She Was the Treasure All Along novel Chapter 191

Seeing the tall figure step out of the car, Cyrilla froze. In the moonlight, Lucian's silhouette was as sharp as if carved from stone. The sight of his imposing form in the trench coat made her eyes well up with tears instantly.

“Lucian!” she cried, her voice trembling as she pushed her bicycle forward, her face a mask of fear.

Lucian frowned, his gaze taking in the girl's thin school uniform and scuffed sneakers. “What happened?”

A strange bird call echoed from the nearby woods, startling Cyrilla so badly that she dropped her bike and tried to bury herself in Lucian’s arms. “I’m so glad you’re here!”

But her hands had barely touched the fabric of his coat before he grasped her by the shoulders, holding her at a distance.

“Cyrilla, maintain some propriety,” Lucian said coolly.

“I was just so scared,” Cyrilla said, composing herself. She looked down, nervously twisting the hem of her worn-out uniform. “It’s such a long way from school, and it got dark before I was even halfway home.”

Lucian’s frown deepened. “Didn’t a driver pick you up?”

Cyrilla shook her head, looking lost. “No. I was going to take the bus, but my mother bought me this bike the night before I transferred, so I felt I had to ride it back.”

It was her first day of school in Metropia, and not a single person from the Shapiro family had checked in on her or her mother.

Lucian felt a pang of guilt. This was no way to treat the family of the person who had saved his grandfather’s life. He picked up Cyrilla’s bike, placed it in the trunk, and said, “Get in. I’ll take you home.”

Blushing, Cyrilla opened the passenger door and slid in. She didn't notice the person in the back seat. As soon as Lucian got into the driver’s seat, she thoughtfully pulled a bottle of water from her schoolbag and offered it to him. “Have you been working this whole time, Lucian?”

He took the water and set it aside, starting the car. “Are you adjusting to the new school?” he asked casually.

Cyrilla looked down, fidgeting with her clothes. “It’s… it’s okay. It’s just that we have to buy the official school uniforms and meal plans, and my mother doesn’t have enough money…”

She quickly added, “But I’ve already figured it out. I’ll get a part-time job at a coffee shop. I don’t want to be a bother. Just being able to live with the Shapiro family is more than I could ask for.”

Lucian’s brow furrowed slightly. “If you need anything, just tell the butler. We can certainly afford to support you and your mother.”

Cyrilla nodded softly, then said with determination, “You’re so good to me, Lucian. When I grow up, I’ll find a way to repay you.”

Loyce remained silent, gazing out the window and listening to the girl’s words, which were clearly laced with adoration. She was sharp enough to piece together the situation from these small fragments. She just hadn't expected Zeke to practically set Lucian up with a high schooler. The age gap had to be nearly double.

Then again, with a face like Lucian's, he probably appealed to everyone, young and old.

Loyce looked at him, puzzled. “Why?”

Lucian’s gaze dropped to her feet. “Your heel is bleeding.”

Such a minor pain was nothing to her. The manor’s grounds were mostly grass and cobblestone, impeccably maintained by the staff. After a moment's thought, Loyce kicked off her heels, bent to pick them up, and stood barefoot on the cool ground.

“It’s fine, I can walk. You should take the little girl home. She walked all this way; she probably hasn’t even started her homework.”

Lucian’s lips thinned. “Don’t misunderstand.”

Loyce’s eyes narrowed slightly as she smiled. “Misunderstand what? We’re all friends here.”

She pulled her wrist from his grasp and gave a dismissive wave. “Goodnight.”

From inside the car, Cyrilla couldn't hear what they were saying, but she saw the magnificent woman in red walk away, and she saw Lucian stand there, watching her for a long time. Her intuition screamed that this woman was different. She was important to Lucian.

Cyrilla bit her lip, her mind racing. She was new here, and gaining a foothold would be difficult. She couldn’t afford to clash with these wealthy young women. She would have to rely on her own talent and hard work to surpass them and finally win Lucian’s attention.