CHAPTER 336: MEET THE SISTER: LEVEL HARD MODE (PART 5)

Willow dabbed the corner of her mouth with a napkin before folding it neatly beside her plate. She lifted her gaze across the table, her eyes soft but searching. "So, what’s new?"

Micah shoved another bite of cake into his mouth, his cheeks puffed slightly as he chewed, clearly savouring the sweetness, thinking Willow had not caught on about Darcy being related to her, or about him staying with Clyde. "Nothing much," he mumbled around a mouthful of cake.

"Really? No girlfriend? Or crush?" Willow asked with a teasing tone.

Micah shook his head, eyes focused on his cake, trying hard not to blush.

Willow leaned back in her chair, finding Micah’s blush adorable. "Is it about that forum post? Still no luck, huh?"

Micah swallowed in the wrong way, going into a coughing fit. He thumped his chest with his fist, eyes watering. "Ah, should you bring that up?"

Willow’s smile widened, her chin resting on her hand as she observed him with clear delight at his reaction. "Then why?" she asked smoothly. "You are handsome. A fine young man from a good family. I don’t see why you wouldn’t be considered a catch."

Micah groaned, throwing his fork down onto the plate with a little clatter. "Sis, are you trying to rub salt in my wounds? I was the campus flower, for crying out loud! Of course, no girl dares to come near me! They never even look at me as a potential boyfriend. If I find that bastard who posted on the forum, I’ll beat them to a pulp!" he half-whined, half-fumed.

A quiet laugh escaped Willow.

Micah, on the other hand, was practically singing in his head with relief. Thank god Willow knew nothing about Clyde, or how close he had grown with a certain man. If that post had shown Clyde’s face... with how sharp his older sister was, she would have found his identity until now. Safe! Completely safe. He thought to himself.

Willow, however, was not about to let him off so easily. She attacked another sore spot of Micah. "What about that friend of yours? The black-haired one?"

"Who? Darcy? What about him?" Micah’s heart thumped.

"Is he seeing someone?" Willow asked, curious.

"No... I don’t think so." Micah shifted in his seat, forcing himself to sound nonchalant.

"So do you want to go to this mixer?" Willow asked. She wasn’t saying it idly.

"What mixer?!"

"You know Gu Donghai’s sister? Gu Feifei, right?" She said with a hint of disdain. "She has never liked me. And I heard she’s trying every chance she gets to set up her brother with someone else."

Micah’s jaw clenched, his face twisting with sudden indignation. He slammed his palm lightly on the table. "That bitch!" he spat in anger.

Memories from the novel surged in Micah’s mind of how Gu Feifei mocked Willow mercilessly, sneering about her two useless brothers. One was accused of ruining the Ramsy business, the other of wasting his time seducing influential handsome men. His hands curled into fists beneath the table, his teeth grinding. "What did she do?" he demanded.

Willow folded her arms in her lap. "I heard she is going to throw a party this weekend. Inviting all eligible girls from high society. She’s even thrown in a few random men to balance things out. But the real star of the show, of course, is Gu Donghai."

Micah exhaled sharply, muttering almost under his breath. "Are you sure you don’t have feelings for him? You seem to know a lot about him?" he was too scared to say out loud.

Willow, if she heard, chose to ignore it. Her tone turned brisk again. "Anyway, do me a favour... go there with your friend. See what they are doing. And who knows? You might even meet the love of your life."

Micah scoffed loudly. "Nice try. But I am not that naive anymore, Sis. Tell me the real reason."

Willow sighed, her fingers drumming once against the table before she stilled them. Her face grew solemn, her playful demeanour slipping away. "Fine," she admitted. "At your birthday banquet, one of Uncle Owen’s friends mentioned he caught someone suspicious trying to trap you in some shady scandalous matter. I checked the description. It was the same woman Gu Feifei brought to your party. I want you to go to this one and see if she tries it again. Don’t worry. I’ve already planted people there to catch her."

Micah paused. His mind flashed back instantly to that night. His military instructor from university, and that woman in a red scandalously fitted dress lingering in the garden. He remembered the strange tension, the way it had felt off from the start. He had dismissed it then, thinking it was his overthinking. But now... it seemed it was all a conspiracy.

For the first time, a wave of gratitude for his instructor rose in him. If not for that timely interruption, who knew what would have happened? Didn’t they exchange numbers that night? He should thank him properly.

"Alright," Micah said at last, his tone firm. "I’ll go."

"Good," Willow replied with a nod.

Micah hesitated for a moment before adding. "But do I have to bring Darcy?"

"Yes," Willow said instantly, as if she had already planned it that way. "Isn’t he your friend? Use him as an excuse to attend the party. Otherwise, everyone will notice, you never go to those kinds of settings unless forced. They’ll see right through it."

Micah pressed his lips together. Going with Darcy...what if it made him uncomfortable? What if those snobbish people said something nasty to him? He didn’t want to put him in the spotlight. But then again, going with the so-called "Ramsy waste" would be like painting a target on his back. Every ambitious snake would see it as an opportunity to provoke Micah, to drag Darcy through the mud just to get a rise out of him. His stomach twisted, unease prickling across his skin.

Finally, he lifted his eyes. "What if I... go with Emile instead?"

Willow was caught off guard. She tapped on the table as she studied her little brother. The hesitation in his tone, the worry in his eyes...Micah was protecting Darcy. Wasn’t he?

She couldn’t just push Micah too much even though she didn’t like that black-haired boy. "Alright. But don’t use the Du Pont name."

Micah let out a quiet breath of relief, his shoulders easing just a little. It was better this way. There was no need for Darcy to see that terrible side of high society.