She Was the Treasure All Along novel Chapter 374

“Hiss…” A soft gasp escaped Loyce’s lips. Despite her best efforts to endure it, the sharp pain as the fabric was peeled away from the dried blood, revealing the mangled, swollen flesh beneath, made her face turn pale. A fine sheen of cold sweat broke out on her forehead as fresh blood began to well up and trickle down her arm.

Lucian stood by the bed, just a step away. He watched as the grotesque wound was exposed under the bright lights. It wasn't a simple scrape; it was a deep gash, torn open by the impact of blocking the bear's paw and then raked over rocks or branches. The flesh was torn back, the edges bruised a dark purple, and the cut was so deep he could almost see bone. A grown man would be screaming from such an injury, yet she had endured it for so long without a word…

Every time the nurse touched the wound with a disinfectant-soaked cotton swab, Loyce’s body would tense involuntarily, her fingertips digging crescents into her palms.

The sight was like a red-hot brand searing itself onto Lucian’s heart. The guilt he already felt surged into an overwhelming tide, threatening to drown him.

Loyce was unlike any woman he had ever met. She was never afraid of pain, never cried, and always seemed so strong. But it was that very strength, her incredible endurance, that now pierced his heart with a profound ache.

Lucian stood like a silent statue, both the closest and furthest person from her, his eyes absorbing a pain far greater than her own. Finally, the nurse finished cleaning the wound and began to bandage it carefully.

Loyce’s tense body slowly relaxed, and she let out a long sigh. Her face was still pale, but the pain in her brow had eased. She turned her head slightly and her eyes met Lucian’s—deep, dark pools swirling with a storm of emotions that could pull a person in.

Loyce’s heart skipped a beat. “Lucian…”

The doctor who had treated her wound slipped out, closing the door to the treatment room and tactfully giving them some space.

Lucian walked to her side and looked down at her. “All those years with the Sampson family… just how much did you have to endure?”

Loyce pressed her lips together. “Why are you suddenly asking about that?”

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