Claimed by My Bully Alpha Chapter 367

Aurora’s P.O.V

I felt my stomach tighten with surprise as I step out of the car as Caleb holds the door open for me.

Of all the places in the world, why here? My eyes darted to him, searching for some kind of explanation, but he simply smirked, his hand going to the small of my back as he propels me forward.

“You’ll find out soon,” he said, his voice laced with a mystery that only made my curiosity grow.

I let out a small breath, shaking my head as I glanced towards the diner again. That’s when I saw them—Jade and Caroline stepping out of their cars, their faces glowing under the warm evening lights. But what truly caught my attention was Damien, standing in the distance, his posture relaxed yet unmistakably expectant as he waited for Caroline.

My heart gave a strange, unsteady thump at the sight of the diner. It had been so long since I had seen them, Jeremy or any of the staff, since I had felt the warmth of their presence.

As they headed inside together, Caleb reached over and placed a reassuring hand on mine. “Come on, Aurora. It’s a special occasion.”

A special occasion? My mind spun with possibilities, but instead of overthinking it, I let the excitement take over. I took in a deep breath, inhaling deeply as the familiar yet unfamiliar surroundings wrapped around me. The moment I reached the entrance, the door swung open, and there they were—Roan and Hayden, their faces lighting up the second they saw me.

“Aurora!” Roan called out, pulling me into a tight embrace. I felt the strength of his arms around me, grounding me, making me feel as if I had never left. Hayden was next, his grip warm and familiar, his laughter ringing in my ears like a sound I had sorely missed.

“Welcome home,” he murmured, and something in my chest cracked open.

As I stepped inside, my breath caught in my throat. The diner—no, the place I had known as a rundown, forgotten shell—was completely transformed. The floors gleamed under the soft glow of overhead lights, the walls adorned with carefully placed decorations that gave it an air of warmth and belonging. The tables were set with precision, a gentle hum of chatter filling the space, and for a moment, I couldn’t believe this was the same place that once stood in ruins.

I turned to Caleb, my eyes wide with amazement. “This place... it’s beautiful. It’s nothing like before.”

He simply smiled, his gaze holding something unreadable yet full of meaning. “I told you, Aurora. It’s a special occasion.”

Special occasion? Why did it feel like he wasn’t just talking about our graduation anymore?

My heart raced as I took another step forward, the anticipation building in my chest. Whatever this was, whatever reason Caleb had brought me here, I knew one thing for certain—I was exactly where I was meant to be.

I turned to Caleb once again, my brows furrowing as I took in the sight of the diner. My heart pounded in my chest, a strange mix of unease and nostalgia creeping in.

“Caleb, will you please tell me what’s going on?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t even know what to feel…worried or scared or…please…just tell me.”

Caleb’s lips curled into a small smile, one that held something unspoken behind it. “From today onwards,” he said, his voice steady, “you’re officially one of the owners of the diner.” 

I blinked. Then again. “What?” A short laugh of disbelief escaped me. “Caleb, what the hell are you talking about?” 

He opened his mouth, probably to explain, but before he could get a word out, the kitchen doors swung open, and Jeremy stepped out, wiping his hands on a rag. His face, lined with exhaustion, brightened slightly when he saw me, but there was something weighed down in his eyes. “I was thinking of shutting the place down, Aurora,” Jeremy admitted, his voice rougher than I remembered. He sighed, leaning against the counter, his grip on the rag tightening. “After you left, things weren’t the same. Business slowed, customers stopped coming in as much… It was getting harder to keep up.” 

I felt my stomach drop. The thought of this place, our place, shutting down made my throat tighten. My memories here weren’t all perfect, but this diner had been my home for so long that I couldn’t imagine it just… disappearing. “You were gonna shut it down?” I whispered, the words barely forming. 

Jeremy gave me a sad smile. “I didn’t want to. But I didn’t have a choice.” 

Caleb stepped closer, his presence grounding, warm. “Jeremy reached out to us one day, asking how you were doing and told us about the condition of the diner. And that’s when my dad and I came up with a deal,” he said, his voice softer this time. “We provided the funds for renovations, some advertising to get the word out, and in return… you get forty percent of the dinner.”

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I'm so sorry that a few chapters keep getting published out of order...I'm trying to fix them but it's not working T-T...