Chapter 466: Help, My Brother Just Dumped Our Family
Micah had no idea how he managed to eat the rest of his breakfast or what anything on the table even tasted like. His fork clinked against the porcelain plate a few times, dropping a piece of egg on the table.
The way Flora kept glancing at him with pity, worry, heartbreak, and fondness made goosebumps rise along his arms. Every time he lifted his head, he caught that look again, and it only made his confusion grow more.
He didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He was in awe... how the hell did Flora come to the conclusion that he was dating Darcy? Couldn’t they be just normal friends? What stupid thing did he say for her to assume that?
He chewed a bite of toast, expression blank. Nothing came to his mind. Shit! He was dying to clarify the matter, yet reason told him just to shut up.
Yeah. He couldn’t bring it up. Asking would only make it worse. It would be like stirring a pot of shit! The moment he mentioned that, the stench would choke them all over again.
Micah gulped down his milk, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. His mind raced to find a plausible excuse to leave the table and get away from Flora’s intense gaze. A light switched on his head. Right! Why didn’t he think of it earlier? He could ask Darcy to show him around, maybe even a photo album! He turned to the young man, ready to ask for help.
But apparently Darcy had other plans.
"Alright," Darcy began. "Now that everyone is here, I want to talk about something."
Everyone looked at Darcy, waiting for him to speak. Micah’s heart dropped like a stone to the bottom of the lake. He was really frightened about what might come out of Darcy’s mouth this time.
"I decided to meet the Ramsy family and officially sever ties with them. I’ll sign the papers to withdraw from the inheritance," Darcy said, voice calm and measured.
Micah was the first to explode. "Are you out of your freaking mind?" He shot up, his chair scraping against the floor.
Flora and Nora stared at him, dumbfounded not by what Darcy said, but by how Micah reacted. Their eyes went wide; never seen him this agitated.
Darcy took a napkin and wiped his cheek, where Micah’s spit had landed during his outburst. "I told you before," he said evenly. "Why are you acting surprised?"
Darcy leaned back in his chair, posture composed. He didn’t flinch under Micah’s glare. He found himself agreeing with what his past self had said, albeit for a stupid reason, like chasing Micah without the burden of family morality. But this Darcy...no. He was done with Ramsy’s family. He didn’t want to wade into muddy water again like a clueless fool he was in his previous life. Being used had put a bad taste in his mouth.
Why should he suffer again for a family he had no attachment to? He believed he was capable enough to earn money for his mum and sister on his own.
And the reason why he was telling it to Micah was to draw a clear line and extinguish any false hope of reconciliation Micah had for him with the Ramsy family. He didn’t want something like that airport sudden appearance to happen again.
Micah shook his head. "No! You can’t be serious! You said you wouldn’t go near the Ramsy’s company!" he turned desperately to Flora and Nora. "Mum! Little Sis! Say something, please! Knock some sense into him!"
The way he easily uttered the words Mum and sis made the other three people stunned. But Micah was too frustrated to notice.
Flora cleared her throat. "Cutting ties officially... what’s the reason, sweetheart?"
Darcy glanced at Micah from the corner of his eye, studying him. Was he acting? Was he pretending, showing off how good a boy he was in front of Flora and Nora?
Darcy wasn’t surprised by his protest. He guessed he would never agree brazenly to him. Wasn’t it in his previous life the same? Had him fooled easily, thinking Micah was genuinely caring? Thinking of him as a brother? Ha!
Even though Micah was different compared to before, Darcy would never let himself be bitten in the same place twice.
"I don’t want conflict," Darcy said simply. "And I don’t want pointless attention. Surely a family like Ramsys would be full of vultures inside and sharks outside, all eyeing their resources and influence. I don’t owe them anything to burden myself with these problems. The Ramsy never raised me, so what right do they have to expect me to step into this minefield and protect them?"
His tone was calm, almost detached, but the steel in his words filled the room.
Micah opened his mouth and closed it again like a fish, lost how to refute it. Darcy was right, but... it didn’t sit right with him.
"If what you are saying is right, then what about me?" Micah said, depressed. "I used Ramsy’s resources, but I can’t give them back anything in return. I am not smart like you or capable. I’m just a damn troublemaker with a bad reputation. So...by that logic, should I sign a slave contract to repay them?"
Micah stared at him, eyes full of self-reproach and mocking.
The expression made Darcy’s chest tighten. There it was again, that glimmer of guilt, of self-hate, belittling himself. Darcy didn’t like it. His heart ached when he saw that look. His attitude toward Micah had softened extremely compared to three days ago, when he found himself reborn. Darcy knew it himself. But even if he had let Micah stay close to him, he couldn’t just forget his past life easily.
The suffering... he knew this Micah was not the one who had hurt him. This one was softer, clumsier, and almost painfully sincere. So he had stopped himself from uttering harsh words again. Yet the idea of being near the Ramsy family... it made him nauseated.