She Was the Treasure All Along novel Chapter 180

Watching his sister’s hysterical breakdown, Leroy realized for the first time that she wasn’t as perfect as he’d thought. Her inner darkness made her seem repulsive.

“I saw the news,” he said quietly. “And the livestream. Mom helped you cheat, and you tried to frame Loyce. I know everything. This is our fault. You were simply outmatched.”

Sybil’s hand flew across his face, the slap echoing in the room. “Shut up! I was not outmatched! How dare you say I’m inferior to Loyce!”

She regretted it instantly, but Leroy just stood there, his head turned to the side, silent. He had always trusted his sister unconditionally, loved and protected her. But as the truth unraveled, he saw that the family he had blindly supported had been playing him for a fool.

“Leroy, I…” Sybil began, panicking, but he cut her off by showing her out of his room and shutting the door.

Staring at the closed door, Sybil turned and shot a venomous glare down the hallway toward Loyce’s room. Hatred burned in her eyes. She would make Loyce pay!

…

For a time, Loyce’s life returned to a quiet rhythm. Then, one day, Hugo reported that he had a new lead on the Onyx Tiger’s whereabouts. They were planning another transaction at a casino in Metropia, and it was very likely the last of the cargo from Loyce’s hijacked ship.

That night, Loyce prepared to move. She returned to her small apartment in the military housing compound and pressed a hidden switch on the wall. A section of the wall rotated, revealing a panel of sleek, concealable weapons.

She changed into a stunning red dress with a high slit and carefully hid her weapons in various places on her body. Once she was satisfied, she picked up her elegant handbag and left the room.

The motion-sensor lights in the building had been broken for a couple of days, leaving the hallway in complete darkness. As she descended the stairs in her high heels, she spotted a familiar silhouette in the gloom of the landing.

The man was wearing a black shirt with the sleeves rolled up, revealing muscular forearms. A cigarette dangled from the fingers of one hand. As if sensing her presence, he looked up, his deep eyes partially hidden by his hair.

“Where are you going?”

The fragile, budding intimacy they had built shattered in the darkness of that night, broken by her icy words.

Lucian’s hand shot out, his fingers closing around her arm to stop her from leaving. In the dim light, his eyes were wild, but his low voice held a soft, pleading edge. “Loyce, I thought we were good friends.”

“We are friends,” she replied, turning to look at him, her gaze serene. “Nothing more.”

His grip on her arm tightened for a moment before he let go. “You’re a cold one, little girl.”

Loyce didn’t respond. As she walked down the stairs, she barely caught his muttered words, a ghost of a sound in the darkness. “Couldn't I even be a little distraction for you?”

Her steps faltered for a fraction of a second. Soon, she was out of the building. The summer night was cool, but a strange heat coursed through her body. She slipped into the car Hugo had prepared for her, letting the wind rushing past the open window cool her turbulent thoughts as they sped toward the casino.