June was incredibly proud. She was confident that she could secure Dorothy's frostle pill.She believed she would be even more beautiful than Belle after taking it. After that, June wanted to see what rights Belle had to compete with her for Grayson's attention.Who did Belle think she was? She had no power or influence in an unfamiliar city. Once she left Grayson, she would surely become a nobody in Maltford. The more June thought about that, the happier she was.Since she was in a good mood, she invited Jordyn to a beauty salon together.As soon as they left, Belle arrived at Sylvester Residence.The security guards at the entrance thought she was there for the frostle pill. They stopped her and said, "We're sorry, miss. Mrs. Sylvester Senior is not entertaining visitors today."Belle took out a small box before replying, "Do you mind passing this to Mrs. Sylvester Senior? I'll wait here."After a moment's hesitation, the guard accepted the box.Meanwhile, Dorothy was kne
Grayson was just rushing toward Sylvester Residence. Just when he was almost there, he received a message. Belle was competing at the boxing gym again!Grayson was stunned. With Belle's standing in the local boxing gym, nobody would dare to challenge her.Grayson wondered if the person challenging her was not a local.At that, he furrowed his brows. He never liked foreigners who boxed. Not only were they arrogant, but they also liked to use dirty tricks to win!"Go to the boxing gym!" Grayson told Sam."Yes!" Sam immediately turned the steering wheel. At that moment, the boxing gym was in a mess.The competition was scheduled at the last minute. Thus, many wealthy people called to ask and reserve their places once Liam announced the match. Although Belle's competition ended fast, it still garnered the most attention. She was capable, after all.Belle and Grayson reached the boxing gym almost at the same time. While one went straight to the VIP private room on the second floo
"I give up!" Belle said suddenly.Wayne was confused, and so was everyone. At that moment, Belle put a hand over her stomach, looking desperate. "I ate some hot wings before I got here, so I have a stomach ache. Just consider me the loser. I'll give him ten million later on!" she told the referee.The match would only stop in the boxing ring if one gave up, not if one felt sick halfway through. Upstairs, Grayson was also confused. Hot wings? In the afternoon?She was lying! They'd eaten only healthy and nutritious food for lunch, so there was no way she'd get a stomachache. But why was she lying?Grayson unconsciously focused on Wayne. He had a nice face and a straight back, so he could be considered handsome. Did she fall for this guy so hard that she didn't want to hurt him anymore?Grayson frowned. Was Henry's intel true? Was Belle the type who acted weak to lure men and didn't care who took the bait? But she didn't like him, so … Meanwhile, in the restroom, Belle sat
Wayne was stark naked on the bathroom floor with his eyes wide open, clearly dead.The cleaning lady was scared so badly that she shrieked over and over again. Meanwhile, Belle frowned and walked over before stooping down to examine Wayne. He'd been poisoned. Had Wayne been competing with all this poison in his body? But he'd never said anything about an antidote! Was he unaware of the poison? Belle's face fell. Now, she was even more suspicious that someone was using Wayne to test her.She didn't dare stay here for too long, so she discreetly removed her bug and tried to walk away. The water had washed away the poison. Even if someone else touched Wayne's body, they wouldn't be poisoned."Miss, please stay here!" The hotel manager suddenly blocked her way.At the same time, Grayson was sitting in a luxurious car downstairs with a murderous look, glaring in the hotel's direction.He'd already known something was wrong when Belle suddenly lied about a stomachache in the rin
Belle pouted. "I wasn't the one who called you over. You don't have to help!""Why, you—Why are you still being stubborn at a time like this?""Am I wrong? If you think I'm annoying, just go. I'll figure something out myself," Belle grumbled.She had already formed a plan. If push came to shove, she could always call Finneas.If that didn't work either, she'd just reveal her skills and tell them she was a doctor who only followed Wayne because she noticed he'd been poisoned.After all, her grandfather did say that there were a bunch of bad men in society, but most cops were good people.Grayson was pissed off at her attitude. "You're going to get it once we're home!" Then, he turned to the police officer next to them and said, "She's innocent."Belle whipped up her head to look at Grayson, surprised by what he had said. She had initially thought he was annoyed by her. Combined with what happened with June, she thought he hated her enough to throw her in prison. Instead … he wa
Belle tried to think of an excuse. "I wasn't following him. I—""There's been a murder! Why are you still lying?" Grayson roared angrily.Belle frowned and blinked at him innocently. "But I really didn't kill him. I don't even know him."Grayson got so mad that his eyes almost rolled back into his skull. He decided not to beat around the bush anymore and ask her directly."What's with the two of you? Why did you lie about having a stomach ache and giving up the fight? Why did you follow him and then book a room next to his? What were you trying to do?"Belle was shocked. "H-How did you know all that?""Answer my questions first!" Grayson answered with a dark look.Belle was scared to death and very surprised. "Y-Y-Y-You answer me first! How did you know I was the one boxing?"Grayson was furious now. "Do you think I'm too blind to recognize your moves?"Belle thought for a while. She'd fought off some thugs and sparred with him before, so it was plausible for him to recognize
Grayson squinted at Belle as if trying to determine whether she was lying. After a while, he asked, "So you had nothing to do with Wayne's death?"Something flashed in Belle's eyes. She didn't dare say she had absolutely nothing to do with it. After all, if he'd been poisoned with that kind of poison, it meant that someone was using him to test her.That would mean she did have something to do with it, so she said, "I didn't kill him, and I don't know who killed him. I don't know him, so I don't have a motive."After that, she changed the subject immediately. "You haven't answered me. How did you know I didn't kill him? Why do you trust me so much?"Grayson believed her for now, but he simply glared at her without any explanation. "You can ask me for money if you need it, but stop going out and causing trouble!"With that, Grayson started the car and took Belle home. The matter was settled for now.The next day, Belle went out immediately after Grayson left for work. The moment
The middle-aged man next to him asked, "Do we need to investigate this, Mr. Walters?"Noah's expression was grim. "No. This formula is from the Aspens. It's either the mother or the daughter.""But the poison just showed up around Ms. Belle. Isn't that suspicious?""Has she acted weird recently?" Noah asked.After thinking for a while, the man replied, "No. Besides fighting at the boxing gym, all she does is butt heads with the Peterson ladies. "Oh, and she took the perfume pouch to the Sylvester family, but she had to leave for the gym at the last minute, so she didn't get to meet Mrs. Sylvester Senior," he said.When Noah didn't respond, the man continued, "We did a background check on Wayne after he died. He's a regular guy, so he's probably unrelated to the Aspen ladies."However, we can't be sure whether they've already noticed her and got Wayne to test her."Noah frowned, and his expression became even more grim. The man's face was also grave too. "Mr. Walters, if they
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