She Was the Treasure All Along novel Chapter 864

Three days later.

Loyce stood in the international arrivals hall, dressed in a flowy beige knit dress, her long hair pinned up casually. She didn't crane her neck or push through the crowd; she just waited patiently, one hand resting protectively over her small baby bump.

Then, she saw him.

The moment Lucian walked through the gates, everything else faded away. He wore a charcoal gray casual jacket and carried a single duffel bag. His eyes cut through the sea of people and locked onto her instantly.

He stopped.

Just for a second.

Then he strode toward her, closing the distance. They stared at each other for a heartbeat, words completely unnecessary.

Lucian dropped his bag and pulled her into a crushing hug, burying his face in her hair as he took a deep, shuddering breath.

"Have you been standing here the whole time?" his voice was muffled against her. "I hate commercial flights. We couldn't even sit together, let alone get on the same plane."

Loyce wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her cheek against his chest with a soft laugh. "I only waited an hour. I slept the whole flight, so I'm not even tired."

A passerby gave them a curious look, and Lucian tightened his grip, pulling her flush against him, clearly refusing to let go.

She chuckled, poking him in the ribs. "Are you done? We can cuddle at home. Everyone is waiting for us."

Lucian pulled back just enough to look at her, his eyes filled with that familiar, devastating devotion.

"Never," he murmured. "A lifetime won't be enough."

"Smooth talker," she teased, pinching his cheek.

He leaned into her touch, his smile deepening.

On the drive back, they passed a massive shopping district. A giant billboard for a luxury baby boutique caught Lucian's eye.

"Pull over at the next mall," he told the driver.

"What for?" Loyce asked.

"Are you tired?"

She shook her head. "No. I've been cooped up so long I've gotten soft."

"Then how about we go pick out a few things for the baby?" he asked softly.

Loyce raised an eyebrow. "Sure."

He helped her out of the SUV, his arm settling naturally around her waist as they headed to the third floor. They stopped in front of a high-end maternity and baby boutique.

By the time they returned to the Lonsdale estate, the sun was setting.

The moment they stepped into the living room, Loyce stopped dead in her tracks.

Lucian peered over her shoulder and froze.

The massive custom dining table was completely invisible beneath a mountain of colorful boxes and gift bags.

Gordon was sitting on the sofa, holding a tiny yellow cardigan up to the light, muttering, "Excellent stitching, very soft against the skin..."

Marcella was unboxing a set of heirloom silver rattles and bracelets that gleamed under the chandelier.

Morris was crouched on the floor, surrounded by shopping bags, pulling out stacks of hand-knitted blankets.

Forrest was holding a small, glowing robot. He pressed a button, and the toy chirped, "Hi, I'm Beebo! Let's be friends!" Forrest jumped, nearly dropping it.

Hank was sitting on the armrest of the couch, aggressively tearing through a pile of toy boxes like he was inspecting a shipment.

Zeke Shapiro was sitting next to Gordon, aggressively highlighting passages in a thick baby care manual, periodically adjusting his reading glasses.

Loyce and Lucian stood in the entryway, debating whether to slowly back out the door.

Hank was the first to spot them. He looked up and flashed a grin. "Well, look who finally made it home!"