Grayson wore a grave expression. He wanted to smoke, but Belle did not like the smell of cigarettes. So, he had no choice but to suppress the urge. "You know that surviving isn't easy, so you should cherish life even more. Nothing is certain," he reprimanded. "What if the bomb had exploded when you were carrying Patrick out? Or what if you had hit the rocks under the bridge when you jumped down into the water with him?" Belle answered confidently, "The bomb wouldn't have gone off then.""Why?""Stop asking so many questions. Just know that it wouldn't have exploded before I jumped down, and it definitely wouldn't have gone off after I was in the water," she replied. "It was merely a B-grade bomb. It wasn't powerful enough to explode underwater."Upon hearing her words, Grayson furrowed his brows. "You even know a little something about bombs?" "How can I defuse one if I know nothing about them? Didn't I tell you I'm the expert on that model?"Grayson was amazed after hear
After thinking about it, Grayson advised Finneas, "I'll think about how to deal with those people, so you don't have to worry. Have a good rest."Finneas let out another long sigh. "Even if I want to take charge, I no longer have the capabilities. That's why I can only place my hopes on you. "Oh, by the way, how far is your progress with Belle?" Grayson didn't quite understand what he meant. "Huh?"In an instant, Finnease sounded more cheerful as he continued, "What you said at the banquet today, those were your heartfelt words, right?"I can see that you're genuinely in love with Belle, so … I just want to ask when are you both planning to have children?"Grayson felt somewhat helpless upon hearing that. After all, Belle had not fallen for him yet. And yet, Finneas was already thinking about having great-grandchildren. "You're too impatient, Grandpa," answered Grayson. "I can't help it. I'm not getting any younger. Besides, we don't know what will happen in the future. So,
Grayson did not expect her to ask that. He remained silent for a while. In the end, he neither nodded nor shook his head. "It's fine if you guys don't tell me. I'll make an effort to go home for New Year's. Then, I'll talk with Grandpa," said Belle. She figured there were some things she must know. Seeing Grayson furrow his brows, Belle added, "You said it yourself—to know your enemy, you must become the enemy. "Since they're the foes, I should have a little understanding of the whole situation. After that, I must gain a profound insight into them. "This way, I won't be in the dark when they come at us. What if I don't even know their gender? That's absurd, isn't it?"Grayson's expression darkened upon hearing that. That was because he knew that once Belle learned the truth, she would not be happy.Ever since Dorothy passed away, she had felt demotivated for quite some time. Yet, now, it was a deep-rooted feud that had wiped out her family. Grayson was worried that Belle wo
Grayson looked at Belle and flashed a gentle smile. Then, she remarked, "Just look at how good-looking you are when you smile. You look handsome and gentle. There's no need to wear a solemn expression all the time. It's terrifying!""Are you scared whenever I look serious?" Grayson asked. "Could I not be scared? You look like someone owes you millions of dollars! Do you know how scary you were when I first saw you?"I mean, you were frowning. I was so nervous because of your grave expression. I even wondered if Grandpa owed you money and he was using me to pay off the debt."Grayson pursed his lips while washing the dishes. "You're so dramatic.""No, I'm telling the truth! Before I came here, I always hung out with Lovy. He's a very gentle person."When I compared you to him, it was like night and day!" Belle replied.Upon hearing Lovy's name, Grayson furrowed his brows. With a straight face, he asked, "Do you like him?""Yes, I do.""Then why didn't you marry him?"Belle
Grayson had no idea what Robert told Belle. However, she appeared surprised. "Come over now. I'll inform Grayson," she said. Upon hearing his name, Grayson frowned. After she hung up, he asked, "What's the matter?""Robert and Patrick are on their way here. Robert said he won't be able to come in without your permission. So, you should tell your men to let them in later."Grayson was displeased. "It's so late already. Why are they coming over?""Patrick is awake and asking for me," Belle replied. In an instant, Grayson snapped, "But you're not his mother!""But I saved him last time. Deep down in his subconscious, I can make him feel safe. That's why he was willing to talk when he saw me today. This also explains why he's attached to me," she explained.Grayson furrowed his brows again. He was somewhat unhappy, yet he did not say anything more.Soon, Robert arrived with Patrick. Claire was also with them.As soon as Patrick saw Belle, he opened his arms. "Belle, hug."Belle
As Claire had brought up the topic, Belle could not help but ask, "Why did they have a falling out?""You don't know what happened?"Belle shook her head in response. Then, Claire explained, "I thought Grayson told you about it."I don't really know the details, and that's what everyone is curious about. Back then, Scott followed Grayson everywhere. "After that, something happened, and they stopped hanging out. We thought they were just kids having a petty argument. So, we didn't think too much about it."We never expected their falling out to last for so many years. They're already in their 30s, yet they're still holding onto their grudge."In fact, Belle was curious. She could not help but wonder what kind of grudge could cause the pair of best friends to become sworn enemies. In the living room, Grayson and Robert sat on opposite sides of the coffee table. Of course, Grayson wore a grim expression. Robert appeared solemn as well, keeping quiet. The atmosphere in the livin
At the sight of her, Grayson gulped nervously. Belle approached Patrick, asking, "What's wrong, Patrick? Why are you crying?"He did not respond but clung to her. Then, Patrick looked at Grayson timidly. Seeing that, Belle immediately questioned sternly, "Grayson Page, what have you done to Patrick?""I didn't do anything." Grayson felt like she was accusing him.Belle pressed further, "Why would he cry if you didn't do anything?""Well, you can ask him if you don't believe me."So, Belle turned around to look at Patrick. "Tell me what happened, Patrick. What did he do to you?""H-He glared at me," Patrick replied in a low voice. Grayson's eyes widened in disbelief. He could not help but think that his love rival's younger brother was his love rival too. Belle became angry after hearing that and started scolding Grayson, "You're a grown man! Why did you glare at a child? Aren't you afraid of becoming a laughingstock if word gets out? "Play with him nicely for a while. I
Phil let out another long sigh. "We'll adapt. For now, we can only take it one step at a time. But most importantly, we have to confirm Belle's identity first," he commented in a low voice.As soon as he mentioned that, Cedric wore a troubled expression. "I used to think that Ms. Xenia was close with Belle. "Then, we could obtain her DNA sample from Ms. Xenia. Looks like that's not a feasible plan anymore."Suddenly, Phil felt a headache coming as he thought of Xenia. "Where is she?""She has gone to the Wallers' residence."Phil was puzzled. "The Wallers' residence? What is she doing there?""The Waller family's daughter has gone missing. Her parents are worried sick, so Ms. Xenia went over to accompany them," answered Cedric. However, Phil furrowed his brows upon hearing that. "Look at the situation we're in! How could she still be in the mood to spend time with others?"What's the use of having a granddaughter like her? It's better to have a grandson!"Phil had always wan
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