Grayson tossed Belle into the car. Then, he got into the driver's seat and drove home.No one spoke on the way there. Grayson kept smoking while Belle seethed in silence. Once home, Belle was about to argue with Grayson when she received a call from Finneas.Suppressing her rage, she answered the call. "Hello, Grandpa."Finneas asked anxiously, "Did Gray and Scott get into a fight again?"Belle's lips moved a little. "Yes."Finneas was furious. "Did those kids not have enough? I bet they'll celebrate it when they finally become the death of us."They keep getting into fights outside, and they're both almost 30, for goodness' sake. How shameless are they?"Belle didn't say anything.Finneas asked, "Were they both hurt?"Belle replied, "They were both injured."Finneas shouted in fury again. He even insulted Scott, so it was obvious that he saw Scott as one of his own."I heard that you were there as well. What started the fight this time?"Belle said sheepishly, "I think i
Grayson decided not to talk about Scott anymore after taking a few puffs of the cigarette. He switched the topic back to Robert."You said you didn't like Robert, but I could see you're very nice toward him. When you saw him for the first time, you kept staring at him!"Belle didn't hide anything today. She said, "That's because I feel like I've seen him somewhere before. He looks like someone I once knew.""Someone you once knew? Didn't you grow up in an uninhabited area in the mountains? Why would there be someone you used to know?"Belle was exasperated. "Can't I get to know people just because I grew up in the mountains?"Grayson fell silent. He suddenly felt jealousy burning in his heart.It was too coincidental for Robert to look like someone Belle used to know."So, is he the person you knew in the past?" Grayson asked.Belle shook her head. "No."Robert didn't know about Lovy, so he couldn't have been that person.When Grayson heard that, he felt a little better. He h
"Can't you just listen to me for once, Belle? Do you think I'd harm you?" Grayson couldn't help saying.Belle replied, "You won't harm me, but your thoughts are weird."She trusted Grayson's character and knew he wouldn't hurt her. But it was also true that his logic was peculiar."You hate Scott, so what does that have to do with Robert? Moreover, you can just steer clear of them, so why would you ask me to do the same? Grayson, what are you thinking? What are you trying to do?"Grayson couldn't explain it himself. He simply didn't like the thought of Belle being with Robert.He couldn't provide a reason, so he decisively gave her an order instead."You can't talk to him because I said so!"Belle was mad. "Who do you think you are? Stop ordering me around!"With that, she angrily went back to the bedroom.Grayson was furious, but he couldn't do anything about Belle.Hence, he directed his anger toward Scott and Robert.He went to the study with a foul expression on his face
Looking at the door, Robert asked, "Who is it?"The door creaked open.Patrick was standing at the entrance.Robert and Scott looked toward him at the same time. Scott hastily grinned, saying, "Patrick? Come on in. Let me hug you."Patrick carefully entered the room. He stared at the injuries on Scott's and Robert's faces for a few seconds. Then, he stuffed the band-aid he was holding into Robert's hand. He dashed away.Robert and Scott were speechless.After Patrick was gone, Scott said, "He quickly gave us a band-aid when he saw that we were injured. He knows stuff in his head but just refuses to talk."Robert frowned slightly, heartache and helplessness written all over his face.Scott continued, "Patrick will be turning seven soon. If he still doesn't speak by then, someone might cause trouble at the birthday banquet."Robert frowned deeply. "No one touches the Strauss family on my watch!""It's not like anyone can touch the Strauss family if they want to. I'm not scared
Rosa was there as well. She said in a small voice, "Belle, how can you talk about Mr. Page like that? You're such a worrisome child."Belle was mad, too. "It's not my fault, anyway. It's all his fault.""He's paying your salary, and you are surviving because of him. Even if he's at fault, you must endure it.""But he has gone too far, and I can't stand it anymore. Moreover, I'm not depending on his money to survive."The people in the secretarial department didn't dare let her into the office. When they saw how impulsive she was, they were even more convinced that she mustn't enter.They took turns convincing her, and it looked like they were coaxing a small child.Belle was young, and she had a straightforward attitude. She also looked extra sweet and pretty.So, the people in the secretarial department liked her very much. They treated her like their daughter or younger sister.But Belle refused to hear a word of it. She insisted on going in to talk to Grayson. Right then, Gr
It was Belle's turn to widen her eyes. The kiss was so sudden that she didn't expect it at all. It caught her by surprise.She was stunned for one second. Then, she hastily let go of Grayson, taking a few steps back.Grayson frowned a little. He looked like he hadn't had enough.A blush was appearing on Belle's face. Frowning, she glared at Grayson. She was both mad and disgusted as she wiped her mouth with all her might. She looked extremely disdainful.Grayson was even more upset when he saw that. He didn't like being treated like some dirty thing.Before he could say anything, Belle was already insulting him."Grayson, you're so shameless! You're a pervert, a good-for-nothing, a beast, and a jerk!"Belle was mad, wiping her mouth as she shouted. All the negative words she could think of were thrown at Grayson. She looked furious.Grayson's expression darkened. As he gazed at Belle's yapping mouth, he not only wanted to kiss it, but he also wanted more!As Belle shouted at h
"You … Do you even know what's on the computer? Do you want me to go bankrupt, and then we'll both be eating ramen noodles every day?""No one's eating ramen noodles with you! Go and eat them yourself!"With that, Belle threatened to flip the desk.Grayson hastily stopped her. "Belle, are you out of your mind?""You're the one out of your mind!" With that, Belle quickly climbed over Grayson's desk, delivering a punch to his chest.The punch hit hard. Grayson felt as if she was punching a hole through his chest.He was about to shout when a huge blow was dealt to his vital spot. He was in so much pain that he hissed.Through gritted teeth, Grayson said, "Belle!"Belle didn't even bother about him as she continued her attacks.She was very mad. She hadn't settled the score with him for what happened last time, and he had kissed her today. Not only that, he also refused to admit his mistakes. He even shouted at her!If there was a way to describe his actions, he could be describ
"What?" Belle widened her eyes and said, "You won't acknowledge it? It's written in black and white in our marriage contract. "Do you need me to show you? You forced me to sign it but won't acknowledge it now? How could you be so shameless, Grayson?" Grayson's expression was stormy. If Belle hadn't brought up the contract, he would have totally forgotten about it! He acted as if he hadn't heard her and said, "Stop making a fuss. Cut all ties with Robert if you don't want to be in the janitorial department. If you want to keep seeing Robert, then go and sweep the floor now!"Grayson let go of Belle and spoke up before she could hit him. "Put your needle away! Don't think you can hurt me with it. How will you explain yourself to my grandfather if you do hurt me? "Are you going to tell him you hurt me because of Robert? You won't just be embarrassing me but also Grandpa if you hook up with other men during our marriage!"Belle was furious but didn't know how to get back at him.
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