My Reborn Admirer Wins Over My Heart (Oriana) novel Chapter 123

**Chapter 123: The Taste of Love and Disappointment**

She had meticulously sealed the steam vent, and yet, the tantalizing aroma still wafted through the air?

What a remarkable man, like a bloodhound with an uncanny sense of smell. It was almost unbelievable!

Oriana leaned in closer, her eyelashes fluttering playfully. “Take another stab at it. What type of seafood do you think it is?”

Micah found himself at a loss for words.

It felt as if she were toying with him, teasing him in a game where he was completely unprepared.

Here he was, perched on the edge of anticipation, eagerly awaiting her grand unveiling, and yet, his beloved wife continued to play her little games.

And still, he couldn’t help but revel in it.

He tugged at the corner of his mouth, a playful smile creeping onto his face as he joined in on her fun. “It smells like shellfish. Perhaps dried scallops? Or maybe prawns?”

“Mm… those are merely supporting players in this dish. You’ve yet to guess the star of the show,” she replied, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

Micah inhaled deeply, leaning closer, determined to guess correctly this time.

But ultimately, he shook his head in defeat.

“The rest of the scent is too faint for me to decipher,” he admitted, frustration mingling with curiosity.

He couldn’t help but recall that seafood wasn’t exactly her favorite.

“Alright, it’s time for the big reveal. What I truly enjoy is…”

With that, Oriana lifted the lid from the pot. Instantly, an explosion of fragrance filled the air, a wave of scent that washed over him.

Micah instinctively leaned forward, and as the unique aroma registered in his senses, his entire body jolted in surprise. He froze, utterly shocked.

Simultaneously, her sweet, crystalline voice echoed in his mind, resonating with a message he had longed to hear.

“Tonight, I have something incredibly important to share with you.

“I’ll be cooking dinner. Something that I genuinely love.

“And now, I’ll reveal what that is…”

Micah’s lips quivered as realization dawned upon him. “Cuttlefish. Cuttlefish congee.”

Cuttlefish congee…

Why?

Steam curled and danced from the pot, a visual representation of the tension that filled the room.

Oriana’s eyes sparkled with delight, her cheeks flushed with warmth.

“Mhm. You know it well.”

“Is it… what I think it means? Oriana, I—I’m terrified of overthinking this. Please, just say it. I don’t want to misinterpret…”

As the implications of her words sank in, panic surged through Micah. His usually calm demeanor was nowhere to be found, replaced by a flurry of anxious thoughts. He struggled to articulate his feelings, his voice faltering.

Oriana let out a soft, melodic giggle, a sound that seemed to wrap around him like a warm blanket.

She stepped closer, her hands gently cradling his face, grounding him in that moment.

Was he… trembling?

Oriana’s grip tightened slightly, as if to reassure him. Then, with deliberate clarity, she spoke the words that held the power to change everything.

“Micah, I like you.”

Her cheeks glowed with a rosy hue, her eyes sparkling with sincerity.

Hearing those four words tumble from her lips ignited something deep within Micah. His heart thundered, a relentless rhythm that echoed through his entire being. Heat coursed through his veins, fierce and uncontrollable.

Just when he thought he could bear no more emotional turmoil, she pulled him into a blissful state of euphoria.

“Yup. And I like you just the way you are.”

Oriana rested her cheek against his shoulder, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. Her body melted into him, completely surrendering to the moment.

It wasn’t until they both settled into a comfortable silence that they remembered—the seafood congee was growing cold.

“It’s my first time making it. You have to try it,” she insisted, scooping a generous portion into a bowl for Micah before ladling some for herself.

Her movements were a touch slow, a reflection of the warmth enveloping them.

It was hard to blame her; he still held her left hand, their fingers intertwined, even though they had released their embrace.

“Just eat like this. I can manage with my left hand,” Micah suggested, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

How could she possibly refuse such an offer?

With smiles dancing on their lips, they both took their first bite.

And then… a profound silence enveloped them.

Oriana hadn’t anticipated this outcome. The dish smelled incredible, yet the taste was overwhelmingly fishy.

She stuck out her tongue, chuckling awkwardly. “I just wanted to find a unique way to confess, okay? I didn’t think I’d… overestimate my culinary skills.”

Micah, prepared for the worst, continued to chew. “It’s not bad. It’s pretty consistent with your usual cooking level.”

“Stop it. I’ll just order takeout,” she said, trying to hide her embarrassment.

He looked at her with genuine seriousness. “You made this for me. I’m finishing it. You don’t have to.”

A hint of disappointment flickered across his face—Oriana sensed he wished he could preserve this moment forever.

She shook her head, managing two more bites before quietly pulling out her phone to order food.

As she scrolled through the delivery app, she suddenly asked, “Hey, what were you thinking earlier—when you were pretending to sleep on the couch?”