Grayson ushered Belle into the nearby gym room, and upon entering, he pressed her against the wall. He remained somewhat agitated."You know that I don't like her. Why won't you believe me? How can I make you trust my words?""Huh?" Belle was perplexed. Grayson wore a somber expression, and he was slightly out of breath."Why don't I take these pants off and have them tested to see if it's water or my sem—""Shut up! How can you say something like that with a straight face? You're shameless! You're a dirty pervert!" Belle quickly interrupted him. Her face was bright red.His lips twitched as he delivered a cold explanation, saying, "All of this is because of you. Despite my repeated explanations, you simply wouldn't believe me. You've always claimed not to like me, yet you're the most jealous woman I've ever encountered!"Belle was shocked. "Jealous? Me? When did you ever see me being jealous over you being with another woman?""Nonsense! What else, if not jealousy, made you s
The interlude ended, and nobody brought it up again. When Grayson returned in clean clothes, he still ignored Xenia.He looked at Belle and asked, "Why haven't you changed your clothes?"Belle got annoyed at the mention of that. She had never worn a dance costume before this. She felt naked wearing it. It also made her uncomfortable. Belle said, "Can't I just wear normal clothes for practice?"Meanwhile, Xenia thought that Belle was embarrassed to wear such a revealing outfit because she didn't have a nice figure."It's not that you can't, but wearing a dance costume makes your figure and poise stand out more. It also makes it easier to spot mistakes. You've just started learning, so you must wear a dance costume. You don't have to once you're more experienced," said Xenia.Belle frowned with a reluctant expression. Grayson thought she looked cute when she was embarrassed, and he smiled subtly. Belle noticed and thought that he was making fun of her, so she pouted and glared a
Grayson gulped again and forced himself to calm down. Then, he walked out of the room stormily.Belle asked in confusion, "Hey, aren't we going to dance? Where are you going?""It's none of your business!"Belle frowned. How dare he speak to her so harshly while Xenia was there? How about the act they were putting on? Belle held back her displeasure and said, "None of my business? Isn't this a pas de deux? How will I dance without you?""Start learning the steps first. I'm going for a smoke," said Grayson, and he left the practice room.Xenia said in shock, "Belle, is Gray angry with you?""Are you deaf? He said he was just going for a smoke."Xenia narrowed her eyes. She felt that Grayson had spoken very harshly to Belle. Something was definitely wrong.Xenia's mood lifted, and she smiled at Belle. "Then let's get started without him. Let me teach you a few basic steps."Belle nodded."Let's practice doing a split first." Xenia demonstrated a split and looked at Belle inno
Grayson felt as if he was faced with the trickiest problem on earth. It was giving him such a headache.His phone rang a few moments later. It was Belle. "Darling, when are you coming back? Aren't you going to practice today?"Belle's adorable tone made his heart skip a beat. Grayson steadied himself and said, "I'll be right back."He was sure that Belle would leave at once if he dared to say that he wasn't going to practice. He hung up and massaged his temples.Then, he stubbed out his cigarette and returned to the practice room. When he opened the door, he saw Xenia with her hand on Belle's waist.Grayson got worked up again. He said darkly, "What are you guys doing?"His angry tone gave Xenia a fright. Belle asked in surprise, "What's the matter this time?"Grayson said through gritted teeth, "I asked what are you two doing!"Belle frowned when she realized that Grayson was being serious. It was getting harder for her to play along."Are you blind? Can't you see that we're
Grayson glared at her and said through gritted teeth, "I saw her touching your waist!""She was teaching me how to dance. So what if she touched my waist?""Are you going to let just anyone touch your waist if they teach you dancing?""I …" Belle stuttered."Does this mean I can touch your waist if I teach you dancing?""I …"Belle had lost the argument. She wanted to slap Grayson, but he grabbed her wrist and said fiercely, "I'm right, aren't I?"Belle flushed with anger and stomped on Grayson's foot. Before he could yell at her, she bit him on the wrist."Ouch!" Grayson let go of her and stumbled backward. He saw the bite mark on his wrist and yelled, "What the hell is wrong with you?"Belle bared her teeth and said, "More like what's wrong with you! I'll bite you again if you spew any more nonsense!""You're the one who flirted with someone else!""What do you mean I flirted? Grayson, you're crazy! You're an idiot!""You …""Whatever. I don't want to waste my time argui
Grayson felt irritated and wasn't in the mood to go to work. He drove to Syl Hospital. Simon had just finished performing surgery and was resting in the pantry. He was very taken aback to see Grayson."Grayson, what brings you here?"Grayson sat down and lit a cigarette. He made himself feel at home. Simon quickly went to sit down opposite him when he noticed that Grayson was in a bad mood. "What's wrong?" he asked.Grayson smoked half of his cigarette before asking, "Did you feel like having sex with Sabrina before you fell in love with her?"Simon was stunned for a moment. He hadn't expected Grayson to ask such a question. "Of course I did!"Grayson frowned and said, "Doesn't that make you a pervert?""Why? I fell in love with Sabrina at first sight, okay? I knew she was the one the moment I set eyes on her."Grayson kept frowning and asked, "How did you know you had fallen in love with her?""I caught feelings! My heart beat faster every time I saw her. It's a sign."
Although it was an odd time to drink, everyone showed up when they saw Grayson's text. Very quickly, expensive cars that cost at least eight figures filled the parking lot at Liquor Den. All their number plates cost a fortune, too. Meanwhile, Grayson sat smoking a cigarette in the private room. The scions surrounded him and bombarded him with questions regarding Belle.They had all been friends since they were kids and knew each other very well. The only thing the guys didn't know much about Grayson was his wife.Grayson and Belle had been married for more than half a year, but Grayson had never introduced her to them. "Gray, when are you going to let us meet her? I heard that you're nine years older than her!""I think Grayson doesn't want us to meet her because she's drop-dead gorgeous!""Yeah, I heard that she's graceful and kind too."Grayson pursed his lips and asked, "Where did you guys hear all this?""From my grandfather!""I heard about it from my grandfather, too
Grayson had nothing to say for himself again and smoked his cigarette sullenly."My grandfather forced her on me. I can't stand up to her because he's protecting her. That's why she tests my limits!" Grayson said.Tristan believed him and said, "Do you know why she can get on your nerves so easily? It's because you don't go out with women much. I'm not trying to scare you, but you'll lose interest in sex if you go on like this!"Grayson rolled his eyes and said, "It's still better than getting an STD!""What do you know? We only live once, you know? We need to get all the action we can."Tristan nudged him and said, "Be honest with me. You've really never had sex with her?""No! It's just a contractual marriage. We're going to get divorced after two years. Why would we have sex?""What has divorce got to do with having sex? Look at me. I'm not married, but I've already lost count of how many girlfriends I've had.""You're just a fuckboy!" said Grayson."Bullshit! None of my ex
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