She Was the Treasure All Along novel Chapter 525

"Go on," Forrest said. "For tonight, he's the only outsider allowed to dance with you."

Lucian met Forrest's gaze with a subtle nod of gratitude. He caught Loyce's hand smoothly, placing his other hand lightly but firmly on her slender waist.

As the music swelled, he guided her to the center of the dance floor. It was a stark contrast to the lighthearted waltzing with her brothers; in Lucian's arms, Loyce felt a different kind of energy—a deeply grounding, commanding yet incredibly gentle pull.

His footwork was precise and unhurried. His military background gave his movements an undeniable posture of strength and reliability, even on the dance floor.

Given their height difference, Loyce only had to tilt her head slightly to meet his lowered gaze. She noticed him occasionally misstep slightly, but he always reacted instantly, lifting her into a smooth spin to avoid stepping on her toes.

Following his lead, Loyce twirled, the hem of her gown flaring out in perfect arcs. The "Heart of the Ocean" on her wrist caught the light, refracting deep, mesmerizing blues.

She rested her hand against his chest as the tempo slowed. "You practiced."

Lucian asked, "Practiced what?"

"Dancing. This specific song isn't natural for you. You practiced it."

Lucian's voice dropped to a low hum. "I did. I made sure to perfect it so I could ask you to dance. That way, no younger guy could steal you away."

Loyce looked up, glancing around the room before saying earnestly, "Other than my brothers, no one here even comes close to you."

Lucian chuckled softly, offering no argument to her incredibly biased compliment. "You're absolutely right."

As the banquet drew to a close and most of the guests had filtered out, a stylish young man with an undeniable artistic flair hurried in, carrying a gift box.

He accepted the herbs.

Over the next few days, fueled by back-to-back all-nighters where even espresso failed him, he finally tried the mysterious natural medicine brewed by the Eastern heiress.

...

The submission deadline for the Nexus Design competition arrived.

Per standard procedure, the design blueprints underwent an internal review before the final runway selections were made.

A panel of elite international judges—titans of the fashion industry—gathered to review the entries. They were intimately familiar with the recurring brands that entered every year.