Grayson pressed his lips into a thin line and stared at Sam for a long time before seething, "Thank you so much."Sam let out a sigh of relief. "No need! It's my job. As long as you're happy, I—""Get out!" Grayson had to do his best not to smash his ashtray on the ground.Sam froze in shock. "What?""Go back and fix your damn schedule! If you don't finish it by today, don't even think about going home!"Sam felt like the unluckiest person on the planet. "Mr. Page, what did I do?""You don't deserve a wife!"Sam stared in shock.He didn't even have a wife in the first place.Besides, what did Grayson's anger have to do with having a wife?"Get out. Out, out, out!" Grayson shouted before Sam could ask another question.Sam didn't dare to stay any longer and dragged himself away.Grayson forcefully tugged at his tie.It was a perfect opportunity to publicize his relationship, and Sam had ruined it.Grayson felt like he was pretty smart. How could someone he personally train
The video posted was the one that the paparazzi had filmed. It looked like the guard had chased the kids out and even pushed them.Some so-called witnesses were commenting about how they had been there.They were saying that the kids had skinned their knees during a ball game and went to the clinic for a check-up, but they didn't have enough money to pay. That was why the clinic's guard beat them up.Some commenters even claimed that the fees had racked up to 18,000 dollars. They were all making a fuss about how and why the fees were so high when it was just a small injury.Some replies were calling the Sylvester family vampires and bloodsuckers for siphoning so much money off their patients.Belle stared speechlessly at the comments. They were purposely twisting the narrative against the Sylvester family."It's easy to spread rumors but impossible to clear them up. It's going to be a lot of work for you guys to clear up the rumors, and since we're the ones who caused them, I'm
Soon after Grayson's phone call, the Sylvester family and clinic became the number one most searched on all platforms.The comments became more and more vicious.After reading them for a few minutes, Belle tossed her phone aside.She would just let them tire themselves out before doing anything.Suddenly, she thought of something and checked her phone again.She was checking to see if the mysterious herb gifter would send a message to show their concern.Nothing came up.Belle was confused. The mysterious herb gifter had sent a message consoling her when she started being sad over missing Dorothy.There were no messages at this moment.Why was that?Maybe they knew that she was actually sad that morning, which was why they consoled her.Perhaps they weren't consoling her anymore since they knew she wasn't actually sad.Maybe they were too busy to check the news.Belle stared at her phone while her mind raced with questions.She was desperate to know exactly who that perso
"Excuse me, sir? Look at what time it is already!" Belle said as she rolled her eyes. Her calling Grayson "sir" caused a shiver to run down his spine. The image of Belle in pigtails and a school uniform suddenly flashed in his mind. He imagined her pulling at his tie while kneeling next to him, calling him "sir" over and over again.Belle didn't know what he was thinking. She just continued to rant, "We get off work at 5:30 pm. By the time Ginger and I get back to her house, it'll be past 6:00 pm. It takes about half an hour to get to our place from Ginger's house. "You're leaving me ten generous minutes to eat a full meal. Don't you think you're being unreasonable?"Grayson stared at her with narrowed eyes as he felt his mouth dry up.Ever since the two of them had sex, his mind constantly threw random suggestive images at him.He felt dirty.Grayson cleared his throat to get rid of the awkwardness and drank some coffee from his mug.He finished his coffee before managing
Grayson didn't let Belle go, not even when her phone started to ring.Suddenly, Sam knocked on the door once again. "Mr. Page, it's already 5:30 pm. Are you going to work overtime today?"Belle quickly pushed Grayson away and scurried back to keep a few feet between them.She frantically wiped her mouth clean and straightened out the wrinkles in her clothes. "You're shameless," she scolded Grayson half-heartedly before leaving.Grayson watched her leave longingly.He was starting to realize how shameless and inappropriate he had been acting recently.Even though he wanted to be more honorable, he couldn't control himself in front of her.After she left, Sam walked in and said, "Mr. Page, what's wrong with Ms. Walters? Her face is so red. Is she sick? She–"He stopped himself before he could finish when he saw Grayson glaring daggers at him.Sam didn't know what he had done to offend Grayson.But he didn't have the guts to say or ask anything.He shrunk back and carefully ask
"I need to go buy some seasoning. You can wait here, Belle," Ginger suddenly said.Belle finally pulled herself back to reality. She saw Ginger changing her shoes and walking out.Gabriel reminded her from the doorway, "Zip up your coat. It's colder than usual today. I don't want you to get sick.""I know, I know," Ginger hollered from outside.They heard the elevator open and close. Once they were sure Ginger had gone downstairs, Gabriel glanced at Belle and returned to the kitchen without saying a word.After a moment, Belle turned the heat down on the grill and walked into the kitchen.Gabriel had already finished chopping up the onions and was washing the cutting board.Belle leaned against the doorway and asked, "Ginger told me you were leaving.""Yeah.""For how long?""I don't know.""Are you going back to the Flemings?"Gabriel simply glanced at Belle without an answer.Belle asked, "Did they give you some kind of mission to finish?"She knew how the Flemings cond
Gabriel paused and continued, "He may not be able to protect you the whole way, but he's the only one who has a chance. Anyone else is out of the question. Also, remember to live in the moment. You have much harder days in your future."Belle fell silent.Sighing, Gabriel said, "Blame fate. We're the same. We were born into a bad life, but we have no other choice."Belle still didn't reply.With a creak, the door opened and Ginger walked in with the seasoning she had just bought.A gust of cold wind sneaked in through the open door, sending chills down Belle's spine.Gabriel quickly dried his hands on his apron and took the bag of seasoning from Ginger before taking her coat and hanging it on the coat rack next to the door. "Go warm up in the living room. You'll feel better after eating some food."Ginger rubbed her hands together as she said, "It's freezing out there. It was perfectly fine these last few days, but it's so cold today. Actually, it was fine in the morning and aft
After a brief pause, he suddenly asked, "Are you close to Robert?""What?" Belle froze at the mention of Robert. "You know him?"She realized she had asked a stupid question the moment the words left her mouth.Gabriel was from the Fleming family, which was one of the mysterious families. They had been targeting the Strauss family, so, of course, Gabriel knew who Robert was."He's my friend, so yes, I'd say we're close," Belle replied.To her, anyone she considered as a friend was a very important person. She was willing to do anything to help anyone she considered a friend.Gabriel suddenly asked, "What would you do if something happened to him?""What? Like what?"Gabriel looked at her deeply. "Death."Belle frowned as alarms began to go off in her head. She turned to look at Gabriel. "What do you mean? Do you know something? Did something happen to him?"Gabriel remained silent.Belle's frown deepened. "Talk to me!"Her tone was commanding as she demanded an answer.Gab
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