CHAPTER 346: DARCY VS. LEO: NOT A BROMANCE, JUST RESTRAINING ORDER VIBES

Darcy watched as Micah’s expression shifted. First surprise flickered in his wide eyes, then it twisted into confusion as though he were trying to solve a puzzle that refused to make sense.

"Did they do something to you?" Micah asked hesitantly, finding the whole situation bizarre.

Darcy shook his head firmly, a faint, weary smile tugging at his lips. "No. It wasn’t like that. After my father passed away, our finances took a hit, so we moved. I heard they also left that neighbourhood."

The way he said it was almost casual, but Micah caught the faint strain in his voice.

Micah bit his lip, his teeth pressing deep enough to sting. His throat tightened, and he had to moisten his lips before forcing the words out. "Was he... your father.. How did he..." Micah couldn’t find words to form the question fully. His mouth turned bitter. He was asking about his own biological father. The man he had never met, the man he could never see.

Darcy’s expression softened, his eyes lowering as though the memory filled his mind full of comfort and sorrow. "He was a wonderful father. Truly," he said gently. "Unfortunately, a car accident took him from us. If that hadn’t happened... I don’t think my mother would have fallen ill. But what could we do? It was fate." His lips curved in a sad half-smile.

Micah turned his head away quickly, hiding the redness welling in his eyes. Fate, Darcy had said. But inside Micah’s chest, his heart roared in protest. It wasn’t your fate, but it was mine.

"I’m sorry," he mumbled.

Darcy chuckled lightly. "Anyway, I don’t have any connection with the McKays. Even when we were kids, I wasn’t fond of them, especially Leo. He followed me everywhere. He was older than me, and honestly, it was unsettling."

Micah’s mandible dropped to the ground, his mouth opening wide in shock. "Huh?"

Darcy shrugged. "His mother used to say I was special because I was the only one not smitten with Leo. While all the other kids went crazy over him. And that’s why he liked me." He gave a mocking laugh.

Micah blinked, stunned. "Figures," he mumbled. He simply couldn’t imagine Darcy, upright and aloof, ever being sticky-sweet or obedient to someone as a kid. It was all in Leo’s head, wasn’t it? What childhood sweetheart? It was more like a creepy stalker, neighbour version.

With every passing day, Micah found more of the so-called romantic parts of the novel to be utter rubbish.

How could the protagonist, Darcy, of all people, fall in love with those four twisted men? There was no way. The only worry he had was the plot power. Would it suck them right into the plot against their wills? Would they change their behaviour? What if he himself was dragged into becoming the Villain while Darcy was pulled helplessly toward Leo?

Now, Darcy had nothing but a negative impression of Leo. But...Would that shift to love when they reached twenty, the age when, according to the book, everything began?

Micah couldn’t picture it. But he couldn’t let his guard down either.

Even though Darcy had met Silas and Archie in person, and knew about Leo, and had zero interest in them, the pull of plot and the world’s will was a mystery to Micah.

It was better to be safe than sorry.

"So that’s why you didn’t want me to meet him?" Micah asked, searching Darcy’s face for confirmation.

Darcy nodded, though his eyes flicked away for a brief second. It wasn’t the complete truth, but it was close enough. "Yeah. But what did you help him with anyway?"

"Nothing much. His manager schemed against him, and I happened to be nearby. So I stepped in." Micah sugar-coated it deliberately. There was no need to taint Darcy’s ears with those filthy deeds.

Darcy didn’t care much about Leo either. "Well, that’s so you," he let out a short laugh instead.

Micah gave him a look.

"What? I am complimenting you." Darcy said with sincerity.

Micah sighed in response.

Just then, the waitress finally arrived with their takeaway, placing the neatly packed bags on the table with a polite bow. Darcy grabbed the handles and the two left the restaurant.

They returned to the dorm without much drama. After dinner, Micah sprawled on his bed, staring at the glow of his phone in the dim room. His thumb scrolled, flicking over an empty notification in a special chat.

No text from Clyde.

The man was really a stranger when it came to texting. Even when he pretended to be Aidan, his messages had been stiff and sparse. Really not much better.

Micah rolled into his side, pressing his cheek into the pillow. His fingers hovered over the screen, then finally typed.

RogueOverLord: Busy?

The reply came almost instantly. Micah’s eyes softened before reading the text.

CL: No. Did you eat the lunchboxes?

Ha! Why did he just care about those stupid lunchboxes? What about him? Couldn’t he ask how his day was?

RogueOverlord: No. I gave them to my roommates. My sister came at lunchtime.

Micah’s gaze drifted to the empty lunchbox on the table. The truth was, he hadn’t given them to anyone; his roommates had simply snatched them from his bag the moment he had been out.

CL: No problem. Next time I’ll invite Darcy to dinner then.

Micah cursed under his breath. This man! Why was he obsessed with treating Darcy to a meal? His fingers jabbed at the screen.

RogueOverLord: No need. He doesn’t hold a grudge against you.

CL: Are you sure?

Micah gritted his teeth.

RogueOverLord: Yeah. I’m sure. Anyway... I’m going to sleep.

CL: Good night.

Micah tossed the phone onto the bed with more force than necessary. The device bounced, landing near the edge of the blanket. His chest rose and fell in irritation.

The man was too rigid. Ahhh...No sweet words. No emojis. Nothing. Just cold, stiff replies!

Micah dragged a hand down his face, groaning into his palm. His lips twitched into a pout he refused to acknowledge.

He didn’t even say he missed him. Tsk. Heartless man.