Chapter 462: The Morning He Brought Him Home (part one)

Chapter 462: The Morning He Brought Him Home (part one)

After a few quiet minutes at the doorway, Darcy finally loosened his grip on his mother. He gently pulled back, dabbing the corner of Flora’s eyes with a handkerchief.

"Let’s go inside," he mumbled softly.

Flora nodded, still sniffling as he guided her inside. He sat her down on the couch, then went back to set the suitcase by the wall before closing the door.

Darcy exhaled slowly as he crossed the living room and sat down beside Flora, hands still trembling.

"Sweetheart," Flora began, her voice soft but worried, "where have you been all this time? You only said you had something to take care of." She reached out, grabbing Darcy’s hand tightly.

"Mum..." Darcy hesitated, licking his dry lips. "I went to see him."

Flora looked at him for a second before she realised what he meant. "Why?" she asked, voice shaking. "Did you go to... did something happen? Did you two fight?"

Darcy shook his head quickly. "No. I needed to clear something up."

"Ah... I am sorry I didn’t tell you... I was just," she sighed, her eyes clouded with guilt. "I have no idea how to break it to you that... he was the one you had switched places with. I was so worried it would hurt you."

Darcy gave her hand a gentle squeeze and forced a small smile. "Don’t worry about it, Mum. You did what you thought was best. We can handle everything on our own." He paused, glancing at her tired face, the faint pallor under her eyes. "But please don’t overwork yourself anymore. What if your illness flares up again?"

Flora let out a faint laugh and patted his hand. "Silly boy. Worry about yourself. I’m fine."

"Right," he mumbled, eyes softening. Then his brows furrowed. "Where is Nora?" Darcy asked, looking around.

Flora’s gaze flickered toward the closed door down the hall.

Darcy followed her eyes. "Is she... hiding?"

Flora sighed softly, twisting the fabric of her skirt. "Since the day I told her the truth... she has been worried about you. But when she heard your voice just now..." She trailed off, her voice tinged with helplessness.

"Why didn’t you tell me sooner?" Darcy stood up and walked to the door.

"Nora?" he called, knocking on the door. There was no reply.

He leaned his forehead lightly against the door, his voice tentative. "Are you mad at me? Or are you disappointed that I am not really your brother?" A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Or maybe you are upset that instead of me, Micah hasn’t been your brother from the start? I know he is much better than me..."

Before his teasing words could finish, the door swung open with a loud thud.

"Brother!" Nora cried out in anger. "Don’t say such things! I don’t care about any of that. I... I just didn’t know how to talk with you anymore..." Nora said with a trembling voice as she lowered her head.

Darcy reached out and patted her head. "Idiot," he said softly. "Nothing’s changed. You are still my lovely little sister."

Nora’s lips trembled, and her eyes welled up. "I’m sorry..." she whispered.

Without thinking, Darcy pulled her into a quick hug. "Go wash your face and come out. I bought you souvenirs."

Nora nodded, offering him a smile before turning around and hurrying into the bathroom.

Darcy spun on his heels and walked back to the living room. Flora was pouring water into a pot, her expression soft.

"Mum..." Darcy called, grabbing the kettle from her hands. "Do you want to see him?"

Flora paused as she reached for the tea leaves container. The silence stretched for a few seconds before she handed him the tea leaves and met his gaze. "I’ll do what you are comfortable with. That’s all that matters to me."

Darcy looked at the gentle, kind woman, and his eyes softened. He lowered his gaze. "I’m alright, Mum. The reason I am asking...is because he is here too."

Flora flinched. "Huh?"

"He came with me. But he is at the internet cafe, waiting for your permission." Darcy said slowly.

Flora’s pupils trembled. "He’s here...?"

Darcy nodded. He would never stand in the way of Flora seeing Micah.

In his past life, it hadn’t gone this way. He still remembered too clearly how the Ramsy family had interfered, making a bunch of excuses, weaving lies. They said Micah was too sensitive, that it was hard for him to see his mother so sick. They told Flora that Micah couldn’t handle it, that he had gone abroad to find a cure for her. They had said the same lies to Micah, that Flora had been sent overseas for treatment.

Darcy clenched his hands. Back then, he hadn’t known the truth. He hadn’t known whether Micah truly didn’t want to see his mother, didn’t want to associate with a poor woman, or if he had been kept away.

That was when Silas had gotten close to Micah, updating him on his mother’s progress. And when Darcy told the truth to Micah... the young man had gone straight to the hospital, even volunteered for a stem cell transplant.

By then, Flora had grown too weak. Their reunion had not been joyful.

Darcy had believed the silver-haired young man was really eager to help Flora. But when the result came out and Micah never showed up...

Darcy shut his eyes, blocking the memory.

In this timeline, things were different. Micah had known the truth and had come to them willingly. And he remembered how invested Micah had been in this timeline, how he had tried so hard to find a new medicine and method to cure Flora.

Darcy couldn’t ignore that. He still didn’t know if he could completely trust Micah. Not yet. There were too many shadows between them. But for now, he was willing to give Micah a chance.

But if he ruined it, Darcy would mercilessly cut him off. The important thing was his mother’s happiness and well-being.

Flora paused, then nodded. "Okay. Call him to come up."

Darcy fished out his mobile phone and unlocked it. His thumb hovered over the screen for a moment before he started typing.

Inwardly, he thought, ’Micah, I am giving you the benefit of the doubt, letting you into our home. I hope you will not disappoint me.’