She Was the Treasure All Along novel Chapter 478

The total 180 in her attitude was almost comical.

Lucian quietly handed Loyce a burger. "Eat before it gets cold."

"I'm treating you to a Michelin-star dinner at Crown Dining!" Renee yelled, shoving Lucian's arm away so she could maintain unbroken eye contact with Loyce. "I have so many scrapped demos! Master Loyce, could you please look at a few more?"

Lucian pressed his lips together, equal parts exasperated and entirely used to this.

He had known from the start that anyone who actually spent time with his girl would go from dismissive arrogance to outright worship.

They all thought she was just a pretty rock, only to realize she was the rarest diamond on earth. It was an intoxicating whiplash that no one could resist.

"You look like a simp," Lucian deadpanned, making no effort to hide his disgust.

"Like you aren't?" Renee fired back without missing a beat.

Lucian opened his mouth, then closed it. Fair point.

Loyce took a bite of her food and wiped her mouth. "I can help you with them."

Renee slammed her hand on the table. "The media is full of idiots. With someone like you at the helm, Bloomberry isn't a joke—it's a guaranteed empire."

That very night, without even consulting her agent, Renee signed an ironclad endorsement contract with Loyce.

By the time the three of them finished their food, it was getting late. Renee still had a night shoot on the schedule, so Loyce didn't want to hold her up any longer. She and Lucian prepared to leave.

As they stepped out of the RV, Renee handed Lucian an umbrella. "The forecast says a storm is rolling in. Take this. It's a bit of a hike back to the parking lot."

Hazel waved from the sidelines. "I'm staying here! I'm going to hang out with my mom on set tonight."

Lucian nodded. "We're heading out, then."

Watching the two of them vanish into the twilight, Renee turned around just in time to see Zoe Jefferson dragging Director Miles toward her in a total panic.

Director Miles had spotted Lucian's imposing silhouette from a distance, specifically noticing how the man deliberately slowed his long stride to match and protect the girl walking beside him.

"What the hell just happened? Mr. Shapiro came to see you?" he demanded, hyperventilating.

Renee tilted her chin. "It's less that he came to see me, and more that he asked me to do a massive favor for his girlfriend."

Director Miles swallowed hard. "Are you talking about... the extra who was fighting with Yolene over the chair?"

Hazel popped out from behind a trailer. "I already told you, I didn't steal the chair! It belonged to Renee! And she is NOT an extra! She's the heiress to the Lonsdale fortune! The commander's girlfriend!"

Renee smiled, but her eyes locked onto Director Miles with deadly seriousness. "Hazel is telling the absolute truth. Listen to me, Miles. If you want this movie to actually see the light of day, you need to fire Yolene immediately."

It was incredibly rare for him to be this forceful with her.

Loyce stared at his back. Her hesitation lasted only a fraction of a second. She gently bit her lip, leaned forward, and carefully wrapped her arms around his neck, settling her weight against him. With one arm securing her hold, she used her other hand to angle the umbrella over both of them.

Lucian hooked his arms under her knees and effortlessly hoisted her up, adjusting her until she was perfectly secure.

To him, she weighed absolutely nothing. His strides remained as steady and powerful as before.

Dressed in his sleek black trench coat, his striking presence combined with the breathtaking girl clinging to his back drew the stares of everyone they passed.

Outside the canopy of the umbrella, the rain was a deafening roar. Inside, it was a quiet, intimate universe. The sound of their breathing intertwined. Occasionally, a strand of Loyce's hair brushed against his neck, carrying a hint of damp coolness and a faint, intoxicating scent.

Looking down the length of the artificially aged alleyway, Lucian suddenly wished the walk back to the car would never end.

When the SUV finally pulled up to the manor, Lucian parked near the front door.

He stepped out with the umbrella, walked around to the passenger side, and pulled the door open. Loyce was just reaching for her seatbelt when the man leaned fully into the cabin, his large hand covering hers over the buckle.

Instantly, the scent of cedar wood mixed with his faint, holistic medicine washed over her. His face was mere inches from hers, his breath ghosting over her lips. The air in the car seemed to crystallize.

His eyes darkened with something primal and affectionate. "Get some sleep, girlfriend."