Grayson said, "I'm not worried about them finding out about my true identity, considering that I've already come all the way here without a disguise."Belle responded, "What do you mean? Why did you use an alias then if you're not afraid?""I'm the richest man in Maltford, after all. They'll only find me even more trustworthy when they dig up my actual identity as Grayson Page. Besides, it's widely known that I don't have a friendly relationship with Robert. They won't suspect my presence here to be for his rescue."Belle was puzzled. "Then why didn't you just use your actual name instead?"Grayson shook his head. "That's not a good idea either. Plenty of people will recognize me by my name here. The troublesome part would be that they would be much more suspicious of my intentions. Using an alias would actually help convince them that I'm actually here for business."Many people recognize me as an upright citizen who pays a lot of attention to upholding my reputation. In a city l
Belle finally concluded her display of inventory. "Basically, I brought along weapons of my own. And with my skills, they would never be able to hurt me!"Grayson understood that Belle was strong enough to take care of herself, supported by her bodyguards lurking in the shadows—one sent by Noah and the other, a mysterious "ghost" that constantly trailed her.Although he acknowledged the near-zero possibility of her being hurt, he couldn't shake off the worry about her well-being that lingered in the depths of his heart.Belle noticed his silence and presented him with an ultimatum. "I'm giving you a choice here. Either I incapacitate you to keep you confined to bed so that I can act alone, or we work together to confront our enemies. Choose one."Grayson pursed his lips. "Are you implying that you're going to turn me into a paraplegic?""Not exactly, just severe enough to have you bedridden for a few days. I'll come back and heal your injuries once I'm done, of course."Grayson w
Morgan was also present to discuss their next steps, and he was pacing around the room irritably. "We miscalculated. I never would've guessed that Mr. Quinn's into men!"Cadel replied, "Is there no news from the men we sent to investigate Mr. Quinn? We need to know if he's actually into men or if he was already acquainted with Angora before all of this!""They're still investigating the matter. I've also added Angora to their list."Morgan's phone started ringing. Answering the call, he engaged in a private conversation before a perplexed expression crept onto his face.He then hung up and turned to Cadel. "They've finished their investigation on Angora, and it's more or less the same as what we already know. Quite the sad backstory, really. "He lost his parents when he was young and had to beg for food through his early years. Later, he used his beautiful face to seduce man after man until he eventually found his one true love."Cadel's lips twitched. "So you're saying that he
Cadel's eyes widened in shock as he contemplated the situation. "You're right. Angora could be the solution to handle Mr. Quinn! As long as we secure Mr. Quinn's funds for our family, there's no need to ensure his survival. "I'm certain the boss wouldn't object if he didn't make it, either. I've been yearning for payback against his arrogant demeanor ever since he broke my leg!"Morgan responded, "Certainly. Once we secure his funds, the boss won't blame you, even if it comes to eliminating him. But, for now, our priority is to bring Angora back to our side.""How?""We'll give him what he wants.""What do you mean? Angora likes men and money. Are we going to give him men and money?"Morgan explained, "We don't have to give him money when we have another option. Pick a few good-looking men to meet up with Angora later. It will also provide an excellent opportunity to unravel the nature of the relationship between Mr. Quinn and Angora."If Mr. Quinn has really fallen for Angora,
Cadel inquired, "Morgan, do you think we'd face eviction too if we enter?"Morgan replied, "Shane already served as an example. So, we won't say that the group of men is a gift from us. Instead, we'll just say we're here to pay Mr. Quinn and Angora a visit."Cadel nodded and passed on the message to Grayson's men.He then came back to Morgan and asked, "What do we do with the men we've brought?"Morgan replied, "Let's take them with us, posing as our bodyguards. If either Angora or Mr. Quinn spots someone they like, they can have them stay. Otherwise, we'll bring them back when we leave.""Of course."Grayson and Belle were soon informed about the impending visit from the Hannibal brothers.Belle said, "I'm sure they're thinking of the same thing as Shane."Grayson asked, "Are you going to kick them out as well?""Not for now. I'd like to see what tricks they are trying to pull.""I'll let them in, then."Belle nodded and remarked, "Let's take our sweet time and get to know
Belle retorted, "Since when is it arrogant to state facts? I thought you two were good people despite being ugly when you fed me yesterday. But now, I'm starting to doubt if you were genuinely good. Darling, we shouldn't waste our time talking to bad people. Let's just send them away."Grayson played along with her, expressing disapproval of the Hannibal brothers.Morgan explained, "No, no. You're mistaken. See, my little brother over here has narcissistic tendencies, so please don't mind his reactions."Belle pouted and complained, "How can you be a narcissist when you look like this? I guess this is what it means to be both ugly on the outside and the inside."Cadel, infuriated, almost reached for his gun, halted only by Morgan's stern glare.Morgan then smiled and replied, "You're right. Cadel needs to improve on himself. So please, don't mind him too much. We're really just here to strike a deal with Mr. Quinn, nothing else. We're thrilled that the two of you have found happin
Belle waited until she was out of Grayson's sight before talking to Morgan. "Just spit it out already. And don't even think about any funny business. I may be into men, but I'm not into you."Morgan pursed his lips, eyeing Belle with disbelief, as if she were a child. "I've told you before, I'm not interested in men.""Then what do you want to talk to me about?"Morgan explained, "We're hiring formidable fighters, and I'm wondering if you'd like to join us. I've heard you've been wandering around, struggling for food for the past few years. Why not work for us? I can assure you a filled stomach every day."Belle promptly declined the offer. "Nope! I just want to be with Mr. Quinn right now. I don't want to go anywhere else." "You can make a fortune as a fighter for the Hannibals."Belle feigned interest, pausing to think before shaking her head. "Nah, I prefer sticking with Mr. Quinn.""But does Mr. Quinn want to be with you? Just think about it. How long will you two stay toge
Cadel was confused. "Why search for Angora now?""The rumors gained traction because we've been on a losing streak. We just need to hire Angora to win a few matches and regain our momentum.""But Angora's one greedy bastard. He'll just ask us for more money if we hire him.""Don't forget that we're also using her to get on Mr. Quinn's good graces. We'll have to pay her anyway, even if we don't hire her to fight for us. Just think of it as the cost of paving the way to win over Mr. Quinn!"Before Cadel could respond, Morgan continued, "Our family's reputation is in shambles. The boss will be displeased if we don't restore it quickly."Cadel remained silent, his lips twitching at the mention of their boss.Later, at Grayson's residence, Belle heard the Hannibal brothers' offer and nonchalantly responded, "I just want to stay by Mr. Quinn's side. I'm not interested in going out to fight.""Five million!"Belle raised an eyebrow at their starting offer of five million.Her express
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