My Reborn Admirer Wins Over My Heart novel Chapter 17

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

**Chapter 17: Venting**

Alaric’s message pinged on Luna’s phone: “Grant, that guy video-called Oriana again last night. I recorded it and sent it over. Swear I didn’t watch it.”

Luna’s heart raced as she opened the video, her eyes widening with anticipation.

After a minute, she shut it off, a knowing smile playing on her lips. The brief interaction between Oriana and that man had been minimal, yet Luna sensed an undercurrent of something more profound lurking beneath the surface.

Who this man was didn’t matter to her in the least. With Oriana’s current situation, it was clear that she was unlikely to ascend to a higher social stratum.

With a sly glint in her eyes, Luna forwarded the video to her own phone. Adopting a tone reminiscent of Grant’s, she typed back to Alaric, “That’s enough. Don’t bring this up again.”

Once she deleted the entire conversation thread, she set her phone down, feeling a mix of satisfaction and intrigue.

Snuggling back under the blanket, her mind danced with excitement, replaying the snippets of what she had just witnessed.

*****

Later that afternoon, Oriana met Zara at the high-speed rail station, the air buzzing with the excitement of their impending journey. They checked in together, their laughter echoing in the terminal as they boarded the train.

The trip to Fortine Mount was set to take two hours, a brief escape from their usual routine. Since they had purchased their tickets at the last minute, the first-class and second-class seats were already taken, leaving Oriana with no choice but to opt for business class.

For the past three years, she had poured every ounce of her energy into helping Grant build his business—cutting corners, juggling odd jobs, and funneling every paycheck and scholarship into his aspirations. She had never once indulged herself.

The only two trips she had taken were to Grant’s hometown, where she paid her respects to his late parents, and even those journeys had been made on a regular train.

Back then, the cramped car had been filled with the stench of sweat and the sounds of restless passengers. Grant had done his best to shield her from the discomfort, settling her by the window. Leaning against his shoulder, lulled by the rhythmic clatter of the tracks, Oriana had felt a warmth in her heart that she had come to cherish.

Now, however, she found herself nestled in a spacious, plush business seat, attended to by courteous staff. A wave of disbelief washed over her as she wondered if she had truly lost her mind.

By evening, they arrived in Lockwishe, the vibrant city that cradled Fortine Mount.

After checking into a downtown hotel, they ventured out for dinner, landing at a lavish seafood buffet where the average price was five hundred per person.

Oriana’s senses tingled with anticipation; it had been three long years since she had tasted anything quite like this.

In the past, such indulgence had been far beyond her reach. Later, as Grant’s company began to flourish, he had become increasingly busy, leaving little time for outings together.

“Salmon, king crab, sea urchin, foie gras—let’s feast!” Zara declared, her enthusiasm infectious as she placed the order.

Oriana waved her hands in protest. “Zara, that’s way too much food! We’ll never finish it all—it’ll just go to waste.”

Zara winked at her, a mischievous grin on her face. “Relax! I’ve got you covered. Everything’s in single portions. Whatever you can’t handle, I’ll polish off. But you’ve got to treat yourself—these are your favorites, after all.”

Their friendship had blossomed from middle school desk mates to inseparable companions, and Zara knew exactly what Oriana craved.

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