My Reborn Admirer Wins Over My Heart (Oriana) novel Chapter 279

Chapter 279 Pebble’s Story

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The vet saw how eager and anxious Oriana had become and slowly began to recall.

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“Years ago,” he said, “after Pebble was sold by the Sterling family, she was passed from country to country, changing hands between several racing clubs. Normally, racehorses retire around. the age of five, but Pebble was exceptional. Even past ten, she still had incredible power and speed, rivaling younger horses. When she turned fifteen, she was sold to a club in Ferndile. Mr. Caldwell tried several times to buy her back, offering high prices each time, but they refused. Then, three years ago, during the Ferndile International Derby, Pebble appeared on the track again…”

He paused briefly, his tone softening. “At that time, Pebble was almost eighteen. She was the oldest and thinnest horse in the entire competition. Her face showed visible exhaustion, but her eyes were still sharp, still alive. Yet not long after the race began, she stumbled and fell. Her foreleg broke right there on the field. The club immediately abandoned her.”

Oriana’s knees nearly gave out. Tears welled up and spilled before she could stop them.

A horse with a broken leg in an international race had only one possible fate.

Euthanasia.

The vet saw the despair in her face and hurried to continue. “Fortunately, Mr. Caldwell had already gathered a team of the best veterinarians in the world a month before the race. He had assembled what was then the most advanced equine medical team in history and had imported the finest equipment money could buy. The moment Pebble was injured, the young master purchased her on the spot and had her transported to our care. We performed emergency surgery immediately and pulled her back from the brink of death.”

Zara caught Oriana just as she nearly lost her balance. She shot the vet an annoyed glare. “Couldn’t you have said that sooner? You almost gave us both a heart attack!”

“It’s all right, Oriana,” she said quickly, rubbing her friend’s shoulder. “Pebble made it. She’s a tough girl; he survived!”

Oriana sniffled hard, nodding over and over. Her heart finally steadied.

The vet bowed his head, voice lower now. “Pebble’s life was saved, yes, and she was brought back to the stables to recover. But after so many years of intense racing, she couldn’t adapt to a quiet life. She was old, too old. Even with every treatment and every effort we made, she only lived for another year before…” His voice trailed off. “Before it was beyond saving.”

The brief moment of relief on Oriana and Zara’s faces froze and faded.

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14:48 Mon, Dec 29

Chapter 279 Pebble’s Story

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For a long while, Oriana stood silent. Then, in a low, trembling voice, she said, “Pebble suffered too much. I should have taken better care of her.”

“How could this be your fault?” Zara protested, her eyes red. “When Pebble was sold, you were just a kid! Blame the Sterling family for their cruelty. Pebble was your grandmas favorite pony, remember?”

Oriana’s gaze grew distant, her throat tightening. Bitterness welled up but no words came.

Finally, she turned to the vet and bowed deeply. “Thank you for telling me about Pebble. And thank you for taking care of her during her last days.”

The vet looked startled, waving his hands quickly. “Please, ma’am, no need to thank us. Mr. Caldwell hired us at a high salary. We were simply doing our job.”

Zara frowned, muttering under her breath, “Hold on. If Pebble was brought back by Micah, then why didn’t he tell you

himself?”

Her tone sharpened as she glanced toward the uneasy manager nearby, eyes narrowing. “So all of you knew about this? The whole staff? And you just decided to keep it from Oriana, to play dumb and make her the only one in the dark?”

The manager looked like a man on a hot stove. His face twisted in panic as he stammered toward Oriana, whose eyes were still red. “Ma’am, please, it wasn’t like that! The young master told us not to mention it. He was worried you’d be too upset if you learned what Pebble went through. W–We didn’t mean to hide anything from you, I swear!”

Zara huffed. “Of course you didn’t mean it. Micah’s the young master here, and you’re all employees. You’d do whatever he says.”

The manager froze, realizing too late that she had just pinned the blame squarely on Micah. His face went pale as chalk. He wanted to explain, to beg, but no words came out.

He was finished. Micah had given strict orders, and now everything was ruined.

Oriana looked at their frightened faces and pressed her lips together. She didn’t say another word.

She stayed with Stormwind for a long time, stroking her mane in silence, before finally leaving the stable with Zara.

Moments after she walked out, the manager snatched up his phone and called Kieran. “Kieran, it’s bad. We’ve got a problem… a big one.”

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