wrong?

Micah, however, completely ignored her taunts. He didn’t even blink in her direction. Instead, his gaze swept across the room, searching, counting, checking.

Alarm bells rang inside his head. "Something’s off," he muttered under his breath.

Darcy tilted his head, looking at him questioningly.

Micah caught it, offering him a small smile. "Chat with her. I’ll go talk to Dad."

Darcy hummed in response.

Vivian’s expression turned red to blue, noticing the two bluntly disregarding her words and presence.

Micah walked toward his father, uneasy.

Jacob noticed the shift on his son’s face. "Micah?" he asked softly as Micah stepped closer.

Micah lowered his voice so only Jacob could hear. "Dad... where are Mum and my sisters? And Grandma and Grandpa? They’re always here first."

Jacob pushed up his glasses, looking oddly troubled. "They’re... in the kitchen," he said. "Checking on dinner."

Micah stared at him. Jacob held the stare.

Micah didn’t believe him for a second.

"Right," Micah said slowly. "I’ll go take a look."

"Micah...wait..." Jacob tried to reach out, but Micah stepped away before he could grab his arm.

Without another word, Micah headed straight toward the kitchen.