She Was the Treasure All Along novel Chapter 123

Chapter 123

Alicia could no longer keep up the act. Being lectured by someone so much younger, even in private, was a humiliating blow to her pride.

She opened her mouth to argue but then thought better of it, swallowing her anger. She lowered her head. “I wasn’t aware that Gordon had already handed over control of the family to you, Ms. Lonsdale. You’re right. It’s our fault. I failed to raise my daughter properly. I hope you can forgive

us.”

“Mom!” Leroy couldn’t believe his mother was bowing down to Loyce. He was about to lose control when Alicia gripped his arm tightly.

“Leroy! Don’t be rude!” she hissed, squeezing his arm. “Apologize!”

Feeling utterly humiliated, Leroy finally lowered his head under his mother’s threatening gaze and bit out, “I’m sorry, Loyce.”

Loyce knew that of the three, Alicia was the most cunning. She stood up. “I came today on behalf of my grandfather and brothers. Since Sybil is clearly not in any danger, I’ll be going.”

As they watched her leave, Leroy slammed his fist against the wall. “Mom! Sybil! Are you just going to let her walk all over us like that? Threaten us?!”

Alicia patted his shoulder. “You’re always so impulsive. Did you really think I was bowing down to that little brat?”

Leroy stared at her, confused. “Then what was that about?”

Sybil sat on the edge of the bed and ripped the bandage from her wrist. “I fell right into Loyce’s trap again,” she said in a low voice. “I had no idea she was so devious. She has video evidence of me stealing. I can’t let that get out.”

Leroy froze, seeing his sister’s wrist was unharmed, save for some smeared stage blood. He finally realized Loyce had been telling the truth.

12:06

“So what my friend told me about the recital was true? You really did plagiarize her music? You plagiarized some country bumpkin?!”

He couldn’t believe it.

Sybil flushed with shame. “She set me up! And she stole my inspiration! She wrote that piece using my ideas.”

Leroy didn’t know much about music. “If it was your inspiration, why couldn’t you write the piece yourself?” he shot back.

His question struck a nerve, and a wave of frustration and humiliation washed over Sybil. For an artist, inspiration was a fleeting spark that had to be captured perfectly in an instant. But how many could truly achieve that? She certainly couldn’t. She had spent countless hours writing version after version, only to have Logan reject them all. The one he praised was the one Loyce had scribbled on a piece of paper.

Loyce had probably glanced at her discarded drafts, grasped the core idea, and perfected it instantly. Could it be that Loyce had inherited the Lonsdale family’s musical genius?

Sybil gritted her teeth. “How do you know I couldn’t have written something that good? Loyce plagiarized my creativity! It’s the only way she could have composed something worthwhile.”

‘That girl has had no formal training,” Alicia added. “Even if she has a little talent, she owes it to our Sybil’s inspiration. Otherwise, she couldn’t possibly write good music.”

Though Leroy was temporarily placated, a voice deep inside him screamed that Loyce had been telling the truth.

“That’s enough, Leroy,” Alicia said. “Your military enlistment physical is tomorrow. You should go home and rest. Don’t be late.”

After he left, a man wearing a cap and looking like a photographer entered the room. He retrieved a hidden pinhole camera from the corner. “Alicia, the footage is good. It can be edited.”

19.02

Chapter 123

Alicia nodded in satisfaction, but Sybil asked nervously, “Mom, are you sure that expert you hired won’t mess up?”

“I was worried that little bitch would pull a fast one, so I paid a master thief five million. Don’t worry. No matter where she’s hidden that video, he’ll find it for you.”

Just as Loyce stepped out of the hospital, heading for her motorcycle, she saw a group of young boys teasing an old scrap collector. They had torn open the cardboard boxes he had gathered to sell, and when he desperately tried to stop them, they shoved him to the ground.

“Hey! You… you kids! Stop it!” the old man cried out in a pained, raspy

voice.

Loyce’s eyes turned cold. She strode over and grabbed the lead boy by the collar. “Bullying the elderly? Didn’t your parents teach you any manners?”

The boys, intimidated by her fierce demeanor, scrambled away.

Loyce helped the man gather his things and get back on his feet. He grasped her hand, thanking her profusely. “Thank you so much. I don’t

know what I would’ve done.”

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