From Villain to Virtual Sweetheart: The Fake Heir's Grand Scheme(BL)-Chapter 241: Family Values: Discounted at 5%

Jacklin took a few steps away from the centre of the hall and then stopped. She turned toward the other two. Her expression turned thoughtful. "What do you think?" she asked in a low voice.

Emile blinked, grabbing a fruit juice from a tray. "About what?"

Jacklin folded her arms. "Ah! Don’t tell me you already forgot what Little Uncle asked? He wanted us to observe. See how they treat Micah?"

"Oh, that," Emile said. "To me, honestly, it seemed normal. Even kind?"

"They were his mother’s family," Dean interjected.

"So?" Emile asked.

"They are not in our circle. Meaning, they are beneath the Ramsy family in terms of power and influence," Dean explained.

Jacklin nodded in agreement. "Yeah. They might care about him, but they don’t have much influence or say in Micah’s place in the family. Or Asena’s, if she were ever to be involved."

"Speaking of Asena, have you seen anyone here who resembles her?" Emile asked Jacklin.

Jacklin furrowed her brow. "No. I met Micah’s sisters earlier. And some cousins. Like Dean said, not even close. None of them were similar to Asena..."

"Ah. I am no help there. The picture you showed me was kind of blurry. What, couldn’t you get a good selfie or something?" Emile grumbled.

"She is shy," Jacklin said, shrugging.

"At least tell me some of her features, like height, weight, anything."

"Well, she is a tall girl, slender. Hourglass figure. Thin. Doll-like gorgeous," Jacklin replied.

"Huh?" Emile blinked. "Like who? Is she a goddess or something? Are you sure you see her clearly? Show me someone here that fits."

Jacklin looked around, scanning the group of guests. Her eyes paused near a group of young women chatting in a corner, then drifted back to Emile. She hesitated.

Then a strange look came over her face. Her mouth opened slightly, and her brows drew together. "Now I think about it... Asena’s build...it was kind of similar to Micah’s..."

"No way..." Dean hissed. "You mean she is like an illegitimate daughter or something?"

"Nah. That’s ridiculous. If she were, it would have blown up already. There’s no way they could keep that hidden in upper society," Emile said, waving a hand.

Before Jacklin could reply, the music cut off. A brief hush of microphone buzzed to life.

The three cousins turned their heads sharply toward the front of the hall. There, the Ramsy family stood on an elevated stage. Albert Ramsy stood in the centre, and around him were Jacob and Elina. A few other family members took to the stage.

As a host, Jacob stepped forward and took the microphone. "Thank you all for coming tonight," he began. "Tonight, we gather to celebrate not only another year in our son’s life, but also his college acceptance into QC University, showing a great deal of strength and hard work. He stands here with us tonight, older, stronger, wiser, and just as stubborn as ever."

There was soft laughter from the guests.

"We’re proud of you," Jacob said. "And hope that whatever road you walk, you’ll walk it knowing you are deeply loved."

He gestured to Micah, who was then led up to the table with a tall, decorated cake. The guests clapped politely as Micah lifted the knife and made the first cut. His mother leaned over and kissed him on the cheek, making him flush red.

The trio zoomed at them, searching for Asena and assessing Micah’s foothold in the family.

"To me, it’s heartwarming," Emile just began whispering when he heard a murmur. From behind them, a small group of elegantly dressed guests was chatting, voices low.

"What a good show they are putting on..."

"Yeah? Like anybody doesn’t know he is just a waste."

"Exactly. They gave him a fashion something major. What does that mean? It means he won’t set foot in Ramsy’s empire."

"Yeah. Like Albert Ramsy, that business tycoon, let a troublemaker manage his legacy. This is all pretence."

"I heard they didn’t give him more than a 5 per cent share. Same as the second daughter. The first one, Willow, had got 10 per cent apparently."

"I feel sorry for him. He’s probably the only one who thinks they cherish him!"

"Haha! That’s why they call him foolish waste. He is so arrogant and self-centred that he couldn’t see the reality."

"Tsk. Acting high and mighty."

Emile, Jacklin and Dean stood frozen, listening to the gossip.

They exchanged glances. "Do you think it’s true?" Emile stumbled in his words.

He had considered Micah his friend, even if he often rolled his eyes at him. His heart ached thinking that what they said might be right. How much had Micah hidden? Did he know?

Dean’s expression turned serious, his eyes scanning the smug faces of the gossiping guests.

Jacklin was no better. For people to gossip this brazenly and knowing this much information about Ramsy’s internal affairs...

There was something wrong.

Even though they thought of Micah as an enemy to their uncle’s happiness, he was Emile’s friend and roommate. And maybe to Asena too. Someone important.

"So...he didn’t call his family that night at the hospital... was it because he already knew?" Emile whispered, his voice filled with sadness.

Dean looked at him and pursed his lips. "We should tell little Uncle," he said and fished out his phone. He quickly typed a message, then hit send.

Emile watched him type, his brows furrowing. "Why does Little Uncle care so much about this anyway?" he asked, upset. "He wouldn’t use this to hurt Micah, right?"

Dean shook his head. "Nah. He would never do that. If he were planning to hurt Micah, he wouldn’t have come to the hospital with us that day. Maybe... he pities him."

Emile’s expression fell even more.

Jacklin hadn’t spoken. She was staring at Micah, eyes locked.

Micah was laughing as his cousin tried to smear frosting on his sister’s face. She felt his body language was oddly familiar. The way he pouted. The way he smiled. It was really strange. The way he flushed red when his mother kissed him on the cheek in front of everyone. The way he stood when shy. The way he looked up at someone from under his lashes...

Had she seen him before?