Chapter 274: Two Can Play This Game
Clyde felt the heat of a glare burning into his side. He braced himself. He had already annoyed Micah enough today. One more thing, and Micah might blow.
He turned, sure enough, Micah was glaring at him with eyes like sharpened glass. Clyde stepped toward him slowly, one brow raised in mild curiosity, or maybe amusement.
"What is it?" he asked, his voice as always calm and low.
Before the words were even fully out of his mouth, Micah interrupted, his voice full of anger.
"You should be grateful your friends and nephews are here," he hissed, stepping forward, face flushed red. "Otherwise, I would have kicked your ass!"
Clyde blinked. "Oh?" The corner of his lips stretched upward. "Why?"
"Wipe that look off your face!" Micah jabbed a finger at his chest. "You liar! You knew who I was from the start and pretended you didn’t."
"Knew you?" Clyde leaned slightly forward.
"Yeah. Dean told me. You were there. That first time I coughed up blood at the hospital," Micah whispered harshly.
There was a flicker of recognition in Clyde’s eyes. "Oh, that time."
Micah stared at him, watching closely, waiting for an apology, an explanation, or anything.
But Clyde only shrugged. "Well, I can’t say I didn’t enjoy it," he said, coolly. "I had my share of fun."
"Oh?" Micah smirked through his fury. "Then I guess it’s fine if I have some fun too."
Before Clyde could register what he meant, Micah spun on his heel and strode away.
Clyde stood there, watching his back. He wasn’t able to apologise, not because he wasn’t sorry for deceiving Micah, no. It was because he felt too overwhelmed by his furious reaction. He thought about what would happen when Micah found out he had known about the crossdressing all along.
The fear had gripped his heart, making him utter those nonsense words instead of an apology.
Clyde followed the silver-haired boy with his gaze. That look on Micah’s face wasn’t just anger. It was mischief. And that gave him a very bad feeling.
Inside the condo, the scent of polished wood filled the air. The place was large and cozy, built in the style of a luxury jungle cabin. Most of the surface was natural wood, dark oak floors, light pine walls, and even a smooth wooden ceiling with thick beams overhead. A wide stone fireplace sat at the centre of the living room, crackling gently with a freshly lit fire.
Lin Heye made a beeline for the kitchen the moment they stepped inside, pulling open cupboards and checking the fridge. His sharp eyes scanned the shelves with the precision of someone used to running kitchens.
Clyde stepped inside and noticed his move. "I called them to stock everything ahead of time."
Lin Heye grunted approvingly. "They went all out. There’s even Australian lobster in the freezer. Look at that."
"Of course there is," Mason chimed in from the side, snickering. "This is the first time for some of us to come here."
On the far side of the room, Emile looked around and asked. "Where is my room?"
"The bedrooms are upstairs. One suite and four guest rooms." Clyde replied.
Dylon perked up. "Dibs on the suite this time!" he shouted as he threw his bag onto the couch.
Mason let out a laugh and patted his shoulder. "Sorry. That won’t do. That’s Clyde’s honey..." A smack echoed through the air as Lin Heye slapped Mason on the back of his head.
Mason stumbled forward, clutching his skull. "Ow! There is a national treasure in there!" he said, pointing to his head. "What if you damaged the brain all my future patients rely on?"
"Oh no, there was a fly on your head," Lin Heye said smoothly. "Didn’t want it laying eggs in your hair. What if they crawl into your amazing brain?"
Lin Heye said, faking the hit was because of the fly, not because Mason was about to say Honeymoon suite.
"Seriously?"
"Let your future patients thank me for saving your brain."
There were a few chuckles around the room. Mason rubbed his head and muttered curses under his breath.
Dean also arrived with their suitcases in hand and stood beside Emile. "Let’s go. I show you which one is ours." He climbed the stairs, leading Emile to their bedroom.
Micah had already slipped out onto the wide deck, trying to cool off. He leaned against the wooden railing, the cool mountain air brushing his cheeks. Below, the greenery stretched endlessly, and in the far distance, a racetrack curved through the trees.
Micah rested his chin on his hand, elbow on the railing. His heart was still thudding with anger. But also... something else. He couldn’t stop thinking about Clyde’s stupid smirk the first few times they met each other.
That street food alley, was it because of Emile that Clyde was there? Was he worried about him just because he was his nephew’s roommate? Was it just an obligation? Taking him to Grandpa Lin? Buying him nutritional food?
His mind buzzed with too many thoughts.
He narrowed his eyes and let out a sharp sigh. He needed a plan.
Dean put the suitcases in one of the guest rooms and returned to the living room. His eyes caught Micah standing on the deck.
He approached and stopped beside him.
"Are there horses here for riding?" Micah asked, voice casual.
"Yeah. The stables are a short drive from here. Grooms, stable hands, the whole deal," Dean replied.
Micah’s expression softened. "Really? I missed it."
"We can go there now if you want," Dean suggested. "It’s not far."
He glanced sideways at Micah, who hadn’t moved from his spot.
Dean was still trying to piece together the situation. Emile might be new to all this, but Dean had been around Clyde long enough to know his uncle really got close to people. Especially not strangers. And Micah... was definitely a stranger.
All these years, the circle of Clyde’s friends never changed. Even contact with his old friends had dwindled. Meeting someone new? Practically unheard of. So the appearance of this boy near his little uncle was really surprising to him.
He had thought Clyde’s interest in Micah was because of Asena. But now that she might be his girlfriend, it didn’t add up. Why was his uncle still so invested in this boy? There was something fishy in this matter. Now that he thought about it, his uncle had paid more attention to Micah than Asena when they were talking before.
Micah noticed Dean looking at him. He turned his head slightly, and his lips curled into a small, smug smile.
A thought flashed in his mind.
He peeked from the corner of his eyes. Clyde’s gaze was glued on him like a hawk.
Micah shifted closer to Dean, closing the gap between them by a step. His shoulder almost brushed Dean’s arm.
Dean was Aria’s future husband. So being close to him wouldn’t be a big deal. Micah was, of course, the future dear brother-in-law too.
Dean should be delighted to be of some use.
He could feel Clyde’s gaze on him intensifying.
Micah smiled again, this time slow and deliberate. Hmmph!
Two could play this game.