From Villain to Virtual Sweetheart: The Fake Heir's Grand Scheme(BL)-Chapter 244: Zhou Ruyan Sees

Micah tore his gaze away from the stunning sight of Darcy and stepped forward.

"I’m glad you weren’t upset about the post..." Micah began. "I was worried you would be mad. About the cake, and that dumb caption," he said, rubbing the back of his neck.

Darcy turned his head. "I’m not angry," he interrupted gently. His expression softened, eyes warm. "I know you. You would never do something to hurt me. At least not on purpose," he said, smiling brightly.

Micah’s heart ached. The sincerity in Darcy’s voice... the pure, unshakable trust...Those words were like an arrow piercing his conscience.

It broke him. He looked away immediately.

The truth was so ugly.

Even after learning the truth, the fake heir still had not stepped aside, clinging to a life meant for someone else. Yeah, it was really unsightly.

Those trusting eyes... No. He didn’t deserve it.

Micah clenched his hands, nails biting into his palms.

Darcy’s words hurt. He still didn’t know the truth. Still didn’t know what was taken from him. That this entire estate, the family name, even the birthday banquet, was all supposed to be his. And yet here he was, smiling at Micah like he was the only person he could rely on in the world.

Micah bit the inside of his cheek, maintaining his calm facade.

Darcy followed him in silence. The mood around them had turned abruptly somber.

Micah’s body felt heavy, dragging his feet across the floor like they were chained with stones.

After a few minutes, they finally arrived. The narrow hallway outside the back building was quiet, filled only with a distant rustling of wind through the trees. Micah stood before the door, frozen for a moment, his breath trapped in his chest. His hand hovered above the doorknob, fingers slightly trembling.

Darcy glanced at him from the side. The hesitation in Micah’s eyes pressed heavily on his chest. He bit his bottom lip. He just hoped he wouldn’t mess up this meeting.

Micah drew in a slow breath. The moment he gripped the doorknob, his shoulders tightened. He pushed the door open.

The quiet click of the latch echoed louder than it should have. Inside, warm lamplight poured over the soft interior room. The air smelled faintly of aged sandalwood and dried osmanthus, floral and nostalgic. Antique furniture lined the walls, every piece elegant yet lived-in. In the centre sat a low table with a pale silk runner, and beside it...

There she was. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Zhou Ruyan sat by the window. Her posture was straight, hair tied in a careful knot behind her head. She was flipping slowly through a large photo album in her lap, her expression full of gentleness.

Micah’s throat closed. He knew that album.

He didn’t have to see the pages to know what was inside. Family portraits, birthday photos, snapshots of holidays and outings. Moments were meant to preserve a legacy. Moments where he was the centre of attention. The fake heir. The smiling, well-dressed child whom everyone believed belonged.

A lie.

Micah’s breath hitched, and the guilt twisted in his gut. His steps faltered.

Behind him, Darcy stepped inside and closed the door quietly.

He turned toward Micah, then paused.

Micah’s face had paled, his forehead was damp with sweat, and one hand drifted toward his stomach, pressing there as if to dull the pain.

Darcy’s heart skipped, alarmed. "Micah? Is it another episode?"

His voice broke through the stillness like a wave.

Zhou Ruyan looked up. Her fingers froze on the page. She blinked, once, slowly, as if she couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Her hands trembled, then the album slid from her lap and hit the ground with a loud bang.

Meanwhile, Micah had snapped his head toward Darcy, opening his mouth to reassure him when the sound echoed.

He jolted, forgetting the pain in his body. He strode toward her in a flash. "Grandma!"

Zhou Ruyan blinked again. Her fingers twitched, but she pressed them together in her lap, trying to steady herself. She smiled slightly. "My goodness, Micah. You startled me."

Micah dropped to his knees in front of her, catching her hands in his. "I’m sorry..." he said quickly. Then he lowered his voice, barely audible. "Please, don’t hate me..."

Zhou Royan looked down at him. Her lips parted, but she didn’t speak. Instead, she reached out with a shaking hand and gently brushed the side of his hair, smoothing a lock behind his ear the way she used to when he was small. Her fingers lingered there, trembling. Her eyes welled up. She blinked, clearing her tears.

Behind them, the door creaked open again.

A nurse stepped in, looking concerned. "Are you alright, madam?" she asked, voice low but urgent.

Zhou Ruyan’s entire expression shifted. Her eyes sharpened with authority. "I’m fine. We have a private chat," she said, calm but commanding. "Please don’t let anyone come in."

The nurse stiffened, startled by the change in tone. She bowed immediately. "Yes, madam." Then she closed the door.

Silence returned.

Darcy remained near the entrance, rooted in place. His eyes slowly moved from the door to the scene in front of him.

Micah was kneeling with his head lying on the lap of that old woman, who was seated regally above him, her hand resting gently on his hair. The scene was really hard to understand. He had never seen this version of Micah. Vulnerable. Quiet. Completely unguarded. This wasn’t like the time he was drunk, laughing and clinging to Darcy’s arm. That Micah was blurred by alcohol. But this one, kneeling, eyes closed, was real. He was showing vulnerability willingly. Raw and fragile.

He knew this old woman, Micah’s grandmother, was someone significant to Micah. He had seen signs of Micah’s nervousness from the moment they entered. But it seemed Micah regarded his grandmother above everything else.

If he wanted to stay by Micah’s side... he would have to win this woman’s favour. She wasn’t just Micah’s grandmother. She was the gatekeeper to his world.