Grayson's expression darkened. He went upstairs, glanced at the bedroom, and turned to go into the study room instead.After locking the door from the inside, he lowered his voice and asked, "Have you sent someone to look into it?""Yes, but we couldn't find any trace of him. It's as if he disappeared into thin air. He might have left Maltford of his own accord, but I don't think the possibility of that is very high. He loves his dad a lot and comes to visit almost every day."He knows his dad doesn't have that much time left, so he always grabs the opportunity to spend time with him. That's why I feel like something must have happened to him. He wouldn't have left for no reason. He might have gotten into trouble."Grayson's frown deepened. Simon was right. Hunter was a loving son, and his biggest wish was for his father to live for as long as possible.He couldn't possibly leave of his own accord with the knowledge that his father only had a few months left to live in mind."Did
"Grayson! Why are you zoning out over there?"Belle suddenly turned back to call him with a bright, sunny smile on her face.Grayson collected himself. He didn't want Belle to know everything just yet. He made sure he was calm and walked toward the dining room with one hand in his pocket as he teased, "I'm just trying to listen and see if you guys are badmouthing me."Meredith knew Grayson was kidding. Nonetheless, she still said, "I wouldn't dare."Belle narrowed her eyes and asked, "Please do share. What could other people possibly badmouth about you?"Grayson sat down and replied, "That's what I'm asking you."Belle said, "If you're truly innocent, you wouldn't suspect that anyone was badmouthing you. Look at me, for example. A gentleman lives in the light, and everything I do is unapologetic. I don't think there's anything bad for others to point out about me."Grayson pinched her soft cheek and said, "Gentleman? You're just a little girl."Belle smacked his hand away. "Wha
Belle's face reddened, and she wailed, "Put me down, you pervert! Meredith is still downstairs!"Grayson ignored her and strode toward the bedroom.Once they entered, he pressed her up against the door and was about to kiss her when she pretended to aim a kick at his crotch. She used the opportunity to run a few feet away from him and said, "Why are you making such a fuss so early in the morning?"Grayson didn't answer. He simply walked toward Belle as his hands began undoing his tie.He had planned to have breakfast with Belle and then go straight to the clinic to check on Hunter's case, so he was dressed very neatly.He just ended up having to take everything off again.Belle's face was bright red, and she couldn't stop gulping at the sight of him slowly taking his clothes off.Grayson, at 30, was in the prime years of life, a time often considered among the best. He exuded elegance, possessed striking handsomeness, and maintained a fit physique. Belle had already found him
Meredith blushed when she heard the faint noises coming from upstairs. She laughed and shook her head. Her mistress was perfect in every way except for her lack of emotional intelligence. She had no idea how possessive men could be. Belle had complimented Robert in front of Grayson and said that Robert was a gentleman. Wasn't that just asking for trouble? However, Meredith decided that it was good for them to exercise more. The more they "exercised", the more likely they would have a child. Although she was not related to the Page family by blood, she still wanted Grayson and Belle to have a child as soon as possible. Things would be perfect if there was a little boy or girl around the house.…After just one round, Belle was drenched in sweat, and she was nearing the point of exhaustion. She slumped into Grayson's arms and closed her eyes. Her eyelids felt heavy. Leaning on the headboard, Grayson wrapped one arm around her, gently wiping the beads of sweat from her cheek
If he was a good person, then why had he helped Lena? Also, why had he committed murder? With his abilities, it would have been easy to save those children. There had been no need to kill those kidnappers and have their blood on his hands. If he really was a good person, then shouldn't he have rescued the children earlier? Why had he waited for Grayson and Hunter to mount a rescue mission before he took action?He must have known that the children were trapped on Mount Moriah, but he had not made any move to save them. That wasn't the way a good person would act. However, if he was a bad person, then why had he rescued the children? If he had killed the kidnappers to conceal some kind of information, then it would have made more sense for him to kill the children too, so that there would be no living witnesses. From the way things looked, it seemed as if he had killed the kidnappers as a way to avenge the children. That was why it was difficult to tell whether he was a goo
Grayson frowned slightly. He knew that Gabriel was implying something. "Be direct."Gabriel asked, "You've never investigated him?""I didn't find anything." Gabriel looked contemptuous. "Are all your hackers useless?"Grayson said, "Belle was the one who investigated him. She didn't find anything either."Gabriel immediately changed his tone. "Oh, that's not because Belle is incapable. It's because the Sanders and the Aspens are the same. They both cover their tracks on purpose, and there are no records of them on the Internet. No matter how good the hackers are, it's no use. It would be like trying to make bricks out of straw."Grayson remained silent. Gabriel had such blatant double standards. If he had said that it was Henry who couldn't find anything, Gabriel definitely wouldn't have explained it this way. Gabriel's feelings for Belle were genuine and sincere. Grayson could see right through him, but he did not expose him. He asked again, "Then how did you find out?
