She Was the Treasure All Along novel Chapter 626

"Welcome to the Ruby Oasis Resort. My name is Sagan, and I'll be your guide and itinerary coordinator for the next few days. I hope the sun and the breeze here help you forget all your worries." Wearing a crisp khaki uniform, his natural humor and polite demeanor instantly won the group over.

The afternoon was designated as free time. Some employees opted to lounge by the pool, others booked spa treatments, while Giselle excused herself to her room, citing she still felt unwell.

Loyce preferred to walk the grounds and get a feel for the area. Sagan offered to accompany her and show her the local ecosystem.

Across the resort, the flat-screen TVs were all broadcasting the same animal conservation ad.

In the video, a young woman stood shoulder-to-shoulder with conservationists. Loyce recognized her immediately: Corinne Pierce. Wearing a khaki uniform and cradling an adorable leopard cub, Corinne spoke earnestly to the camera about the absolute necessity of protecting wildlife.

Loyce feigned casual curiosity. "Is that a new promotional video for the wildlife fund?"

"Yes, it is," Sagan replied. "The local reserves have been hosting several events lately. They want to gather footage for a massive campaign, hoping to inspire more people to donate and join their cause."

"They seem like incredibly wealthy, warm-hearted people, don't they?" Sagan added with a smile.

Loyce's lips curved slightly. "Indeed. It takes people exactly like them to ensure these animals get the habitat they deserve."

The two of them strolled along the riverbank path. Sagan pointed out the local flora and the occasional exotic bird that took flight, rattling off facts with the ease of a seasoned expert.

He clearly loved this land. During their chat, Loyce learned that he lived on a private farm not far from the resort with his wife and ten-year-old daughter.

"My daughter, Ayla..." Sagan's rugged features softened instantly at the mention of her name, his eyes shining with pride. "She's a special kid. She has an unnatural affinity for animals. Our house has basically turned into a mini rescue shelter."

Seeing her shock, Sagan quickly explained. "Three years ago, Ayla went on a school trip and found a private zoo that was shutting down. The animals were in horrific conditions. Saba was just a severely malnourished, dying cub. Ayla couldn't stand seeing him locked in that filthy, tiny cage. She insisted on saving him, drained all her piggy banks, and begged me for weeks to let him come home."

He sighed, his eyes clouded with mixed emotions. "I'm a father, and a conservationist at heart. I caved. We pushed through a mountain of red tape and brought him back to live in a secure enclosure on our farm."

"How big is he... now?" Loyce tried to picture a lion living on a farm. No matter how good their intentions were, keeping an apex predator was a ticking time bomb for anyone living nearby.

"He's nearly a full-grown male. No one can get near him except Ayla. Even I can only go into the enclosure to feed him when she gets home from school."

Sagan's voice grew heavy. "He's pushing ten feet long and weighs over six hundred pounds. It was fine at first, but as he grew, the problems started. His roar carries across the entire valley. The neighbors got terrified and reported us to the authorities, claiming we were harboring a dangerous animal and threatening the community..."

He rubbed his face in exhaustion. "Now the government has issued an ultimatum. We either transfer him to a certified facility, or they send someone to put him down. Or worse, send him back to whatever shady dealers bought out that bankrupt zoo."