Andres introduced, "This is my wife, Brenda Moore." Theo and Aries exchanged pleasantries with Brenda, then quickly followed her inside with Calix and Andres.
Theo sat at the long dining table, a laptop open in front of him as he spoke with the owners over a video call. On the table were blueprints and estate plans that Andres had laid out for him to see.
He studied them carefully, his eyes tracing the property's layout, the wide cement walls, the private beach access, and the security cameras at every corner. But what really caught his attention was the hidden feature: a secret underground bunker beneath the mansion, complete with reinforced walls, supplies storage, and an emergency escape tunnel.
Theo's lips curved into a small, satisfied smile. This place was more than perfect.
"We made the bunker for emergency evacuations," the owner continued to explain through the video call. "It's fully functional, and it hasn't been used even once. You'll just need to stock it up with your own supplies."
Theo nodded, liking what he heard. "We'll take it."
The owners looked relieved. "We're sending you the documents now. Everything can be signed electronically, including the title transfer."
Moments later, Theo received an email with the documents. He carefully reviewed each page, double-checking every detail. Once everything checked out, he signed electronically while the owners did the same on their end.
It was quick. Efficient.
"Andres Moore is a good friend of mine," the owner added through the screen. "He knows the property inside and out. He was the one who supervised the construction and handled everything while it was being built. If you need anything or have any questions about the house, you can rely on him."
Theo nodded appreciatively. "Thank you. I'll make sure to coordinate with him."
By the time the call ended, the estate was officially his.
Theo leaned back in his chair. For the first time in a while, he felt like they finally had a safer and much better place to shelter.
"I'm curious though," Calix suddenly said, glancing at Theo with wide, curious eyes. "What exactly do you do for a living to save up that kind of money and buy a place like this?"
Theo opened his mouth to answer, but Aries beat him to it.
"Oh, I believe my brother secretly won the lottery and kept it from us!" she blurted out, nudging Theo's side with her elbow. "I remember him mentioning a few days ago, before all this craziness started, that he planned to buy us everything we wanted and move to a better place."
With an awkward smile, he scratched the back of his head and muttered, "Yeah, I did win the lottery, and I honestly want to keep it as a secret…"
It was for the best if only Aries knew about the system inside him for now, so what she said was the best alibi.
Calix rapidly blinked and reassured, "Don't worry, our family aren't gossipmongers, so everything will stay a secret!"
"I always dreamed of living a simple life. But after the meteorite incident and everything that's been happening lately, I figured it was time to get a place where we could feel safe," he added.
Calix nodded, buying the story easily, his eyes gleaming with admiration. "Man, you're seriously lucky."
Theo looked at Andres and said, "I want to look around." Then he turned to Aries and added, "Go ahead and choose a room you like. Get some rest."
Aries simply nodded. Brenda smiled and said, "I'll assist her." Theo nodded back, then watched as Brenda led Aries to check the rooms upstairs.
Meanwhile, Andres turned to him and said, "Come on, I'll show you around." He was limping slightly as he led the way, with Calix walking beside him.
Noticing Theo's gaze lingering on his father's legs, Calix leaned over and whispered, "Dad got a major injury during an operation. He's been limping ever since, about a month before his discharge and retirement."
"I see," he murmured with a nod. As they walked through the wide, airy halls, Theo couldn't help but admire how well-built the place was. Strong, thick walls. Smart security systems are hidden in every corner. Even the windows were reinforced but still gave an incredible view of the ocean.
"Oh, by the way," Andres added as they reached a side room near the main living area, "we have a bunch of clothes here. My wife was supposed to be sold as souvenirs once the beach resort opened for private bookings. You and your sister can use them."
He opened a large storage closet filled with brand-new clothes, plain shirts, loose shorts, beach hoodies, and even hats. Good thing they have bigger sizes that would fit him.
"Oh, that's great! We were in such a hurry that we didn't even stop to grab Aries and Theo's things," Calix cut in.
"Pick what you want," Andres said with a smile. "At least you'll have something clean and fresh to wear tonight."
"Thank you." Theo smiled. "By the way," he said, "just like the previous owner, I'd like you, Uncle Andres, and your family to stay here with us and help out with anything we need. We're not from this province, and it would be good to have someone local around. I'll also pay more than the previous owner did."
Andres blinked in surprise before quickly saying, "Thank you so much. My family and I will work even harder. To be honest, there's no safer place I'd want my family to stay than this estate. I'm also really glad you brought Calix home with you - he's my only son."
He nodded, then continued with a serious tone, "We need to secure this place. I know the government and military are doing everything they can to contain the outbreak, but we can't rely on that alone. It's better to be overprepared than vulnerable."
Turning to Calix, he added, "You saw how powerful those monsters were. They're not ordinary threats. We need to reinforce the perimeter, add more layers to the walls and strengthen every weak point. This place needs to hold, no matter what comes."
Andres nodded slowly, his gaze thoughtful. "Actually… there's something you should know. When we were building this place, the lead architect and engineer requested a few unusual additions, extra protection measures, barriers embedded in the foundation, even concealed reinforcement points throughout the compound."
Theo's brow furrowed. "Why?"