My Reborn Admirer Wins Over My Heart (Oriana) novel Chapter 61

**He Returned to Break and Own Me and for His Queen**

Grant’s words hung in the air, suspended in a moment that felt like an eternity.

Finished.

His deep, affectionate gaze widened in disbelief as he beheld the cold, dignified figure standing behind Oriana. The very sight of him sent a chill racing down Grant’s spine.

“What are you doing here?” he demanded, his voice a mix of confusion and incredulity.

Oriana turned to Grant, her brow furrowing in curiosity. Did they know each other? The question lingered in her mind, but she quickly dismissed it. After all, it wasn’t entirely out of the realm of possibility considering they operated in the same industry.

Yet, under the weight of Grant’s incredulous stare, she instinctively took a step back, her heart racing slightly. She found herself standing shoulder to shoulder with Micah, her hand resting lightly on his arm, leaning into him with an ease that felt both intimate and reassuring.

“Oriana, do you know who he is?” Grant’s voice was taut, almost strained.

At his words, Oriana could feel the tension in the air thicken. She noticed how Grant stiffened at her casual gesture of affection toward Micah, yet she felt a swell of confidence rise within her.

“Of course I do,” she replied, her voice ringing clear and unwavering. “My lawful husband, Micah Caldwell.”

“Mr. Caldwell?” Alaric’s voice broke through the tension, disbelief coloring his tone. “Grant, this is Mr. Caldwell. You had a video call with him before. It makes sense why they haven’t been in touch since—they’re married now. They share a home; they can discuss whatever they want without needing their phones.”

Grant’s grip on the ornate tiger-head ornament of his cane tightened, his knuckles turning white as he fought to maintain his composure. “Shut up,” he muttered, his voice low and filled with suppressed fury.

He had never anticipated that the man who had whisked Oriana away from Seabar and hastily secured a marriage license would turn out to be Micah. Here he stood, effortlessly embodying the role of Oriana’s steadfast support, while Grant felt himself spiraling into chaos, a storm of emotions raging within him.

The realization hit him like a thunderclap: Micah’s earlier comments hadn’t been mere inquiries for work; they were about Oriana. A dark understanding settled over Grant as he recognized that Micah had orchestrated this confrontation, deliberately provoking him, taunting him.

But Oriana, it seemed, had already pieced together the puzzle.

Finished.

Her eyes narrowed, a sharp glint of determination cutting through her initial shock. She focused on Grant, her heart pounding with a mix of fear and revulsion. “Grant, you were monitoring my phone?”

Caught off guard, Grant felt the weight of shame and pride crash down upon him, leaving him exposed.

“No, Oriana, I wasn’t invading your privacy. I had Alaric keep tabs on Mr. Caldwell. I swear, I don’t know any of your other secrets. Otherwise—” His bitter, self-mocking smile twisted his lips into a grimace. “Otherwise, how could I not have known that you had meticulously planned to leave me?”

Grant’s face contorted with rage, fueled by her uncertain gaze.

Suddenly, Oriana’s fingers stiffened, and for a fleeting moment, her thoughts scattered like leaves in the wind.

Micah sensed the subtle shift in her demeanor, his expression hardening as a flicker of deadly intent flashed across his features, directed at Grant. Yet, he kept his focus on Oriana, unwavering and protective.

Micah was about to defend himself when Oriana interjected, her voice steady. “Grant, none of this changes the truth; we can’t go back. We can’t continue.”

“Even if you refuse to accept it, even if you can’t believe it, my marriage to Micah is legal and legitimate.”

“More importantly, you are no longer my guardian.”

The finality of her words pierced Grant’s heart like a dagger, leaving him reeling.

He struggled to accept the reality of her statement. “What did you just say? Oriana, we promised to rely on one another, to be each other’s support. When you left the Sterling family, you told me I was all you had left, that you would give me everything in your future.”

“No, that’s impossible. You were tied to my family. You lied to me. You two couldn’t possibly have truly married—”