Grayson abandoned his rational thoughts and immediately reciprocated Belle's gestures. He held onto her face and kissed her lovingly.Although he was not an experienced kisser, he was, at the very least, better than Belle at making the shot.After a while, the couple started gasping for air.The atmosphere within the room started to heat up. The couple warmed each other up against the cold winter.After kissing for a while, Grayson felt that he could no longer contain his desires and wanted to take it a step further.He pushed Belle under himself, burrowed his hand into her clothes, and felt the softness of her body that he had been longing to touch but hadn't dared to.The sudden overstimulation left the couple stunned.After a few seconds of silence, however, Belle raised her hand and smacked it clean right onto Grayson's cheek before booting him off the bed.Grayson was utterly confused by her actions.Belle's face was bright red as she pulled the blanket over her head.Gr
"W-What are you trying to do?" Belle sounded a little impatient.Grayson held her tightly, gazing at her without a sound …"Grayson, you—""I like you. Don't you know that?"The two spoke at the same time.Belle's eyes turned as wide as saucers as she looked at Grayson in shock.Grayson was calm. After what had happened yesterday, he felt that he had to confess his feelings for her. If not, he wouldn't be able to live with himself."The words I said to you on Patrick's birthday were real. I meant them."Belle was confused."I said those words on purpose. I didn't say those words for them to hear; I spoke for your ears only."I like you! I want you to be my real wife and the young lady of the Page family. I hope that when people talk about us, they'll all know that my wife's name is Belle and that your husband's name is Grayson."Belle didn't say a word.She stared at Grayson with widened eyes, her heart racing."W-We … We signed a marriage contract.""We didn't.""Huh?"
Passersby were looking on at the side. They didn't seem to know what had happened. They pointed at the scene as they whispered among themselves.Someone was even recording a video with their phone …Frowning, Grayson shouted unhappily at Sam, "Clear the crowd!"With that, he rushed over to Belle.Belle noticed him. For some reason, she subconsciously wanted to hide. Frowning, she said to Margaret, "There's no use even if you get on your knees and beg me."I've told you, I'm not the one who's hiding your daughter. If you want your daughter, talk to Xenia. If you want help, go and ask the police. There's no point in pestering me."With that, she pried Margaret's fingers away and turned to leave.With reddened eyes, Margaret grabbed her. "If you don't return my daughter to me, I'll kill myself!"Belle frowned, ignoring her.She wasn't the one who kidnapped Monica, so she had no way of surrendering the woman. She had already spelled it out, but Margaret refused to give up.If Mar
Tristan turned to look at Sam. Sam was bewildered as well."I have no idea how it happened either. It all happened too fast. When I saw what was happening, Mrs. Waller's knife was already being pulled out of Mr. Page's body."Scott was at the side as well. Frowning, he said, "Did Mrs. Waller stab him on her own? No one helped her?"Sam shook his head. "I'm very sure that Mrs. Waller stabbed him. She was the one holding the dagger, and there were only passersby at the side. No one helped her."Scott frowned, and so did Tristan."Mrs. Waller is so old, and I've never heard of her being skilled at fighting. How did she manage to hurt Grayson? With Grayson's skills, hurting him is an almost impossible task!"Many enemies have hired top assassins to kill him, yet they never succeeded even once. But today, Mrs. Waller stabbed him just like that!"Tristan was worried about Grayson, but he also felt it hard to believe.Robert was listening from the side. He was listening to their discu
After Alfred and Yolanda left, Tristan scooted up to Grayson and said, "No matter how I think about it, it's just too bizarre. What do you mean it was an accident? That's nonsense!"Even if it was an accident, it shouldn't have happened with Mrs. Waller. Say, did you do it on purpose?"Tristan wasn't only Grayson's friend, but he was also a veteran in the relationship aspect. That was why the thought occurred to him.Simon was in the ward as well. When he heard that, he glanced at Tristan in shock and then looked at Grayson.Narrowing his eyes, Grayson glanced at Tristan. He didn't say anything.Tristan's eyes widened."Damn, you're something! Aren't you worried that you might die from overdoing it? Other people would pretend to have a headache or a stomach ache to court women."The most they would do is twist an ankle or break an arm. But what about you? You almost killed yourself! I can't believe how willing you are to get yourself hurt!"Simon was extremely shocked as well.
When Grayson heard that, he didn't dare meet Belle's gaze. The look in Belle's eyes was too innocent. It made him, a man with ulterior motives, feel guilty.Logically speaking, Margaret's attack couldn't have wounded him.It was true that he was trying to protect Belle back then. But he was capable enough to prevent both himself and Belle from getting hurt.But then, he thought about Belle's attitude after he confessed. He subconsciously ran into the blade.If he did that, she wouldn't run away from him anymore …Grayson coughed lightly, wetting his throat. "I'm your husband. You don't have to be so polite around me."When Belle heard his cough, she asked, "Is your throat uncomfortable? Would you like some water?"Grayson nodded. "Yes."Getting up, Belle poured out a cup of water for him. She even kindly took a straw and put it in the cup.Grayson had just had an operation, so he couldn't sit up to drink water for now. He could only use a straw.Belle placed the straw in his
Belle felt that there was a trap in Grayson's words, but he also had a point.She didn't retort. After being stunned for a long time, she said, "Rest and recuperate!"Smiling, Grayson asked, "Are you still going to avoid me?"This morning, she ran out right after changing her clothes. He could see right away that she was avoiding him.Belle moved her hand, but then, Grayson hissed. His face was all scrunched up, and he seemed to be in pain.Belle hastily asked, "What's the matter?"Frowning slightly, Grayson said, "It hurts whenever you move."Belle was bewildered. She hadn't moved him much. She had just wanted to retract her hand. How did that hurt him?But seeing how dreadful his expression was, she didn't dare move recklessly. She could only let him hold her hand.Grayson had achieved his goal, so he asked her again, "You haven't answered me. Are you still going to avoid me?"Pouting, Belle mumbled, "Why would I avoid you? It's not like I did anything wrong. I don't like y
Grayson had just left the operating room, so he was truly sleepy. After all, he received anesthetics during the operation, so he went to sleep soon enough.Belle wanted to take the chance to remove her hand from his grasp. But he still gripped her tightly. Every time she moved her hand, he would frown.Belle was exasperated. She had no choice but to sit quietly by the bed, letting him hold her hand.She looked at Grayson silently. She observed his eyebrows, then his eyes. Then, she looked at his nose and his lips.The more she looked at him, the more handsome he seemed to be.He had nicely shaped eyebrows, and his eyelashes were long. His nose was tall, and his lips were thin … Be it on their own or together, his features were extremely nice-looking.Belle was astonished. How could such a good-looking person exist in this world?And he was even a man!He truly was blessed by the heavens. He wasn't only handsome, but he was also talented at making money.Meanwhile, Robert was s
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