My Reborn Admirer Wins Over My Heart (Oriana) novel Chapter 146

**Chapter 146: The Invitation**

Zachary took a deep breath, his expression earnest as he spoke. “Thanks to your efforts, Barry’s fever broke by the following day, and he was discharged shortly after. That’s actually why I’m here.”

Oriana blinked, her surprise evident. “Is this visit related to Barry’s recovery?” she inquired, her brow furrowing slightly.

“No, it’s about my father,” Zachary clarified, his voice steady but tinged with a hint of reluctance.

He let out a soft sigh, the weight of his words hanging in the air. “After you left that day, my father came by to check on Barry. When Barry eventually woke up, he kept insisting that his swift recovery was unusual for him. My dad thought it might have been a coincidence, but he wanted to thank you personally, Dr. Sterling. Unfortunately, he never got the chance to do so.”

Zachary continued, a hint of hesitance in his tone, “I know you’re deeply immersed in your MDT studies, and I understand that non-essential personnel can’t just schedule a consultation. My father was concerned about interrupting your work, which is why he asked me to extend this invitation privately.”

Oriana considered his words, her heart sinking slightly. “I appreciate the invitation, but I have tomorrow off, and I’m afraid I already have prior commitments,” she replied, her voice polite yet firm.

Zachary nodded, his understanding evident. “I completely get it. This is rather sudden. How about we exchange contact information, Dr. Sterling? We can find a time that works better for you,” he suggested, pulling out his phone with a hopeful expression.

Before Oriana could decline, he had already unlocked his device, making it impossible for her to refuse. With a resigned sigh, she took out her own phone and scanned his friend code, feeling the weight of the moment.

Just then, a low, smooth voice interrupted them, carrying a subtle chill that sent a shiver down Oriana’s spine. “What are you two doing?”

Both turned at the sound, and Oriana’s initial surprise melted into palpable relief as she instinctively stepped closer to the tall figure beside her, seeking the comfort of his presence.

“The hospital is packed. How did you manage to get in?” she asked, her voice a blend of surprise and uncontainable joy.

Oriana felt a rush of happiness at seeing him, yet a twinge of concern flickered in her mind—what if he got caught up in the chaos of the hospital? The earlier chill in his voice felt like a distant memory, for now, Micah’s tone was warm and familiar, just as it had always been.

“I mentioned I came to pick you up, so it was only natural that I would come to find you,” Micah replied, his demeanor calm and gentle, as it always was.

As they conversed, Zachary couldn’t help but observe Micah closely. The man before him wore dark glasses that obscured his eyes, lending him an air of mystery. Yet moments ago, Zachary had felt a piercing coldness emanating from him, as if a sharp gaze had brushed against his skin. Was it merely his imagination playing tricks on him?

“Oh—this is?” Oriana started, remembering Zachary, but before she could introduce him, Micah interjected, his voice low and steady. “I am Dr. Sterling’s husband. You can refer to me as Mr. Caldwell.”

As Oriana led Micah toward the parking area, they spotted Kieran slowly pulling up in a sleek red luxury car, its spacious rear seat a welcome sight.

Once they were inside, Oriana noticed a hint of dust on Micah’s knuckles, likely from her earlier clumsiness. She pulled out a wet wipe and gently cleaned his hands, her voice tender as she murmured, “Next time, just wait in the car for me. I’ll come out myself. It’s far too crowded in there, and I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable.”

Her soft hands naturally settled in his, and Micah felt a warm glow spread through him, a comforting sensation that made everything else fade away.

“The thought of seeing you makes it far from uncomfortable,” he replied, his words flowing effortlessly, filled with genuine affection.

Oriana couldn’t help but smile, her lips curving unconsciously. Even Kieran, sitting in the driver’s seat, felt a warmth in his heart from the sweetness of their exchange.

Micah casually inquired, “Was that colleague you were speaking with just now?”

“Yes, that was Dr. Rodriguez from the inpatient department. We’ve worked with him before. You know, the patient I successfully treated using both external and internal techniques—he was a close friend of Dr. Rodriguez’s father,” Oriana explained, her eyes lighting up as she recalled the case.

“I was just lucky; I didn’t expect the patient to cooperate as well as he did,” she added, still feeling a sense of wonder about the whole experience.