She Was the Treasure All Along novel Chapter 871

Lucian pushed open the bedroom door, holding a bag of hot takeout. He froze in his tracks.

The bed was empty. The bathroom light was on, the door slightly ajar, and muffled groans echoed from inside.

The food hit the floor with a thud. Realizing something was terribly wrong, Lucian crossed the room in three long strides. Throwing the door open, he found Loyce half-kneeling by the sink, her face deathly pale and covered in a sheen of sweat.

"Loyce!" he cried, rushing over to catch her, his voice shaking.

Loyce gripped his arm, her nails digging into his skin.

"My water broke," she gasped, her voice trembling. "It's early... I didn't think the baby would come this soon."

Lucian's mind went entirely blank. He had rehearsed emergency protocols countless times, but seeing her in agony replaced all logic with sheer panic.

His hands shook, though he forced his voice to remain steady. "Don't be scared. I'm taking you to the hospital right now. Waiting for an ambulance will take too long."

He bent down, carefully lifting Loyce into his arms. Her body trembled, and her abdomen was rock hard from the contractions. He carried her out, his steps fast but remarkably steady, terrified of jostling her.

"I've got you," he whispered hoarsely near her ear. "I'm right here. Don't be afraid."

Leaning against his chest, Loyce let out a soft sound. "Don't panic. I'll be fine."

The car tore down the streets.

Lucian steered with one hand while gripping Loyce's hand tightly with the other. He drove fast but smoothly, preemptively slowing down at every turn to avoid bumping her.

Loyce's contractions were growing closer together. She bit her lip, fighting to hold back her cries. But those muffled whimpers felt like daggers plunging straight into Lucian's heart.

"Squeeze my hand if it hurts," he said, his voice rough. "I don't care how hard."

Loyce squeezed his hand with all her might.

Lucian's eyes burned red.

He slammed on the gas, rushing through the hospital gates.

The next few hours were the most excruciating of Lucian's life.

When they wheeled Loyce into the delivery room, he refused to let go of her hand until the nurse strictly informed him he couldn't enter yet.

As the doors shut, isolating him in the hallway, his only remaining shred of rationality was to call the Lonsdale family.

Hearing that Loyce had gone into early labor shocked everyone. Dropping whatever they were doing, the family chartered a private jet to fly out immediately.

Lucian lowered his phone and leaned against the wall, his whole body trembling.

Separated by the heavy doors, he couldn't hear a thing. He had no idea how much pain she was in. She had always been fiercely independent; he knew she would try to suffer in silence for the baby's sake.

Was she feeling alone right now? Even with the medical staff there, Lucian was consumed by anxiety.

The empty corridor, lit by harsh fluorescent lights, felt like a prison. Every second was pure torture.

Lucian walked over, taking her hand and crouching beside the bed.

"I know," he rasped. "But how could you compare me to those ordinary guys? Even if I ended up hating the kid, I could never hate you."

Loyce blinked in surprise, then let out a tired laugh.

"You're crazy."

Her gaze softened as she reached out to touch his cheek. "But having you here... it really does make me feel safe."

Lucian pressed a tender kiss to the back of her hand.

"Then I made the right choice. Squeeze my hand if it hurts," he told her again. "I can take it."

For the rest of the grueling process, Lucian never left her side.

Childbirth was a brutal ordeal. Watching her go through it made his own heart ache so intensely he wished he could somehow take the physical pain from her.

He held her hand, wiped the sweat from her brow, and let her crush his fingers during the worst contractions. He witnessed the entire messy, bloody reality of birth without so much as a flinch, his eyes filled with nothing but overwhelming devotion.

He just kept murmuring:

"Deep breaths. That's it, you're doing great..."