Grayson's gaze darkened, and he stared at Belle meaningfully before managing to suppress his desires.Bending down, he kissed her on the cheek gently. "Let's eat," he said tenderly.It was already so late. She had to be starving.He was worried that she'd faint from starvation if they started doing anything else, so he wanted to make sure she was fed first.The two of them enjoyed a delicious dinner together and had quite a few glasses of wine throughout the meal.Belle, especially, was drinking a lot. Maybe the wine was good, or perhaps the atmosphere was just right, but either way, she couldn't stop downing the wine.Grayson was worried that she'd feel sick after so many glasses and tried to stop her but to no avail.He gave up trying to stop her at the sight of her joy. They could afford to drink more than usual since they were at home and nothing could happen to them.Belle's happiness came first.The result of him closing one eye was that she got drunk before they even fi
Alcohol really was liquid courage. Belle was usually timid, but she was being extra bold tonight.Not only was she kissing Grayson back with vigor, but she was even trying to take the lead.The moment they entered the bedroom, she started to untuck his shirt from his trousers and began feeling him all over.The feeling of her palms on his skin wasn't enough, so she started to undo his belt as well.When the belt didn't come off after one try, she got frustrated and bit his bottom hip hard. She began to stomp her feet from impatience.Grayson had never seen her so urgent to get down and dirty before.He was on the edge of bursting from her constant teasing and decided that the romantic lines he had carefully prepared were useless at that point. He tore his shirt off and took his belt off before pressing her against the door.He kissed her hungrily as he wrestled with her clothes.The room smelled like flowers from all the rose petals strewn over the floor and bed. He had prepare
Grayson heard Belle's change in tone and opened his eyes slowly, trying to wake himself up. He looked at her and said, "It's Saturday. You should rest.""I told Hunter that I'd give his father a check-up today. They're already at the clinic, and Simon just called to tell me that Hunter's father isn't in good condition. He needs me to be there."Grayson frowned. He didn't want to let her go, since he felt safe and comfortable with her in his arms.However, there was a patient that needed to be seen. He couldn't be selfish.He fell silent for a second before yawning and forcing himself to wake up. "I'll go with you."He sat up with Belle still in his arms, causing both of their bare torsos to be completely exposed. Belle quickly pushed him back onto the bed while tossing the blanket over his head."Go back to sleep. I'll go myself. You're just going to get in my way.""I'm not a kid. Why would I do that?"As he spoke, Grayson reached up and tried to pull the blanket off his head.
Hunter's father said in surprise, "Are you the doctor my son keeps talking about?"Belle nodded and smiled. "Hello, Mr. Sanders."Benjamin, Hunter's father, was clearly taken aback. "You're so young! My son told me that you're the owner of this clinic. A-Are you even Hunter's age?"Belle was young, and she looked even younger, so she usually ended up looking like a high school student to strangers.Chuckling, she replied, "I'm already 20 years old this year.""Ah, you're 20? That means you're two years older than Hunter. You're still very young, though. It's impressive that you've managed to open a clinic at such a young age," Benjamin marveled.Belle smiled and nodded before sitting down to test Benjamin's pulse.After that, she started doing a full check-up on Benjamin. She then excused Hunter so that she could be alone with Benjamin. She said with a frown, "You're in bad shape."Benjamin sighed. "I know. It's my own body, after all. How long do I have left?""Less than six
"Did he make you hide it from me?" Hunter asked. "He's concerned about my studies. I've known from the beginning."Belle felt her heart ache slightly at Hunter's words. After a moment, she said, "He wants to make it until after your entrance exam, and I'll do my best to help him accomplish that."Hunter's eyes began to tear up. "Alright. Don't tell him that I know. I'll go along with it."Belle felt her heart break for Hunter. She didn't know how to console him and just nodded.She was torn over feeling touched by the father and son's relationship and blaming herself for being so helpless. She hated that she couldn't help her patients when she was their only hope at attaining happiness.Human beings hadn't yet achieved that much development in medicine. They had only managed to take a small step forward.They still needed to work harder.Belle sighed inwardly. She thought about the herb she had at home. If it could cure cancer, that would truly be a miracle."Even though the ch
"What's wrong, Belle? Is it serious?"Ginger felt even more worried when she saw Belle frowning. Belle turned away from Gabriel and said, "No, it's just a matter of some sleeping pills. That's all."Ginger sighed in relief. "Thank god! I'm glad he's okay. I did some research and found out that sleepwalking can be pretty terrifying. There were cases of people jumping into rivers or running into the middle of the road while sleepwalking."Belle replied, "Those are rare cases. Most sleepwalkers won't get into such extreme situations. I'll give him a prescription to pick up from the pharmacy. Go back and follow the prescription for at least a few days.""Alright."Belle said, "I'm kind of thirsty. Could you please go buy a drink for me? The pharmacy is going to take a while to get the prescription ready."Ginger didn't suspect a thing. "Alright. I'll go find a place. Do you want anything, Gabriel?"He shook his head. Ginger walked out with her bag over her shoulder.After getti
Gabriel didn't agree or deny.Belle wanted to say something else, but Ginger had already returned with the drinks. Belle immediately kept her mouth shut.Ginger passed them their drinks. "This is yours with extra sugar, Belle. Gabe, this is yours with no sugar."Gabriel wasn't a fan of most beverages, but since Ginger had bought it for him, he still ended up taking it.Belle had already started drinking hers. She took a long sip and said happily, "I don't get why people like drinking coffee so much when drinks like this exist."Chuckling, Ginger said, "These are good, but they're fattening and have zero caffeine in them. It's about time for lunch. Shall we go out to get a bite?"Belle hadn't eaten anything all morning and was beginning to feel hungry. She nodded. "Alright. I'll call Grayson and ask him to get something to eat alone at home."She had just finished speaking when the room door opened.A gorgeous man with a presence even more overpowering than his foreboding height
Gabriel tucked his hands into his pockets. He could tell that Grayson was jealous.He raised an eyebrow, ready to enjoy the show. Grayson could feel his eyes on him and glared at Gabriel in annoyance.Gabriel began to look even more interested.It was hard to look away since Gabriel had never seen this side of Grayson before.Belle glared at Grayson and repeated, "Bare minimum? Are we looking at the same thing? I think you should get your eyes checked."Ginger couldn't help but blurt out, "It really is beautiful! You're very talented. I'm much older than you, yet I could never paint something so pretty. The art really does take after the artist. Your art is as good-looking as you are!"Gabriel's expression immediately soured after that.It was his turn to be jealous.He watched as Ginger stared at the painting with stars in her eyes. She was full of surprise and admiration.Gabriel fell silent.What was so good about the painting?It was just some paint on a canvas!He co
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