She Was the Treasure All Along novel Chapter 88

Loyce looked up and saw Byron in the crowd. He clearly hadn’t expected her to be here.

It had only been a few days, but he looked thinner, hollowed out. Dark circles bruised the skin beneath his eyes, the kind of exhaustion you couldn’t hide with a smile. Whatever was happening at home, it had crushed down onto his shoulders alone.

Loyce’s gaze slid away. Her face was blank, distant, like she was looking at a stranger.

Byron’s chest felt packed with regret and pain. And the Sampson family, already battered by the Vaughn family fallout, had taken another hit. Every deal failed, every venture collapsed, like bad luck had wrapped itself around their name. He wanted someone to talk to, but the house was chaos already. He didn’t want to add to his family’s anxiety, so he kept everything locked inside.

The invitation he’d fought to obtain for today was his last attempt. If he could help treat Lucian, maybe he could salvage the Sampson family’s downward spiral, even a little.

But even he knew the odds were slim.

Among the famous physicians, people knew the Sampson family had fallen. Few bothered speaking to him.

Byron hesitated, then walked to Loyce and sat down. “Can we talk? Just…properly talk.”

Loyce turned her head. “I think we drew the line a long time ago. There’s nothing left to discuss.”

Byron’s throat tightened. “Hamilton…is scheduled for an amputation next week.”

Loyce didn’t even blink.

Byron swallowed hard, voice rough with restrained grief. “After you left, everything fell apart. Please, can you come back? Help Hamilton. Help our mom.”

Loyce rested her chin on her hand as if considering it, then said leisurely, “Sure. If you want me back, then kick Quiana out.”

Byron rejected it without thinking. “Loyce, you already have the richest family backing you. If I throw Quiana out now, she’ll end up on the streets.”

A soft laugh slipped from Loyce, cold, almost amused. “Funny. When you announced I should get out of the Sampson family, did anyone stop to think I could’ve ended up on the streets too?”

Byron froze. “I…”

Loyce turned away, disgusted. “Get lost.”

Byron’s jaw tightened. “I heard about you and your mentor stealing the Walsh family’s formula. If this reaches Lucian and Zeke wants to pursue it, no matter who your new family is, on Shapiro turf, nobody can protect you.”

Loyce gave a short, mocking laugh. “You’ve been fooled by the Walsh family more than once, and you still swallow whatever they feed you?”

Purity smiled elegantly, navigating the crowd with practiced ease. Sapphire stayed close, poised and graceful, greeting people like she belonged among them.

This was the Walsh family’s home court. What happened outside didn’t matter.

Purity walked forward with Sapphire, chin lifted. When she passed Loyce, she didn’t spare her a glance.

And it wasn’t only because Loyce came from a small shop. It was because the Walsh family had spread the story that the high-purity emergency medication Loyce used on Lucian had been made from a stolen Walsh formula, implying Loyce had cheated her way into this conference. To everyone here, that was unforgivable.

Coffee scented the air. Loyce sat alone in the corner, tapping the armrest lightly, indifferent to the cold shoulder. Her gaze lowered to the dark surface of her cup, and the faintest curve touched her lips.

The show was only just beginning.

“Ladies and gentlemen.”

A low voice rolled down from the second floor, and the entire hall seemed to pause mid-breath. Everyone looked up.

Lucian descended the stairs in a perfectly tailored black suit.