Early the next morning, Meredith came to knock on the door. "Mr. Page, Ms. Belle, are you guys awake? Ms. Sanchez is here. Mr. Page, Ms. Belle …"Belle was jolted awake by the noise. She furrowed her eyebrows and kicked her legs under the blanket. "Grayson Page!" she exclaimed, clearly annoyed at being woken up.Grayson sat up. He didn't sleep for the entire night. Upon hearing Belle's call, he grimaced and clenched his lips in distaste at the sight of her writhing on the bed. Belle looked like a worm by how she squirmed under the blanket."What?" Grayson's tone was irritable. The rapid knocking on the door continued. Belle kicked off the blanket and sat up. "What? What else? Don't you hear her knocking on the door?" She looked at Grayson unhappily."I did.""Why didn't you reply if you heard?"Grayson was annoyed. "She's also calling you. Why didn't you say anything?""Wasn't I still sleeping?"Suddenly, Belle thought of something. "Wait. What did Meredith say? Ms. Sanch
Grayson was still on the phone.Meanwhile, a significant uproar ensued after Grayson directed his subordinate to contact the parents of the affluent youngsters he had confronted and disciplined. Finneas had caught wind of the situation early in the morning, prompting him to reach out to Grayson for an explanation.Grayson did not mention Belle, only saying that they deserved it.Finneas countered, "I heard you got angry because of Belle."That statement caused Grayson to furrow his eyebrows. "Those are rumors!""I think you like Belle, but you just don't know it yet," Finneas said."I like her? Dream on, Grandpa.""I'm not dreaming. I know a bit of what happened yesterday. It's clear that you're avenging Belle!""Whatever. You called me this early in the morning. Is that all you have to say?"Finneas smiled. "I heard you met with Robert yesterday night."When Robert's name was brought up, Grayson's demeanor turned even more somber. The memory of how Belle had looked at Robe
Shortly after, Belle went downstairs after changing into casual wear.Upon spotting her, Grayson's brows furrowed.While Belle was aware that she had upset Grayson the previous night, she had no intentions of trying to placate him. Instead, she was now heading out. Grayson couldn't help but wonder if she intended to start another fight. Before he could ask, Xenia interjected, one step ahead of him. "Belle, are you heading out?""Yes.""Are you not going to dance today?""Depends. I have something to do, so I need to go out today."Belle headed outside after saying that. Yesterday, she had made some progress on the peculiar medical case. So, she intended to continue her research on it today. "Where are you going?" Grayson suddenly butted in.Turning around, Belle wanted to say it was none of his business. However, she held herself back when she saw Xenia standing next to Grayson.Belle smiled and winked at Grayson. "It's a secret," she replied mischievously.That was the re
A doting smile crept onto Grayson's face when he saw Belle eating so heartily."Slow down. Seriously, no one's going to steal your food!" "Could you please stop worrying about everything? Don't clean your hands first. Go ahead and shell the remaining shrimp for me. They're delicious," Belle ordered.Grayson didn't get mad. Instead, he picked up a few shrimps and started shelling them.Observing the interaction between the two, Xenia found herself losing her appetite.Xenia had heard that Grayson harbored no affection for Belle and was strongly opposed to their arranged marriage. Initially, when she witnessed Belle and Grayson acting affectionately in her presence, she assumed it was all an act.However, as she watched them now, she couldn't help but wonder if there might be more to their relationship than met the eye.The look on Grayson's face was one of unmistakable adoration.Xenia's suspicions grew stronger. She began to suspect that Grayson had indeed fallen for Belle,
Grayson retracted his gaze. "When did she tell you this?" he asked Xenia.Xenia fixed her gaze on Grayson, trying to discern his thoughts. Given the deeply hurtful nature of Belle's words, she had expected him to react with anger. Most men would find such comments extremely difficult to overlook, and Grayson should have been no exception.However, as Xenia studied Grayson's expression, she couldn't detect any signs of anger. Xenia wondered if he was just suppressing his anger. If that were the case, Grayson possessed remarkable self-control.With these thoughts in mind, Xenia replied, "She mentioned it a few days ago, but I refrained from telling you because I was afraid it would upset you.""Why did you tell me today?""I … I overheard Belle mentioning she had a secret just now. I'm only worried that someone might manipulate her into doing something that would hurt you. After all, she's still young. "It's easy for her to be swayed by others. Furthermore, she confided in me th
Belle leaned against a tree in the yard while speaking with Dorothy over the phone. Upon hearing Ethel's statement that Dorothy didn't want to meet with anyone, Belle was taken aback."Why would she do that at a time like this? Are you sure that Mrs. Jenkins Senior refused to even see me?"Ethel confirmed, "Yes. Mrs. Jenkins Senior told me herself.""How is that possible?" Belle was confused.Belle could understand why Dorothy was shutting herself from others. However, it was weird for Dorothy to refuse to meet her.Belle and Dorothy had been researching the peculiar medical case together for quite some time. Dorothy was well aware of Belle's medical expertise, making her a valuable asset in their collaborative efforts."Is Mrs. Page Senior isolating herself to focus on studying the mysterious medical case?" Belle asked.Ethel replied, "I'm not sure about that. Mrs. Page Senior wouldn't tell us about this. It could be related to that, or it could be for some other research. "D
Belle was stunned. She looked at Grayson with widened eyes. Her long eyelashes were fluttering rapidly.Belle understood what was happening after a moment's thought. Xenia must have said something to Grayson!It appeared that Xenia couldn't wait any longer to set her plan in motion.Belle furrowed her eyebrows, vowing to retaliate against Xenia. "I was just talking about my affairs. What did they have to do with you?" she asked Grayson, her tone displeased. Grayson narrowed his eyes. "Well, I wasn't involved in the first place. But you mentioned it was because of me that you're dissatisfied. You even called me impotent. Don't you think we should have a discussion?" he began slowly.Belle was choked up for a moment.Belle couldn't rebuke. "Did Xenia tell you that she encouraged me to have an affair? She told me that one of her friends found another man because her husband couldn't satisfy her. "She's quite the character, isn't she? On the one hand, she's teaching me how to c
Belle was stunned. "What do you want?""Even though you're only 20, you're already an adult. In ancient times, you might have had children by now. So, having desires is entirely natural. There's no need to feel embarrassed. Any normal person would have the same urges. I can help you satisfy it."Belle widened her eyes, wondering what was going on. She asked, "What do I need your help to satisfy?"Grayson answered, "Your sexual desire!""Sexual desires?" Belle wondered. She had wishes she needed to fulfill, which weren't related to lust. She longed for a quick divorce from Grayson and a return to the mountains to reunite with Lovy.She yearned to live a carefree life, reminiscent of her youth, where she wouldn't have to encounter so many people.She hoped her grandfather could reveal more about her background. She wanted to know more about her biological parents.She had a lot of wishes. However, Grayson couldn't grant any of them.Belle rolled her eyes. "Don't bring up other
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