She Was the Treasure All Along novel Chapter 635

"It probably smelled the delicious scent of human flesh and came running," a man nearby laughed loudly. He didn't take the lion seriously at all, completely confident in the villa's high-tech security system.

Corinne tapped her glass. "Ahem!"

Once she had everyone's attention, she casually placed her drink on a waiter's tray, smoothed her collar, and instantly adopted a look of resolute compassion. Striking a pose like a politician at a podium, she began to speak.

"My friends," her voice rose, dripping with emotional infection. "We must remember that every wild animal is a precious gift from nature. When I see those poor rhinos slaughtered for their horns, or elephants gunned down for their ivory—"

She suddenly choked up, pausing at the perfect moment. Her eyes grew glassy and red. The wealthy heirs around her chuckled softly and began to applaud her flawless performance.

Leaning into the act, Corinne spread her arms wide. "Our mission isn't to kill—it is to protect! We must ensure that future generations can still witness—"

Crash!

The heavy front doors of the villa were kicked open. A young man, completely covered in blood, stumbled in carrying a motionless little girl. The sheer panic on his face shattered the room's festive atmosphere.

The moment he laid the bleeding child down, the music seemed to stop.

"Where the hell did a kid come from?!" Corinne demanded in shock, rushing over.

Dorian held up his blood-soaked hands, frantic. "I swear to God, I had no idea! I saw the lion and took the shot. I don't even know where she came from! We're in the dead center of the reserve! Who expects a kid to pop out of nowhere?!"

Jennifer, a woman in the group who was a practicing doctor, immediately grabbed the villa's emergency medical kit and knelt beside Ayla. "She's losing too much blood. I can pack the wound, but we have to get her to a hospital right now."

"Wait a second. Is this the kid who owns the lion?" Another guest, realizing the connection, spoke up. "My guy told me the lion they shipped in this morning was raised on a farm by a little girl. Don't tell me she stowed away in the transport truck?"

Someone immediately dialed Mendez, the driver. On the other end, Mendez's heart dropped. "Her dad came looking for her a while ago. I told security not to let him in. Shit, it really was his daughter! Is she alive?!"

"She's fading fast. We need to move," Jennifer yelled. "Get her in a car!"

As a few people moved to help, Corinne suddenly snapped out of her shock. "Stop! Are you insane? If we take her to a hospital, everything gets exposed! We're supposed to be global conservationists! If the world finds out we're running an illegal hunting ring, the real activists will tear us apart!"

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