She Was the Treasure All Along novel Chapter 40

“No.” Loyce cut her off. “I’m not staying in a guest room. I have my own home.”

She’d come to acknowledge her family, not to wade into rich-house politics and petty power games.

“I’ll have a simple meal,” Loyce added. “I have something else to do tonight.”

Gordon’s face had darkened the moment Leroy said “guest room.” Now he stiffened. “Guest room? You’re saying my granddaughter comes home and gets a guest room?”

“Do you remember whose estate this is?” Forrest stared at Leroy. “You and your sister have been living here on my money. Every dollar you eat, wear, and use comes from me. My sister comes back to her own home, and you think you get a vote?”

Hank let out a short, icy laugh. “You’ve played housekeeper so long you’ve started believing you’re the owner. And you want my sister to stay in a piano room? Sybil, does my sister need your charity?”

Sybil jolted, her face turning white. “I’m not— I didn’t mean it like that.”

“If you didn’t,” Hank said bluntly, “then pack up and move out of your room.”

“What?” Sybil’s eyes widened. “Then where would I—”

“Use the piano room,” Morris said with a mild smile. His voice was gentle, but his words cut like a knife. “You’re composing for a film, right? Staying there means you won’t have to move the piano. Convenient. The master bedroom you’re in was meant for my sister in the first place. Giving it back is just returning things to their rightful owner.”

Leroy exploded. “Why are you all ganging up on my sister? She’s going to be a musician like Morris! Isn’t she better than some country girl who just showed up? You’re biased!”

“Bang!”

Gordon, who’d been holding back for a long time, slammed his cup onto the floor by Leroy’s feet. The old man didn’t move from his seat. He flicked water from his hand with chilling calm and fixed Leroy with a blade-sharp stare. “She’s my granddaughter. Same blood. And you’re saying she’s not worthy to be your cousin? Have you forgotten what your last name is?”

The brash boy instantly deflated. “… I—I’m sorry.”

Gordon’s gaze shifted, heavy and level, landing on Sybil. “This estate was bought for my granddaughter in the first place. Sybil, you’ve lived here for over a decade. Tell me honestly, have I ever made you suffer?”

The admiration in his voice from earlier was gone. What remained was a calm pressure that filled the room like a storm front.