"But honestly, knowing my dad, if there was a family heirloom, he''d probably stash it away himself."


    "Why?" Sophie asked, puzzled.


    Adler shook his head. "Not every family ends up like Uncle Alex and Gwen, where lovers find their happy ending."


    Sophie was taken aback by this.


    Jenna leaned in and whispered to Sophie, "Adler''s parents had a business marriage. Before they married, Adler''s dad was in love with another woman, and I''ve heard Ms. May had someone she loved too."


    "Wow... that must have been tough," Sophie murmured, thinking how a family like that could still raise someone as genuine as Adler.


    Adler chimed in, "How about this? I''ll go home and ask my dad about the gem. If we can find it, then the Burke family''s piece is definitely part of the Russell family''s legacy."


    Everyone nodded in agreement.


    Sophie turned to her grandfather, "Grandpa, you mentioned these four rings are symbols of the four great families. What''s the big secret behind these families? Is it the Devonport treasure?"


    "The Devonport treasure is just a legend. My father''s generation came to Devonport during the chaos of thest century. The four great families each had their role in guarding the peace, so they were well-respected here. As the new country stabilized and everyone went into business, it''s said the secret the four families protect is tied to the Devonport treasure, and their wealthes from it. But I''ve lived a long time without ever seeing that treasure."


    Lennon sat down and said, "I''ve always thought this treasure was just a myth. If it really existed, my father would''ve told me about it. It doesn''t make sense to keep such a big secret from your own kids, does it?"


    Everyone nodded, finding his reasoning quite sound.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    When you think about it, this so-called treasure probably just means wealth. What else could make people so obsessed?


    The mastermind wanted to invade Devonport for the treasure.


    Ricardo even abandoned the Cloude family in Bloomsbury for years, all for this treasure.


    If there was no treasure in Devonport, what had they been fighting over all this time?


    Lennon added, "I don''t know for sure, but if the treasure was something valuable, my father wouldn''t have kept it from me." Sophie''s mind raced. Lennon''s words made perfect sense.


    Everyone wants their kids to be


    prosperous and safe. If the


    Devonport treasure was truly valuable, why didn''t anyone from the four great families know what it


    was?


    Either the treasure was just a rumor blown out of proportion.


    Or, the treasure was something so dangerous it couldn''t be revealed.


    Clearly, the former seemed less likely.


    "Grandpa, each of the four great


    Cilies has a chapel, but when I strange old ledgers." were met


    "Ledgers?" Lennon frowned. "What kind of ledgers?"


    "Just some ancient books, recording prices of goods and food. But... the prices were absurd."


    Lennon said, "The Russell family


    used to be military advisors, and they handled the ledgers. That''s not surprising; it might just be a currency issue from that era


    "But we''ve checked. Even if we adjust for the exchange rates back then, the prices still don''t add up."