Chapter 367: Sweetness and Poison
At the Gu residence, Micah stormed away, leaving behind Emile. However, Emile remained seated, posture obedient and docile, like a lamb abandoned by its shepherd. His hands rested neatly on his lap, his eyes wide, reflecting the unease inside him.
The men watched as Micah walked out, exchanging glances. Then a smirk broke out once Micah was completely out of sight.
One man let out a low chuckle. Another leaned back, stretching lazily.
They didn’t take Emile seriously. First, they had never heard of the family name Collins. Second, if he had truly been connected to a powerful house, they would never let him hang out with Micah Ramsy. Besides, those influential families liked to host a banquet, introducing their family members to high society, not like this, just tagging along in Micah Ramsy’s shadow.
In their eyes, Emile was at best a nouveau-riche second generation. Fresh money. Harmless. Dealing with him would be easy.
The one sitting closest to Emile leaned in, lowering his voice, feigning kindness. "Little brother," he said, his tone coaxing, "you’d better stay away from him. He is infamous, a troublemaker in our circle. If you stick with this big brother instead, I’ll show you the real fun of the city." He moved closer, breath brushing against Emile’s ear.
Emile’s lashes lowered, his eyes soft as he dropped his head in mock shyness. He didn’t refuse. But behind that timid facade, his mind was as sharp as a blade. He blended with them, burning their faces into memory, inquiring about their family and their names.
Mock Micah? Scheme against him? You’ll regret it.
He would gladly give their name and rank to Dean and Uncle, watching as they gave them a lesson not to mess with Micah ever again.
Meanwhile, Micah had stepped outside into the garden. The air was cooler here, tinged with the faint sweetness of night-blooming jasmine. He inhaled deeply, letting the freshness ease the tightness in his chest. His thoughts flickered back, unbidden, to Clyde. The flowers Clyde had once given him, yellow, delicate, and fragrant. The same sweetness clung to the night air now. Something about it calmed him, smoothing the edges of his anger, untangling the knots in his muscles.
Micah closed his eyes briefly, then exhaled.
Pulling out his phone, Micah grimaced. His screen was flooded with missed calls and messages. Willow had gone ballistic on him, something that was rare to see. He could feel her frustration.
He let out a long sigh and quickly typed a message to Willow, asking about the auction. He wanted to know if it was real or just a bait. The Francis family... lately he heard too much about them. First, they backed up Silas and now apparently linked with Gu Feifei.
Before a reply could come, he heard a familiar voice. Too familiar.
He froze, blood rushing to his ears. It couldn’t be.
He had blocked the man after Clyde’s confession. But after all those voice messages, he still recognised the man’s deep voice.
What the hell was Aidan doing here?
Even before knowing the man he was chatting with had been Aidan, Micah had found him cocky, irritating, and a jackass. But teasing him had been fun in its own way. He even had softened when the man confided in him, never thought in a million years it would be Aidan Wilson, the most psycho of all the original male leads. If Silas was manipulative, then Aidan was worse. A predator. A pure rapist. A kidnapper. A man who broke people apart simply because he could. A criminal for whom prison would have been too kind.
He couldn’t believe he had spent hours chatting with that man. Now, hearing his voice again, a deep repulsion filled his chest. He took a deep breath, calming his nerves. He couldn’t afford to lose control here. Right now, the most important thing was to find out why Aidan was here.
Micah instinctively moved, concealing himself behind the thick trunk of a tree.
"Have you done what I asked?" Aidan’s voice carried, calm and authoritative.
A sickly sweet reply followed. Gu Feifei. "Of course, brother Aidan." Her tone dripped honey, sticky and nauseating.
Micah gagged silently. What the hell? Brother Aidan?
But how did Gu Feifei know Aidan? And what the hell was with her tone? He risked a glance, peeking through the branches.
Aidan stood tall, glass of wine in hand, posture languid yet dangerous, like a predator playing with its prey. Gu Feifei clung to his arm, eyes shimmering with charm.
"Good," Aidan said smoothly, his lips curving. He tilted his glass, crimson wine swirling lazily. "I knew you were capable."
Gu Feifei giggled shyly, then looked at him again. "Brother Aidan...can I ask you something?"
Aidan glanced at her, gave a curt nod.
"Why waste your time with that Ramsy’s trash? He’s a goner anyway," she said, her voice filled with disdain.
Tsk. Micah scoffed inwardly. What did she mean he was a goner? Hah! So this was her true nature, calling him a goner behind his back.
Without warning, Aidan grabbed her chin between his fingers, tilting her head upward. "You didn’t need to concern yourself with that."
Gu Feifei blushed, lashes fluttering. "I listen to you..." she whispered, voice shy.
Aidan’s smirk widened. He threw his head back, draining all the wine in one motion before tossing the glass into the bushes without a care.
Gu Feifei’s voice rose, coy. "So, you’ll go to dinner with me?" She squeezed his arm, her lashes batting like a seductress. "Hmm? Just the two of us?"
"Sure," Aidan murmured, his hand sliding around her waist. "And after that..." His voice dropped, husky. "We can get a room..."
Micah’s eyes widened. Shit, what a scumbag! Sleeping around... Disgusting. Not that Gu Feifei was any better.
When Aidan lowered his head toward her, Micah recoiled violently, swallowing bile. He couldn’t watch another second. He turned away, sliding from his hiding spot with silent urgency.
His footsteps quickened as he rushed back inside, straight to the bathroom. The moment the door shut behind him, he gripped the sink, pushed his glasses up onto his head, and splashed water onto his face, again and again. Droplets slid down his pale skin, his breath coming in shallow gasps, trying to suppress his nausea.
He stared at his reflection, water dripping from his lashes.
How deeply did Aidan weave the trap around him? First, Julian and that cursed bar investment... Now even Gu Feifei...
His blood ran cold. His hands trembled uncontrollably, and fear gripped his heart. He needed Clyde. Needed that man’s warmth, his steady scent and assurance.
He fumbled for his phone, dialling with shaking fingers. The line rang and rang. No answer. Micah crumpled slowly, his back pressing against the cool tiled wall as he slid down to the floor. His pale face twisted with disappointment, his lips pressed tight to contain the swell of helplessness. His phone slipped against his chest, vibrating faintly with unanswered calls, while he curled in on himself, trembling in silence.