However, Grayson controlled himself! The urge was overpowering, but he was still a rational man.Belle had been so embarrassed the last time he had kissed her. If he impulsively took her to bed, she would refuse him.Everything would fall into place when the time was right. He had to come up with a plan to make things fall into place! "Did you hear what I said?" Tristan asked impatiently when Grayson stayed silent.Grayson returned to his senses and stared at Tristan through narrowed eyes for a moment. Then, he raised his glass and clinked it against Tristan's."You're such a good friend! Cheers!" said Grayson.Tristan's words had led him into the light and put him in a better mood. What a good friend he was! "Huh?" Tristan was confused. "Are you feeling better now?""Yes. It's not worth it to be in a bad mood over a woman!" Grayson pretended to be calm, but he couldn't hide his joy. Tristan raised his eyebrows and asked, "So, have you made up your mind to end your abstinen
The disease was the same one that the patient in the intensive care unit was suffering from. The patient's next of kin hadn't been able to deal with the stress and tried to commit suicide, but someone had rescued her.After that, she told the whole story to the crowd in tears. Now, everybody knew about it. The woman said that the patient was in a coma, but the doctors couldn't find anything wrong with him. However, his vital signs kept decreasing, yet Dorothy Jenkins could not find the cause. The woman had no more hopes left for her loved one. Hence, everyone on the internet started criticizing Dorothy and said that she was no longer capable in her old age. Some people also said that she had forgotten her duty because the public had put her on a pedestal.The comments about Dorothy were pretty nasty, with some even cursing her out. Belle frowned in confusion. The incident wasn't something shocking to her. Developments in the medical field were far from enough, and there were
Xenia was crying in anguish at the café. The group of wealthy young ladies tried to comfort her."Xenia, please don't cry anymore. Belle is incredibly ignorant. You kindly offered to teach her to dance, yet she dared to kick you out. She's such a nasty person!""I was annoyed at her from the moment I first saw her. She keeps buying everything simply because Grayson is letting her do so. "She's always acting like a nouveau riche, but in reality, she has no taste at all. What a country bumpkin!""Xenia, you are too kind. You wanted to befriend her because you thought that she must be unfamiliar with Maltford since she's from a rural area. "You even offered her to join our social circle. Unfortunately, your kindness was not acknowledged by her at all.""Belle doesn't know how to be grateful. No one would want to be friends with her. She's nothing without Grayson!""Mark my words, without Xenia looking out for her, she won't be able to survive here!""We're with you. You should s
Grayson didn't answer Finneas' phone call. Thus, he decided to call Belle instead."Belle, are you with Grayson? He didn't pick up his phone," Finneas said."I'm not with Grayson right now. I'm outside. Do you need something from him?"Finneas hesitated for a moment before asking, "Belle, I heard that Richter's fiancée has been teaching you how to dance. Are you getting along well with her?"Belle immediately guessed the reason Finneas called her. Finneas must have heard about the news of Grayson kicking Xenia out. However, Belle wasn't sure which version of the story Finneas had heard.Belle thought for a moment and then said, "It is Grayson who asked her to leave.""Why did he do so?" Finneas asked. Finneas was puzzled because Grayson was smart and knew how to act appropriately. Grayson ought to know that Xenia had people backing her and wouldn't try to get on her bad side.Belle struggled to find the right words. Grayson's reason for kicking Xenia out was very absurd. S
Tristan was surprised to hear Belle's aggressive tone coming from the other end of the line. No wonder Grayson had come to the bar to drown his sorrows with alcohol. Belle didn't seem like someone who could be easily tricked.Tristan thought that this would be the perfect chance for him to meet Belle."Hello, my sister-in-law. I'm Grayson's friend. My name is Tristan Saunders," Tristan said in a cheerful tone.Belle was puzzled at that. It was not Grayson who called her but one of his friends.This was the first time she had interacted with Grayson's friends in over half a year. Belle didn't like Grayson and thus, by extension, didn't hold a favorable opinion of his friends. Nevertheless, she toned down her aggressiveness slightly."Is there something you need from me?" she asked."Well, here's the thing. Grayson is a little drunk and won't be able to drive himself back home. Would you be able to come pick him up?" Tristan said while maintaining his cheerful tone.Belle was
Did good people possess long lives? What about Belle's parents, then? They were upright and kind, but they died a horrible death. The only silver lining was that their daughter had survived and remained healthy. Perhaps Belle being healthy was God's reward to her parents.Dorothy sighed silently and lovingly stroked Belle's cheek."Hurry and go pick up Grayson," Dorothy said."Yes, I'll come by again tomorrow. You shouldn't stay in the hospital for too long. Please go back and rest early. You looked drained lately," Belle said to Dorothy."Alright, I'll do as you say," Dorothy said while smiling. However, Dorothy's expression immediately changed as soon as Belle left. She furrowed her brows and stared intently at the chemicals before her. Her expression turned serious.Dorothy's maid, Ethel Cole, walked into the room with a jacket. "Mrs. Slyvester Senior, it's late at night. Perhaps you should go home and rest?" Dorothy shook her head while keeping a serious expression on
Belle took a taxi to the Liquor Den.When Belle arrived at the entrance of the bar, she was prohibited from entering because she looked like a minor. Belle didn't have her identification card to prove she was already 20 years old. Thus, she could only explain the situation to the bouncer, "Someone named Tristan Saunders called me to come pick up Grayson Page. They are drinking inside the bar. Could you please ask them to come out?" Tristan Saunders and Grayson Page?Belle's casual mention of these famous names drew lots of attention from the onlookers. After all, these names were not ones that people would casually drop in public.The bartender didn't dare to deny Belle's request and quickly informed Tristan that she had arrived.Tristan then phoned Belle using his own phone."Hello, Mrs. Page. This is Tristan. Have you arrived?""Yes, I'm at the entrance.""Alright, I'll come out with Grayson now."After hanging up the call, a group of people surrounded Tristan and aske
Tristan was about to take a closer look when Belle approached them first.Belle carried herself with an attitude that was neither humble nor arrogant, not sad nor happy. She didn't put on airs, nor did she appear immature. Her tone was very calm as she said, "Hello, I'm here to pick up Grayson."The group of people looked at her in shock!Was she really Grayson's wife? The woman who was supposedly fiercer than a tigress?She looked nothing like what Grayson had described!Belle looked so adorable that she couldn't possibly be a person with a fierce temper. She seemed like the type of girl everyone would love. The group of wealthy young men stared at Belle in astonishment. They seemed to have forgotten how to speak.Tristan was the first to recover from the shock. He asked, "You are Grayson's wife?""Yes," Belle replied.Tristan's expression was complicated as he glanced at Grayson, feeling a twinge of jealousy.Grayson was already 29 and turning 30 in a few months, yet he
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