Chapter 454

The subordinates immediately began working. A sewing kit was easily found in the servants’ quarters. But Alexia remained uncomprehending, behaving like the spoiled young lady she was. “How dare you speak to your master like that?” she demanded sharply. Lorenzo merely shook his head and laughed bitterly. He couldn't decide if she was naive or simply stupid.

It made a certain sense, however. The Harper family had sheltered her all her life. She’d grown up believing the world revolved around her.

Lorenzo smiled, then slapped her across the face, causing her head to snap to the side.

Romeo stood up, anger flashing in his eyes. “Enough! She is still young. I apologize on her behalf. Please, don't punish her.” He had no choice but to try and defuse the situation.

“Grandpa?” Alexia looked up, completely shocked.

She had never seen her grandfather apologize to anyone, let alone someone of this…station. She couldn't understand his actions. They were beneath them, yet Romeo was apologizing. It felt like a profound insult.

Her anger flared, her eyes reddening. She shouted, “Someone! Where are the bodyguards? The butler? Everyone? Get these assholes out of my house!” But no one came, even as her voice cracked from yelling.

Then Alexia realized something was wrong. “Who are you? Why did you break into my house?”

Lorenzo smirked. “A little late for questions, wouldn't you say?” He took a needle from a subordinate; its sharp point glinted in the light.

“Hold her down,” he ordered. His bodyguards moved to restrain Alexia.

Panic seized her as she saw their seriousness. She shook her head, her voice trembling. “I was wrong! I was wrong! Please, don't—don't come near me!” Lorenzo showed no mercy. The silver needle pierced her skin, and Alexia's scream filled the room.

Romeo rushed forward, but a man kicked him down without hesitation. He was an old man, and this was the second time he'd been knocked down in a short time. Romeo struggled to his feet, panting. His voice cracked as he tried to command, “Enough! Stop it!” Lorenzo’s voice was icy. “Are you going to hand it over or not?”

The silver needle struck again, blood dripping onto the celadon tiles, staining them red.

Alexia's face went pale with pain. The intensity was so great she thought she might faint. She wanted to scream for help, but her body wouldn't let her. Only weak, desperate sounds escaped her throat. The pain was overwhelming. Her face contorted in agony; her body shook. Her suffering was evident.

Romeo's heart broke at the sight. She was his granddaughter, the one he'd watched grow up, the one he'd raised. Now, she was bleeding, and it felt like a knife to his own heart.

But if he handed over the Treasure Box, everything he’d worked for—the secret he’d kept for over a decade—would be exposed. His dream of living longer, his obsession, would vanish.

In his eyes, more than ten years of obsession were worth as much as his granddaughter's blood.

Lorenzo saw Romeo's hesitation and grinned, driving the needle in again. “Since you don't care about your own granddaughter, I won't hold back anymore.”

He was the epitome of ruthlessness and cruelty. Alexia's body trembled with fear; tears streamed down her face as her voice trembled.

“Ugh… please, save me—” She could barely speak.

Romeo's tears fell. His voice breaking, he finally gave in. “The Treasure Box—it’s buried under the fig tree.”

The secret, hidden for more than ten years, was finally revealed.

Romeo slumped to the ground, his eyes clouded with regret.

Lorenzo wasted no time. Hearing the location, he motioned for his men to dig it up. The fig tree was in Romeo's yard, and they quickly found the tightly wrapped package buried beneath the soil. Lorenzo released Alexia and eagerly tore into the package. Under the oilskin, a soft blue glow flickered. It was the Treasure Box—the same mysterious, blue object that seemed to pulse with strange power. Lorenzo laughed, feeling a rush of satisfaction. After all his searching, he’d found it. He could finally report back to his master.

“Retreat!” he commanded. His subordinates immediately fired a flare into the sky. A firework bloomed over the Harper family manor, signaling the mission's end.

Within moments, nearly a hundred highly trained assassins vanished, leaving the Harper estate as if they’d never been there.

Only chaos remained—blood, destruction, and the lingering smell of tears. Alexia lay on the ground, shaking uncontrollably, cold sweat dripping from her. “Alexia?” Romeo struggled to his feet and tried to reach her, but Alexia’s face was twisted in hate. Her eyes, swollen from crying, burned with anger.

The silver needle still hung from her skin, the thread painfully taut, preventing her from speaking. But her expression spoke volumes—she hated Romeo.

She hated him for not giving up the Treasure Box sooner. If he had, perhaps she wouldn't have suffered this agony.

Romeo closed his eyes, overwhelmed. Everything he’d lived for—every dream, every obsession—had been for nothing.

Lorenzo left the Harper manor, practically grinning from ear to ear. He jumped into the car and handed Felix the Treasure Box. “Sir, I found it! Didn’t let you down!”

“Not bad,” Felix replied, his face impassive.

Lorenzo’s excitement was barely contained. “With the Treasure Box and its power, once you take down Richard, no one in Lovell City will stand in your way.” Felix tightened his grip on the box, a cold smile forming on his lips. “Let’s go.”

The sleek car roared to life and sped off into the night. Melody, her heart pounding, carefully exited the car after Felix and his men had left.

Felix had noticed her following, but he hadn't cared.

Still, Melody felt compelled to know what had happened at the manor. Hesitation and fear gnawed at her, but she peeked inside.

The manor was lavish, but the atmosphere was chillingly silent. Then, her eyes fell upon the bloodstains on the floor, and a shiver ran down her spine. Those people were terrifying.

Fear overwhelmed Melody. She backed away, panic setting in, and rushed out of the door, practically running to escape the dark, ominous place. As she fled through the metal door, she didn't notice her necklace fall to the ground.