My Reborn Admirer Wins Over My Heart (Oriana) novel Chapter 12

**TITLE: He Returned to Break and Own Me and for His Queen**
**Chapter 12: Held to Account**

Zara clung to Oriana like a lifeline, her sobs echoing through the room, each one a testament to the storm of emotions swirling within her. It felt as if time stood still, the world outside fading into a blur as she poured out her heart. When the torrent of tears finally began to wane, she gently tugged at Oriana’s arm, her eyes sparkling with a mix of urgency and curiosity. “I need to see a picture of the man you married on a whim,” she declared, her voice trembling with a mix of desperation and excitement.

Oriana couldn’t help but let out a sheepish smile, her fingers twirling in the air as if she had been caught in a secret act. She knew all too well how relentless Zara could be when it came to matters of the heart.

“Please tell me you at least have a photo of him,” Zara gasped, clutching her chest in disbelief. The thought of Oriana being without a visual reminder of her husband seemed almost sacrilegious.

“I do have one,” Oriana admitted, a hint of guilt creeping into her voice. “It’s just a full-body shot, but it’s kind of blurry. I didn’t save it properly, so now it looks even worse.”

Zara shut her eyes dramatically, as if the very idea pained her. “Oriana, that’s your husband! Even if it’s only for two years, you should treat this with a bit more seriousness.”

“He should at least be decent-looking,” Oriana muttered under her breath, her own doubts creeping in.

“If he were truly handsome, you’d already have a crystal-clear close-up of his face. That blurry mess screams ‘fake heartthrob,’” Zara shot back, her tone teasing yet pointed.

Oriana found herself at a loss for words, unable to counter Zara’s playful jab.

She sat through Zara’s passionate lecture, her gaze flickering to the clock on the wall. Just as the rally concluded, her phone lit up with Grant’s name, and her heart sank.

This time, there was no flutter of anticipation, no thrill at seeing his name flash on her screen. She had steeled herself for this moment.

His voice was cold, clipped with an edge of tension. “Still out?”

“Yes,” Oriana replied, nodding as if he could see her.

“Come home now. We need to talk,” he commanded, his tone brooking no argument.

“Fine,” she conceded, though a sense of dread settled in her stomach.

Despite the calmness in Grant’s voice, Oriana sensed the storm brewing beneath the surface.

Zara perked up, her curiosity piqued. “What does he want with you?”

Oriana shot her a pointed look, knowing she had to mention the debacle surrounding the speech.

Zara’s hand flew to her mouth, her eyes wide with shock. Then, she raised her thumb in fierce approval. “The Sterling family is shameless! You shouldn’t have given them an inch,” she declared, her indignation palpable.

But then her expression darkened, a fierce determination igniting within her. “Wait—so Grant is siding with them against you? I swear—” She rolled up her sleeves, ready to battle for Oriana’s honor.

Oriana shook her head, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “Isn’t this better? At least when I walk away, I won’t have any regrets.”

After countless days and nights spent hopelessly devoted to a love that had begun to rot, she was finally ready to peel herself free, piece by piece, from that decaying bond.

It took a significant amount of persuasion before Oriana could convince Zara to head home. Zara had been nothing but supportive, and the thought of her friend standing between her and the Sterling family was unbearable.

Luna, her eyes swollen and red, let her tears fall once more. “It’s all my fault. I’ll never measure up to Oriana.”

“Sweetheart, don’t say that.” Evelyn pulled her close, both of them weeping. “None of this is your fault.”

“It’s Oriana’s fault. Why did she have to submit that essay to the radio? She did it on purpose, just to humiliate you,” Bramwell spat, jabbing a finger at Oriana, his glare full of loathing. “Look at you. Selfish. Spiteful. Did you really think this little stunt would bring Luna down? Ridiculous.”

Yes, the situation had been awkward. But Bramwell had quickly explained it away, exposing Oriana as the adopted daughter of the Sterling family, insisting she had willingly submitted the piece to Luna. Naturally, Silas and the school wouldn’t pursue it further.

Yet, to them, Oriana had acted with malice, deliberately trying to sabotage Luna.

The corners of Oriana’s mouth curled into a sharper sneer, her defiance bubbling to the surface.

Of course, she knew Luna wouldn’t suffer for it.

Not when she had Grant shielding her, doting parents covering for her, and Owen poised to defend her at a moment’s notice.

Once, those honors had belonged to Oriana. Now that she was no longer the Sterling family’s daughter, she was deemed unworthy of any of it.

The bitterness burned in her throat, but she forced the words out, her voice tight with conviction. “Mr. Sterling, Mrs. Sterling, you’ve misunderstood. I never agreed to let Luna use my speech.”

Her defiance, so uncharacteristic, ignited a firestorm of rage in Bramwell and Evelyn. Even Grant’s expression shifted, hardening as he turned to face her.