Gabriel paused. "There's something I can't wrap my head around. I don't understand why Hunter's father did not learn the skills of his ancestors. Or perhaps he didn't learn it on purpose?"Grayson asked, "How do you know that Hunter's father isn't a grave robber?""Everything leaves a trace. As long as he was the one who did it, there would be traces left behind, but his record is squeaky clean. He devoted his entire life to Hunter, just like an ordinary father. He may not even know that Hunter entered the tomb."Grayson remained silent. Gabriel was right. When Hunter went to Mount Moriah, he had mentioned that his father did not know about it. Gabriel said thoughtfully, "Perhaps Hunter's father was worried about his safety. We say that motherhood makes women strong, but it must be the same for fathers too. They would do anything for their children. "The entire Sanders family came to sticky ends, including Hunter's grandfather, who also died a very strange death. It wasn't jus
When Grayson reached the clinic, 027 was already settled in. Simon knew that 027 was special, so he had arranged for her to have a private room.There were two policemen on guard outside, and Grayson had also stationed his men in hidden corners to keep an eye on things. Simon said that 027 was not in good condition. She had suffered so many injuries, and it was obvious that she had undergone inhumane torture in the past. It was a miracle that she was still alive. "Look at those scars. The older ones must be at least ten years old, and she's only 13. It shows that she's been abused since she was just a toddler. I feel sorry for the child just based on that."That was exactly what Belle had said. Grayson frowned and asked, "Have you checked the recent injuries?""The more recent injuries seem more like a result of accidents. It doesn't seem to have been inflicted by others. Among the new injuries, only the injuries that are about a month old seem to be marks of abuse."One month
Belle playfully reached for Sixteen again. "Come here!"Sixteen barked back, seemingly firm in his stance. "I'll cry if you don't come here, okay?" Belle then held her face in her hands and pretended to cry.Sixteen immediately calmed down as it nudged Belle's hands with its paws, trying to comfort her. Belle broke character, revealing a grin. "Are you still mad at me?"Sixteen, appeased, finally got into her arms and launched into enthusiastic licks.Grayson watched the exchange with a hint of envy. "Hey, Sixteen!"Sixteen whimpered and offered Grayson a sheepish look.Belle scolded, "Why are you scolding Sixteen? You're a bad guy!"She then petted Sixteen on its head and stood up. "Let's go! We'll get something tasty to eat! Just ignore him, okay?"Grayson was left speechless. He felt defeated by the pet dog as he watched Belle and Sixteen skip and hop into the house.Meredith had already finished preparing dinner when they arrived. She put on a gentle smile as she watched Belle
After returning to the house, Ava asked, "Why did Xenia go crazy? Wasn't she fine not long ago?"Lena wiped her hands and handed the towel back to Ava. "Someone drugged her and induced hallucinations of her worst fears. She's been on the edge ever since. After all, she did commit all sorts of misdeeds." "Someone?""Belle Walters."Ava was shocked. "Why would Belle drug Xenia?"Ava and Lena had been moving from place to place, seeking a safe hideout ever since they picked up Xenia. They had only found a relatively safe place today, so Ava finally had the chance to inquire about the details.Lena shot her a look of disgust and proceeded to ignore her question.Ava dared not press further and changed the topic. "Now that Xenia's lost her mind, can we still get her to talk?"Lena continued to ignore her and went to scribble down a prescription. She had spent the entire day with Xenia in the basement but hadn't managed to extract any useful information from her. Ava sheepishly c
Meanwhile, Ginger, too, was grappling with confusion. She'd also offered Hunter money, only to be stunned into silence by the astronomical sum in his bank statement. Compared to him, she was practically penniless. The largest amount she'd ever held was a few million Gabriel had won in the lottery—a drop in the bucket compared to Hunter's wealth."Why do you think Mr. Sanders was so wealthy?" Ginger queried, seeking Gabriel's insight.Gabriel was similarly grappling with confusion and remained quiet. However, he was preoccupied with a different mystery. His mind was consumed by the deaths of Penny and Terry. He had taken time to visit the corpses and noted the peculiarity surrounding their deaths. Their autopsies revealed unusual injuries that baffled forensics.Both victims, young adults in their prime, looked as if they'd been scared to death.Aware of Hunter's ties to the Nightwalkers, Gabriel wasn't surprised by the inheritance. Compared to the wealth amassed during the Sanders f
Belle pondered aloud, "While Hunter isn't as averse to exploring tombs as Benjamin, they share a similar disposition. Otherwise, with his expertise, he could easily be making a fortune.""The Sanders ancestors might not have been saints," Grayson conceded, "but perhaps Hunter's grandfather started a positive trend. Like Benjamin, he likely tried to shield Hunter from their legacy. A truly evil man couldn't have raised such a kind son."As Benjamin grew, he remained kind-hearted despite his timidity. And now, Hunter has grown into an upright, kind, and courageous young man. His talent for exploration makes him the pride of his lineage."Belle nodded and sighed. "Money is crucial for a comfortable life today. With what Hunter has, financial worries shouldn't trouble him. He'll be well provided for."Grayson pulled her into his arms and responded, "Don't fret. While Hunter may still be in school, he's mature for his age. He can take care of himself just fine."Belle leaned onto his s
