As dusk settled over the Ramsy estate, Micah went downstairs, feeling hungry. The house was gradually filling with the sounds of housekeepers and staff bustling around, preparing for dinner. Micah stood in the living room, his gaze fixated on the entrance. It was time for the Ramsy family members to return.
The first to arrive was Aria.
"Second sister, Hello." Micah greeted her with a smile.
Aria paused for a heartbeat. Her eyes flicked to him, lips parting just slightly. Then she gave a brief nod before continuing past him without another word.
"How was your day? Did that brat from your group annoy you again?"
Micah asked, oblivious to Aria's changed behaviour.
He expected to hear his sister's irritated voice complaining about her classmate, but instead, Aria snapped around, her eyes sharp.
"Why should I tell you?!"Aria spat.
Micah blinked, taken aback. He stared at his sister, feeling aggravated.
Before he could gather himself to respond, his mother, Elina, walked in, elegant as ever, her familiar perfume lingering in the air.
Micah instinctively straightened.
"Hi, Mum…"
Micah said in a low voice.
Elina didn't even pause and walked past Micah. She turned to Aria with a warm smile.
"Aria, darling, how was your internship? Did you manage to eat lunch properly this time?"
Micah stood there awkwardly, feeling bemused.
It wasn't the end of it. Later, even his father replied to him with nothing more than a curt "Mm". Willow gave him a passing glance, but not a word.
At dinner, the atmosphere was lively. Everyone spoke and laughed among themselves, excluding Micah.
Micah sat in silence, slowly chewing a piece of steak. The meat was medium rare, flavoured with thyme and garlic, exactly how he liked it.
His mother had clearly taken care of the meal. It wasn't just that. Every dish on the table was to his taste.
He thought their behaviour was too childish. If they were really fed up with him, they would have thrown him out or locked him in his room.
Not preparing food rich in Iron and vitamins, tailored to his recovery!
Micah felt a lump forming in his throat. He blinked rapidly, trying to swallow it down, but the sting in his eyes betrayed him.
Even someone as insensitive as him could see the care and affection they had for him.
They genuinely loved him.
The burden of not being their son pressed into his chest like a mountain.
After finishing his meal, Micah excused himself.
"I'm done," he mumbled, rising from his seat.
His chair scraped against the floor as he stood and exited quickly.
His throat ached with the effort to stay silent. If he stayed one more second, he might say everything—ruin everything.
He didn't look back and strode to his room in panic.
Downstairs, the rest of the family paused their eating. They looked at each other, losing their appetite.
Jacob put down his spoon and looked toward the hallway where Micah had disappeared.
"What did you find out?"
Elina asked her husband, her voice unusually subdued.
Jacob sighed and wiped his mouth with a napkin.
"I checked the CCTV of the banquet venue. He didn't leave through the main doors. The last we saw him, he was heading toward the restroom."
"So, someone helped him sneak away? Or did he change his appearance?"
Willow leaned forward, intrigued.
"Exactly, so I checked for anyone similar in his size. That brat had changed his hair to black, lost his glasses and wore a waiter uniform. He slipped into the garden. I think he climbed a tree or something ridiculous like that."
Jacob explained.
"Haha! That's so like him. Honestly, it's impressive in a frustrating kind of way!"
Aria laughed.
"If he had used his wit and energy in his studies or something practical, I would have been content for the rest of my life. But no, he just turns them into absurd stunts!"
Elina grumbled.
Willow's brow furrowed.
"So where did he go after that?"
"I am not proud of this, but feeling helpless, I tracked his GPS mobile phone and checked his credit card activity."
Jacob said in shame. Even as a father, he felt he had crossed the line by doing this.
Elina reached across and placed a hand on his.
"Don't worry. If he finds out, I'll take the blame. If he had spoken up like a good son, would we have to go behind his back like this?!"
"And what was the result??"
Willow asked.
Jacob took a breath.
"He went to a poor suburb and visited a local clinic. I went and asked personally. They were tight-lipped at first. But when I said I was his father and worried about him. They opened up."
He paused then continued.
"They said I should be proud of him, he had rescued a girl from three thugs' harassment. The girl's family is well respected in the neighbourhood. Kind, humble people. If something happened to that girl, they all would have been devastated."
"Stupid Micah!"
Aria muttered in irritation, biting her lip.
Elina shook her head in disbelief.
"Why didn't he say anything about it? He likes to boast about those stupid things he has done, but when he actually does something heroic, he goes mute. What is wrong with this boy?!"
"No, the most important thing is why he was there in the first place?!!!"
Willow said, perplexed.
"That's probably why he resisted telling us the truth."
Jacob guessed.
All of them sighed loudly, feeling helpless.
"Mum, do we still have to keep this silent treatment?!"
Aria asked in a soft voice.
"Elina, honey, this won't do. I am afraid he will drift further away from us by doing this."
Jacob said, squeezing his wife's hand.
"So, what? You tell me to just let it go?! No way! Next time, He will do something crazier!"
Elina refused.
"At least let us treat him normally. You can keep your distance."
Jacob said gently.
Elina hesitated, then slowly she nodded.
"Is The girl okay? She didn't have any psychological trauma?"
Willow changed the topic.
"Yeah, when I put myself in her shoes, it's really scary. Maybe we could help her."
Aria said.
"Do you want to get them arrested?"
Jacob asked her daughter.
"Yeah, we can make sure those thugs won't bother them again. It was her luck that Micah appeared at that time, otherwise..."
Aria didn't continue her thought.
"I want to see her."
Elina said abruptly.
Everyone looked at her.
"Hah?! Why?"
Jacob asked, puzzled.
"What if Micah fell for her?"
Elina said, narrowing her eyes.
"No way! Didn't you say he had a crush on his classmate?!"
Jacob raised an eyebrow.
"No, after that humiliating fall, he would never go back to her. Maybe he saw this girl at a mall or hospital?! Hmm?!"
Elina said.
"Really?! So now My son has become a stalker?!"
Jacob groaned.
"Anyway, it wouldn't hurt to see her. We can ask what really happened. Maybe she knows why he was there."
Willow chuckled.