Sarah leaned over Mark's shoulder to read the clear black text printed on paper.
The legal paper stated that the whole mansion belonged entirely to young Leo.
Sarah: Why would your father bypass you and leave everything to a child?
Mark: Look at the second paragraph written at the bottom of the page.
The text explained that the family trust fund was protected from outside debts.
Mark had spent years making bad business investments and losing family money.
His late father had built this secret room to protect the remaining wealth.
Mark: He knew I was going to lose the entire house to banks.
Sarah: Does that mean the bank cannot foreclose on this property now?
Mark: That is exactly what this legal document guarantees for us.
Leo ran down the stone steps and stopped at the room's entrance.
Leo: Did you find Grandpa down here in the basement room?
Mark knelt down on the cold floor and looked his son in the eyes.
Mark: Grandpa is not here, buddy, but he left you something special.
Leo: What did he leave for me under the library floor?
Mark picked up the small cassette tape recorder from the wooden table.
He pressed the small black play button on the side of the device.
A gentle crackling sound came through the speaker before a voice spoke clearly.
Grandpa's Voice: If you are listening to this tape, Leo found my secret.
Leo's eyes grew wide as he heard his grandfather's soft voice again.
Grandpa's Voice: Leo always listened carefully when nobody else paid any attention.
The old man's recorded voice explained the exact location of a hidden safe.
Behind the wooden table sat a small steel box locked with four numbers.
Grandpa's Voice: The combination code is the exact day Leo was born.
Mark immediately reached over and turned the four metal dials on the safe.
The heavy safe door clicked open with a smooth and satisfying sound.
Inside the safe sat three thick leather binders filled with official certificates.
Sarah: Are those the original deeds to all the family properties?
Mark: Yes, and they prove that our family still owns everything outright.