Chapter 453

An unnatural quiet descended—no insects chirped, no guards patrolled outside. The world seemed to hold its breath. Heavy clouds loomed overhead, and in the stillness, the sound of falling leaves was startlingly clear.

Romeo's senses were on high alert. He paused before leaving the room and called out, "Hello? Someone?"

No response.

"Damn," he muttered, his expression shifting. He turned to return to his bedroom but froze, sensing unfamiliar presences. Inside, three masked men awaited him. "Who are you?" he demanded, his voice cold. "Do you have any idea whose house you're in? This is the Harper family residence. Get out now."

The intruders exchanged a look, unfazed. One smirked, "Mr. Harper, after all these years guarding the Treasure Box, don't you think it's time to pass it on? We'll take it from here." His tone was laced with menace.

Alarm bells sounded in Romeo's mind. They were after the Treasure Box. He had protected its location for over a decade; its hiding place was supposed to be a secret. One final key, and he would unlock its power of immortality—but somehow, his secret was out. "When did this leak?" His expression hardened. "I don't know what you're talking about. Leave now, or you will regret it."

The men remained unmoved. One climbed onto his bed, grabbed a chair, and hurled it at the chandelier. The ceiling cracked with a loud crash, scattering debris, revealing a hidden compartment containing a small package.

Romeo lunged forward, eyes wild. "That's mine! No one can take it from me!"

One of the men easily kicked him to the ground. Another retrieved the package.

Tearing away the cloth, he revealed not the Treasure Box, but a small box containing a few old gold ingots.

"What the hell?" The men froze, taken aback. Lorenzo, furious, ripped off his mask, glaring at Romeo. "Where is the Treasure Box? Stop the game! Where did you hide it?"

Their patience had snapped. Lorenzo's fierce demeanor didn't faze Romeo. The old man, facing the end of his life, had nothing left to lose.

He slowly rose, brushing off his clothes. "I told you," he said calmly, "I don't know anything about this Treasure Box."

"Really?" Lorenzo laughed bitterly. Dropping all pretense, he sneered, "You really think we would come here unprepared? Hand it over, Mr. Harper, or your son and daughter-in-law will pay the price!"

"Don't you dare!" Romeo's face paled. He noticed the absence of his bodyguards, even after the commotion. No one was coming to his aid.

That meant only one thing—the men had secured the entire manor.

With a cold expression, Romeo pressed the room's alarm. This alarm not only connected to the entire manor but also sent a distress signal. Even cornered, he wouldn't make it easy for them.

But the alarm silenced after a second—they had disabled it, isolating the Harper family.

"You cut the signal?" Romeo's stomach dropped. Their thoroughness was chilling. Whatever happened inside would stay inside. No one was coming. Lorenzo, exasperated, snapped at his men, "Check all the walls. Don't miss anything. We are finding that Treasure Box today."

The team scattered, searching the entire manor. Romeo remained stubbornly silent.

Then, Alexia's sharp voice cut through the night. Seeing strangers ransacking her home, she yelled, "Who are you people?"

The search paused. The intruders, clearly surprised by her presence, hadn't expected anyone to be around after securing the manor. Alexia had been feeding her horse; her arrival was unexpected. Seeing the chaos, she raged, "Who the hell let you in? Get out of my house!"

The intruders didn't move. Her gaze landed on Lorenzo, a former bodyguard she had dismissed. Her spoiled demeanor resurfaced. She tilted her chin defiantly. "Why are you just standing there? Chase them out!" When Lorenzo didn't react, her anger exploded. "You're useless! What's the point of keeping someone who can't even do their job?"

Lorenzo had endured her insults, but now, with the Harper family under their control, he was done. Alexia was asking for trouble.

Romeo tried to intervene, but it was too late.

Lorenzo grabbed Alexia's chin, sneering, "Miss Harper, remember when I said I'd cut out your tongue? You think I was joking?"

Alexia wasn't intimidated. "Get off me!" she snapped, slapping his hand away. "You're nothing but a lackey. Pathetic."

Lorenzo's face darkened. He hated being belittled. He grabbed Alexia by the neck and shouted, "Get me a needle! I'm sewing this filthy mouth shut myself!"