From Villain to Virtual Sweetheart: The Fake Heir's Grand Scheme(BL)
Chapter 178: Before He Falls Too Far

Chapter 178: Before He Falls Too Far

Micah stormed into the dorm room, his jaw tight and his footsteps loud against the floor. The door slammed shut behind him with a sharp bang that echoed down the hall. He didn’t care who heard. His mood was foul, and he had no energy left to pretend otherwise.

Without even glancing around, he yanked his bag off his shoulder and threw it toward the desk. It hit the chair with a loud thud and slid to the floor. His shoes came off next, kicked carelessly in different directions. One landed near the desk, the other by the closet.

With a loud sigh, Micah dropped face-first onto his bed, arms spread out like a fallen tree. His cheek was pressed against the pillow, but he didn’t relax. His shoulders were stiff, his back tense, and his fingers twitched against the sheets. The pillow muffled a long, frustrated groan.

At least the room was empty. Good.

He didn’t want to talk to anyone. Didn’t want to explain anything. He felt like punching something, maybe the wall, maybe the bed, maybe his own stupid thoughts.

"Clyde," he growled into the pillow. "That stupid man!"

His fingers curled into fists.

He rolled over onto his back and stared at the ceiling. Then, with a huff, he sat up and grabbed his phone from his pants pocket. His thumb moved quickly, tapping open the search bar. His mind was racing too fast to think straight, but he typed one name: Charlotte Sullivan.

She had been his muse in high school. Bright eyes, graceful movements, that elegant way she carried herself. He used to sketch her for his designs. He remembered her features.

And director Allen... she looked so much like her. Too similar.

Micah’s brows knit together as he stared at the photos on Charlotte’s social media. His thumb scrolled slowly, pausing on a recent family picture outside their small clothing factory, Tanaz Production. His eyes narrowed.

That fabric on Charlotte’s dress... the pattern and the texture were more refined than what he remembered she wore before. Almost too refined.

Could it be?

He zoomed in on the image, studying the details. The design was clean, sharp, and the material looked like high-grade fabric, something not easily found in small local shops. His chest tightened.

"Sorkh Fabric..." he muttered. "Would they promote someone connected to a possible rival company?"

He shook his head, rubbing his temples.

No. That didn’t make sense. Unless the Sullivan was stealing techniques. Or getting special deals. What if they were using Sorkh’s material to make their own clothes cheaper and better? What if they had planted Director Allen there to spy? To steal?

A cold feeling crept up Micah’s spine. He quickly lunged toward his notebook where he kept notes on the novel plot hidden in a drawer. He flipped until he reached the section about his so-called friends in the novel.

Evan. He had become a successful CEO, funding a textile factory...

No way! He was with Charlotte last time...

Could it be that they handed the classified documents to Evan? That way no one would suspect them...

No... Evan and Sullivan seemed too dumb to plan something like that. "Don’t tell me it’s Aidan Wilson again!" Micah muttered. "That psycho! Why does he always use such underhanded methods?!"

He took a deep breath.

He was sure of it. Director Allen had to be related to the Sullivan family.

There was no way two people could look that similar without being family. Not to mention, in the novel, Evan soared to be a business tycoon, monopolising the fabric industry.

There was no way this was just a coincidence.

And now Clyde just had to show interest in her... was it the same in the novel? Has she taken advantage of Clyde?

Was it a conspiracy?

Micah yanked his hair in frustration and groaned loudly. He fell back onto the bed again and punched the pillow.

How could he be falling for someone like her? So suspicious?!

Was it all part of a plan? Was Director Allen targeting Clyde on purpose?

Clyde would never believe him without evidence. Shit! Micah punched the pillow again.

Maybe if he could confront Charlotte in front of Clyde...

Micah shook his head. No.

It was apparent from today’s introduction that Clyde didn’t like to be known as a Du Pont. He couldn’t do the direct confrontation.

Honestly, he didn’t want to see Charlotte either.

Micah’s chest rose and fell quickly. He turned on his side, glaring at the floor. He couldn’t let this go. But how was he supposed to bring this up to Clyde? The guy was probably all hearts and roses for her now. He might even start ignoring Micah just for thinking he was flirting with her...

"Fuck!" he mumbled, rubbing his eyes with the heel of his palm.

He sat up again and stared at his phone. No new message. Nothing from Clyde. Figures.

Micah swallowed and looked away, feeling a small ache in his chest.

Even if it was none of his business, he couldn’t just sit here and watch Clyde walk into a trap. He owed him that much.

Not to mention, if Aidan was really behind this...

He took a deep breath and tapped on Lin Heye’s contact.

The call rang for a while before it picked up.

"Hey, little brother, what’s up?" Lin Heye’s cheerful voice came through.

"Mr. Lin... I need a favour," Micah said, sitting up straighter.

"Hmm? What kind of favour? Something even Clyde can’t help with?" Lin Heye teased.

Micah pressed his lips together. "No, it’s not like that..."

"Hm?"

Micah hesitated. "The thing is... today I went to Sorkh Factory with my classmates. We met someone there... Director Allen."

"Okay? And?"

"She looked exactly like someone I went to high school with," Micah said slowly, "Charlotte Sullivan. Her family owns Tanaz Production."

"So?!"

"Umm, but Mr Du Pont also was there..."

"Who’s Mr Du Pont? Wait! You mean Clyde?! What happened to being casual? Why are you back to Mister?!" Lin Heye practically shouted.

"That’s not the point!" Micah snapped. "I am saying that the woman is suspicious! She’s not just some employee. She has a high position there! But if she is connected to the Sullivan family, then something’s off. I don’t have proof, but I have seen Tanaz’s fabric. It’s way too sophisticated compared to before. It could be connected."

There was a pause. "Why are you telling me this?"

Micah’s throat tightened. He stared at the floor for a moment before answering. "It’s better he hears it from a friend than from some strangers. He seems to like her..."

For a while, there was only silence on the line.

Then Lin Heye sighed. "Fine. I’ll talk to him. Where are you? I’ll send you some nutritional soups."

"Thank you. I am in a dorm. That would be great. Your food is so delicious." Micah said.

"Alright. I’ll call you when it gets there. Go to the gate to pick it up." Lin Heye said and ended the call.

Micah tossed the phone aside. Feeling a bit better. The weight in his chest didn’t disappear, but it felt a little lighter.

This was not his responsibility anymore.

*****

On the other end, Lin Heye lowered his phone and turned to look at Clyde.

Clyde was sitting at the same table where Micah and he had eaten together not long ago. He didn’t say much since arriving, just walked in with a stormy face and slumped into the seat like gravity had increased.

Lin Heye had tried to ask what was wrong, but Clyde had stayed quiet, staring blankly ahead, like he was lost somewhere far away.

This much showing of emotions was a first for Clyde. Lin Heye had never seen him this emotional.

But when the phone rang and Lin Heye said, "Micah’s calling," Clyde’s head had snapped up so fast it was like someone had pulled a string. His whole posture changed. The look Clyde gave him was so intense that he instinctively put the phone on speaker.

The moment Micah’s voice came through the speaker, Clyde sat up straighter, eyes fixed on the phone.

And then he listened.

Every word Micah said seemed to strike him in a different way. His face shifted again and again. Surprise. Confusion. Guilt. Something that might have been anger and then something softer.

By the end, Clyde had leaned forward, elbows on his knees, and covered his face with both hands. He didn’t say anything.

But Lin Heye could tell. Whatever had happened today, it mattered.

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