She Was the Treasure All Along novel Chapter 292

Lucian nodded. “Yes, I am. Is it complicated?”

“N-no, not at all. It’s just… a bit of a surprise.” The chef shook off his bewildered expression, gathered the ingredients, and, composing himself, said, “It’s very simple. I’ll show you.”

The rain outside grew heavier, and the typhoon winds rattled the leaves against the windows, creating a howling, ghostly sound.

Cyrilla had been waiting and waiting in her room, but she hadn't seen Lucian's car arrive. The torrential downpour blurred the world outside her window. Finally, she opened her door and stepped into the hallway. A few steps forward, she saw a faint sliver of light from under Lucian's bedroom door, and her impatient expression finally broke into a smile of delight.

He must have parked in the underground garage because of the storm. That’s why she hadn't seen him.

She scurried back to her room, adjusted her collar, and checked her makeup. Once satisfied, Cyrilla stepped out again. But just as she did, a tremendous clap of thunder exploded right next to her. The entire sky seemed to tear apart, lightning streaking across it like the dying branches of an ancient tree.

The strike was so close that it hit a nearby power station, instantly cutting off the electricity to the entire Shapiro estate and plunging the manor into pitch-black darkness.

Cyrilla instinctively stumbled back a step, but as she looked toward Lucian's room, a surge of courage overpowered her fear. She suddenly realized this was the perfect opportunity! The power outage was the perfect excuse to seek comfort from him—and to seduce him in the process.

At the thought, Cyrilla ran from her room and straight to Lucian's bedroom door.

Inside, Loyce had just taken a shower and was drowsily curled up under the covers when she heard a timid female voice from outside. “Lucian, are you in there? Can I come in?”

Cyrilla placed her hand on the door, intending to knock, but her hand pushed it open instead.

It was unlocked.

With a soft creak, the barefoot girl stepped into the dark room. A flash of lightning briefly illuminated the space, revealing a lump under the covers on the bed.

“Lucian?”

There was no response. Was he asleep?

Just then, another bolt of lightning struck.

Forgetting all pretense of caution, Cyrilla threw herself onto the bed.

Cyrilla’s face turned beet red as she scrambled to her feet. “It’s none of your business what I do in my boyfriend’s room! But you—don’t you know I’m Lucian’s fiancée? Why do you keep trying to get between us? Are you trying to be his mistress?!”

Loyce leaned back against the headboard, her eyes landing on the sexy, revealing nightgown and finally settling on the delicately crafted necklace around Cyrilla's neck. She let out a soft laugh. “I don’t know if you’ll be Lucian’s wife someday, but right now, that line might work on your school friends, but not here.”

She suddenly moved closer, her fingers brushing against the necklace on Cyrilla’s chest. “If I wanted to, this would be around my neck right now. Understand?”

Cyrilla’s expression froze. “What are you talking about?”

Loyce patted her shoulder lightly. “Because it was originally a gift for me,” she said calmly. “If Lucian truly liked you, he wouldn't have turned around and given you this necklace as a token of his affection. He’s not that much of a scumbag. So, most likely, you salvaged it like some treasure right before it was thrown in the trash. And given your vanity, you spun all sorts of stories about it. Am I right, Cyrilla?”

Another flash of lightning illuminated Loyce’s sharp, alcohol-hazed eyes.

Cyrilla felt as if her very soul had been struck. Because Loyce was right. Every single word was the truth. It was exactly as she’d deduced.

So, from the very beginning, Loyce had known the story about the necklace was a lie, and she’d just been watching her, treating her like a clown in a circus.