My Reborn Admirer Wins Over My Heart (Oriana) novel Chapter 10

**He Returned to Break and Own Me and for His Queen**

Oriana stepped out of her room, the early morning light spilling into the hallway, illuminating the dust motes dancing in the air. Her gaze landed on Grant, who stood casually on the balcony, a smirk playing on his lips as he held her phone. A wave of irritation washed over her, darkening her expression. “What are you doing with my phone?” she demanded, her voice sharper than she intended.

Grant turned at the sound of her voice, but before he could muster a response, Oriana had swiftly snatched the device from his grasp, her heart racing. She was still groggy from sleep, and the last thing she needed was for him to pry into her private affairs.

Noticing the disarray of her hair, Grant reached out with an almost tender gesture, smoothing down the wild strands with a mix of care and possessiveness. His smile was warm, yet it carried an undercurrent that sent a shiver down her spine. “Oriana, are you hiding something from me?” he asked, his tone deceptively light.

Her fingers tightened around the phone, her voice laced with a hint of reproach. “I set an alarm to meet Zara. I nearly overslept,” she replied, the truth of her words hanging heavily in the air. The phone contained her flight details and proof of her assistantship—information she was desperate to keep from him. She had no way of knowing if he had stumbled upon those secrets during his casual rummaging.

“I thought you could use a little more rest, so I intended to take you myself. That’s why I picked it up,” he explained, his tone shifting to one of casual indifference as he picked up the cane resting against the couch. “Go wash up. I’ll drive you,” he added, heading toward the door with an air of finality.

Oriana offered a terse reply, her mind racing as she dashed back into her room. She immediately began scrolling through her phone, checking the usage records with a sense of urgency. Everything appeared normal, and she let out a quiet sigh of relief. Seven days remained before her flight, and she fervently hoped that nothing else would go wrong.

As they drove through the bustling streets toward the commercial district, Grant remained in the car, his gaze fixed on Oriana as she joined Zara. The two friends walked into the mall, Zara’s laughter ringing out, while Grant’s eyes darkened with an emotion Oriana couldn’t quite place.

“Wow, Oriana, you’ve gotten terrifyingly strong! You didn’t even linger with Grant,” Zara exclaimed, her eyes wide with disbelief as they entered the mall.

It felt surreal to Oriana. In the past, she had always been the one standing there, waving goodbye to Grant with a sweet smile, never once imagining that he would not be the one watching her leave. A helpless laugh escaped her lips, echoing the realization that she had indeed changed.

Zara’s surprise was palpable. “I thought you were exaggerating,” Oriana admitted, her heart swelling with a mixture of pride and confusion. “But I see now that I was too blind to notice.”

Being considerate of Oriana’s leg injury, Zara guided her to a cozy dessert shop on the first floor. “Happy belated birthday, Oriana! A week late, but here’s your cake,” she said, her grin infectious.

Zara handed her a wrapped gift, adding, “I picked this up in Rularid. It’s a thermal cooker. You can whip up simple meals with it. Since you basically live in the library prepping for the entrance exams, at least this way you won’t starve.”

A warm glow spread through Oriana’s chest. “Thanks, Zara,” she replied, tucking the gift into her bag. However, as she met Zara’s concerned gaze, her heart sank.

“Zara, I’m not taking the grad school exams anymore,” Oriana confessed, her voice trembling with uncertainty.

“What?” Zara froze, her expression shifting from surprise to disbelief. It took her a moment to process the words, and then her jaw dropped in shock.

“Are you serious?” she asked, her hand instinctively reaching out to check Oriana’s forehead, as if to confirm her sanity. “You’re really okay?”

In just a couple of weeks apart, Oriana felt like a different person, and Zara’s worry deepened with each passing second. “No way. Something happened, didn’t it? Was it Grant again? That’s it! I’m calling him. He’d better give me back the real Oriana!”

With a flurry of movement, she whipped out her phone, her fingers flying over the screen. Oriana’s heart raced, a prickling sensation creeping over her scalp. Grabbing Zara’s hand, she quickly revealed everything, the weight of her secrets spilling out in a rush.

That was one of the reasons she had asked Zara to meet today. Over the phone, it had been impossible to convey the depth of her turmoil. Back then, she had still clung to a flicker of foolish hope regarding Grant. Now, that hope lay shattered at her feet.

“Son of a bitch,” Zara exclaimed, nearly flipping the table in her outrage. “He hooked up with Luna? Stole your grad school recommendation? Even hijacked today’s speech?”

“With Mr. Holloway about to secure the provincial project, Aurora’s value is set to soar. Before long, we’ll all be looking up to you, Mr. Sterling,” another chimed in.

“I also heard Ms. Sterling and Mr. Holloway are especially close. She’s representing Seabar today with a speech to encourage the seniors,” someone added, their eyes gleaming with intrigue.

Bramwell Sterling’s face glowed with satisfaction as he absorbed the flattery, clearly accustomed to such praise. However, when Luna’s name was mentioned, the corners of his eyes softened, revealing a hint of affection.

“Young people have their ideas,” he said proudly. “But my daughter does have a strong mind of her own. Back when I invested in Grant, that was her suggestion. She endured plenty when she was younger, but those hardships gave her connections and broadened her view of the world. That’s become her greatest asset.”

“Indeed. Ms. Sterling is not only a Seabar alum but also an outstanding incoming graduate student at Seabar University. Rumor has it Mr. Holloway plans to partner with her on an AI healthcare project. With their combined strengths, Aurora and the Sterling Group will surely reach new heights,” another voice echoed, the admiration palpable.

Years ago, news had spread like wildfire that the Sterling heiress had been switched at birth. Many had mocked Luna then, labeling her worthless, a girl from the slums, and her struggles had become fodder for gossip. She had even gone viral once for posting about surviving on just two thousand a month.

But in just a few short years, she had made a stunning comeback. She truly was the Sterling family’s blood, a wild rose thriving in the harshest soil, blooming brilliantly despite it all.

Evelyn sat silently beside her, but as she listened to the praise, she couldn’t hide the proud smile tugging at her lips.

The rally began with a brief opening from the student host, and soon Luna was invited onstage. Applause thundered as she appeared in an elegant white chiffon dress, exuding poise and grace. She acknowledged the crowd with a polished nod before beginning her speech.

The entire field hushed, every eye fixed on her, waiting with bated breath for her words. Yet, she had barely spoken two sentences before the students below began to stir restlessly, a wave of anticipation rippling through the crowd.