She Was the Treasure All Along novel Chapter 413

Hearing that name, Sybil jumped in shock. She whipped her head to look at her mother, finding that Alicia was just as surprised.

Watching the graceful silhouette of the young woman slowly stepping inside, Alicia quickly composed herself, a perfectly appropriate smile returning to her face. "Sybil, your cousin is here. Come with me to say hello."

When Loyce stepped into the banquet hall, almost every pair of eyes in the room locked onto her in unison.

The atmosphere seemed lively, but the gazes thrown at Loyce were filled with scrutiny, disdain, and a barely noticeable trace of guardedness.

The girl hadn't intentionally dressed up to the nines. She wore a cleanly tailored, smoky-gray velvet evening gown. Free of complicated embellishments, it relied entirely on its flowing lines and premium fabric to outline an aura of cool, untouchable nobility.

She wore no makeup, yet her porcelain skin glowed. The calm, sharp look in her eyes—identical to the young masters of the Lonsdale family—made her seem out of place amid a room full of dripping jewels, yet it strangely commanded the entire space.

Loyce's gaze swept peacefully across the room, finally landing on Edgar, whose face had slightly changed color, and Alicia, who was forcing herself to stay calm.

"Uncle Edgar, Aunt Alicia. Congratulations on the housewarming." Her voice wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly. She offered a slight nod, her manners flawless but completely devoid of any real warmth.

"Loyce, you're here!"

Edgar was a veteran of the business world, after all. He instantly adjusted his expression, piling on an enthusiastic smile as he stepped forward. "Your uncle almost thought you weren't going to do me the honor and refused to come."

Alicia brought Sybil forward, feigning delight. "Yes, it's so wonderful that you could make it, Loyce. Sybil, say hello to your cousin. You two haven't seen each other in a while."

Secretly shoved by her mother, Sybil forced a smile. "Hi, Loyce."

Loyce's gaze lingered on Sybil's face for a second. That placid, emotionless look made Sybil feel like she'd been pricked by an icy needle, and she subconsciously took a half-step back.

Only then did Loyce give a curt nod to Alicia. "Aunt Alicia."

Alicia smiled. "Since our most important little guest has arrived, let's all take our seats at the main table and eat."

"Indeed," Warren sighed, his words heavily pointed. "A massive empire like Macrostar has deeply intertwined core businesses. Outsiders simply couldn't handle it. If the Chairman hadn't turned the tide all these years, stabilized the situation, seized the real estate market, and if his wife hadn't successfully created the 'Élégance' brand, how could Macrostar have its current scale and influence? Chairman, you are the absolute anchor of our Macrostar! Under your leadership, Macrostar is destined for even greater glory!"

They chimed in one by one, every sentence hinging on "the Chairman," emphasizing that Edgar was the true "master" and "sole reliance" of Macrostar. It was as if Macrostar had belonged to "Edgar Lonsdale" from the very beginning, rather than the "Lonsdale" name left behind by Loyce's parents.

Listening to the flattery, Edgar revealed a smug, deeply satisfied smile. He waved his hand in mock humility. "Ah, it's the result of everyone's hard work. I couldn't have done it without your immense support! Macrostar is our shared endeavor, and I'll continue to rely on your sincere cooperation in the future!"

They laughed and chatted, dreaming about the future, their eyes intentionally or unintentionally sweeping over Loyce, who was eating quietly. Their gazes carried thinly veiled disdain and the implication that she was "just a decoration." None of them actually looked her in the eye.

Sybil had been observing Loyce from the shadows. Seeing her excluded like a fringe character by Macrostar's core executives brought a surge of satisfaction to her heart.

But the good mood only lasted a few minutes before it was shattered by the sudden clatter of Loyce setting down her silverware, the sharp clink against the porcelain plate ringing out crisply.

The conversation came to a screeching halt. Everyone's eyes, filled with dissatisfaction and deepening contempt, shot uniformly toward the source of the noise.