My Reborn Admirer Wins Over My Heart (Oriana) novel Chapter 40

**TITLE: He Returned to Break and Own Me and for His Queen**
**Chapter 40: The Great Moment**

So, this was the compliment Oriana had chosen to bestow upon him?

Micah felt a nervous flutter in his throat as his Adam’s apple bobbed up and down. “So, do you like this version of me?” he asked, his voice laced with a mix of curiosity and uncertainty.

Finished.

The night had draped itself over the world like a dark velvet curtain. The streetlights lining the path to the community flickered dimly, casting elongated shadows that danced along the pavement. Oriana, standing beside him, couldn’t quite decipher the cautious nuances in Micah’s expression; it was as if he was a puzzle she was still trying to solve.

But her mind was whirling with her own thoughts. “I do,” she replied, her voice steady but her heart racing. “And what about you? Do you like how it feels right now?”

A flicker of concern gnawed at her insides, a worry that introducing him to this unfamiliar territory might ignite discomfort or even resistance within him.

Her nerves tingled like static electricity in the air, yet in the next moment, Micah’s response came out strong and unwavering.

“I do,” he asserted, his gaze meeting hers with a newfound determination. “From now on, I want to come out more often, with you.”

Oriana’s eyes widened in surprise, a rush of warmth flooding her cheeks as a smile broke across her face. “Sure,” she said, her heart soaring.

With a playful gesture, she reached out, intertwining her pinky finger with his and giving it a gentle wiggle. “It’s a promise. You have to keep your word,” she teased, her voice light and full of hope.

Micah’s palm enveloped hers, warm and reassuring, as he intertwined his fingers with hers in a firm grip. “Okay,” he replied, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

*****

Tonight, Oriana was buoyed by an excellent mood, her spirits lifted like a kite dancing in the wind. The daunting challenge of cooking for the first time didn’t intimidate her; instead, it filled her with an exhilarating sense of confidence.

“I think you should rest,” she suggested, glancing over her shoulder at Micah, who was leaning against the kitchen counter. But he shook his head, determination etched on his face.

“No way. I want to stay here with you,” he insisted, a hint of mischief in his eyes. “Maybe I can help.”

Oriana chuckled softly, shaking her head. She didn’t want to burden him with her culinary ambitions, which, though high, were often met with the harsh reality of her inexperience.

With the recipe she had memorized firmly in her mind, Oriana threw herself into the task of preparing a hearty beef stew, pouring all her energy into each step. From marinating the meat to meticulously plating the dish, she endeavored to replicate the process as closely as possible.

Finally, when the hot dish was ready, she poured sizzling oil over it, the sound crackling like a symphony in her ears. Inhaling deeply, she savored the fragrant aroma of scallions wafting through the air.

“All done!” she announced, her voice bubbling with excitement. “Do you want to try?”

“It would be my honor,” Micah replied, a playful grin spreading across his face.

The moment felt almost like a taste test for poison, yet Micah’s delight was palpable. Oriana couldn’t suppress a giggle, her heart swelling with joy.

Fearing he might burn himself, she took it upon herself to pick up a piece of beef, fanning it gently to cool it before bringing it carefully to his mouth. “Careful, it’s hot,” she cautioned, her eyes locked onto his.

He took a bite, and the instant his taste buds registered the flavor, his expression lit up like a Christmas tree. “Delicious!” he declared, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.

“See? I told you, I have potential!” Oriana beamed, her confidence soaring.

Eager to join in, Oriana took a bite herself, but as she chewed, her enthusiasm began to wane. The beef was tougher than she anticipated, and she found herself struggling to break it down.

At first, Oriana was cautious, her heart racing with anxiety that he might burn himself. Even as a sighted person, she often flinched at the sight of oil splattering.

But Micah moved with an unexpected calm, each step executed with a precision that suggested he had done this countless times before. Even when flipping the beef in the pan, he remembered exactly where each piece needed to go.

From his hands, cooking transformed into a mesmerizing performance of art. Oriana watched in awe, captivated by the way he maneuvered through the kitchen.

“All done. Should be fine now,” Micah said, turning to her with a proud smile. “Want to taste?”

Oriana blinked, as if emerging from a dream, her heart racing in anticipation.

“Okay, I’ll try,” she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

She picked up a piece of beef and bit into it, her expression shifting from curiosity to astonishment.

“Delicious!” she exclaimed, her eyes wide with disbelief.

Oriana was taken aback. “The flavors are perfectly balanced, and the beef is so tender!”

She could hardly wrap her mind around it. Micah seemed like a culinary genius. “Are you really cooking for the first time?”

Micah smiled faintly, and the joy radiating from his handsome face was infectious.

“Really. It’s my first time,” he confirmed, his eyes sparkling with pride. “Is it really good?”