She Was the Treasure All Along novel Chapter 494

Lucian explained smoothly, "Palmfield University is the second-ranked institution in the country, located deep in the north. Think about it. Why would a girl who ostensibly studies in the north have such a flawless southern accent, complete with the specific intonations of Yavon County? She tried to mask it, but it was incredibly obvious."

Loyce wasn't surprised by his sharp analysis. She simply offered, "It's entirely possible she's originally from the south but went north for college."

"True, but..." Lucian replayed the chaotic scene in his mind, dissecting every detail. "Her hands were covered in thick calluses. She had deep sunspots on her face from prolonged, unprotected exposure to the sun. Her shoulders were uneven. You rarely see that kind of physical wear on a college student. That's the body of a farmer who has spent years hauling heavy loads on one side of her body."

He slowed the car down and casually pointed out the window at a woman carrying heavy crates of produce down the street. "See that? Only people who have spent years doing brutal, unbalanced physical labor end up with that posture."

"Tell me, if she was a kidnapped college student, would the man who bought her really let her out to do heavy manual labor without being terrified she'd run away?"

The car pulled up to the police station. Loyce stared at the darkened, imposing entrance and murmured, "Unless the police are in on it too. Maybe this entire county is just one massive, corrupt slaughterhouse."

Lucian's expression hardened. "I have a team on standby, ready to move at a moment's notice. Don't worry. Dig as deep as you want. If anything happens, I'll act as your cleaner. I've got your back."

The corners of Loyce's lips curled up. "Good to know."

When Loyce stepped into the station, there were only two officers in the lobby.

After she explained what she wanted, one of the officers stood up. "Give me a second, the report from this afternoon is on my colleague's desk."

As the officer rose, Loyce's gaze landed on his legs, her eyes narrowing slightly.

He was disabled.

The other officer chuckled good-naturedly. "That's why our mayor is so well-respected around here. Even if you're disabled, as long as you're willing to work, he'll find you a job to feed your family. He's a saint."

Loyce forced a smile. "Truly."

Still lost in thought, Loyce instinctively parted her lips. His long, elegant fingers guided the chocolate into her mouth, his skin brushing lightly against her tongue, coming away slightly damp.

Lucian stared at his glistening fingertips, a dangerous flicker in his eyes. In the suffocating intimacy of the dark car, he fought a sudden, overwhelming urge to kiss her breathless.

Loyce bit into the chocolate, completely unaware, as he asked softly, "Is it sweet?"

She nodded, her mind still racing. "If you're right, that woman is going to cross my path again tomorrow. She's not working for Yarden, which means she's working for someone else. What's the endgame?"

Lucian didn't miss a beat. "They want to bypass Yarden—and by extension, Alicia Seabrook's radar—to kill you without leaving a trace."

"Who would go to such lengths? It's a real mystery," Loyce said, letting a wicked smirk touch her lips after a brief pause. "I guess I'll just have to play along."

Seeing the sly, lethal grin on her face, the answer was already mutually understood between the two brilliant minds.