Belle didn't know what Grayson was up to. She looked at him and accepted the bracelet.Claire was overjoyed. "From now on, you're my daughter!"Grayson looked even happier than Claire was. "Yes! From now on, Belle is basically Robert's sister!"Scott and Robert were speechless.Belle didn't have a clue about Grayson's little scheme, but it was obvious to Scott and Robert. Grayson encouraged Belle to accept Claire's offer because he wanted to burn Robert's bridges.Claire also didn't know about Grayson's little scheme. If anything, his words made her even happier. She turned and said to Robert, "Grayson is right. From now on, she's your sister, so you have to treat her like one. You have to be nice to her, okay?"Robert simply remained silent.Scott bit his lip and glared at Grayson before cheerfully saying to Belle, "She's right! We're not blood-related, but we can still be a family! We should take good care of each other."He made sure to emphasize that they weren't blood-rela
Grayson crossed his legs as he lazily scrolled on his phone. Robert was making a call in the yard while Scott was sitting on the sofa and watching some television. There were snacks and fruits on the coffee table that he was helping himself to. He acted as if it was his own house.After a second, Belle said, "Don't just sit there. Come help make the ravioli."Grayson glanced at Belle. Before he could get up, Scott ran over enthusiastically. "I don't know how to make them."Belle was full of disdain. "If you don't know how to make ravioli, why'd you run over so quickly?"After that, she asked Grayson, "Do you know how to make them?"Only then did he walk over. "Yeah.""Really?"Grayson rolled up his sleeves as he said, "It's easy. Only idiots wouldn't know how to make ravioli."Scott knew Grayson was talking about him. "Quit bragging. Are you saying you know how to do this? Looks like pigs are about to fly."Ignoring him, Grayson washed his hands before saying to Yolanda, "Mo
Belle was speechless. "It's not like we're really alone. There's Patrick, Scott, Yolanda, and Claire. Besides, even if we were to spend some time together, what's wrong with that?"Grayson didn't reply. Instead, he asked, "When is Patrick going to get better?"Belle replied, "I don't know, but he seems to be doing much better recently.""Can he go back home to rest now?""I can't tell yet.""Why don't we just give it a try?"Belle pouted. "It's not like you have to watch him."When she noticed how Grayson was looking at Patrick with disdain, Belle asked, "Do you hate kids or something?""Depends on whose family they belong to," he replied. "Do you like kids?""Yes! They're so cute and chubby. They're adorable."Without thinking, Grayson said, "If you like them so much, I'll make one."Belle glared at him. "Are you crazy? You're a guy. How can you make kids?""Well, you'll have the kid.""Then why did you say you'd make it?""We'll make it together."Belle had to think ab
Belle wanted to protest, but she couldn't make a noise. She couldn't push him away either.It wasn't their first time kissing, but she still felt lightheaded.It was made worse when she realized that she could feel a certain hardness against her thigh that was growing hotter the more they kissed. She felt her ears burning from embarrassment. She wanted to kick him away, but she was powerless after less than a minute.She felt like he was sucking her soul out through her mouth. Her bones seemed to turn to jelly, and she didn't have any energy to fight back.However, not only was she not fighting back, but she was even thinking about …"Belle?" A timid, young voice suddenly called out.Belle jolted and immediately found the energy to shove him off her.She was more panicked than ever when she met Patrick's clear, innocent gaze. "I … He …"She wanted to scream. Instead, she scratched her head and fibbed, "I'm going to the bathroom, okay?" She spoke as gently as she could to Patr
Grayson didn't return until the sun came up. He had clearly taken a shower and changed out of his old pajamas. Belle could smell the scent of body wash.Belle looked at him with gritted teeth. "You pervert."Grayson narrowed his eyes and said coolly, "You deserved it."Belle glared at him. "Why did I deserve it? What did I do?""You talked too much."Belle looked confused. "How did I talk too much?"Grayson didn't explain any further. He just said, "Next time you do something out of line, I'll kiss you."Belle's face was bright red. "Just try and kiss me again, I swear—"Grayson leaned in and kissed her.Belle was pissed. "You! I'm going to kill you!"As she spoke, she raised a hand as if to slap him. Grayson quickly tilted his chin in the direction of Patrick. "Do you want to wake him up?"Belle's face was still red from anger. "You're such a pervert!""You told me to kiss you.""You—"She couldn't beat him up since Patrick was still there. She knew she wouldn't win an a
Belle glared at him. When she noticed it was Grayson in the room, she was even angrier and threw another pillow at him. Grayson ducked easily and bent down to get the pillow. After dusting it off, he walked to Belle.Belle picked up another pillow and threw it at him. When she ran out of pillows, she threw the blanket at him. Then, she threw her phone and a bunch of decorations from the headboard at him.Grayson pressed her wrists against the bed, stopping her from throwing things at him.He pinned her down and narrowed his eyes. "What are you so angry about?"Belle gritted her teeth. "Asshole! Let me go!""Are you getting shy?" Grayson asked."No!" Belle argued despite having a bright red face.Grayson thought she looked extra cute like that. He couldn't help but chuckle. "Why are you so mad?""How could you even ask me that? Don't even try to act like you don't know!""I really don't. Are you embarrassed or something?"Angrily, Belle said, "Why did you kiss me? If you had
Belle looked doubtful.Grayson said, "They know about us."Belle finally believed him. She let out a long sigh of relief and managed to relax. After a brief pause, she complained, "Why didn't you say that earlier? I was so stressed out!"Grayson replied, "You started throwing things at me the moment I walked in. When was I supposed to say anything?""How could you blame me for that? It was all your fault!"Grayson chuckled. "If you had talked to me nicely, I wouldn't have kissed you. If you're mean to me again, I'll just kiss you again."Belle's eyes widened. "Grayson! You—"Grayson found her adorable. He couldn't help but reach out and pinch her cheek. "I'm just kidding. Let's go have breakfast."Belle didn't reply.When they went downstairs, none of the others brought up what had happened just now, nor did they tease her.Belle thought they really believed what Grayson had told them. In actuality, they could tell that Belle was embarrassed and didn't want to push her.Afte
Grayson stood there and shook his head slightly. After spending a few days with Patrick, he had begun to form opinions about children. Children often preferred to be with their biological mothers. He wondered if having a child with Belle would create a potential rival for her affections.Belle was puzzled and asked, " If you don't want children, why do you keep talking about them?"Grayson countered, "Do you like children?"Belle neither nodded nor shook her head. She just said, "I'm fine with anything."After she finished speaking, she thought of something and asked Grayson, "Are you going to the office today?""What about you?" he responded."I want to go. If I don't, I don't even know when I'll be able to quit the job," she replied. Grayson initially wanted Belle to take a break at home because she had been looking after Patrick like a full-time mom. He could tell she was tired.But since she wanted to go to the office, he didn't want to stop her. Her happiness was what
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