The intensity in Grayson's gaze shifted in the blink of an eye!He frowned deeply, looking at her feet, hooking at his legs. He gulped.In his eyes, Belle was seducing him!He had always desired Belle's body. So, he was completely vulnerable to her seductions. He was very sober then, and he knew he shouldn't humor her.But she was using her feet to toy with him. He couldn't possibly resist that!Grayson gulped in secret as he lowered his gaze at Belle's feet.Belle had dainty feet and seemed to be a size six at most. They were slender, long, and very fair as well. Those feet probably hadn't seen much sun, so they were extremely fair.They were like high-quality porcelain dolls. A mere glimpse of them stirred a strong desire in Grayson. He wanted to own them!Grayson didn't know what Belle was trying to do. If she were truly out of her mind, she wouldn't have seduced him in such an obvious way.He didn't know why she wanted to seduce him, either. She didn't like him, after all.
"Are you alright, Ms. Walters? Don't hold it against Mr. Page. He likes you, so that's why he … He doesn't fancy normal women. Many women want to seduce him, but he only has desires toward you."This is proof that he loves you."Standing at the side, Meredith spoke on Grayson's behalf.She thought that Grayson truly couldn't endure it, so he was forcing himself on Belle.Belle said, "I am a generous person. I won't hold it against jerks like him!"When Meredith heard the word "jerk", she was speechless.Belle chatted briefly with Meredith. After sending Meredith away, she immediately began her plan to escape.She knew that Grayson's bodyguards were all over the place. If she sneaked out, she would be found out. So, she decided just to walk out. Then, she would find a chance to lose herself in the crowd!She didn't mind if Grayson knew that she had run out. It was fine as long as he didn't know where she went or what she did.So, Belle changed into sportswear that she could mov
Belle looked at the surveillance footage, puzzled.She didn't think that any weird smell would come from her house.She had only stored some herbs here, but her yard was filled with various plants. They should be enough to cover the smell of herbs so normal people wouldn't even be able to smell them.But this lady had smelled it. Or, the weird smell she mentioned wasn't herbs at all.Judging by the surveillance footage, the lady didn't have ill intentions. Instead, she had gotten into Belle's yard out of concern.Still, Belle felt that something was off.But she couldn't put her finger on it.Belle watched the video again. In the video, the lady never once looked at the surveillance camera.She could either be an ordinary woman who was unaware of the surveillance camera or an extraordinary one who feigned ignorance about its presence. Belle had discreetly concealed the camera in a concealed location, and Belle's guess was leaning toward the latter.After all, if she were an
Ava said, "It was the smell of something burning, but it did not come from your house. It was coming from your neighbor's. Their house caught on fire today."That answered Belle's question. She had gone over when she heard Ava mention the weird smell in the video. She didn't know where the smell could be coming from, but the person involved had come to explain. Ava said, "I saw your light on, so I came over to tell you that I trespassed into your yard. I was afraid you would misunderstand. I didn't touch anything after I went in. Really."Belle nodded and said, "It's fine."Ava smiled and said, "You look very young. You must be a student."Belle's gaze sharpened. Was Ava here to dig for information?"No. I finished school a long time ago. I'm working now," said Belle."I see. What's your occupation?""I do many things. I run errands and do cleaning work. Is there anything else you want to talk to me about? If not, I'll shower and go to bed."Sensing that Belle was dismissin
Meanwhile, Dorothy was writing down medicinal formulas in the yard of a deserted church. Ethel said, "Madam, it's getting late. You should rest."Dorothy said without looking up, "I'm not tired."Ethel insisted, "I think you should get some rest. I made you some soup. Why don't you have a bowl of hot soup before you continue writing?"Only then did Dorothy put down her pen. She removed her spectacles and rubbed her eyes before walking to a table at the side.Ethel held her arm while she sat down and served her a bowl of hot soup. She said, "I'm worried about your health because you've been so busy writing all that stuff these few days. Are they urgent?""Yes. I'm afraid I won't have the chance to write them down anymore if I don't do it now. Sigh, I don't have much time left."Ethel immediately grew anxious. "Not much time left? What do you mean, madam?"Dorothy sighed softly and said nothing. Ethel asked again, "Madam, please forgive me for prying, but who exactly have you of
After a long time, Dorothy finally said, "Somebody set her up." She turned away and wiped her tears. She then proceeded to drink her soup, and it was clear that she was hesitant to say anything further. But it wasn't because she didn't trust Ethel. It was because the more Ethel knew, the more dangerous it would be for her. She didn't want to drag Ethel into the mess. Lena was a cruel person. She might not let Ethel survive because she knew that Ethel was important to Dorothy. However, Ethel still stood a chance for survival because she knew nothing about it. She would be dead meat if she knew. That was why Dorothy chose to keep everything from her. Ethel could tell that Dorothy wasn't willing to say more, so she stopped asking questions.After Dorothy finished her soup, Ethel helped her back to her desk and laid out a pen and paper for her. Then, she went to wash the dishes.Dorothy kept writing these few days. She didn't know how much longer she had to live. She wanted t
Belle did not show any sign of surprise, but she pouted instead. She already knew Grayson would be suspicious of her because he wasn't a fool.However, she wasn't in the mood to argue with him. She had to find a way to make him take the antidote.He wouldn't eat it if she were to hand it to him directly. He would even ask her plenty of questions, so she had to come up with a good plan.She had already devised a plan on the way home. She told Meredith, "I'm craving chicken soup."Meredith nodded and said, "I'll make it for you right away.""I'll go with you," said Belle. She followed Meredith to the kitchen enthusiastically.She wasn't going to cook. She was there to plant the antidote! She would put it in the soup and make Grayson drink it unknowingly. "Stop right there!" shouted Grayson.Belle already expected him to be suspicious of her, so she continued playing dumb and put a finger to her lips."Shh! I'm going to give you a surprise. Wait for me here, or I'll complain abo
Grayson fell asleep very early that night because Belle hadn't only put the antidote in the soup but also sleeping pills. She needed a way to examine him to see how seriously he had been poisoned.Belle checked his pulse and found that his condition was worse than she had expected. Grayson was gradually becoming weaker.It definitely had something to do with the scented sachet! He would get himself into deep trouble if he continued using the sachet.Belle frowned as she stared at him. He didn't frown while he was asleep, so he looked more gentle than he did when he was awake.Belle thought he was quite good-looking when he wasn't in a bad temper. He had nice facial features and good skin.However, when she thought of how he behaved every day, she felt like there was nothing good about him again. Belle let her thoughts run wild for a while before deciding that she would help him! She would do it for Finneas and Yolanda's sake! While he was asleep, Belle gave him an injection and
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