CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY SIX - A DEBT REPAID

As they searched the room, Alessandro noticed something odd about one of the wall panels. "Amelia," he called softly. "Look at this." The panel had a small, almost imperceptible indentation in its center. Amelia's eyes widened as she realized what it meant. She pressed the locket into the indentation, and with a soft click, the panel swung open, revealing a hidden compartment. Inside was an old, leather-bound ledger and a small, ornate box. With trembling hands, Amelia opened the ledger. "It's a record," she breathed. "Of all the family's charitable works over the past century. And look – instructions for how to continue their legacy." As she flipped through the pages, a letter fell out. Amelia picked it up and began to read aloud: "To my descendants, If you are reading this, you have proven yourself worthy of the De Laurentis legacy. This fortune was never meant to be hoarded or used for personal gain. It was meant to be a force for good in the world. The true treasure lies not