She Was the Treasure All Along novel Chapter 682

Lucian paused, then obediently picked up a potato. His peeling technique was smooth and efficient; it clearly wasn't his first time prepping a meal.

He finished peeling a flawless potato and deliberately held it up in front of Hank. "This is the standard."

Hank chucked his mangled potato into the water bucket, grabbed two fresh ones, and shoved them into Lucian's hands. "Great, then you do it. Competence is a curse, right?"

Lucian just stared at him.

Watching the two of them bicker, Loyce couldn't help but laugh. These highly dangerous, powerful men currently looked like a bunch of overgrown boys playing house.

Naturally, there were casualties.

Hank was so aggressive with washing the vegetables that he flooded the floor, nearly slipping before Morris caught him with lightning-fast reflexes.

Forrest accidentally inhaled a cloud of spice rub, breaking into a coughing fit with tears streaming down his face. Hank pointed and laughed. "If your board of directors saw you right now, they'd mock you for a week!"

Forrest grabbed a paper towel, wiping his nose and eyes. "You look like a pig rolling in a mud puddle right now. You're in no position to talk."

Hank choked on his retort.

Morris chuckled softly at the chaos. He was undeniably the star student of the group. Every time Loyce walked past his station, she showered his knife skills with praise. Basking in her approval, Morris felt a surge of inspiration. After carving an intricate, magnificent dragon out of a turnip, he immediately grabbed a carrot to start his next masterpiece.

Laughter, relentless roasting, and the clatter of pots and pans filled the kitchen.

Despite the endless mishaps and the slow pace, no one actually complained. Amidst the chaos and collaboration, there was a profound, unprecedented sense of family joy.

Loyce spun around the kitchen like a top, correcting Forrest's marinating technique, adjusting Morris's plating, and constantly intervening in the childish potato wars between Hank and Lucian.

When Lucian deliberately slapped a wet potato peel onto Hank's cheek, the mafia boss shrieked, "Shapiro! I never knew you were this petty!"

Lucian just shrugged. "Really? First time I'm discovering it too."

Hank barked a laugh.

The commotion was so loud that the three elders couldn't just sit on the couch anymore. Gordon wandered over to the kitchen doorway, taking in the chaotic scene. When Marcella tried to step in and help, he held out a hand to stop her.

He sighed softly. "After all these years... this is the first time I've seen my boys this happy. This kind of ordinary, noisy warmth... it's something I always wanted but thought I'd never have."

Lucian broke into a breathtaking smile.

Hank popped his head out from behind them. "Hey! No sneaking food without me!"

Seeing Lucian so seamlessly integrated into the Lonsdale family—sporting a genuine smile that Zeke himself rarely saw—the old man froze in his tracks.

Sensing an extra set of eyes on him, Lucian turned his head. The smile instantly vanished from his lips. The relaxed posture and effortless joy visibly drained from his body, replaced by a rigid tension.

It wasn't intentional; it was decades of ingrained conditioning. Around his grandfather, he could only be the stoic, impenetrable Admiral Shapiro.

"Grandfather," he greeted in a low voice.

Gordon clapped his hands, calling everyone to the dining room. "Announcement! We're adding one more old man to our Christmas roster. Since he brought a gift, I assume nobody has any objections?"

The three Lonsdale brothers immediately looked at Loyce, then at Lucian. They didn't have a say in this; they only cared about what Loyce wanted. Whatever she decided, went.

Zeke quickly realized that in this house, Loyce's word was law. He stepped forward proactively, handing the massive gift box to her. Suppressing his pride, he said quietly, "This is for you. Merry Christmas."