From Villain to Virtual Sweetheart: The Fake Heir's Grand Scheme(BL)-Chapter 203: Micah, Asena, and the Curious Trio

Then the three of them stared at Clyde with burning curiosity. Their eyes were wide and focused, like kids waiting to hear the ending of a secret story. None of them said a word, but their pointed looks said everything. They were dying to know the truth, and clearly annoyed he had kept it from them.

Clyde’s lips twitched but he didn’t clarify anything. He just turned on his heel and headed straight to his study, ignoring them.

Jacklin’s eyes narrowed. "Fine," she huffed, crossing her arms. "Then we’re all going to Ramsy’s banquet."

Emile’s ears perked up. "Ramsy? As in... Micah’s family?"

"Yeah," Jacklin replied, looking over her shoulder at him. " You didn’t know? It’s his birthday this Friday. They sent us an invitation."

Clyde’s step came to a sudden halt just a few feet from them. "Birthday?" he muttered under his breath. His fingers twitched at his sides as a strange tension filled his chest.

Banquets at Ramsys? Was his panic attack related to this?

His eyes narrowed slightly as other thoughts rushed through his head. Why didn’t Micah tell him? He thought, his jaw tightening. Wasn’t Micah with him just yesterday? Couldn’t he just invite him? Was he less than a stranger to receive an invitation?

"What?" Emile exclaimed. "It’s his birthday?"

"He didn’t mention it?" Jacklin asked with surprise. "I guess that means Asena will definitely be there!"

"Asena? Who’s Asena?" Emile asked, blinking.

"Our little aunt!" Dean and Jacklin said at the same time, eyes on Clyde.

Clyde brought a hand up and rubbed his forehead slowly. He didn’t want to admit it. He shouldn’t admit it. But he couldn’t help it. The way that title sounded, little aunt, it had a nice ring to it. It rolled through his mind like a guilty pleasure.

His lips stretched upward against his will. He could already imagine Micah’s face if they ever called him that. He would turn red all over, like a cooked shrimp.

Clyde quickly cleared his throat and wiped the smile away before anyone could see it.

"Where is the invitation? Can I see it?" Emile asked, turning toward Jacklin.

"Here," Jacklin said, handing it to him. "It came last week while no one was home."

Emile took a picture of it with his phone and said, "I’m definitely going! I want to see his face. I want to pinch his ears for setting me out! I thought we were friends!"

Clyde nodded inwardly. He also felt betrayed. Micah hadn’t invited him. And that hurt more than he liked to admit. Was Micah keeping his distance on purpose?

He pressed his fingers to his temple, lost in thought. Should he go? Should he show up and catch the boy by surprise? Maybe even see for himself how the Ramsy family treated Micah?

Was it worth the risk? If he showed up there and someone recognised him, there would be an uproar. The patriarch of the Du Pont family turning up at the heir of the Ramsay empire’s birthday banquet. It would blow up. It would put Micah under a spotlight he didn’t need.

Clyde knew he couldn’t go there. But others could.

Clyde slowly turned back around, his gaze sweeping over the three of them, Jacklin, Dean, and Emile.

They noticed instantly.

A chill ran down their spine.

Dean spoke first. "Little uncle, is there something you want us to do..."

Clyde gave a single nod. "Yeah. The three of you go to that banquet. I want you to listen to everything, any gossip, any talk about the Ramsy family. See how they treat each other."

"Why? What for?" Dean asked, puzzled.

"Don’t ask questions," Clyde said firmly. "Just do what I said."

His voice wasn’t loud, but it was sharp, the kind that left no room for argument.

Clyde turned back around and walked toward his study. His shoulders were stiff. The door shut with a soft click behind him.

Once inside, Clyde exhaled slowly, trying to steady himself. His emotions got out of hand. He felt helpless not being able to go personally there. It was Micah’s birthday. Of course, he wanted to be there, more than anything. But Micah had not invited him. And even if he had, Clyde couldn’t just show up. Not with who he was.

The trio on the sofa sat frozen, scared stiff.

"I think maybe we tease Uncle too much?" Emile said, his voice small.

Jacklin huffed. "What teasing? I was genuinely curious about her."

"Still," Dean mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck. "We might have pushed a little too hard."

"So, is it true then?" Emile asked, leaning forward. "He really has someone?"

"I mean..." Jacklin lifted a hand and shrugged. "Little Uncle was gone from the mansion for a whole week. And Mason said he was acting like someone in the honeymoon phase. You tell me."

"But that doesn’t prove anything," Emile said.

Dean shook his head. "No, we know little uncle the best. He’s been weird lately. Quiet. Distracted. Asking to do something strange. You noticed it too, right?"

Emile frowned, biting his lips. "Yeah, I guess."

Jacklin leaned forward. "Do you think our assumption was right? Is Asena really related to the Ramsy family? Otherwise, why would Uncle ask us to snoop around at the banquet?"

Dean fell into thought. "Yeah. That would explain a lot."

"Can somebody tell me who this Asena girl even is?!" Emile snapped.

Jacklin grinned. "There was this girl that uncle showed interest in last year. But she kinda vanished. We couldn’t track her down. Then, one day, I ran into her again, by accident. But still, she won’t tell me her real name. So I tried to match her with uncle, using some excuses."

"Is she the one you were going around asking about back then?" Emile asked.

"Yeah. She is a freshman at your university."

Emile blinked. "But what did she have to do with Micah?"

"Micah told someone he was her boyfriend," Dean replied.

Emile paused. Now all of that nonsense his cousins said before made sense. "Why didn’t you tell me sooner? I could have dug deeper. I share a room with Micah."

"Because of Uncle. He told us to back off." Dean said with a shrug.

Emile nodded, understanding the situation. "Alright, fine. I get it." he crossed his arms and leaned back, pouting. "But I still don’t think Micah has a girlfriend."

"Yeah, we don’t think so either," Jacklin said. "That’s why we guessed Asena might be related to Ramsy’s family."

"Anyway, we probably could see Asena this Friday. Or find something useful." Dean said.

The trio nodded in agreement.

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