She Was the Treasure All Along novel Chapter 384

It took a long time for Cyrilla to find her voice. "Are you saying... the Shapiro family only handles the construction? You don't have actual control over the commercial district?"

"As far as I know, the two billion they paid us is strictly for construction fees," Zeke replied.

Suddenly, Loyce's words in the hospital echoed in Cyrilla's mind. Loyce had told her to find out who lived next door to the Shapiro family.

Her heart began to pound erratically. "Grandpa Zeke, do you know who lives next door to us? The estate Loyce is always going in and out of."

Zeke looked at her. "Why the sudden interest? That's the Lonsdale family's estate."

Cyrilla's heart practically stopped. She felt like she couldn't breathe. "She... she lives with the Lonsdale family? The wealthiest family in the country?"

Realizing she sounded frantic, she tried to rein it in. "But... I thought the Lonsdale family only had sons. They don't have a daughter, do they?"

Seeing the sheer panic on the girl's face, Zeke's tone grew serious. "Cyrilla, tell me the truth. Did you have a falling out with Loyce? What exactly happened?"

If Loyce was truly a Lonsdale... if that phone call was real... if she was actually going to blacklist the families of the students who had lied for Cyrilla... then Cyrilla was completely ruined!

A cold sweat broke out over her body. She suddenly grabbed Zeke's arm, tears welling in her eyes. "Grandpa Zeke! You have to help me! I don't want my life ruined!"

Zeke straightened his posture, realizing the severity of the situation. "What happened? Don't cry. Tell me, and I'll handle it."

Even now, Cyrilla refused to tell the old man the actual truth. She spun the same fabricated lie she had told everyone else, painting herself as the victim.

As Zeke listened, his brow furrowed deeply. In his impression, Loyce was absolutely not the kind of person to push a girl to her death. That young woman was unfathomably sharp; she'd disdain using such a petty, vicious method to hurt someone.

He looked at Cyrilla with clear suspicion. "Cyrilla, are you absolutely certain everything you just said is the truth?"

Even though he was retired, the old general's gaze was piercing. Cyrilla felt as though he could see right through her soul. But she was young, and as she lied, her eyes darted around nervously.

"Y-yes. It's the truth."

Zeke remained silent for a long moment. Finally, he looked at her and said, "I will clean up this mess for you. But I will only do it this once."

Outside the study, Lucian hadn't gone in. He leaned against the hallway wall, his eyes cold and unyielding.

"Only this once?" he silently mouthed his grandfather's promise. A chilling smirk curved his lips.

His grandfather valued loyalty and was willing to offer protection to repay the life debt owed to Cyrilla's grandmother. But Lucian had no such obligation. He wanted the truth to come out. He wanted to entirely uproot this hidden danger that kept causing trouble and pain for Loyce.

A little while later, Cyrilla opened the door and walked out, looking visibly relieved. The hallway was completely empty.

Forrest frowned, his tone instantly defensive. "Are you monitoring the hospital? Grandpa told you to stay away from her, and you're being a creep and spying on her?"

"No." Lucian took a drag of his cigarette. The smoke hit his lungs, making his breathing hitch slightly. After a light cough, he said, "The person who framed her at the hospital today happens to be the granddaughter of the woman who saved my grandfather's life."

Forrest's voice darkened. "You better not be calling to ask for mercy. If you think I'm going to tell my sister to suck it up and spare those idiots, you're out of your mind."

"No. I'm just asking you to invite her to the venue so she can watch a good show." Lucian crushed his cigarette into the ashtray, his voice devoid of emotion. "I don't usually harbor active disdain for women, but my grandfather's 'savior' has officially crossed my bottom line."

"Your bottom line being my sister?" Forrest asked.

Lucian didn't reply. Silence hung heavy on the line.

Forrest sighed. "Morris told me about the situation between you two. Regardless of how much my sister might like you, given the current circumstances, I absolutely will not approve of you two dating. As for this 'show,' I'll let her know."

The line clicked dead.

Lucian's finger hovered over the cold screen of his phone. The slight vibration of the disconnected call seemed to pierce through the metal casing, striking straight into his long-dormant heart.

Forrest's words dropped like a stone into a deep pool, sending ripples that eventually settled, leaving behind a vague but persistent question: *She likes me?*