From Villain to Virtual Sweetheart: The Fake Heir's Grand Scheme(BL)-Chapter 754: Unwanted Reactions (part two)

Outside the room, while Ilyas lay hidden under the blanket, internally struggling with what to do before he died from hunger, Darcy had finished dressing, his damp hair still clinging slightly to his forehead from the cold shower. Although the water had cooled his skin, a faint flush remained, subtle yet persistent.

He paused briefly, drawing in a steadying breath as he attempted to gather himself, giving himself a silent pep talk before approaching the door once more. Lifting his hand, he knocked lightly, the sound measured and controlled.

There was no response.

He waited a moment before knocking again, this time speaking as well. "Can I come in?"

Silence followed, stretching just long enough to stir a flicker of concern within him.

After a brief hesitation, he reached for the handle and opened the door carefully, his gaze sweeping the room with cautious attention. The sofa was empty, and for a split second, uncertainty flickered across his expression before his eyes shifted toward the bed, where a distinct shape beneath the blanket indicated Ilyas’s presence.

"Feeling better?" he asked, his tone softer now.

Again, there was no reply.

Assuming that Ilyas had fallen asleep, Darcy felt an unexpected sense of relief settle within him, easing some of the tension he had been carrying. He took a step closer, intending to check on him without waking him, but before he could proceed further, a sudden, unmistakable growl echoed through the room.

Darcy halted immediately, the sound catching him off guard.

For a brief moment, he simply stood there, amused, before his gaze shifted subtly toward the blanket-covered figure.

Without drawing attention to it, he spoke again, his voice calm. "I’ll bring the food."

He turned without waiting for a response and stepped out, retrieving the container that the bodyguard had given him earlier. Upon returning, he moved quietly, placing it on the bedside table along with utensils and a glass of warm water, arranging everything with deliberate care.

Once finished, he withdrew without lingering, closing the door behind him as he retreated into the hall.

A faint smile had settled on his face at some point during the process, softening his features in a way that was uncharacteristic yet genuine. There was something unexpectedly endearing about this side of Ilyas, so different from the defensive, prickly demeanour he had displayed in the past. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Previously, Ilyas had reminded him of a hedgehog, bristling with invisible spines whenever approached.

Now, however, it felt as though that guarded exterior had shifted, revealing something far softer beneath.

Darcy’s fingers twitched slightly at the thought, only to still abruptly as another memory threatened to resurface. He shook his head once, dismissing it firmly, though a faint flush returned to his cheeks despite his efforts.

Moving toward the corner of the hall, he spread out the sheets on the spare bed and lay down, staring briefly at the ceiling before closing his eyes.

In a few hours, he would call Micah and Aria. They would take over. He could not remain here any longer without risking the exposure of thoughts and reactions he could not yet fully understand.

*****

Inside the room, Ilyas eventually emerged from beneath the blanket, drawn out by the smell of food. Sitting up slowly, he looked at the container for a moment before reaching for the spoon, beginning with the soup.

Warmth spread through him as he ate, easing some of the discomfort, and he followed it with small bites of the steamed buns, his earlier tension gradually softening.

Darcy had been so considerate. He had not laughed or teased. Truly he was in another league.

He sighed and bit another bun. Perhaps, when morning arrived, he would find the courage to express his gratitude properly.

******

As the hospital gradually fell into silence, its corridors dimming as patients and staff alike drifted into rest, an entirely different kind of activity was unfolding elsewhere.

On social media, the situation was only beginning to escalate.

What had begun as a small incident quickly spiralled into something far larger.

A few hours ago, Leo, in his urgency and distress, had pretended to accidentally leak part of a conversation with his manager while searching for Ilyas. The information spread rapidly across social media, drawing widespread attention.

Within hours, the situation had exploded.

The public quickly pieced together what had happened. A stalker had attempted to kidnap Leo’s junior from the same company.

Outrage followed. The scale of the reaction was impossible to ignore.

Under mounting pressure, the authorities were forced to act. The faces of the two offenders were released, along with formal charges that included stalking, kidnapping, drugging, and trafficking.

The severity of the crimes only fueled public anger further. Of course, not all attention was directed where it should have been.

There were those who attempted to drag the Ramsy Empire into the situation, pushing narratives that suggested deeper involvement.

Some tried to blame the Ramsy advertisement for leading people to see Ilyas as something non-human, something that could be treated that way.

However, such attempts failed to gain significant traction.

Ilyas was not solely associated with Ramsy. He had participated in multiple online dramas, building a presence beyond a single connection. The attempt to frame the situation as something tied exclusively to the Ramsy Empire did not hold.

Meanwhile, Leo’s role in the situation was interpreted very differently by the public.

No one suspected that the leak had been intentional. Most believed that, in his panic, he had simply made a mistake.

Rather than criticising him, many praised him. They saw him as someone who cared deeply about his junior, someone who had acted out of genuine concern.

As for Micah, speculation arose briefly regarding his presence with Ilyas. They thought it was ambitious. Or maybe he was jealous of Ilyas and had brought him there, or he was working with the stalker.

However, those suspicions were quickly addressed. Paniz Entertainment released an official statement, revealing that Micah Ramsy was, in fact, the owner of the company. Leo and Ilyas were his artists.

They also confirmed that Micah had been the one supporting Leo during his conflict with his former manager.

The narrative shifted almost instantly. Instead of suspicion, admiration took its place. Micah was portrayed as someone who acted quietly, helping others without seeking recognition.

A figure worthy of respect.

Clyde allowed this perception to spread. With Twilight Entertainment completely bankrupt and no longer posing any threat, there was no reason to suppress the information.

More importantly, he refused to allow Micah’s reputation to be tarnished.

Elsewhere, Aidan and Silas were far from idle.

Using their connections and influence, they directed pressure toward the Francis family, pushing them to take action against Nabil Lobart.

The response was swift and decisive.

Nabil Lobart’s position in the capital began to crumble under the weight of coordinated opposition.

For them, there was no hesitation. Regardless of their place in Micah’s life, regardless of distance or circumstance, there was one thing they would not tolerate. They would not allow any threat to remain. Not when it could harm him.