Chapter 523

After rifling through the wardrobe, Josefina came up empty-handed.

Spotting her meticulous search, Reid quickly understood she was hunting for something valuable.

"Josie, need a hand?" he murmured as he walked over.

"Reid, could you check around the desk for any secret compartments? And if you see any ornaments, give them a twist to see what happens."

Reid snapped to attention-it felt just like one of those secret-room scenes from TV.

"Got it, sis. I'm on it!"

Task in hand, Reid dove into his mission with gusto. They continued their search...

Josefina paused, scanning the closet room, then methodically moved to a specific spot, tapping and feeling around the cabinet doors. Finally, she hit pay dirt—a hidden compartment.

Reid watched, awe-struck. "Wow, Josie, you're a genius."

As he approached, he saw her holding a small box. His heart raced. What if it was like on TV and there was a bomb inside?

"Josie, hand me the box, gently. What if there's a bomb? It could be dangerous!"

Josefina couldn't help but laugh, though tears welled up from the tension. Reid was just too adorable.

"Relax, Reid. There's no bomb," she said, placing the box on the table.

Reid felt a bit sheepish—had he overreacted?

"Are you sure it's safe? Shouldn't we get a professional to check it out?"

"Reid, I've already checked. No bomb. If Lena hid the box in a secret compartment, she likely didn't plan to blow herself up."

Josefina opened the box. No bomb, just a stash of gold bars, heavy and gleaming.

She admired Lena's foresight, recognizing gold's enduring value. Clearly, Lena had tucked away a nice sum for her future—a future she hadn't realized would be a one- way trip away from the Harrison family.

"Look at all this gold," Reid marveled, thinking about Lena's investment savvy.

"And there's a black card too," he added, pulling it out from beneath the bars. It was plain, business-card-sized, and gave no clue to its purpose.

"Reid, I'll hang onto this and figure it out later," Josefina decided.

Reid, ever the dutiful brother, handed it over without a second thought.

"Take the gold bars too, Josie. They're yours now," he offered generously.

"We should probably tell Mom and Dad," Josefina suggested.

"I'll handle it. The gold bars are for you. I'm going to tell them right now," Reid said, dashing off before she could stop him.

Left with the glittering treasure, Josefina couldn't help but feel a surge of joy. After all, who could resist gold?

Having found these treasures, fatigue set in. She decided to resume her search the next day.

Josefina locked the door behind her, ensuring no one could enter. She carried the box to Hattie and Garrett's room, where Reid had already explained everything. Holding the heavy box, Josefina was relieved when Reid quickly took it from her. "Why'd you bring the gold bars here, sis? They're yours; you should keep them in your room," he insisted.

Hattie chimed in, "Josie, whatever valuable things you find in Lena's room are yours. We don't want anything."

"And make sure to take the gold with you when you leave," Garrett added, solidifying the family's decision.