Chapter 467: The Great Beach Incident Cover-Up
Darcy watched as Micah’s expression crumbled into self-pity. He reached out and pinched Micah’s cheek. "What use would you have as a slave?" he said, voice teasing.
Micah’s temper flared immediately. "I’m trying to be humble, and you go straight for a personal attack? Real classy, Darcy!" he swatted Darcy’s hand away and puffed out his chest. "Look at these biceps!" Micah said, flexing his arm, showing off a surprisingly defined muscle bulge. "See that? I could take down ten men by myself! I’m built like a brick shithouse! Sure, maybe I’m short on brain cells, but I’m strong as a bull!"
"Really?" Darcy raised an eyebrow. "Who was the one who collapsed like a cardboard cutout on the beach after I just pecked..."
Micah jumped and clamped a hand over Darcy’s mouth, eyes wide. His panic turned to anger, glaring at the young man. Fuck! He was about to say he kissed him in front of already delusional Flora! Wouldn’t that be the final nail in his coffin? He would be branded as Darcy’s lover no matter how much he denied it!
The room went silent.
Micah froze, feeling Nora and Flora’s gossipy stares burning into his back.
"What happened on the beach?" Nora asked, voice full of curiosity.
Micah kept his hand on Darcy’s mouth tightly, dreading what he might utter. He let out a nervous laugh, trying to smooth things over. "Hahaha, nothing. I just slipped, that’s all. He’s just making fun of me again."
Darcy’s lips twitched under Micah’s palm, looking at him with eyes full of amusement. Micah could clearly see how much this bastard was enjoying his reaction.
Ahh... even if Darcy had become colder, he still hadn’t lost his desire to make a fool of him!
Micah’s face turned red from embarrassment. He yanked his hand back and sat down, clenching his damp fingers under the table.
What was wrong with today? Why was he blurting out ridiculous things like a cannon with its safety lock broken? Not only that, he was reacting like an idiot, too! Darcy would never say he had kissed him. He was just toying with him.
Flora cleared her throat softly, pressing a napkin to her lips to hide the smile tugging at them. She tried to change the subject, helping Micah. "I think," she said gently, "you should think a bit more about it, sweetheart. Maybe you will regret it, throwing away such an opportunity." Her voice was calm, gentle, and motherly. "Have you even met them yet? Did they do something you didn’t like?"
Darcy lifted his gaze; the morning light caught in his dark eyes. Across the table, Flora’s expression was warm but searching, as if she wanted to understand him before saying anything.
Micah pursed his lips, looking down. His family... he didn’t even know what to say about them anymore. The way they treated Darcy was beyond bad. If it had been a bit similar to the way the novel had described, he would have harboured hope for their redemption. But now...He didn’t have any excuses to justify their dismissive, detached behaviour. They did not even try to hide how unwelcoming they were to Darcy!
There was no remedy for mending this broken relationship.
It didn’t help that Darcy was not fond of them either.
Micah held his breath, bracing himself to hear some unpleasant thing from Darcy about his family, but the young man shook his head and said, "It was brief. At the airport. We didn’t talk much. It was all awkward." He paused, his fingers folding his napkin before placing it on the table. "It’s not about their attitude. I am just not comfortable enjoying something that I have not earned myself."
Flora studied him quietly, then nodded. Her son had always carried himself with quiet discipline, never enjoying freebies. She didn’t insist anymore. Time was the only thing that could change his mind.
Her lips curved faintly, and she reached across the table to touch his hand for a brief moment. "Well, I’ll support you in every decision you make. Still, just don’t shut every door before you even know what’s behind it."
Darcy’s eyes flickered, but he didn’t answer.
Meanwhile, Micah lowered his head, ashamed of himself. He was really narrow-minded, thinking everyone was like him, quick to whine and shoot their mouth, singing the faults of others. Darcy was really mature and calm, even when faced with his biological family’s dismissal.
He toyed with the tablecloth absentmindedly until the fabric wrinkled.
After everyone finished their breakfast, Darcy stood up and cleaned the table quickly. "Well, I should go. I’ve got classes," he said, then he looked at Micah. "What about you?"
Micah blinked, caught off guard. He glanced at Flora and Nora, then at Darcy. He had not talked to them much. But he could not just leave Darcy...
Darcy frowned. Micah’s thoughts were written all over his face. "You stay," he said firmly. "I’ll come back this evening for dinner anyway."
Micah shook his head immediately, standing. "Nah. I’ll go too. I’ll have too much to catch up on anyway."
Even though Micah liked to talk to them, getting close to his mother and sister, his worries for Darcy outnumbered his eagerness to be near Flora and Nora.
Better to stick with Darcy, he thought to himself.
Flora’s eyes lit up. To her, it sounded like worry; her son really couldn’t let Darcy out of his sight for a moment. Such a clingy lover, she thought, amused.
Darcy exhaled quietly through his nose and grabbed his bag. "Suit yourself," he said and turned toward the door. "Mum, I’m heading out. Call me if you need anything. Come on, Nora! I’ll drop you off at school first."
Nora flinched. "Brother! I’ll stay with Mum. Too much excitement is not good for her," she said, eyes darting everywhere.
Darcy tilted his head but didn’t point out her lie. "Fine." He opened the door and stepped out.
Micah shot Flora and Nora an apologetic grin, then jogged after him. "See you later."