She Was the Treasure All Along novel Chapter 652

Larry's tone shifted, becoming heavy with sorrow and absolute conviction. He dropped an even more explosive bombshell: "And what did they find when they got inside? That poor child, Ayla, was shot and left bleeding out simply because she bravely threw herself in front of the guns of those thrill-seeking billionaires to protect Saba, a lion she considered family! What's even more sickening is that these so-called 'animal protection ambassadors' cold-bloodedly decided to silence a little girl just to cover up their animal cruelty!"

He pointed squarely at Loyce and Hank, his voice rising with righteous fury. "Why did my clients resort to 'violence'? They were stopping a murder! They didn't just save a child that day—they salvaged the fragile moral baseline of our society!"

Timing it perfectly, Larry introduced crucial video footage and undeniable data reports from the reserve, scattering them like confetti over the prosecution's case and completely tearing off Corinne Pierce's hypocritical mask.

Faced with Larry's airtight defense that seamlessly wove logic, emotion, and law, the prosecution and the billionaires' legal team found themselves scrambling.

They could only fall back on weakly arguing that the evidence was obtained "illegally," accusing Loyce of having questionable motives and claiming the entire thing was a meticulously orchestrated smear campaign to muddy the waters.

Desperate to salvage their losing battle, the prosecution finally called their trump card to the stand—Sagan.

"We reject the defense's version of events," the prosecutor stated. "As a key witness and Ayla's father, his testimony will paint a completely different picture."

Sagan walked heavily to the witness stand. Inevitably, his eyes met Loyce's. Looking as if burdened by immense guilt, he quickly looked away.

The prosecutor asked with a leading tone, "Please tell the court—did the defendant, Loyce, use your daughter's disappearance as an excuse to force her way onto private property? Did she coerce you and your family in the process? Is the truth about how Ayla was injured vastly different from what the defense just described?"

Sagan's lips trembled violently, sweat plastering his hair to his forehead.

Just as the prosecutor thought he was going to deliver the agreed-upon lies, Sagan's head snapped up.

"I was a coward before! They threatened Ayla's life!" Sagan roared back, tears finally streaming down his face as he looked toward Loyce in desperate repentance. "I'm so sorry. They told me if I didn't lie, Ayla would have a terrible 'accident.' I was terrified. But I realize now... if I help these murderers cover up the truth today, my little girl will never forgive me. And I'd never forgive myself! Every word I just said is the truth! I swear it on my late parents' graves and on my love for Ayla!"

Loyce looked at Sagan's tearful apology, genuinely surprised.

Larry was equally taken aback and glanced at her. "Well, why did he suddenly flip? That just saved me a massive headache."

"The fact that he grabbed a hunting rifle to go save his daughter proves he'd never abandon her out of fear she might hate him," Hank murmured. "Fathers aren't that selfless. He'd protect her even if it meant bearing her resentment and misunderstanding."

"Which means someone handled the threat to Ayla's safety," Loyce concluded. She looked at Hank. "Did Forrest or Morris do this?"