Ten minutes later, the lounge's door was pushed open. Belle was already inserting the last needle."How is he?" Simon and Scott asked in unison.Belle didn't answer. Instead, she looked at Simon. "Bring me the bedpan."Simon hurriedly did as told.Belle sat beside the bed and assisted Patrick in sitting up. She gently pressed her fingers against his back for a moment. Then, she applied more pressure and patted him vigorously.All of a sudden, Patrick expelled a large clot of blood.Beside him, Robert's expression darkened.Scott widened his eyes. "What happened?"Simon comprehended the situation. "Stay calm! Observe the color of the blood. It's black. These are toxins within his system. Ms. Walters is assisting Patrick in purging the toxins from his bloodstream."Robert wore a grave expression and remained silent. His gaze was fixed on Patrick with evident concern.After vomiting out more blood, Patrick gradually opened his eyes.Scott was thrilled. "He's awake! Patrick is a
Belle said, "It seems like an allergy, but I can't determine the specific allergen. You'll need to go to the hospital to check for the allergens. Do take note and be more cautious in the future."Robert frowned as he wondered what Patrick was allergic to.It was Patrick's first allergic reaction after so many years. This meant that he had only come into contact with the allergen today.Robert tried to recall the new things Patrick might have been exposed to today. However, nothing in particular came up for the moment."I'll get someone to investigate once I get back. Does he still need to take any medicine?"Belle shook her head and replied, "No need for now. He's just frail and needs some rest. If he experiences anything like this in the future, he can continue taking the medicine prescribed by Mrs. Jenkins Senior. Her prescriptions are reliable." "Okay!" Robert added after a moment, "I'll keep in mind that I owe you a favor. No matter what you encounter in the future, you only
Watching Robert's leaving figure, Scott yelled, "I'll go and snatch her up if you don't make a move. She's one-of-a-kind. She's pretty, capable, and even kind-hearted too. "She risked exposing her secret to save Patrick, not even asking for compensation. Honestly, Grayson doesn't deserve her. They're a terrible match. If you don't want her, don't mind if I do!" Robert turned and looked at Scott. "Stay away from her," he warned.While Robert had articulated his statement with composure and lacked any visible anger, the firmness in his words indicated he was speaking with utmost seriousness.Scott pursed his lips. "Look at what kind of person he is. He won't make a move himself, yet he won't allow others to do so either," Scott told Simon after seeing that Robert had left.The corner of Simon's lips couldn't help but twitch uncontrollably.Scott was the only person in this world who dared to be so rude to Grayson, even announcing he wanted to steal his wife.Scott and Grayson
Tom and Robert stood before the Sylvester family's courtyard.Tom started, "You've seen your younger brother's condition for yourself. His body is frail. Although we managed to save him this time … I'm not sure when … Well, I hope he'll be healthy. "However, we can't control some things, such as sicknesses. Some families have been restless since your younger brother got into an accident a few months ago. They've been keeping tabs on us. "I know that you value your family and love Patrick a lot. That's why I announced Patrick as our family's heir early on. "However, Patrick can't talk. The other families are bound to oppose if he takes over. Just look at ancient times. Has any mute managed to become a king?"Robert frowned and said, "Patrick isn't a mute. He just doesn't want to talk.""It doesn't matter why he can't talk. In the end, he still can't speak a word. Even Maltford's citizens wouldn't agree to him governing the country, not to mention the other families who are vyin
Meanwhile, Belle had called a taxi to her rented apartment in the urban village.Not knowing what a big deal it was to save Patrick, she didn't take it to heart.She quickly switched on her computer after heading inside. She dug out all the information about the Sylvester family and other pharmacies.Belle still believed that someone was deliberately trying to undermine the Sylvester family. She needed to capture the perpetrator!Unfortunately, she couldn't find anything despite staying until dusk. She didn't even have someone she suspected!Belle returned home in exasperation at night.Although Grayson was sitting on the sofa and playing with Sixteen, he was actually waiting for her.Belle saw him and the dog when she entered the house.Although Belle felt delighted to see the dog, she soon became annoyed after seeing Grayson.Belle didn't say anything as she took off her shoes.Sixteen was extremely excited upon seeing her. It shook its head and wagged its tail. Belle smi
The next day, Grayson received a call from Finneas early in the morning.Finneas, aware that it was Belle's first day at work, called Grayson to offer some advice. Finneas began, "I have a good understanding of Belle's personality. She responds better to gentleness than confrontation. "Try not to oppose her too often, and don't react with anger right away if she upsets you. Take a moment to consider if your actions might have caused her distress. "Regarding what transpired the other day, it's her decision not to hold you responsible, but you should take the initiative to do so ..."Despite his annoyance at Finneas siding with Belle, Grayson couldn't help but ponder over his words after ending the call.Grayson had removed Belle's clothes the day before yesterday at the party's lounge. Plus, he had almost slept with her!Although they didn't proceed further, Grayson had seen, touched, and even kissed her entire body. So, he must take responsibility!Grayson considered Finneas
Belle explained, "I'm a newcomer, and it's my first day at work. That's why I don't have an ID card."The two receptionists didn't seem to believe her.After all, the company would immediately issue an ID card once someone joined. They would receive it before they started work.Someone would inform the front desk in advance if there were any special circumstances. However, no one had given them any prior notice today. As such, they didn't believe in Belle's words.One of the receptionists was called Henrietta Adler. She was pretty but a spiteful person.Being a native of Maltford, Henrietta held a sense of superiority. Among the front desk staff, she was known for causing office politics. She was also a snob who loved to scrutinize people.Henrietta asked, "Miss, may I ask which department you're from?"Belle was caught off guard by the question. Grayson didn't tell her the specific department yesterday. "I'm not sure which department. I will only know when I get inside."Upon
Belle was shocked. "You're sending me away before even checking in with Human Resources? Are you sure?"Henrietta glanced at Belle condescendingly and proceeded to ignore her.Belle was upset. She was right on the money that offices and corporate hellholes were not compatible with her. She would rather just return to her cozy little rental house.Belle frowned as she pulled out her phone to call Sam for help. However, she paused the phone call as she came to a realization.She finally caught on to the irony of the situation. She had never wanted to work in the office. And yet, she was actively looking for solutions after being denied proper entry by the receptionist. Belle latched onto the silver lining that she had an alibi for her absence if Grayson were to question her whereabouts.Her mood improved drastically as she put away her phone and left the premises.Henrietta began gossiping with her coworkers as she stared at Belle leaving."I've seen my fair share of suitres
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