From Villain to Virtual Sweetheart: The Fake Heir's Grand Scheme(BL)-Chapter 573: When Relatives Gather, Daggers Follow (part one)

The mansion felt strangely full that evening, even though the head of the Ramsy family and his two granddaughters were still absent. Servants moved quietly through the halls, carrying trays, adjusting the temperature, and straightening small details as if trying to compensate for the tension hanging over everyone.

Before the dinner officially began, the Ramsys, except for Willow, had come back into the main house. Fortunately, Aria and Albert arrived before the distant relatives who sported stiff greetings and curious eyes toward Darcy. The living room lights were warm, bright enough to feel welcoming, but not bright enough to erase the tension.

Micah walked out of the kitchen with Elina in silence after she insisted she was fine. Her eyes were still red around the edges, but no longer swollen. She pushed a few loose strands of hair behind her ear and forced a smile whenever someone looked her way.

The first thing Micah did was to scan the room and catch the relieved expressions on Albert and Aria’s faces. He sighed in relief, realising Zhou Ruyan was stable. For now, at least.

Jacob and Elina slipped into the role of hosts almost automatically. The moment they caught sight of Darcy sitting awkwardly on the sofa, they swooped to his side, each taking an arm and practically dragging him around the room.

"This is your second cousin from your great-aunt so-and-so...her husband owns a string of clinics."

"Ah, and this uncle is from your first great-uncle side, he used to play with your father when they were kids."

Darcy shook hands, bowed slightly out of habit, and murmured polite greetings. His shoulders stiffened every time someone leaned in too close, but he kept a composed smile.

Micah watched from the side, arms folded loosely. Aria stood beside him with a drink in hand, swirling the ice around with an absent-minded motion.

"How’s she?" Micah asked softly, his voice barely above the hum of conversation.

Aria took a slow sip before answering, letting the cool glass linger near her lips. "She’s in the CCU. They’re monitoring everything closely. No visitors allowed... and even then, Willow insisted on staying." She exhaled. "She basically glared the nurse into giving her a chair."

Micah’s lips twitched. "Sounds like older sister."

"Micah," Aria added gently, turning her head toward him, "she’s going to be fine. Don’t overthink."

He nodded, eyes fixed on a spot on the carpet. "I know."

A beat of silence passed before Aria leaned slightly closer, lowering her voice even more. "Second Aunt’s family is eyeing him."

Micah turned. Across the room, Albert’s sister and her family stood in a line as if posing for a portrait. Her granddaughter, dolled up with a perfectly curled ponytail, kept sneaking glances at Darcy like a cat preparing to pounce on a distracted bird.

Micah snorted. "Ha! A toad dreaming of eating swan meat." His gaze sharpened. "She’s so beneath him. What? Do they think because he grew up outside he’s easily fooled?"

Aria raised an eyebrow, amused. "What are you then, his father?"

Micah pressed a hand to his chest dramatically. "Of course. Do you know how much suffering I endured to get him to acknowledge this family?"

Aria clicked her tongue. "What’s the point? With your track record of being a troublemaker, if I go around telling everyone my little brother was the one who brought Darcy home, nobody will believe me. They’ll think I’m trying to flatter you."

"I don’t need them to like me. I don’t need anyone’s approval," Micah said simply. "Darcy and you guys are enough."

Aria softened. She nudged his arm lightly. "You know... Mom watched the raw footage of your ad shoot at least a hundred times. I caught her rewatching it yesterday." She rolled her eyes. "Visit home more often. She really misses you."

Micah sighed and nodded. "Alright. I will."

They both looked toward Darcy again. He was now surrounded by two uncles and a grandaunt, answering questions about school, food preferences, and hobbies like he was in a job interview he never applied for.

"Don’t you think he’s a little too relaxed with all of them?" Aria murmured. "These aren’t ordinary people. They tear each other apart the moment something threatens their interests."

"That only proves how talented he is," Micah replied. "Darcy’s born to be at the top. If fate hadn’t played a cruel joke...."

Aria reached over and pinched his side sharply.

"Ow!" Micah jerked, rubbing the spot. "Sis! Are you filling in for Mom now?"

"Stop acting like his life would’ve been perfect here," Aria snapped softly. "Are you implying all the years we lived together were a joke to you?"

Micah’s face crumpled. "Of course not. I’m grateful for everything you all did for me. I just..." He watched Darcy trying politely to escape a conversation about stocks, even though he clearly had never studied them. "I just feel bad for him sometimes. If he had grown up here, he might’ve achieved something extraordinary by now."

Aria sighed and leaned her shoulder against the wall. "How do you know? With how stubborn he is, he might’ve headbutted Grandpa by age ten. And Mom and Dad by twelve. Maybe where he grew up shaped him into someone strong enough to stand here now. Don’t assume things based on your guilt."

Micah’s lips curled into a small, sad smile. "Yeah. That’s possible too."

He quieted down after that, and Aria didn’t press the topic.

Across the room, Darcy finally freed himself from two enthusiastic aunts and retreated toward the table of drinks. His shoulders sank in relief as he reached for a glass of water.

His eyes drifted to Micah and Aria. Something had definitely happened, Micah’s body language gave it away. Yet, he did not go after him for answers.

Their secrecy was not something that put him in a difficult position. If anything, it seemed they were acting as if nothing had happened, trying to make this dinner a successful event.

Darcy lifted the glass and took a few sips from the cold water, calming down his turmoil emotions.

Seeing these relatives again, with those familiar, hungry eyes, was more disgusting than he’d expected. But when he lowered his glass, his gaze met Micah’s across the room. Micah gave him the smallest nod, steady and unspoken.

Darcy exhaled slowly. Maybe... this time wouldn’t end the same way.