She Was the Treasure All Along novel Chapter 347

"It’s a powerful alkaline corrosive agent. Someone put it in his water," Loyce stated instantly, identifying the nature of the poison. This kind of substance would rapidly burn and dissolve the tissues of his vocal cords and throat. Without immediate and proper treatment, he would not only lose his voice permanently but could also suffocate to death from the swelling.

"The poison was in the water. I suggest you lock down all backstage entrances immediately, detain any staff who had access to the water supply, and call the police," Loyce ordered the nearest crew member, her voice calm and steady. At the same time, she retrieved a small, intricately organized kit from her seemingly ordinary handbag. She popped a pill into Vincent’s mouth and, with lightning-fast precision, inserted several fine needles into his skin.

"What are you doing?!" the band's leader cried, lunging forward to stop her.

But a single icy glare from Loyce froze him in place. "If you want him to die or be a mute for the rest of his life, go ahead and stop me!"

The stage director, who had just arrived, turned pale at the words. He immediately yelled, "Listen to her! Do as she says! Lock down the backstage!"

Loyce ignored everyone else, her focus entirely on Vincent. She expertly inserted a few more needles into specific points on his neck and chest. As they went in, Vincent's struggling body momentarily stiffened, and the spasms in his throat seemed to ease slightly. The feeling of suffocation receded a little, but the burning pain remained intense.

The people around her watched in horror as she pushed needles directly into his flesh.

"What kind of medicine is this? You’re stabbing him with needles!"

"You can think of it as a specialized technique to stimulate areas with a high concentration of nerves and blood vessels," she explained coolly. "It prevents his condition from deteriorating rapidly. It's only temporary."

After placing a few more needles to control the poison’s spread, Loyce confidently pulled back. "He can hold on until the ambulance arrives now. Get him to the hospital for surgery. If it goes well, his throat should be fine."

As the staff began to move Vincent, Loyce’s hand accidentally brushed against his chest where his shirt was open. She felt that his heart rate was off, showing signs of cardiac distress. It was impossible to be certain under the circumstances, so as they carried him away, she just added, "His heart seems to have a problem. I'd recommend getting it checked at the hospital, too."

Unfortunately, in the clamor and chaos, no one paid any attention to her words.

With the arena still packed with anxious fans who refused to leave, the staff had to create a diversion to successfully get Vincent to an ambulance. The nearest major hospital to the Auric Athletic Center happened to be the newly opened Blossom Hospital.

He parked his car by the side of the road and watched the stream of people, his thoughts drifting. Then, his eyes caught a familiar figure walking slowly along the curb.

Unfortunately, by the time Lucian got out of his car to follow, Loyce was once again swallowed by the crowd and gone.

Loyce had just reached the coffee shop she’d seen on her phone. She paused at the entrance for a moment before stepping inside, planning to unwind with a cup of coffee.

The cafe was beautifully decorated with a classic, elegant charm, and it wasn't crowded. Loyce chose a table by the window, ordered a coffee, and began sipping it slowly while browsing a marketplace on the dark web. On the dark web, anything could be bought for the right price, which made for fascinating scrolling. For instance, this very coffee shop was listed for sale, marked as an urgent, below-market deal available for immediate purchase.

Time ticked by. Lucian, having taken off his suit jacket and slung it over his arm, found himself walking along the edge of an artificial lake. A gentle breeze rustled the willow trees, and as he instinctively looked up, he saw an open cafe window through the swaying branches.

A girl with a delicate face was sitting right there, her chin resting on her hand, her beautiful eyes lowered in thought.