She Was the Treasure All Along novel Chapter 644

Corinne was the daughter of the Director of the Investigation Bureau.

Dorian was the heir to a multinational conglomerate.

Sandro was the scion of a top-tier tech empire.

Jennifer was the daughter of a political dynasty.

And they all shared one unified public title: core members of global wildlife conservation organizations, serving as ambassadors in their respective countries.

Behind every single one of these names was an unfathomable web of power, wealth, and influence.

In stark contrast, Hank—sporting a gunshot wound and looking rough—and Loyce, calmly standing amidst the carnage with only a few scrapes, looked like nobodies.

"Everyone, drop your weapons! Hands behind your heads!" the lead officer shouted, his voice cracking slightly, especially when the lion bared its teeth at him.

Hank gave a sharp nod, and the Costa operatives immediately placed their guns on the floor, their eyes still hyper-vigilant.

Loyce calmly set her empty handgun on the marble.

The police rushed forward, slapping cuffs on Hank and his men. But no one dared approach Loyce. The lion had positioned its massive head directly in front of her chest, acting as a living shield. The officers didn't dare make a move, and they certainly didn't dare fire.

Shooting a protected, high-value animal without authorization was a massive federal offense.

The standoff stretched for a tense moment until Loyce gently patted Saba's back. "I promised Ayla I'd get you back to her. You'll see her soon. But right now, I need to handle this."

She stepped away from the lion, offering her wrists to the trembling officers.

The lion let out a low, sorrowful grumble that sounded almost like a sigh, before turning around and leaping out of a shattered glass window, vanishing into the treeline.

Loyce, Hank, and the rest of the wealthy elite were all escorted into police cruisers to be taken to the precinct.

Hank, however, had absolutely no intention of sitting in a cell. With his usual ruthless efficiency, he had already mapped out a contingency plan.

"On it," Hugo replied.

Inside the precinct, the atmosphere was suffocating.

News of Dorian and the others being injured had instantly reached their respective families.

Almost immediately, these incredibly powerful figures began descending on the station. Those who couldn't fly in internationally immediately video-called the local authorities to ensure their children’s safety.

Their elite legal teams arrived just as fast. Using their classic playbook, they immediately painted the billionaires as traumatized victims, burying Hank and Loyce under a mountain of severe felony charges before the ink was even dry.

Inside the interrogation room with Hank and Loyce, it wasn't just local detectives sitting across from them. Several high-ranking officials were present—a clear sign that the families were already applying crushing political pressure.

"Mr. Lonsdale, Ms. Lonsdale," a senior inspector began, slamming a stack of crime scene photos onto the steel table. His voice was laced with hostility. "You are being charged with armed trespassing, possession and use of illegal military-grade firearms, and... murder."

He leaned forward, glaring at them. "Eight people are dead. Dozens are critically injured. The victims are high-profile individuals. How exactly do you explain this?"