My Reborn Admirer Wins Over My Heart (Oriana) novel Chapter 102

**TITLE: He Returned to Break and Own Me and for His Queen**
**Chapter 102: An Expensive Surprise**

“Is it really appropriate to ask them to leave so suddenly? Perhaps we could consider a different approach?” Luna interjected, her eyes sparkling with a deeper, unspoken intention that seemed to dance just below the surface.

Hunter, ever the astute observer, instantly grasped her subtle cue. “At your command, Ms. Sterling,” he replied, a hint of mischief in his tone.

Lily had visited this place a handful of times before, always accompanied by Ethan. Her naturally introverted demeanor made social interactions feel like a chore, so Ethan had never pressured her into mingling. Instead, he would reserve a private room, allowing himself the luxury of engaging in conversation with Arthur, the establishment’s owner, while Lily remained in her cozy corner.

The connection between Lily and Arthur was minimal at best; they exchanged polite nods but nothing beyond that. Still, Lily was quite well-acquainted with the signature dishes that Refe had to offer.

Whenever Ethan found himself working late and unable to return home, he would often order takeout from Refe. No matter how many times the same meal graced her palate, Lily never grew weary of it.

“Oriana, just take a deep breath and relax. I assure you, tonight’s meal will be absolutely delightful,” Lily encouraged, her voice warm with reassurance.

With a sense of enthusiasm, Lily placed an order for multiple dishes all at once. Had it not been for Oriana’s insistence that they wouldn’t be able to finish everything, Lily would have likely continued to add more to the list.

Before long, the server reappeared, looking slightly sheepish. “Ladies, I must apologize, but we are currently out of the Louis Lafite wine that is essential for the Delicate Abalone Rice. Tonight, we will be substituting it with Romanée-Conti. Please note that the price of the dish will be adjusted accordingly. Would you be amenable to this change?”

Lily waved her hand dismissively, confidence radiating from her. “Change it, change it. That’s perfectly fine,” she replied, a playful wink directed at Oriana. “My brother has generously provided me with a substantial allowance.”

Oriana chuckled, unable to suppress her amusement, but her expression quickly shifted as she wiped her hands with a wet towel and felt her phone buzz.

Earlier, while returning to school from the clinic, Oriana had attempted to call Micah to share her exciting news. However, he hadn’t answered. Instead, Chubby had picked up, informing her that Micah was currently in a meeting, and if anything urgent arose, either Chubby or Kieran would come to assist her.

His work was undeniably important; how could she possibly interrupt him? She quickly reassured them that it wasn’t a pressing matter and that they could discuss it later that evening.

Just as she was lost in her thoughts, her phone rang, and it was Micah calling back.

“What was it you wanted to tell me this afternoon?” he asked, his gentle voice carrying a hint of fatigue, as if he had just emerged from a long day’s grind.

“Nothing major, really. I just wanted to let you know that I passed Mr. Harris’ assessment,” Oriana replied, her heart racing with a mix of excitement and nervousness.

“Congratulations! Should we celebrate tonight?” he suggested, his tone brightening.

Oriana bit her lip, guilt creeping in. Who could have anticipated that both Micah and Lily would have the same celebratory idea?

Micah’s voice turned inquisitive. “Are you at a restaurant right now?”

“Yes…” Oriana felt a wave of apprehension wash over her, as if she had been caught in a lie. “I asked Kieran to inform you that I’m having dinner with Lily tonight.”

Oriana buried her face in her hands, grateful for the timely arrival of the server with their food. She seized the opportunity to dive into the delicious dishes, using the moment as a distraction from Lily’s teasing.

Refe’s reputation as a top-tier establishment on the Black Pearl list was well-earned. Each dish was a masterful blend of creativity and flavor that tantalized the senses.

“Full already? Eager to rush back to your partner for round two?” Lily teased, her eyes glinting with playful mischief.

“Lily…” Oriana warned, her tone half-hearted.

“I promise I won’t tease you anymore. Server, could we have the check, please?” Lily said, her smile bright as she fished her card out of her wallet.

However, when she glanced at the bill, her expression shifted to one of shock. “Thirteen thousand? This must be a mistake!”

“No mistake here, miss. The two of you agreed to the ingredient substitution. The Romanée-Conti was flown in from a foreign vineyard. A single bottle costs twelve thousand eight hundred,” the server explained, his tone matter-of-fact.

Twelve thousand for just a bottle of wine? Lily’s face turned crimson, panic setting in.

She wasn’t the best at arguing, often stumbling over her words, but her frustration bubbled to the surface. “You didn’t mention the price beforehand! And over ten thousand for a bottle of wine? Did you pour the entire bottle into the dish? This is outrageous!”

Oriana, sensing her friend’s distress, gently pulled Lily back. “A price this high should have been disclosed upfront. Please bring your manager out. This cannot be our responsibility,” she asserted, her voice steady and resolute.