She Was the Treasure All Along novel Chapter 145

Chapter 145

Loyce had also received an invitation to the gathering from Yorick. She remembered him as the man who had spoken up for her; his family were shipping magnates, titans of the maritime cargo industry. She agreed to attend, but explained she would be late, as she had important business to take care of first.

The Sampson family had scraped together the last of their assets for her, including the very mansion they lived in, to cover the cost of Hamilton’s leg surgery. Loyce had scheduled the procedure at the military hospital and instructed the staff to inform the family that no one but the patient himself would be allowed to see her. To save Hamilton’s life, they had

agreed.

When Loyce arrived at the hospital, Heath had already put Hamilton under anesthesia. He looked at her, his expression complex. “Why the change of heart? What made you decide to save a Sampson? This isn’t an easy case, you know. He’s delayed treatment for too long. Even if you fix his legs, he’ll likely walk with a limp for the rest of his life.”

Loyce smiled. “This isn’t a change of heart. It’s a fair exchange. I don’t make deals where I lose.”

“The Sampson Group is already failing,” Heath pointed out. “Even with a majority stake in the company, you won’t make much money.”

“You’re right,” Loyce said, pulling on a pair of surgical gloves and approaching the unconscious Hamilton. She looked down at his pale, sickly face. “But I’m not after money. The Sampson Group is a tool I intend to use against others.”

The Seabrook family had monopolized the resources that rightfully belonged to the Lonsdales–resources her grandfather had intended for her. But the Lonsdale family’s roots were overseas, and they weren’t intimately familiar with the tangled web of power in Metropla. It was up to her to preempt any moves they might make.

Loyce picked up a scalpel. “Let’s begin.”

The necrosis in Hamilton’s legs was severe. The surgery stretched on for seven hours, from the afternoon well into the night. By the end, Loyce was visibly exhausted, but the operation had been a resounding success.

Heath, who had been observing, was full of praise. “That was a textbook–perfect surgery,” he said. “I recorded it. I’ll show it to the doctoral candidates as a case study.”

He then added, “A few of the younger staff from our department are getting dinner tonight. They wanted to know if you’d like to join.”

Loyce stripped off her gloves and walked out of the operating room. She pulled down her mask and took a few sips of water. “I’ll have to pass. I’m already late for a party tonight, and it would be rude not to go.”

Heath nodded in understanding. “Of course. Your status is different now. You should get going, don’t want to give people anything to gossip about.”

By the time Loyce arrived at the private club, the party was in full swing. As she pushed open the door to their suite, she was greeted by Yuna’s shrill laughter.

‘Well, well, if it isn’t our great pianist, Ms. Lonsdale! I almost thought you were too depressed to show your face after failing the Steinway auditions. I was just about to pay a visit to the Lonsdale estate to offer ny condolences.”

A ripple of snickers went through the room. Sybil, seated next to Yorick, took an elegant sip of her red wine, a flicker of triumph in her eyes.

Yorick frowned and was about to intervene when Loyce walked in, completely unfazed. She draped her coat over the back of a chair and scanned the faces in the room.

‘Sorry I’m late, a last–minute surgery held me up,” she said calmly. “Looks

Chapter 145

like I’ve missed quite a bit?”

“You certainly have,” Yuna said with a sneer. “We were just discussing certain people who overestimate their own abilities and enter

competitions they have no hope of winning.”