Grayson thought Belle was nervous when she didn't speak. "My parents are very friendly, so don't worry. You have to meet your in-laws sooner or later anyway," he said. Belle got her senses back and glared at him. "I'm not nervous at all!" Then, she covered herself with the blanket and turned away from him. Grayson saw no sign of Belle the next day when he woke up. How odd! She always still slept like a log every time he woke up.He couldn't help but call Belle when she still wasn't home at 10:00 am. It was almost time for them to go to his grandfather's house."Where are you?" he asked."It's none of your business!"Couldn't Belle speak to him nicely? Grayson said, "Haven't I told you last night that we have to go home for a family meal today?""I know. It's not time yet, is it?""It's already 10 o'clock!" "Then you go first. I'll be there shortly," said Belle."No. We're going together!""Why? You're so clingy."Grayson's expression darkened as he said, "Enough with y
Melanie Stevens couldn't help saying, "It's almost eleven o'clock. Why haven't Grayson and Belle arrived yet? Are they not planning to come?"Yolanda Quigley, Grayson's mother, sat among the women. Smiling, she seemed gentle, but she exuded a strong presence. She displayed the demeanor of the head of the household."Since Grason said he's coming, he will come. It's not even lunchtime yet. Are you hungry already?" Melanie smiled. "I'm not hungry. I'm just a little impatient. Grayson has been married for so long, but we haven't even met Belle yet. We've heard that she is as beautiful as a flower. We all want to meet her."Others chimed in with agreement. A distant relative said, "We've heard that Grayson got married. But since he didn't hold a wedding ceremony, we didn't dare to bring gifts to congratulate him. "Now that we're here today, Yolanda, don't mind me asking. Who is this Belle? How did she luck out and end up marrying Grayson?"Yolanda smiled knowingly. She understood t
The men who were talking sensed something wrong. They turned their attention toward the commotion.Grayson's father, Alfred Page, asked, "What's going on?"Yolanda suppressed her hostile demeanor and smiled. "It's nothing. Melanie thought Belle's background was inferior and that she brought shame to the Page family."Although Yolanda's voice was not loud, the message she conveyed was substantial.Alfred furrowed his brows upon hearing this. Before he could respond, Finneas spoke up first."I chose Belle for Grayson. If you think she brings shame to our family, you can leave the Page family. The Page family doesn't need you." Melanie was terrified. Without her status as a member of the Page family, she would be nothing.Melanie hurriedly explained, "Dad, you've misunderstood me. I didn't mean that. I was just ... just ..."Xenia, Melanie's soon-to-be daughter-in-law, said, "Grandpa, you've misunderstood. Mom didn't look down on Ms. Walters. She was just curious why Mr. Page and
Grayson walked into the hall with Belle.Everyone present could only stare.Where was the country bumpkin they had heard so much about?More importantly, who was this fair, refined beauty?Her face was unblemished, and her smooth skin was supple and radiant. In fact, its flawlessness outshone everyone else's by a mile!There was hardly any discordance in their appearance as she stood by Grayson's side. The chemistry they exuded was so strong that it was as if they were destined for one another.It was surprising, to say the least.Judging from the discontent and shock in Melanie's eyes, Belle had taken her by surprise as well.Xenia, who was standing beside Melanie, clenched her fists involuntarily. Never once had she imagined the so-called woman from the countryside to be this exceptional.Yolanda was in a similar state of shock as well. While she could guess that her daughter-in-law was no ordinary woman, she hardly anticipated the refinement of Belle's composure.Instead o
Yolanda frowned. "That must be because Grayson is satisfied with Belle's looks. Just look at her. Belle is young and beautiful. She doesn't need these pills to enhance her beauty. "Unlike me, whom Grayson obviously thinks needs that extra boost. But hey, Belle darling, I'm already well along in my years. I don't need these things. Keep it for yourself, hmm?"Belle gazed at Yolanda wordlessly before glancing at Melanie.Even though she was equally unfamiliar with the two women, their actions spoke volumes. Grayson had not provided her with any detailed information regarding Yolanda and Melanie, but Belle could gauge Yolanda's sincerity toward her through the woman's words.Yolanda must have wanted the frostle pill for herself, but she was willing to give it up for Belle.Melanie, on the other hand, was clearly a piece of shit who couldn't stand seeing Yolanda happy.Belle smiled. "No, Mom. You should keep this for yourself. Grayson bought two of these. One for me and the othe
"How dare you!" Yolanda bellowed. Her rage was palpable.The crowd paled and descended into silence.Melanie's smile dimmed considerably, though she muttered all the same, "I'm not the one in the wrong here. All I want is for you to be safe and healthy. Do you really think this thing is edible? I wouldn't be surprised if someone died after taking that pill!"Yolanda glared. Then, she took a froston pill out and swallowed it whole.Her actions stunned everyone else."Madam …" Yolanda's maid appeared to be slightly worried."It's alright. I trust Belle. The gifts she brings me can't be lacking, let alone dangerous."Belle was equally as speechless.Yolanda's unwavering trust in her gave her a very good impression of her mother-in-law."Keep the rest of the pills along with the frostle pill," she instructed, "I'll take them when I get back later."Then, she turned to Belle. "Belle, can I take the froston pills together with the frostle pill? How often should I take them?"Belle
As she spoke, Belle prepared to remove the bracelet from her wrist when Yolanda stopped her."The fact that I gave it to you is proof enough that you're worthy of having it. Please, Belle. Just accept it and take good care of it. Don't disappoint me, alright?"Belle remained silent.While the other female relatives have yet to recover from their shock, none of them dared to utter a single word.With the bracelet now on Belle's wrist, the way they looked at her had changed drastically as well.Not only did Yolanda's gesture cement her approval toward Belle, but it also served as a warning to everyone else. Belle would soon grow to become the head matriarch of the Page family. Her status deserved nothing but absolute respect.…In the afternoon, everyone gathered together for lunch.Finneas appeared to be in a good mood. Alfred and Yolanda, too, were in equally high spirits.As for the rest of the family, they maintained their façades well enough.Grayson caught sight of the br
Finneas nodded his approval. "Not bad."His praise delighted Xenia immensely. She couldn't help but glance at Grayson again, though the latter hardly spared her a look. Instead, his full attention seemed to be focused on Belle.It left Xenia wondering what exactly he was looking at.Xenia's nails dug into the flesh of her palm unconsciously. She spoke up once again, "Mr. Page Senior, I recently composed a new piece myself. Would you like me to play it for you?"Despite her words, she'd only ever intended to play for Grayson. More than ever, she also wanted to impress the rest of the Page family with her talent.Finneas nodded. "Sure, go ahead."Xenia smiled lightly. She retrieved her violin, which she had prepared in advance, and began her performance.Xenia's musical skills were impressive since she had been trained since she was young. She was rewarded with an enthusiastic round of applause when she was done.Xenia then performed a graceful dance, which left the audience asto
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