The meeting room was filled to the brim with executives of the Page Corporation as well as executives working for David Fisher.Everyone was taken aback the moment Belle entered the room.Rosa quickly introduced Belle to all of them. "This is Mr. Page's personal assistant. She has been given the permission to sign the contract in Mr. Page's stead."David was visibly annoyed. "What is this? I've never seen a personal assistant being allowed to sign contracts on behalf of the boss throughout my entire career!"Even the executives on their side were giving looks at Belle and Rosa as they wondered what she was doing.After Rosa and Belle took a seat, the executive nearby moved closer to Rosa and whispered, "What are you doing? You're a senior in the company as well, Rosa, you should know better! Since when did we have assistants signing the contract on behalf of Mr. Page?"None of the executives within the meeting room had even dared to think about signing the contract on behalf of
Grayson soon received news of what happened. He was shocked to hear that Belle had revealed their relationship to the public. He was pleasantly surprised.Grayson had always talked to Belle about publicly announcing their relationship, but she would always deny his request. He never expected that she would be the one to reveal it today.Grayson felt like he was on cloud nine. He no longer had to hide his identity as her husband.The unexpected good news took him by surprise, and he couldn't conceal his emotions. A bright smile lit up his face, marking the happiest moment in the past few days.Confusion spread among the people around him as they exchanged puzzled glances, unsure of what had transpired.Rodney nudged at Sam. "What happened to Mr. Page?"Sam had no idea as the news came directly from Maltford and only toward Grayson's ears. He whispered back to Rodney. "It's probably something to do with Mrs. Page. Only she could make him so happy. It's always good to see Mr. Page c
Belle was so embarrassed that she found herself at a loss for words. Rarely had she felt this embarrassed, yearning to dig a hole and hide inside.Belle couldn't quite fathom why she felt so shy about everyone knowing about her relationship with Grayson. All she knew was that it was enough to turn her face blazing hot.Rosa smiled. "Don't worry. They won't tell anyone about it unless Mr. Page gives them permission to. And Mr. Fisher wouldn't tell anyone about it either.""I see. How about I treat everyone to dinner tonight?"Rosa warmly welcomed the idea. "Sure! I'll let everyone know right away!"The secretarial department erupted in joy upon receiving the news that Belle would treat them to dinner that night.Belle transferred some money to Rosa to treat everyone to dinner after work. Instead of joining her coworkers, she decided to visit subject 027 at the clinic, feeling too embarrassed to face them.News of Belle's successful handling of David Fisher and her generous gestur
Belle returned home, had dinner, and then retreated to the guest room on the first floor.The medicinal plant recently began to show signs of growth, sprouting new buds. Belle took a few pictures to document its growth and found herself staring at it. Her thoughts shifted from the plant to the man who had given it to her, eventually dwelling on what he had said. While Belle wasn't concerned about Grayson's safety, she was determined to uncover the truth about the puppet master manipulating him from the shadows as soon as possible.She remained in the guest room until 9:00 pm when her phone started ringing. The call was from Grayson, who just wanted to remind her to rest. He worried that she would stay up all night again and strain her body. "I was about to go to bed," Belle sighed as she went into the bedroom with Sixteen following right behind her. She flopped lazily onto the bed, and Sixteen also jumped onto it."Is Sixteen in our bedroom?" Grayson somehow managed to hear
Ginger hummed in acknowledgment. Belle asked, "Why are you back so early?""I'm here to find you, of course! I was worried that you might feel lonely after Grayson left for a business trip."Belle's lip twitched as she remained silent.Ginger smiled and continued, "Don't be shy, Belle! I understand how it feels!"Ginger recalled having a crush back in college and knew how disheartening it could be to yearn for someone who wouldn't be around for some time.That was why she had eagerly made the decision to return home. While it wasn't the sole reason for Ginger's early return, it played a significant role.Belle said, "I'm coming to pick you up.""Okay! I'll be waiting for you at the airport.""I'll be right there." Belle hung up the call, grabbed her coat, and headed out promptly.Belle was thrilled that Ginger had returned, realizing she no longer had to eat or sleep alone. She had even decided to spend the night at Ginger's house.Despite having Sixteen to accompany her af
In no time, Ginger was taken to an abandoned warehouse, where a group of individuals awaited her. They had a camera set up beside them. Impatiently, the men inside the warehouse questioned, "What took you so long?"The man bringing Ginger into the warehouse replied, "Shut it. A guy was with her, and we had to wait until he left." "A guy? Her boyfriend?""No idea. Doesn't look that old, but he's pretty attached to her.""If he's her boyfriend, you should've brought him too. It's more fun when he has to watch us play with her.""You're the only sicko who would like that.""Alright. Just wake her up so we can start filming. I can't wait! She's really hot, huh?"The man who spoke last laid Ginger on the floor, and the rest gathered around to get a closer look at her. "She looks pretty cute.""We sure are lucky tonight. We got the bag and the girl as well!""Hurry up and film the video for our buyer. It's better once the money is in our account."The group of men continued ch
Meanwhile, in a hotel in Maltford, Gabriel suddenly sneezed. He furrowed his brows as a sharp pain clutched his heart. It was as if someone had just stabbed him with a dagger."Excuse me," Gabriel interjected, interrupting the conversation with a member of the Flemings family. He stepped outside with his phone. One of the Flemings called out, "Are you leaving, Gabriel? I haven't finished speaking."Gabriel coldly replied, "No, not yet. I just need to make a quick phone call. I'll be back in a bit."Outside, he dialed Ginger's number, but each attempt went unanswered. Growing increasingly worried, he decided to call Belle instead.The call connected, and he quickly asked, "Belle, have you picked up Ginger yet?"Belle, still en route, responded, "Not yet. I need about ten more minutes. Why?""I left her to deal with work. She isn't picking up my calls. I'm just worried.""She's not picking up? Maybe her phone's battery is dead?""I doubt it. I made sure that her phone was fully
Belle felt a surge of panic as she hurriedly made her way to the surveillance room upon arriving at the airport.Her distress escalated when she discovered Ginger unconscious in the arms of a stranger, being abducted into their car.Belle began to track down that car, all the while giving Gabriel a call. "Gabriel, Ginger is in danger!"…Meanwhile, in the abandoned warehouse, the men had just finished taking nude photos of Ginger and began to undress themselves."Fucking hell! I've been waiting for this. I'm not going to let her rest for hours today!"The men pounced on Ginger after undressing and began to humiliate her.Ginger had been drugged earlier, and the effects had now fully taken hold. She was utterly powerless, her strength completely sapped, and she found herself involuntarily complying with the actions of the men around her.The men went into a frenzy as they began to nibble on her body while some stood by the side and played with themselves. The entire scene was
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