She Was the Treasure All Along novel Chapter 509

Lucian replied with cool indifference, "My apologies. I'm buying this to give to my beloved wife as a token of our commitment. I won't be backing down."

*His beloved wife?*

Luna stared at Lucian in absolute shock. What did he just say? Was he talking about *her*? She quickly glanced at her actual boyfriend and saw that Channing's face had turned a furious shade of purple.

The man in Box 5 went silent for a moment before letting out an amiable chuckle. "Well then, my wife and I have had our time. Since this is meant to be a token of love for you young folks, I concede. It is yours."

"Thank you," Lucian said.

The hammer dropped. Lucian secured the 'Heart of the Ocean' for a staggering $250 million, the highest bid of the night.

Moments later, the velvet display box was delivered to their suite.

Channing couldn't hold it in any longer. "Lucian, don't you think claiming it was for your 'wife' was wildly inappropriate?"

Lucian glanced at him. "Why?"

Channing clenched his fists. "I asked you to spot me the cash. Now you're handing it to Luna under the guise of it being a 'token of commitment'? If word gets out, it'll ruin both our reputations."

Luna's eyes were practically glued to the crystal casing. She reached out, fully intending to take the box for herself.

But a large, calloused hand snatched it away before her fingers even brushed the velvet.

Luna looked up, startled. "Lucian?"

"You're overthinking it, Channing," Lucian said, his face utterly blank as he slipped the box into his inner jacket pocket and stood up. "A man buys gifts for his own woman with his own money. I bought this for *my* woman."

Channing's brain short-circuited. A wave of blinding humiliation crashed over him, his face burning a bright, ugly red.

"*Your* woman? What the hell is that supposed to mean?! You literally just—"

"I literally just what?" Lucian cut him off, his voice dropping to a deadly chill. "When did I ever say I was buying this for you, or for Luna?"

He was right. Channing had awkwardly begged him for money, but from the moment Lucian picked up the phone to bid, he hadn't uttered a single word suggesting he was doing it as a favor.

Robert blinked, then remembered. Lucian had recently commandeered a modest apartment there just so he could be physically closer to Loyce.

"Understood," Robert nodded. "Will you be staying there alone?"

Lucian looked up. "Why?"

"No reason. Just asking. I'll drop you off now."

Robert smoothly navigated the Metropia traffic and pulled up to the military compound. He watched the young, brilliant commander walk into the building entirely alone. As Lucian's somewhat solitary figure vanished around the corner, Robert let out a heavy sigh.

Halfway into his drive home, Robert pulled the military SUV over to the side of the road. He pulled out his phone and scrolled down to Loyce's number.

He had saved it purely by chance and rarely ever dared to contact her directly. But tonight was Lucian's birthday. And he was completely alone.

After a moment of internal debate, Robert hit dial.

Loyce was sitting at her desk, deep into reviewing clinical data, when her phone buzzed. She set her pen down. "Robert? You never call me. Did something happen to Lucian?"