She Was the Treasure All Along novel Chapter 568

"Thane..."

Sybil glanced back longingly at the colossal yacht gleaming pristine white under the sun. She could practically hear the clinking of glasses and the lighthearted laughter drifting down from the upper decks. That was her world. She belonged up there.

Just then, a strikingly handsome man in a tailored suit stepped into their path.

Completely ignoring Thane, he extended a hand toward Sybil. "Miss, why don't you board with me? Your date clearly lacks the status required to bring such a beautiful woman to a ball."

The sudden intervention left both Thane and Sybil stunned.

The man's words felt like a resounding slap across Thane's face. His already fragile ego shattered instantly. The stranger's gaze bypassed him entirely, treating him like empty air—a blatant disregard that stung far worse than a direct insult.

Sybil looked up at the stranger. He carried an undeniable air of aristocratic power, his smile laced with effortless arrogance. Her heart skipped a beat. Her instincts screamed that this man was incredibly important, perhaps a foreign billionaire.

"Who the hell are you?" Thane demanded, violently pulling Sybil behind him. He glared at the man, desperately trying to salvage whatever pride he had left.

The man in the suit finally shifted his gaze to Thane, a mocking smirk playing on his lips. "Me? Just a gentleman who hates seeing a beautiful lady dragged down by irrelevant people."

He deliberately emphasized the words *irrelevant people*, twisting the knife in Thane's chest.

"The only reason I can't get in is because..."

Thane trailed off, biting his tongue. His tone had inadvertently taken on a blaming edge. Catching the deeply wounded look in Sybil's eyes, he forced his anger down.

Eager to prove her loyalty, Sybil looked at the suited man and said, "I really do want to attend the ball, but if my boyfriend can't come in, I'm not going either."

Thane's heart melted. His lingering frustration vanished entirely.

The man in the suit appeared to consider this. He walked over to the security guards, exchanged a few brief words, and then pulled out his phone to make a direct call to Yorick. After a short conversation, the guards stepped aside.

"You may board," the head guard told Thane tightly. "On account of Dr. Karl."

Watching them finally make their way up the ramp, a faint, knowing smile touched Loyce's lips.

Loyce looked at her in confusion. "I didn't book a stylist."

"Mr. Winslet sent me," the stylist said, looking slightly anxious. "I've already been fully compensated for the evening."

Loyce wasn't about to make life difficult for someone just doing their job. She genuinely hadn't brought proper evening wear anyway, so she stepped aside and let the woman in to handle her hair, makeup, and jewelry.

...

When Loyce finally returned to the deck, the evening breeze had set in.

Despite the winter season, the biting sea wind was entirely blocked by heavy glass windbreakers and powerful outdoor heaters, making the pool deck warm enough that several women were still lounging in light cocktail dresses.

From a distance, Thane spotted Loyce immediately. By the time he and Sybil walked over, Yuna was already greeting her.

Loyce was wearing a spectacular pale pink Dior haute couture gown. The dress had been custom-altered to perfectly embrace her beautifully accentuated curves. Delicate fabric petals seemed to float around her in the breeze, with sheer smoky-pink ribbon ties adding an ethereal touch. Her matching stiletto heels featured delicate tulle bows at the ankles. She looked like a breathtaking forest nymph, stealing the breath of everyone who laid eyes on her.