My Reborn Admirer Wins Over My Heart (Oriana) novel Chapter 9

**TITLE: He Returned to Break and Own Me and for His Queen**
**Chapter 9: Suspicion**

Oriana nearly dropped her phone in sheer shock, her heart racing like a drum in her chest.

With trembling fingers, she hastily answered the call, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts, and in her fluster, she completely forgot to cover the camera this time—a rookie mistake.

“Do you need something?” she blurted out, only to realize with a jolt that her tone had emerged sharper than intended, laced with an impatience that she hadn’t meant to convey.

What if Micah interpreted her tone as a sign that she would use him and then discard him like yesterday’s news?

Fresh from the bathroom, the steam still clinging to her skin, Oriana felt the heat rise in her cheeks, an embarrassment that intensified at the thought of him gazing at her through the screen. She caught a glimpse of herself—awkward, flustered, and trapped in a moment she hadn’t prepared for.

After a brief silence, Micah’s voice came through, slightly husky and rich, breaking the tension. “I don’t have anything in particular. Can’t I just reach out to you when I’m free?”

Oriana found herself choking on her words, a flash of instinctive disbelief surging through her. They weren’t that close, were they?

But she managed to rein in her thoughts just in time. “You can. But it just caught me off guard,” she replied, her voice steadier now.

She paused, feeling the weight of honesty pressing down on her. “It was my ex who answered the call earlier. Don’t worry. I’ll cut things off with him completely before we register our marriage.”

In this partnership, Oriana was determined to offer nothing less than her utmost sincerity.

Micah’s response was immediate, calm and reassuring. “I know.”

Oriana felt her heart skip a beat.

He knows what?

As if sensing her confusion, Micah continued, “I had someone check on you.”

“Okay,” Oriana replied, caught between surprise and acceptance.

In the context of a marriage, it was only natural to want to understand one’s partner and their past.

She was lost in her thoughts when Micah’s low voice broke through again. “I sent you the contact for Dr. Wolf Ridge, the deputy director at Seabar Hospital. If you need anything, you can reach him directly.”

Oriana blinked, staring blankly at her phone. “Huh?”

“You were injured. I know,” he stated, his tone firm yet gentle.

A tightness gripped her chest, a mix of gratitude and vulnerability.

A playful smile danced across Micah’s lips, his eyes glinting with mischief as if he were admiring a carefully restrained prey. “Since I’ve checked up on you, I can’t exactly let you have the chance to back out. My people have been following you.”

His intentions were clear, direct, and undeniably commanding.

In the past, such a revelation would have sent Oriana into a spiral of fear.

But now, compared to the betrayal or secrecy she had faced from those she trusted most, this felt like a mere whisper in the wind.

Besides, Micah had laid everything bare—his truths and his intentions—more straightforwardly than anyone else ever had.

“It’s just a surface wound. I’ll heal soon. Thanks for your concern,” she said, finally allowing a genuine smile to break through the tension of the evening.

“Your leg will heal, but what about the rest?” Micah’s tone shifted, laden with unspoken meaning. “If you speak up, I can handle it for you.”

He was alluding to her speech issue, and Oriana felt a stirring in her heart.

He didn’t sound arrogant; rather, there was a sincerity in his voice that intrigued her.

Curiosity bubbled within her—what kind of position did Micah hold that allowed him to make such bold statements?

“Thanks for caring. I’ll handle the speech situation myself,” she replied, her gaze locked onto the camera, her eyes brimming with determination.

A low, amused chuckle escaped Micah, tinged with a hint of pleasure. “Good. I’ll be looking forward to it.”

Oriana felt a warmth spread through her, an unexpected ease in her chest. Somehow, her soon-to-be husband felt like a familiar online friend—surprisingly easy to connect with.

“Help me check someone in Oriana’s WhatsApp contacts,” Grant instructed, his tone steady but laced with urgency.

“Uh? Oriana’s WhatsApp? How are we going to check that? Do you have a number, a contact card, or her password?” Alaric inquired, confusion evident in his voice.

Grant’s gaze remained fixated on the milk disappearing down the drain, his eyes deep and inscrutable.

“I’ll install software on her phone in the next couple of days. Then you can check it,” Grant replied, determination hardening his resolve.

“Okay, got it,” Alaric responded hesitantly. “Grant, is Oriana cheating? Should I just check everything on her phone while I’m at it?”

Grant’s expression turned icy, his trust in Oriana unwavering. “No need. I trust Oriana won’t do anything wrong. But someone foolish is interfering. Just check the WhatsApp contact.”

He refused to allow anyone with impure intentions to manipulate Oriana’s life.

“Alright. I’ll send you the software tonight. Once it’s installed, just hide it. Leave the rest to me,” Alaric assured him.

“Okay,” Grant replied, his mind already racing ahead.

*****

In the days that followed, Grant shifted his work responsibilities to Alaric, dedicating his time to caring for Oriana as she recovered.

Coincidentally, her period arrived, allowing him to ensure she avoided household chores, cooking nourishing soups daily, and attending to her every need.

Oriana couldn’t find a way to push him away, so she cleverly used her period as an excuse to remain in her room all day.

Time slipped by, and soon the day of the mobilization meeting arrived.

Oriana’s leg had mostly healed. After a light lunch, she took a short nap, planning to meet Zara after Grant left for the university in the afternoon.

But when she awoke, her heart sank—her phone was missing from her pillow.

Panic surged through her, instantly jolting her awake. She leaped out of bed, adrenaline pumping, and dashed out of the room, her mind racing with questions and concern.