From Villain to Virtual Sweetheart: The Fake Heir's Grand Scheme(BL)-Chapter 194: Of Silence and Sandalwood (part 2)

A few minutes earlier:

Just a hallway away from the lounge, Clyde found himself half-trapped in a conversation he hadn’t planned on.

He had just left the room and was about to head back to his office when the president of the La Riviere pharmaceutical company cornered him.

The man talked nonstop, going on about some budget concern, his mouth moving a mile a minute while Clyde’s patience wore thin.

Then, out of the corner of his eye, Clyde spotted movement.

A figure.

Micah.

He barely caught more than a flash, just the side of Micah’s face and the stiff set of his shoulders as he hurried down the hall. But it was enough.

Micah looked wrong. He wasn’t just walking fast. He was storming off, pale, eyes distant. Like he was barely holding himself together.

Was it his stomach again? The thought flashed in his mind.

Clyde didn’t hesitate. His body moved before his mind did.

"Sorry, I need to handle something," he muttered to the president without looking back.

He turned on his heel and followed Micah.

His footsteps quickened as he caught sight of Micah disappearing into the restroom at the end of the corridor.

Clyde pushed the door open a moment later, scanning the inside.

No one in sight.

He moved toward the row of stalls, pausing when he heard something, dry gagging. Then a low, strange sound, like someone struggling to breathe properly.

Clyde panicked. He stepped closer, knocking on the door. "Micah?" he called out, voice tight.

But there was no response. Just more strained breathing. freēwēbnovel.com

His chest clenched. Something was wrong. Really wrong.

He did something unimaginable. He stepped into the next stall, lifted his foot onto the toilet seat, and hoisted himself up slightly to peek over the top.

He saw Micah hunched over, one arm braced against the wall, the other trembling. His chest was rising and falling too fast, his face pale, sweat beading on his forehead. His lips were parted like he couldn’t catch his breath.

Clyde’s heart dropped.

He didn’t hesitate. He jumped down and backed out of his stall, then stepped over and kicked the lock open on Micah’s door.

The metal latch snapped with a loud clack. The door swung open.

Clyde rushed inside and grabbed Micah without warning, pulling him into a hug.

He turned to the boy himself. And lifted his face. "I’m here, okay? Just breathe slowly."

Micah felt disconnected from reality. The surreal feeling only deepened his panic. His thoughts were foggy, chest tight, but Clyde’s face flashed in his eyes. He tried to concentrate. He saw the wooden prayer beads, then felt a touch on his face. Micah looked up. Clyde.

He just focused on him. The fear and concern in those eyes were like a saving rope, he clung to them.

Clyde’s hand came up, his thumb brushed over his cheek, then found his mouth. The fingers pressed slightly on his lips, closing them. "Breathe through your nose. Long. Slow. Hold it. Then let it go, okay?"

Micah tried to do what he said. The panic didn’t vanish right away, but it loosened little by little.

One slow breath. Another. Then another.

The buzzing in his ears faded. The shaking in his hands slowed. Micah finally felt he could hear. He could smell. The sandalwood scent... Clyde’s scent.

He pressed his forehead against Clyde’s collarbone. Warm. Steady. Real.

Noticing Micah finally calming down, Clyde pulled out his hand from Micah’s face. He glanced down at his fingers. They were soaked in saliva. Warm and sticky.

His eyes darkened for a second before he wiped them calmly on his pants without a word.

Then wrapped both arms around Micah and hugged him fully. Not stiff. Not forced. Just firm and close.

Micah didn’t struggle. His body fell into the tight embrace. He closed his eyes and let out a shaky breath. The panic was gone now. Just fatigue remained. Bond deep and heavy.

"You okay now?" Clyde whispered. There was a tremble in it that he tried to hide.

Micah didn’t answer at first. He just nodded once, still pressed close.

Neither of them moved. In that quiet restroom, behind the broken door, they just held onto each other for a while.

There was a low murmur outside the restroom.

"What was that sound?" someone asked.

"You heard that too?"

"Yeah, something banged..." another replied.

A few more footsteps shuffled near the hallway.

"Should we call security? Could be a thief or something?"

"Yeah, I heard sometime ago, someone tried sneaking into another pharmaceutical company, wanting to steal research data."

"You stay here, I am going to call for backup."

The voice grew more urgent, closer.

Inside the restroom stall, Clyde’s eyebrow twitched. He let out a slow quiet sigh through his nose and looked down at Micah in his arms. The boy’s breathing had steadied, but his face was still pale. The rims of his eyes were pink, and the frame of his glasses was askew.

Clyde took out his coat and gently draped it over Micah’s head, covering most of his face.

Micah blinked slowly, confused. His dazed eyes looked up from under the edge of the coat. He didn’t say anything, just stared blankly.

Clyde’s heart trembled. He reached out and touched Micah’s cheek. "They are people outside," he whispered, "just stay still."

Then Clyde knelt down and carefully slipped an arm under Micah’s knees, the other still holding his back. He tightened his grip and lifted him in one swift motion, holding him securely in his arms.

Micah let out a small yelp, startled, but he was too worn out to protest. His arms instinctively clutched at Clyde’s shoulders, and his face dropped into the crook of Clyde’s neck, hiding there. The warmth of Clyde’s skin, the steady beat of his pulse, and the quiet scent of sandalwood calmed him down. He didn’t say a word. He just stayed curled up in Clyde’s arms.

Clyde straightened, eyes sharp and unreadable. His face had gone blank, cold. He turned toward the exit with steady steps.

Outside the restroom, the small group of staff near the hallway jumped slightly as the door swung open.

A man stepped out, tall and imposing, with a dark coat draped over someone in his arms. His eyes were hard, and his presence filled the space in an instant.

His commanding sight made them freeze. No one spoke.

Then one man found his voice. "Excuse me...Who are you, sir? This floor is not open to unauthorised individuals..."

Clyde glanced at the man. That was all it took. The man flinched, trailing off mid-sentence. He swallowed hard.

But then, another set of footsteps came rushing down the corridor. It was the president. "There you are!" he said, slightly out of breath. His expression shifted the moment he saw Clyde. He forced a polite smile and waved a hand at the staff. "It’s fine. Let him through. I’ll speak with everyone later."

Clyde gave the man a brief nod and didn’t slow down. He walked past the startled group and headed straight to the VIP elevator at the end of the hall.

Author’s special notes:

1. Why did Micah suddenly have a panic attack?

Alcohol affects brain chemistry - specifically GABA, a neurotransmitter that helps calm the brain. While small amounts of alcohol can enhance GABA and make a person feel relaxed, heavier drinking or the aftereffects can actually lower GABA levels. This drop increases tension and can trigger panic attacks, especially in people who already have some sort of anxiety disorder. Symptoms can kick in a few hours to even 24 hours after drinking, which is what happened with Micah.

2. Why did Micah act so docile in Clyde’s arms?

He was experiencing a panic attack hangover, the body’s crash after a surge of adrenaline. This can leave someone feeling weak, foggy, and emotionally drained. Symptoms include fatigue, dizziness, muscle aches, and numbness. It can last hours or even days, making someone unusually passive and fragile.

3. Clyde’s fingers ended up covered in saliva:

Yes, that happened. If you have ever seen a certain scene from the Hyperventilation Korean Anime, you’ll know exactly what I was referencing. My mind went there. But just to be clear. Clyde is always a gentleman. Completely innocent. Don’t blame him. Blame me and my dirty mind.🤭🤭

4. Clyde hugging Micah:

Honestly? I just wanted Micah to get a hug. He has been through a lot and needed comfort. That’s it. That’s the reason. My boy deserved it.

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