Xenia laughed as she shook her head. "You're quite innocent, aren't you? You don't have to hurt her directly. You can hurt anyone she cares about or anything she cares about."Lena fell quiet. Xenia whispered something to Lena and finished with, "I can promise that she'll be devastated if you do that."Lena looked at Xenia with a frown. Her gaze was full of contempt and disdain. She liked to be direct and ruthless when it came to hurting her victims. She hadn't thought about doing things Xenia's way. It didn't fit her style.Lena didn't try to hide her contempt for Xenia. Nonetheless, she said, "I can work with you, but I'll only promise to do three things for you. Our deal is off after that, and by the way, what you just said counts as one."Xenia frowned, thinking that three were too little. Xenia aimed to subject Belle to every conceivable form of pain that could be experienced. She harbored countless ideas—thousands, even millions—of ways she wished to make Belle suffer.H
Colette was taken aback. "Is she the one you were talking about? The person with a plan to take down Belle?""Yes," answered Xenia. Colette fell silent for a moment before saying, "No matter where she stays, if I instruct the maids not to clean the room, they'll become suspicious. She could stay in my room. I don't like my maids touching my things, so they never enter my room. This way, no one will suspect anything.""Then she'll stay in your room.""But—""No buts. Before you say anything, think of Belle."Colette stayed silent for a long time before saying, "Okay, fine, but who is she? Why does she have to hide? What did she do? Doesn't she have a home?""Don't pry so much. You just need to find her a place to stay.""If she can't even protect herself, how is she going to help us?""She's a very powerful and cruel person. Don't piss her off, and don't pry into her personal life."Colette frowned. "When is she going to come here?""Don't worry. She'll contact you when it's
Simon asked, "Are you hungry? I'll treat you to a meal."Belle waved a hand. "No, that's alright. You have plans tonight, right? Go ahead. I'll eat when I get home.""Alright. Go back and rest soon.""I will."After Simon left, Belle sat at her desk and stared at her picture with Grayson. The more she looked at it, the more she missed him.Her phone suddenly rang.She instinctively thought it was Grayson and excitedly picked up the phone to check.Not finding Grayson's name on the screen, she deflated like a balloon, her expression going completely flat.It was Scott who had called her, and Belle picked up annoyedly. "What?""Hey, what's with that attitude? I didn't do anything.""Quit with your nonsense. Tell me what you want.""Come on out. I'll take you to eat."Belle asked suspiciously, "Where are you?""I'm in front of the clinic."Belle said in shock, "You're here?""Yes. I came specifically to take you to dinner. How nice of me, right?"Belle pressed her lips tog
A bad feeling rose in her throat like bile. Belle frowned and stared at Scott."Okay. Got it," Scott hung up.Belle quickly asked, "What's wrong? Did something happen to Robert?""No," Scott said with a frown."Then why do you look like that?"Scott didn't explain himself. He just said, "I can't treat you to dinner today. I'll treat you another day. Let me send you home first."He didn't give Belle a chance to speak. He slammed on the gas pedal and drove Belle back to Grayson's mansion.Belle kept asking him what was wrong, but he stayed quiet.They reached the mansion, but Belle stayed in the passenger's seat and stared daggers at him. Only then did he finally lie and say, "My subordinates messed up. I'm pissed at them, so I need to get that settled before I come back and take you out again."Belle stared at him and asked, "Are you sure Robert's not in trouble?""Of course! You need to get home and get your maid to cook for you. I'll contact you once I'm done, okay? Go. I'm
Simon explained, "Given her severe condition, we decided to perform surgery. However, she began hemorrhaging profusely right from the outset. The rapid decline in her blood levels made it increasingly challenging to provide the necessary transfusions."He motioned to the blood bag adjacent to her. "Take a look. We've linked her to it, but the blood isn't draining fast enough. We attempted to use a larger needle, but that didn't resolve the issue. At this rate, she won't make it past the next 20 minutes."Belle looked at the blood bag as she felt for 027's pulse. 027's skin was icy cold to the touch. Her body temperature was already much too low for any human being.Simon was still talking. "The nurse who was taking care of her said that 027's critical condition came out of nowhere. There were no signs prior to this. She just suddenly coughed up a huge mouthful of blood, and her blood pressure began rising rapidly. Her heart rate went from very fast to very slow, and now it's barely
Simon finally comprehended Finneas' words from the time when he compelled Grayson into marrying Belle. "There's no need for you to speak up for Grayson. I had already made my decision when I asked him to marry Belle. "Nothing will alter that. Let me make it clear to all of you—don't underestimate Belle as some rustic mountain dweller incapable of matching up to Grayson. She's beyond his league!"Initially, when those words were uttered, he, Tristan, and the others were perplexed, but now they grasped the meaning.Irrespective of Grayson's might, he remained merely human. Even in his strength, he was confined to the realm of humanity.Belle was different. As Simon gazed at her, she seemed almost divine.Simon continued to marvel deep inside.However, he was oblivious to the entirety of Belle's past. Once he eventually uncovered the full story, he would truly comprehend the extent of her uniqueness.……Belle worked herself to the bone for a whole night. The sun went down and cam
At the sound of Grayson's voice, an odd sentiment stirred within Belle, bringing tears to her eyes. She swiftly composed herself, scoffing. "Took you forever to call. Did you forget about me?"Grayson frowned as he walked out of the airport. His Adam's apple bobbed as he uttered, "I miss you so much."Belle fell silent as she pouted. Her eyes reddened, and she sniffled as she muttered, "If you miss me, then come home quickly.""I'll come home right after I've sorted out everything here."Belle asked, "Have you only just reached?""Yes. I just got off the plane."If he had reached earlier, there was no way he would have waited so long before contacting Belle."Where are you? Is it that far?" Belle asked."It's not too far, but the weather was a bit tricky. The plane couldn't fly in those conditions, so the flight got delayed."Grayson didn't want Belle to know he was in Mandoria and changed the subject. "I saw Simon's message as soon as I turned my phone back on. He said you sp
Grayson explained, "The temperature here is higher compared to back home."Before Belle could reply, he continued, "How about we try for a baby, darling?""Huh?" Belle was taken aback by the sudden question. "We should have two children. That way, if we ever find ourselves separated, we can each have one of our children with us. It's better than facing loneliness and constantly thinking about each other."Belle envisioned her future children and pouted. "Raising kids isn't a walk in the park, you know? What if I just feel like grabbing their tiny legs and tossing them out of the house when they create a mess? Bringing them into this world but not raising them right is both against the law and morally wrong.""Don't worry, I'll take care of them. I'll feed them, bathe them, and clothe them. I'll even play with them and homeschool them by myself. And—"Belle stopped him from continuing his ramblings. "You've never wanted kids back then. Why the sudden change of heart?"Grayson re
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