She Was the Treasure All Along novel Chapter 835

The Stellar Trust internal gala commenced precisely at eight o'clock in the evening.

Loyce arrived on time. Approaching the entrance, she held out her forged invitation, but before she could hand it over, the attendant immediately recognized her. He accepted the card with a polite bow and a polished smile. "Welcome, Ms. Lonsdale. Mr. Sterling specifically instructed me to escort you to the best seat in the house."

Loyce arched a brow, following him inside. "He knew I was coming."

"Mr. Sterling mentioned that neither heaven nor hell could keep you out of a room you wanted to be in. He figured it was better to just open the front doors and welcome you properly."

"He's not afraid I'll burn this place to the ground?"

The attendant offered a sympathetic smile. "You won't. Whatever it is you're hoping to achieve tonight, it won't happen."

Loyce was seated in the front row of the VIP section. The room was a sea of Stellar Trust elite and eccentric billionaires. Occasionally, someone would raise a glass in her direction to offer a polite greeting.

Others approached with cryptic warnings. "Ms. Lonsdale, you shouldn't be here. You won't find what you're looking for."

"And why is that?" she asked calmly.

The man sighed. "Whatever Horace wants, no one can take away."

"Tonight is the Princess of Stellar Trust's first public debut."

"And the only reason she's making an appearance is to announce her engagement."

Loyce's eyes flickered. She already knew exactly what was coming.

The minutes ticked by. Loyce sat with her spine rigid, one hand resting lightly over her stomach. The ambient noise of the ballroom felt muted, muffled behind a layer of thick glass, leaving only the sound of her own heartbeat hammering against her eardrums.

A distant bell chimed. It was time.

Her gaze locked onto the top of the grand spiral staircase, draped in crimson velvet. The heavy, ornate doors began to open.

Sigrid stepped into the light first. She wore a sleek, silver-white gown, her hair swept up in an elegant updo that exposed the graceful curve of her neck. Her hands were wrapped tightly around the arm of the man walking beside her.

Then, he stepped into view.

The spotlight hit him instantly. Even leaning heavily on a custom metal cane, his tall, broad-shouldered frame commanded the room. He was dressed in an impeccably tailored, pitch-black tuxedo that accentuated his harsh, unforgiving aura.

But his face... he was paler and more gaunt than Loyce remembered. His jawline was locked in a rigid line, and as his gaze swept over the crowd, his eyes were completely unfocused, as if the hundreds of billionaires below were nothing more than thin air.

Even at his most cold and commanding, Lucian had never looked like this. He looked devoid of warmth, devoid of emotion. It was terrifying.

Loyce's breath hitched in her throat.

Sigrid naturally spotted Loyce sitting in the front row, dressed understatedly yet radiating a quiet power. A viciously triumphant smile touched Sigrid's lips. She leaned into Lucian, whispering something in his ear with a display of intimate possession.

Loyce watched as Lucian lowered his eyelashes, offering a barely perceptible nod in response to whatever Sigrid had said.

He wasn't faking it.

The realization drove an icepick straight into Loyce's heart.

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