The air was infused with various fragrances and was undoubtedly refreshing to the senses.Belle muttered to herself, "What's that smell? Flowers? And food!"She followed the enticing aroma, guided by the soft glow of dimly lit candles, leading her all the way to the dining room. Her surprise was evident when she realized someone was sitting at the dining table. "What the heck! Why didn't you turn on the lights and respond to my calls if you were home? You scared me!"Grayson was at a loss for words. He had meticulously prepared the setting and dressed up for a romantic candlelight dinner. He had anticipated that Belle would, at the very least, be moved by his thoughtful gestures. To his surprise, she arrived only to be spooked by his presence and shouted at him.He could only wonder if she could display elegance in conducting herself as an adult.Grayson held back his annoyance and approached Belle. "I didn't know that you could be so easily spooked."She pouted in response.
Belle continued, "Oh well, we should just accept whatever comes our way. Don't be so depressed about it. Life's short, so just enjoy whatever happens."Look at me. I'm okay with whatever happens. Honestly, I wouldn't have bothered you as much if it weren't for all those crazy bitches around you who are plotting against my life."We live a peaceful life for two years and then leave each other alone. Ain't that nice?"Belle was being honest with her words. Even though she didn't think Grayson was a horrible man, she never really liked him in the first place. As for the issue concerning June and Ingrid, Belle even thought that Grayson was gentle and kind to them. Belle added, "It's just that your temper sucks!" After everything she had said, Grayson fixated on one specific part. "Life's short, so just enjoy whatever happens."Tristan had mentioned the exact words two days ago.He felt that Belle was hinting something at him. As a result, his mood swiftly rebounded to its initia
Belle recognized the bottle. She might not have been knowledgeable about wines, but she remembered Meredith mentioning that the bottle was the equivalent of a villa.More importantly, it was uniquely rare. Money alone could not guarantee its purchase. She began to wonder what the occasion was for him to enjoy such prestigious wine. She guessed it might be his birthday. So, Belle curiously asked, "Is it your birthday today?"Grayson resumed cutting his steak. "No, it's not.""Then why did you … What's the big deal with today, exactly?"He then gazed at her longingly. "To celebrate a new life!""A new life? What the hell?"He maintained his affectionate gaze. "You'll understand later tonight."Grayson placed the steak he had cut before her as he murmured, "You should eat more."Belle's gaze drifted over his hands. She imagined that his long, beautiful hands likely played a part in his piano abilities. She finally snapped out of her thoughts when he withdrew his hand.She wonde
Belle wasn't happy at all! She asked unhappily, "What's with the petals in the room?""I put them there," Grayson answered. "I know! I'm asking you, why would you put so many petals in the bedroom out of nowhere?""You don't like it?"Belle was exasperated. "I'm asking you a question, Grayson! Can't you answer me properly?""I'm asking you a question, too," Grayson spoke indifferently. He even leaned in close to Belle, his intentions obvious.Belle thought of something, but she didn't think it was possible. Grayson kept making it known that he didn't like her. So, he wouldn't have had any intentions toward her.But the scene in front of her caused her to doubt.While Belle was deep in thought, she subconsciously stepped backward. As she backed away, she frowned and looked at Grayson.She said, "You've been acting weird today. You'd better tell me what's happening, or I might misunderstand you. I might lose control of my hands and beat you up!"Grayson wasn't intimidated by h
Belle had never experienced this before. Grayson was also coming at her in full force, refusing to give her any time to react. Soon, the kisses dazed her, and her mind turned blank.Their breaths mingled in the air. The atmosphere in the room turned even more suggestive thanks to the rose petals.Then, a ringtone sounded out of the blue. It kept ringing. The two froze.Grayson's frown deepened, but after a brief moment of surprise, he continued his passionate embrace with Belle. He had no intention of letting the annoying ringtone disrupt the moment.But in the next second, Belle's phone rang again.Before she realized it, her phone had slipped from her pocket onto the floor. The screen was facing upward, and the name "Sam" danced on the screen.Grayson frowned. Sam must have something important to talk about if he was calling at such a late hour. Moreover, he called Belle when Grayson didn't answer his phone. Grayson's desires simmered down a bit. He glanced at Belle, collec
In the emergency room, the doctor on shift was still stitching up Simon's wound. Simon had received anesthetics, so it wasn't painful for him. Still, Simon frowned deeply.No one would be pleased if something like this happened at their family's hospital.Sam was standing at the side. When he saw Grayson, he hastily greeted, "Mr. Page!"Simon also looked up. Sighing in exasperation, he said, "I see that even you were startled by the news."Striding over to join them, Grayson took a seat.The doctor and nurses were familiar with him. When they saw him, they hastily greeted him. Then, they rushed to treat Simon's wounds so they could leave as soon as possible.Simon called out to them, saying, "Tell all the doctors and nurses to calm down. It won't turn out too badly. Also, tell the nurses on shift to calm down the patients.""Understood."After the doctor and nurses left, Grayson lit a cigarette. Then, he spoke up."What exactly is going on?"Simon looked troubled. "I haven't
Simon didn't know what was going on. He said, "I owe you too much. Even my life belongs to you. If you want it, you can take it away."Pursing his lips, Grayson said in disdain, "Why would I want your life? It's worth nothing."Simon simply smiled as he skipped the rest of his appreciation speech. He stared at the dark circles under Grayson's eyes, then asked, "You seem to be in a bad condition lately. Didn't you manage to buy new scented sachets?"Grayson became annoyed upon hearing that. He had also forgotten how long it had been since he last slept properly.After the scented sachets stopped working, he slept less than three hours on average per day. Also, even if he managed to sleep, it was only very light sleep.Taking a puff of the cigarette, Grayson said, "I didn't buy any. I'll consider it after the hospital gives me a proper checkup."Simon was surprised. "The doctor selling the scented sachets is willing to see you now?""Yes. She said she would be coming to Maltford
In the car, Grayson lit a cigarette and smoked quietly.He didn't know about Lena's existence, so he wasn't distracted by her. His mind was full of thoughts about Belle.When he came out today, Belle was mad. She was extremely pissed. If his guesses were correct, judging by Belle's temper, she would still be mad right now.He was at fault for stopping halfway. It wasn't just Belle, either. If any lady were to experience the same thing, she would be upset as well.Grayson had a sullen look on his face. He wondered how to explain it to Belle when he went home later. He was thinking of ways to make her happy.He wondered if she was still willing to continue what he had started earlier.Grayson thought of her soft lips and smooth skin. He couldn't help but gulp, the cells in his body getting worked up again.If he managed to make her happy, they might be able to continue. Then, they could spend a wonderful night together."But … how do I make her happy?" he wondered.He had never
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