She Was the Treasure All Along novel Chapter 289

“Then what are you doing here?” the girls taunted her.

Cyrilla stepped in, feigning a peacemaking attitude. “Alright, everyone, that’s enough. We’re all classmates. Giselle, I’m very happy you could come to my party. We’re still good friends.”

“You’re not worthy of being my friend,” Giselle replied resolutely. “And as I said, I’m not here to see any of you.”

She sidestepped the group of students and continued walking forward.

Someone behind her scoffed, “Does she really think she can go to the VIP lounge on the rooftop terrace?”

No sooner had the words been spoken than the two security guards at the foot of the staircase pulled open the door to the top floor and let Giselle pass.

Cyrilla’s smile froze on her face. She stared, wide-eyed, at Giselle’s disappearing back, her fingers digging unconsciously into her palms. The whispers of her classmates pricked her ears like needles.

“Oh my god, she can actually go to the VIP lounge?”

“I thought the top floor was only for politicians and celebrities. My dad tried to book it last time and couldn’t even get on the list…”

“Who is Giselle going to see?”

“Didn’t Amy say she saw a lot of military vehicles? Could Lucian be upstairs?”

“Then how would Cyrilla not know? If they’re practically a couple, wouldn’t they be closer than that?”

“M-Maybe some other officers are having a gathering. Stop speculating. Giselle was probably able to go up because she knows some rich man here,” Cyrilla’s voice rose, the hem of her pink dress swishing as she turned abruptly.

Her words successfully diverted their train of thought. By using the term “rich man” instead of suggesting an officer, she planted a seed of doubt.

“Could she have a sugar daddy?” someone whispered.

“There’s no other explanation.”

An unspoken consensus was reached, and the crowd began to look at Giselle's departure with disdain.

…

In reality, Giselle was sitting on the outdoor terrace just outside the private room, right next to Loyce, who was sipping a drink while they analyzed the recent exam paper together.

He picked up the glass Loyce had left on the small table. His fingertips traced the rim as his gaze fell on the small, empty pitcher beside it, and his eyes darkened slightly.

“You drank all of that already?” He sat down beside her, pushing the empty glass away and replacing it with a plate of fish and chips and a glass of juice he had brought from inside.

Loyce rested her chin on her hand and looked at him, her cheeks flushed. “Their new series is quite good.”

“It tastes sweet,” Lucian explained, “but the alcohol content is very high.”

The cool night breeze lifted strands of Loyce’s hair. She lowered her hand to the table, her fingers curling slightly into her palm as she gazed out at the glittering lights of Metropia, her eyes looking a little hazy. “It was fine.”

“Are you cold?” Lucian suddenly reached out and took her hand. His palm was warm, and the heat quickly spread from her cool fingertips. “It’s early autumn. The temperature drops at night.”

As if the touch had been nothing more than a simple check, the man shrugged off his military jacket and draped it over her shoulders to warm her up.

Enveloped in his scent, and with the alcohol going to her head, Loyce didn’t bother to move. She just propped up her head and tossed out a lazy joke. “With that frail-looking body of yours, you’re the one who should be careful not to catch a cold.”

Lucian’s eyebrows shot up. “You don’t think I have a good physique?”