My Reborn Admirer Wins Over My Heart (Oriana) novel Chapter 37

**He Returned to Break and Own Me and for His Queen**
**Chapter 37: The Call**

The moment Alaric caught sight of the fierce, almost predatory glare on Grant’s face, a shiver of caution ran through him. He knew better than to act impulsively in that charged atmosphere. With urgency, he summoned the waitress, his heart racing. “Can you please use your phone to call Oriana?” he requested, his voice almost a whisper.

The waitress nodded and dialed the number, and after what felt like an eternity of ringing, a voice finally broke through the silence.

“Oriana?” Alaric’s heart leaped at the sound of her gentle tone. “Hello?”

The relief was short-lived. Just as quickly, the connection was severed with a sharp beep. Oriana had hung up without a word.

“Damn it!” Alaric cursed under his breath, casting a furtive glance at Grant, who was still simmering with anger. “Grant, I shouldn’t have said anything. I admit it. I was wrong.”

Across the screen, Grant’s features softened just a fraction, as if the weight of his worry had lightened, if only momentarily. “It’s fine. As long as she’s safe,” he replied, though the tension in his voice was palpable.

“Wait, so Oriana really ran away from home?” Alaric’s disbelief was evident.

“Yes,” Grant confirmed, his jaw tightening.

“No way! Oriana is actually pulling this kind of stunt? She must be furious! It’s been a whole day since she left, and you’re only just realizing she’s gone? No wonder she’s ignoring all of our calls.” Alaric’s words spilled out without a filter, oblivious to the storm brewing in Grant’s eyes.

“Women are like that. When they’re angry, you need to calm them down quickly. If you wait a night, their anger doubles. If you wait a few nights, it’s game over. But I shouldn’t even compare her to other women. Grant, you know how deeply attached Oriana is to you—she wouldn’t want to upset you like this.”

Just then, a gentle nudge on his shoulder jolted Alaric from his rambling. He rubbed his nose nervously. “So what’s the plan now? Oriana should be at school, right?”

“She has nowhere else to go,” Grant replied, his voice heavy with concern. “She hasn’t touched the card I gave her, and she doesn’t have much cash on her. Most likely, she’s at school.”

—

The tension was thick as Grant pinched the bridge of his nose, his brows knitted tightly together in thought. He was acutely aware that over the years, Oriana had poured nearly all her scholarship funds and part-time earnings into their relationship.

Even if she had sold those precious gifts in a fit of rage, the amount she could have made would be negligible. Besides, the school was the only place she could turn to for refuge.

“I’ll go pick her up tomorrow,” Grant decided, his voice resolute. “But Alaric, I need you to take care of something tonight.”

“Just tell me what you need, Grant. Don’t worry about how quickly I can get it done,” Alaric offered, eager to help.

Grant quickly sent him the details of Oriana’s selling account. “Buy back every single item she sold, no matter the cost.”

Alaric blinked in confusion, feeling a wave of dizziness wash over him. “Wait, Grant. I don’t even know who the buyers are or how to get those items back.”

“Figure it out. I want to see those items returned by tomorrow,” Grant instructed, his tone leaving no room for argument.

With that, Grant ended the call, leaving Alaric to bury his face in his hands, groaning in frustration.

Nearby friends chuckled at his predicament. “You really should have thought before you spoke in front of Grant. You brought this on yourself,” one teased.

She turned to Micah, her eyes sparkling. “Thank you for being so thoughtful,” she added sincerely.

Micah accepted her compliment with a softening of his thin lips. “Go wash your hands. Lunch is almost ready,” he instructed, his tone gentle.

“Is lunch ready?” Oriana asked, a hint of excitement in her voice.

“Yes, I calculated your return around this time,” Micah replied, a proud smile on his face.

Oriana looked genuinely surprised. “Really?”

“Of course,” Micah assured her.

As they chatted casually, Oriana followed Micah inside, while Kieran silently took the elevator alone, his mind wandering.

Watching the scenery blur past in the glass elevator, Kieran’s thoughts drifted. He had worked alongside Micah for years, and it was rare to see him engaged in the normalcy of life—sharing meals, experiencing the change of seasons, and enjoying the simple routines with someone he cherished.

How nice it must be, he thought wistfully.

Once inside, Oriana washed her hands and changed into comfortable pajamas. When she returned to the dining area, she found the table adorned with an array of dishes and a steaming bowl of soup.

“All made by the kitchen machines?” she inquired, a playful glint in her eye.