Micah handed over the samples to the lab, his fingers brushing against the cool counter before he withdrew his hand. As he stepped outside, a wave of hot weather hit his face, but it did little to dispel his trance. His feet carried him toward the nearby shopping mall, where he browsed absentmindedly.
His attire, though chosen in rush, still exuded a natural sense of style. A pair of simple washed denim shorts clung to his knees, showing his pale calves. A crisp, grey-marled shirt hung loosely on his upper body, revealing a slight clavicle. The effortless ensemble only highlighted his already striking appearance. His snowy white hair contrasted sharply against the dark flames of his glasses, giving him an air of quiet sophistication.
He barely noticed the eyes following him. A group of girls giggled near the entrance of a boutique, stealing glances in his direction. A few people whispered as he passed, drawn by his handsomeness, but Micah was oblivious.
Micah's mind was filled with test results. He had expected to wait at least a week, enough time to prepare himself for whatever answer awaited him. Yet, to his surprise, he learned that the results would be ready in just two days.
He didn't know if he should be happy or sad.
He sighed, wiping a bit of sweat that had formed on his forehead before his feet halted. His body had led him to a familiar storefront, one he had frequented countless times in the past. Without much thought, he stepped inside, grabbed the first thing that caught his eye, a sleek black tie and brought it to the counter.
The cashier smiled at him, her cheeks flushed pink.
"That will be..."
Micah had already tapped his card, taking the small bag without another word.
As he turned to leave, out of the corner of his eye, he spotted something that made him freeze.
A familiar figure stood near the entrance, her laughter ringing softly in the air.
His rumoured crush…
Or in truth his muse…
Charlotte Sullivan.
Tall and elegant, with the poised grace of a model, her chestnut brown hair hung in perfect waves over her shoulders. She was wearing a mini white dress with fit and flare styling, a collar neckline, pleats at the waistline, short lantern sleeves, and a mini skirt length.
All of Micah's attention was on that dress…
That he even missed the man standing beside her.
Charlotte Sullivan's way of dressing was always top-notch due to her family owned a small clothing factory.
Micah had admired Charlotte, not romantically, but aesthetically. She had the perfect proportions, a natural muse for the designs he once dreamed of creating. But others misunderstood his attention, misinterpreting his fleeting admiration as having a crush on her.
Suddenly, he felt embarrassed gravely. The memory of his drunken fall, the sheer disgrace of knocking himself unconscious in front of the crowd, burned his face a deep red. This was, by far the most humiliating moment of his life.
Turning sharply, he moved toward the next exit, his steps quick.
But luck, it seemed, was not on his side.
"Micah? Is that you?"
A familiar man's voice echoed with surprise.
Micah halted and composed his expression.
Great, one of those so-called friends...
With his usual haughty attitude, he glanced at the two.
"Oh, it's Evan," he shifted his gaze aside.
"You are here too, Charlotte."
Evan's lips turned into a smirk as he pulled Charlotte closer.
"Yeah, we were worried about you, but your parents told us that there was no need to visit you in the hospital. Are you okay now?"
Evan said, staring at Micah intently.
He was the same height as Micah, but where Micah's features were striking, Evan's were plain, even unremarkable in comparison.
"Yeah, especially after that severe fall…"
Charlotte added with a smile that did not reach her eyes.
Micah stiffened for a fraction of a second before forcing a casual shrug.
"Nah, I just had too much drink… no need to make a fuss. I am as healthy as a horse."
He thought that their denied entry to the hospital was Ramsy's parents' way of protecting him from those rotten so-called friends.
Of course, Micah was also too busy to care about these people past two days.
During this brief conversation, Micah failed to notice the way Charlotte and Evan exchanged glances, the way the two were sticking to each other and throwing snarky remarks at Micah. They were putting on a show, Micah however remained blissfully unaware.
Their understanding of Micah was superficial.
He was clueless about these subtle romantic gestures, and worse, he had no special feelings for Charlotte except his appreciation from a fashion point of view.
However, the people around him had misinterpreted his attention to the girl as a form of infatuation.
Micah, being arrogant and insensitive, did not feel the need to clarify the matter.
"That's good to hear. So, when are you gonna come to Jullian's bar? Everyone is waiting for you there."
Evan shifted the subject after not receiving the reaction he desired. His attempt to see Micah as jealous and ashamed failed.
Hearing the bar name, a flash of memory filled his mind, some details from the book he had seen in his dream. One of his friends, Jullian, had borrowed money under the pretence of opening the bar, claiming it was a form of investment in Micah's name.
But the crucial thing was when Micah in the novel was disowned by Ramsy's family, he had gone to Jullian to demand his money back. Instead, he had been met with mockery and insults.
And why did the author mention him at that time?
It was because the fourth male lead had lured Darcy's sister there, blackmailing Darcy into handing over the core data.
Micah in the book had seen his own biological sister dragged into a private room, but he had done nothing. He had simply turned a blind eye, not offering any help.
The author had crafted the scene to solidify how vicious the fake heir was.
What was the connection between Jullian and that psycho CEO?!
Micah felt a shiver run down his back.
Had that greedy power-hungry maniac CEO begun scheming before Darcy even showed up?
Micah's grip tightened around the bag in his hand.
"This weekend I'll drop by to congratulate him."
Micah said, biting the inside of his cheek to avoid showing any emotion.
"Cool. I'll let him know."
Evan flashed a triumphant smile.
Micah glanced at his watch and said.
"I should get going. My driver is waiting for me."
Without waiting for a response, Micah hurriedly walked toward the parking lot.
His distant calm eyes turned into vexation.