She Was the Treasure All Along novel Chapter 572

The dance concluded, and he gentlemanly withdrew his hand from her waist. The younger crowd around them naturally parted, as if a reigning monarch had taken the floor. None of them dared to dance, instead staring eagerly at the couple.

Turning her head, Loyce spotted her grandfather standing at the forefront of the older generation, glaring at them with a stern expression.

If Lucian had actually kissed her in front of everyone, Gordon probably would have snatched a walking stick from a nearby senior and started swinging.

Lucian took her hand and led her over to Gordon, gently nudging her forward. "It's cold out here, and your dress is thin. Go inside with your grandfather, grab a coffee, and have some pastries so you don't catch a cold."

Gordon gripped his granddaughter's hand and let out a huff, though he didn't give Lucian too much attitude—after all, this was the man his granddaughter liked.

Yorick's plan to have a deeper conversation with Loyce after the dance had completely evaporated thanks to Lucian's intervention.

He felt incredibly frustrated, realizing he had shot himself in the foot. His original intention in inviting Lucian aboard was to show Loyce the contrast—to prove he was now superior to the 'ruined' man. But now, he bitterly regretted it.

Even without his military title, Lucian's sheer aura and unspoken authority easily crushed everyone else in the room.

Jasmine Hampton watched as the man walked past her without even glancing her way, her fingers curling into tight fists. She couldn't fathom how Lucian could be so hopelessly love-struck, letting Loyce play him for a fool.

"I heard you and Lucian worked together in the military for years, and you almost fell in love with him?" Luna handed Jasmine a glass of wine. Before coming to Metropia, she had obtained detailed dossiers on everyone close to Lucian, including this daughter of the Army General.

Jasmine shot her a look, her eyes cold and unfamiliar.

"They're heading to the entertainment room," Luna added, jutting her chin in that direction. "Want to join?"

Channing Shapiro wrapped his arm around Luna's waist and introduced her. "This is my girlfriend, Luna. It's your first time meeting, Ms. Hampton."

Luna, recalling what they had brought aboard, rolled her eyes and said, "Lucian has always been old-fashioned and rigid. He's been single all these years. If you were to sleep with him, Ms. Hampton—even if it wasn't strictly consensual—I imagine he would take responsibility for you out of duty. You could always marry first and fall in love later, couldn't you?"

"Exactly," Channing agreed. "If a bunch of people walked in on you two in bed, he would absolutely marry you to protect your reputation and salvage both your dignities."

"Isn't that what you want?" Luna pressed.

Jasmine was quiet for a moment. Though she hadn't fully bought into their manipulation, she finally said, "Didn't you say you were going to the entertainment room? Let's see what they're up to."

She took the lead toward the entertainment room, leaving Luna frowning behind her. "She didn't take the bait?"

"What's the rush? Wherever Loyce is, a jealous woman won't be far behind," Channing said, soothingly stroking Luna's bare shoulder. "Since my brother refuses to listen to reason and disrespects me time and again, if he wants to dig his own grave, I don't need to keep holding back for my mother's sake. I'm going to make him pay for his arrogance."