Hunter crouched by the bed, methodically clearing away the books until a single floor tile lay exposed. Prying it open revealed a dark hole just big enough for one person. Grabbing a flashlight, he squeezed through the narrow opening and emerged into a moderately sized room of perhaps about 130 square feet. Wooden boxes, weathered with age and adorned with simple designs, filled the space.Hunter made a beeline for a particular box, brushing off the dust before prying it open. The wooden box was filled to the brim with notebooks. Hunter sat down on the floor, picked up one of the books, and started reading it.This hidden chamber and its contents were discovered by a young Hunter, seemingly guided by destiny. Hunter's father, Benjamin, had buried them, driven by a desire to safeguard their knowledge from Hunter's curious gaze. Fear had gripped Benjamin after learning about the Sanders family's history, the expertise that had seemingly drawn them toward a dangerous path. He
Nora let out a long sigh. "It's fine. Just keep it with you! I don't really need the money right away or anything. Besides, an old woman like me won't be spending much in town even if I tried."Hunter stopped Nora as she was about to leave and took a wad of money from his bag. "I have 20,000 dollars right here. It's far from the actual price, but you can keep it for now. I'll pay you the rest when I can."Nora was stunned. "Where did you get so much money?""It's the money I gathered from donations for the funeral, mostly from Ms. Belle and Mr. Grayson.""Oh, that makes sense. Here I was, wondering how you managed to get such a huge amount from donations. I can tell your friends are really kind-hearted people. You should treat them just as well as they treat you, okay? Study hard and make a name for yourself, and then you'll be able to properly repay their kindness.""Yeah, I know. Anyway, the gold nugget weighs slightly over 17 ounces. So, its worth is about 37,500 dollars. I'll pay y
As the final step of the funeral, the townsfolk gathered for a meal after Benjamin's burial. After Benjamin was buried, Belle and Ginger approached Hunter, inquiring about his plans for the future. Belle expressed her desire for Hunter to stay with her and Grayson, mentioning that their house had plenty of spare rooms. The only drawback would be that it was quite the distance from his school, but they could always arrange a driver for him.Ginger also invited Hunter to stay with her and Gabriel as their house had just finished with renovations. They also had a spare room for Hunter if he were to join their house.Hunter was genuinely touched by their offers, but he still declined them both. "I'd like to stay in my school's hostel for now. I'll think about what to do next when I graduate."Belle and Ginger recognized that they couldn't sway Hunter's decision, so they ceased their attempts to pressure him into making a choice."If you run out of space for your belongings, you ca
Hunter detailed, "I recall every person who came to offer prayers for my father... However, it was during my trip to the restroom that the dogs began barking. Upon my return, I spotted some unfamiliar footprints. Without seeing anyone there, I dismissed it. But upon hearing about Penny and Terry's deaths this morning, I began to connect the dots..."Both Gabriel and Grayson were left speechless.Gabriel exchanged a glance with Grayson before turning back to Hunter. "So, you're suggesting that the stranger who came to town also visited your house to pray for your father before departing to exact revenge on Penny and Terry for Mr. Sanders' death?""Yes.""Why didn't he meet you then?""I don't know.""Any other suspects you have in mind?"Hunter shook his head. "My father and I don't have friends other than you guys. It's just the two of us for as long as I can remember.""Could it be someone else from the Sanders family?" asked Gabriel."I don't think so. I'm an only child, and
Belle, Ginger, and the rest of the group arrived at 8:00 am. They noticed the crowd alongside police cars at the entrance to the town. The two of them then squeezed through the crowd to make it to the house as soon as they could. "What happened, Hunter?"The policemen were stunned by their sudden arrival. "Who are you?""We're Hunter's friends. You can tell us about what happened."Hunter's eyes gleamed with hope as he greeted them. "Ms. Belle and Ms. Ginger!"Grayson's car stopped in front of the town alongside a truck filled with equipment for the funeral.Without Belle and Grayson's friendship, Hunter would have had to manage all the funeral arrangements alone, and he wouldn't have had the opportunity to meet Ginger.Sam remained outside to stand guard while Grayson and Gabriel entered the Sanders family's old home.The townsfolk and the police were shocked when they saw them.They didn't recognize Grayson or Gabriel, but they could tell at a glance that they were really special peo