Chapter 442: Missed Calls and Mixed Signals
The walk back to the villa felt endless. Neither Micah nor Darcy spoke, their footsteps crunching over the gravel path in stiff rhythm. The air between them was heavy, stretched thin by the words Darcy hadn’t been able to say and the ones Micah had refused to let him voice.
Darcy’s expression darkened, his throat burning with all the questions he couldn’t ask. He glanced sideways once and twice, but Micah looked ahead, never met his eyes.
Darcy replayed that look in his mind. He kept seeing that flicker of pain in Micah’s eyes, the way his voice had cracked when he had begged him to stop.
Why had Micah looked like that? Why so torn?
He didn’t know how to interpret it. Should he think Micah was rejecting him without saying a word? But why the hesitation? Why the painful look?
Should he think Micah had feelings for him but couldn’t be with him? Why not? Because he was Ramsy’s son? Or because of Clyde?
Darcy’s mind spun, grasping at answers that refused to come.
His fingers tightened their grip on the shopping bags. Nothing made sense. Yet he didn’t dare press. He was afraid that if he forced Micah to confront it now, Micah might lose his temper completely. And say something in anger, words that would break them thoroughly, words that Darcy had no desire to hear.
If that happened.... Darcy couldn’t bear it. So he walked in silence, suffocated by uncertainty.
When they reached the villa, Micah set the shopping bags down by the front door. His movements were clipped, as though he wanted to put distance between himself and Darcy as quickly as possible. Without looking back, he mumbled, "I’m heading to the beach," and strode away in a hurry.
Darcy’s hand on the doorknob halted for a second before he pushed it open and stepped inside. A heaviness settled in his chest.
He climbed the stairs and walked straight to his room. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he leaned forward and buried his face in his hands. He shouldn’t have pushed it. He knew Micah hated being cornered. And yet he had done it anyway, demanding an answer Micah wasn’t ready to give.
He had just thought to himself that he didn’t want to be known as Micah’s brother. But Micah’s reaction...
Honestly, he still had not grasped why Micah had done that. Was it only to protect him? To acknowledge him as the real young master instead of pretending otherwise? Or was it guilt? Why? He exhaled shakily, feeling drained.
Meanwhile, Micah walked to the shore. The salty wind hit his face, sticky with humidity, and he inhaled deeply. He stopped at a quiet spot near a cluster of rocks, pulled out his phone, and stared at the screen for a long moment. His thumb hovered over a number he hadn’t dared to call for weeks. His chest tightened. But today, after what had happened with Darcy, he needed to hear her voice. He pressed the button.
The line rang and rang. Micah sighed, lowering the phone slightly. She probably wouldn’t answer because it was an unfamiliar number.
He tried again, chewing on his lip.
On the other side, the Ramsy house was thrown into disarray.
Micah had no idea that far away, the Ramsy family all knew his new number.
"It’s Micah!" Elina exclaimed when she saw the name flash on her phone screen. Her fingers shook violently.
"What should I do?" Elina said, eyes wide.
"Just answer it, Mum!" Aria urged.
"I...I don’t know if I can. What if I say something stupid? What if he hangs up..."
"Mum! If you don’t answer, it will be worse!" Aria snapped, her own face pale.
Elina’s heart hammered against her ribs. For the past two weeks, she had been beside herself, unable to eat or sleep, her mind tormented by the truth that had come crashing down on them. She had begged Albert to let her fly to Micah, to see him face to face, but he had forbidden it. She had no way to obey, but the worry gnawed at her every hour.
Now here was her chance. Her son was calling her. Her fingers trembled over the screen. But before she could summon her courage, the call disconnected.
Elina gasped, tears blurring her vision. She pressed a hand to her chest, her breath shaky. "Ah... I missed it," she whispered in despair.
"Call him back, Mum!" Aria pleaded.
But before Elina could move her finger, the phone rang again.
She snatched it up instantly and set it on speaker. Yet, her voice was stuck.
On the other end, Micah’s voice was hesitant but clear. "Mum? It’s me. Micah."
The words pierced her. Elina’s lips trembled, tears spilling down her cheeks as she pressed a hand against her mouth to muffle her sob. Her son. Her sweet boy was calling her Mum again.
"Mum?" Micah said again, uncertain.
"Yes, sweetie," Elina finally forced herself to speak, her voice hoarse.
"Are you sick? You sound strange." Micah asked.
Elina took a deep breath, wiping her eyes. "It’s nothing serious. Don’t worry." She licked her dry lips and tried to keep her tone light. "How is it there? Are you enjoying yourself?"
Micah’s voice sounded weary, even as he joked. "Oh, the humidity is killing me. But the scenery is spectacular. I was really bored at first, but Darcy came. That made things better."
Elina’s heart skipped a beat hearing Darcy’s name. "Is he also...there with you?"
"Mmm, he was worried about me. It’s a pity we will have to return soon."
Elina was surprised that Micah was happy Darcy had gone there. "You could stay longer, you know. Take your time."
"Nah..." Micah’s tone softened. "We’ve got classes. Maybe another time."
The two fell into a silence. Only the sound of waves filled Micah’s ears. His throat tightened. He clenched the phone harder.
He couldn’t ask. He couldn’t bring himself to ask what she felt or thought, knowing the truth, knowing Micah was not her son.
Yeah. Better pretend nothing had happened. For now, it was easier to bury it all. Darcy was the top priority.