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
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
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
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
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
Belle Walters stirred the bitter coffee she hated with her head lowered in a café. She patiently listened to June Peterson talk about her relationship with Grayson Page."… I've known Grayson for a solid ten years. Our relationship is unbreakable. I love him, and he loves me too …"Looking up curiously, Belle interrupted her, "If your relationship is unbreakable, why hasn't he married you?"June frowned, her face turning red. A single question from Belle had shut her up!She had always dreamt of marrying Grayson, but Grayson only saw her as …Speechless, June took out a check and slammed it in front of Belle. "Here's one million dollars. Take it and get your ass back to the countryside. You're not worthy of Grayson!"Even if you marry him, you won't be happy. I'm the only one who deserves to be his wife!"Leaning back in her chair, Belle looked excited."What a coincidence! You want to marry him, but I don't. If you can find a way to stop Grayson from marrying me, I'll give y
"Ah! Fire! Run!" The café descended into chaos. Amidst the screams and coughs, the people inside scrambled to get outside. June also ran out in panic. She had just made it to the entrance when a woman grabbed her.Because of the frantic crowd, the woman's leg was trampled. It was broken, and she couldn't move. In her panic, she grabbed June as if she had grabbed onto a sliver of hope."Miss, please save my son. He's still inside. Please save him!"June widened her eyes and slapped the woman's hand away. Enduring the pain in her mouth, she said, "It's a huge fire! Do you want me to get myself killed? Get lost!"June spat in disdain, then moved aside. She called Grayson, her voice pitiful. "Grayson, come here quick. I got hurt!"Losing hope, the woman wailed as she lay on the ground. The people around her whispered among themselves."Who would dare go inside with such a huge fire burning? They'd die!""Exactly. There's probably no hope left for the child." Belle was at the
The nurse was busy at the workstation. She was annoyed by the questions. But when she looked up and saw Grayson, her expression immediately changed.What a handsome man!The nurse blushed and said, "Yes, we have a patient by the name of Belle Walters. Are you looking for her? What's her relationship with you?"Grayson frowned, which made the nurse think that she had asked too many questions. She hastily explained, "Please don't get the wrong idea. I wasn't prying. Ms. Walters just said that she doesn't have any family or friends here. "She said she had a fiancé, but he had an affair with a married woman. He was beaten to death by the husband, who caught them in the act."That's why she signed the forms herself."Grayson's expression darkened."I had an affair with a married woman and was beaten to death by the husband?" he thought incredulously.Fuming, Grayson turned around and left. He refused to bother about Belle anymore.…After the surgery and getting an IV drip, B